FINALLY! --6 weeks post-operation.

Message

#31 Post by **amd** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 9:01 am

Carissa, your photos look great. I am surprised that you have to be wired for so long. I also had and underbite and my surgery involved upper advancement, Bsso (reduction and rotation & genioplasty). I had bands on for 3 weeks - only two of them at that. I am not wired or banded, nor did I have a splint. However tomorrow I go into the ortho to have the surgical wires removed so I may end up getting new bands. Who knows.

The wires are usually used for those who did not receive rigid fixation on one or both jaws. You mentioned you didn't get screws in the lower jaw. That may be why you are wired. The length of time I am guessing is because of no screws and the fact that you had an underbite. Apparently with underbites the hardest thing to overcome after surgery is the retraining of muscles. My surgeon explained to me that when they do the surgery they actually detach the muscles and strip them a bit so that they have to learn how to function in their new position from scratch. He said it was equivalent to erasing their memory.

As for food, definitly try the instant breakfast. I have two in the morning and actually mix just a wee bit of coffee into it. When you make yourself a smoothie use pineapple juice as a thinner (anti-inflamatory agent) and put in some protein powder. this helps stave of hunger pains for a bit while delivering the necessary protein amounts needed during recovery. I too have lost a lot of weight - 18lbs (4 weeks post op this Wed). But I am now starting to stabilize. I went to a naturopath and homeopathic doctor last week who really pushed me to increase my intake of pine apple juice and protein. Since then my swelling is slowly going down and my sense of feeling is beginning to return.

You are lucky to have feeling. Being swollen and numb is not pleasant.

#32 Post by **carissa** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 4:10 pm

i'm doing a little better with the food situation. i've learned it's just something i'm going to have to deal with for another month. i've been drinking a lot of pineapple juice and i do believe it has helped with the swelling!

pain is minimal still, except for one of my molars on the left side is killing me.

it feels extremely sensitive to hot or cold or at random times. no idea why, but i wish it would settle down.

thank you all for your comments.

i put some new pictures up.... it's been 3 weeks now. and i actually decided to put on a little bit of makeup today, for the first time. which was really fun.

http://s50.photobucket.com/albums/f304/ ... rd%20face/

#33 Post by **~danielle~** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 8:41 pm

Glad to hear that you're doing better with the food

I found that after a certain point I was able to accept it and deal with it, though there were still a few times later on where I was frustrated and overwhelmed (mostly when I was eating around other people). Even when it does get hard, just remember how worth it it will be in the end.

Your pictures look GORGEOUS! You must be really happy

Just curious though, have you gotten used to seeing the new way you look, or is it slightly shocking whenever you look in the mirror?

#34 Post by **carissa** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 1:26 am

it is very shocking to look in the mirror. it's so strange seeing someone different than what you've been used to your whole life.

#35 Post by **Emerald** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 7:18 am

Your progress is looking great!

I need to post my photos.

I'm also all wired shut after having bi-maxilo surgery for a class III jaw, I will be unwired in two weeks. I'm 4/6ths of the way there.

I haven't been told whether I'll have elastics once my wires are cut.

Sorry about the food situation, I know how that feels, I can't wait till I can eat normally again!

#36 Post by **~danielle~** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 3:10 pm

I'm finally getting used to how I look, and my change was a lot less dramatic than yours- most people dont even notice mine... Not sure if thats a good thing or bad thing though..? Seems like it was a lot to go through for a change that only I can see. I'm sure that once the initial shock wears off that you will totally love the results though, it just takes a bit of adjusting.

#37 Post by **Class III Blues** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 5:53 pm

I'm getting my bands cut in 3 days (after 4 weeks and 3 days of being banded shut). I get to have soft foods thereafter. Yay fish and mashed potatoes, etc.

At first I didn't think I could make it. But then 3 to 4 weeks just went by and I'm going to be "freed" in just a few days. My trick was to treat myself with something really savory everyday. I found it to be easy to get the sweets in via shakes and smoothies. I was missing that *tasty* "tickle your tastebud flavor. So every day, I would choose something tasty even if it didn't make me full. Like a blended Mexican flavored chicken soup, tom yum soup (thai soup that is brothy), blended shepard's pie (diluted with chicken or beef stock), and yes, I even blended a slice of brick oven pizza with spinach, mushrooms and pepperoni (diluted with extra tomato sauce, a really good one like Rao's, and chicken broth... don't put in the crust!). Some of this stuff is hard to get through a straw so you def need the zip and sqeeze bags. You can't even get more than half a bag through before you get a little tired of the struggle. But it does give you satisfaction and something to look forward to every day! SAVORY! Then have the cream of wheat, ensure and such for daily nutrition.

last thing - some smoothies I like to make:

1. ice, soy milk, 1 scoop of chocolate protein powder, tablespoon of peanut butter and a banana. Sometimes I blend a piece of chocolate or sweetened cocoa powder or hot chocalte mis for that extra yumminess

2. ice, soy milk, vanilla protien powder, banana and watermelon (really refreshing!).

#38 Post by **Munkys Girl** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 1:29 pm

Hey how are you doing? It's been a month for you now? Your pics from last week are beautiful. You feeling any better?

#39 Post by **carissa** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 8:39 am

Hello all. It's been a month for me now, and as far as surgery goes I am feeling a lot better. I'm still wired shut, and will be for at least 2 more weeks. Maybe 4 more. I go to the surgeon today, so I will let everyone know what he says.

Bad news, I've somehow caught a cold.

awesome. perfect timing for stuffy nose and fever.

ahhhhh. i'm going crazy.

#40 Post by **carissa** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 6:38 pm

so today i found out that i am going to be wired shut for a total of 7 weeks, splint still in with rubberbands for 2 more weeks, and then only rubberbands for 2 more weeks. i feel like this is a long, harsh sentence compared to most of you.. but i am 4 weeks into it, so i think i may make it.

#41 Post by **carissa** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 2:55 pm

i've had my mouth wired shut for 43 days now, and i am going crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thu Sep 04, 2008 6:25 pm

Carissa, hang in there! Your profile looks so beautiful, you must be so pleased. When this is all over you should be very proud of yourself! Best wishes!

#43 Post by **tortor** » Fri Sep 05, 2008 8:44 am

RainAndTangerines wrote:Carissa, hang in there! Your profile looks so beautiful, you must be so pleased. When this is all over you should be very proud of yourself! Best wishes!

Couldnt have said it better myself! Your pictures are great and youve got amazing results. Although 7 weeks wired shut is very rough, always keep in mind that your OS is doing what is best for your jaw and what will yield the best results. When my OS told me I wuold be wired shut, I freaked and thought my surgeon was so old school and needed to get with the times! Hello no one is wired shut anymore! But after my OS explained that using plates and screws on the bottom jaw could possibly lead to permanent numbness in my lips and other parts of my lower face, I felt much better. I would definitely take being wired shut over having permanent numbness. I have no numbness in my face whatsoever and for that being wired shut was totally worth it. Also, keeping the splint in a few extra weeks will help fight your lower jaw from relapsing...also worth it (although i cant close my lips around the damn thing!)...

So I hope I've helped you stay a little positive although I understand what your going through can be really frusterating to deal with. Dont lose sight of the wonderful final results you will have!

Best wishes,
Tori

#44 Post by **carissa** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 10:29 pm

you all are so nice! i'm really glad i have this message board as an outlet for my frustrations. i haven't taken any pictures with my camera lately, but i have one from my phone... its not that great of a picture, but here i am 6 weeks later.