Upper Jaw surgery blog

[bmueller]

My surgery blog is complete. I was a Class II open bite patient who had just upper jaw surgery (Lefort 1). It's a detailed start to finish experience, though keep in mind, everyone recovers at their own pace. Hope it helps others going through a similar situation!

[lizart]

I am scheduled for Lefort 1 surgery in June. I just had a surgery consult yesterday, your blog really helped me understand what I am about to experience (I chose a surgeon with a very similar approach to yours - I've had three consultations). Just now, I decided to make a list of must haves, especially after your difficult time breathing, a good quality humidifier is going to be my first purchase. I'm wondering if having a baby nasal syringe will help (to suck out all the yuckies)? Two weeks without blowing my nose seems like a real challenge.

A few concerns were brought to mind... post surgery you state that the splint prevented you from brushing your teeth, did anyone recommend a dental rinse or wash to clean your teeth or were you too sore to even try that? Admittedly, I am a little freaked out about the whole food stuck in the splint thing and not being able to rinse...

As far as the syringe eating goes, where do you squirt the food in if your mouth won't open? I have an underbite, therefore no space will be open unless I try behind the molars... thoughts????

[bmueller]

Sorry it took me a while to get back to you.

I think the humidifier was my best friend. That would be my number one purchase! Number two is my juicer. Fresh juice which easily fits between my splinted/banded teeth was excellent. Half a melon = 1 16oz glass.

As far as a mouth wash, the surgeon gave me a prescription for an antibacterial antiplaque moutwash that I used twice a day. I used a syringe and squirted in along my gums (incisions) and along the outside of my teeth. Imbetween, I used a salt water solution (make it yourself) to keep things clean. I was able to brush the outsides of the front few teeth after a few days and would try to suck in the toothpaste to make my mouth seem cleaner. Three weeks with a splint in resulted in lots of caught nasty food and raunchy breath regardless of what you do to try to maintain hygene. After 2 weeks I started using a waterpik on the outside of the teeth but took care to keep it away from healing stitches. It was able to free some food from the splint. Some...

I squirt the food right into my front teeth area. There are enough spaces to allow the strained liquids to pass. I have heard of other people feeding the syringe into the back of their mouths beyond the teeth and trying to get food in there. I decided not to do that because I didn't want the food back there near my stitches and with my lips so swollen I have no idea how people actually got it back there.

Please let me know if you have additional questions/concerns. Glad the blog helps!

[lizart]

Thank you, these tips are very helpful. Good call on the juicer, I am a vegetarian so that will be a great way to eat my veggies and get nutrients too. My surgeon mentioned that my procedure will be on an out patient basis, that worries me a bit. Did you spend the night as a precaution (choice) or a required hospital stay?

[bmueller]

Mine was technically outpatient. Outpatient is 23 hour observation. Since my surgery was scheduled for the afternoon, they kept me overnight. About 12 hours after I went in for surgery, I was all ready to go home. If you don't overdo it with the painkillers, you should be up, walking, going to bathroom and "eating" by yourself by that time. That's usually the criteria for releasing you. I'm sure your surgeon knows what's he's doing when planning your hospital stay.

I have heard of many people staying 2-5 days but I'm not sure why because most of the time they talk about being bored and walking around the room and reading magazines and watching tv. All of those things suggest they were well enough to go home.

The juicer will be your best friend if you're vegetarian. And don't forget to get lots of tofu to add to soups and smoothies too. I bought one of those magic bullet type blenders too for things that can't be juiced directly. It was great because it came with 5 different glasses so I could make lots of things at once without having to transfer to other containers or clean out the original container. Saving time/energy when I didn't have much.

Favorite things to juice: cantalope (gives 2-16oz glasses), baby watermelon (2-16 oz glasses), apples (4-6 oz per apple), pineapple (16 oz glass), tangerine (2 for a 8 oz glass).

[lizart]

I tried to comment directly on your blog, but didn't go through... So, I just wanted you to know how much your blog has helped me, your attention to detail and clear descriptions really painted an excellent picture of what one will experience when undergoing Lefort 1 Jaw surgery.
My surgery occured on Tuesday, June 6th 2013. I was scheduled as an outpatient, but because after the observation protocol, the surgeon decided to retain me overnight, I was dizzy, headachey, and was not well oriented after surgery. In fact, it was when the night nurse mentioned catheterization to enable me to pee... I high tailed it out of bed and used the rest room. I opted to stay one extra night because I experienced the same panic attack that you had when breathing became difficult, due to mucous build up. The surgical resident had to do several procedures using extra long Q-tips and peroxide to dissolve the obstructed nostril stuff. Nothing is more frightening as when you can't breathe through your nose or mouth.

My post op appt with the surgeon was on Friday, He again used a much more forcful suction to remove gunk from my nasal cavaties. Pain, pain, pain!!!

So anyhow, I am home now looking like a chipmunk, talking in a garbled language that no one can understand, lost 10lbs (that needed to come off) and feeling surprisingly well.

So again, I cannot thank you enough for your attention to detail, your acurate descriptions, and helpful tips... you made a traumatic experience bearable and I felt very prepared. From how to prep for home pre and post op to surgery day, it was all spot on and excellent information. Thank you a million times... thank you!!!

[bmueller]

I am so glad you found my blog to be helpful. When I made the decision to have surgery, I looked at many blogs to help me understand what I had agreed to! I wanted to add my experience since I believe many of the people who post tend to be more difficult cases or have all sorts of scary side effects. I wanted people to see that things can run smoothly, especially if you are prepared.

I have to say the not being able to breathe thing really took me by surprise. That one night when I genuinely felt I couldn't breathe was possibly the scariest moments of my life.

But I'm glad that it was temporary and I got through it. I believe that having a great attitude is key to recovery. I can totally look back at the chipmunk cheeks and the inability to talk and laugh about it.

You will be better before you know it! Thanks for the kind words, I am so glad that my experience can help others make a swift recovery.