3 days post-op with 3kids to tak care of!!!

[Guest guest]

Just got home from the hospital at 4:00pm Ontario canada time, had

the lower jaw moved forward by 9mm. I was a very interesting

experience. I am hoping I can get through the healing with all my

kids around me. I wanted to ask, what should I do, put heat

compresses on the swelling, or continue with the ice? Doc says no

more ice, but my whole face feels tingley and itchy and that normal?

I find the pressure of the splint in my mouth hard to handle as wel.

Any responses??

[Guest guest]

Hi from another Ontarian! I had upper/lower/genio in Aug of 2002.

According to my surgeon, ice doesn't do anything past the initial

injury, and heat just draws more fluids to the area, increasing

swelling. I think that the best thing you can do is to drink a lot of

fluids, to help flush things out. After that, MLD therapy is useful

for bringing down swelling (but not inexpensive), and homeopathic

remedies such as arnica can be used as well (but it's best to consult

a homeopath). You can check out links on site 2 at

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/orthogathicsurgerysite2 or the

geocities site at http;//www.geocities.com/orthognathicinfo/

I used ice to keep my face comfortable, it cooled me down. Tingly and

itchy are good, those are nerves telling you they're a bit ticked off

at what you did to them. Be prepared for the swelling to peak on day

3 (not counting day of surgery). I can't tell you anything about the

splint as I never had one post-op.

Where's your family? Time to call in your favours, get somebody to

help with the kids. You need time for yourself, to heal properly. The

more activity at this stage of the game, more swelling, prolonged

healing.

Good luck!

> Just got home from the hospital at 4:00pm Ontario canada time, had

> the lower jaw moved forward by 9mm. I was a very interesting

> experience. I am hoping I can get through the healing with all my

> kids around me. I wanted to ask, what should I do, put heat

> compresses on the swelling, or continue with the ice? Doc says no

> more ice, but my whole face feels tingley and itchy and that

normal?

> I find the pressure of the splint in my mouth hard to handle as wel.

> Any responses??