To CAMMIE -Re: 2 weeks post op!

[Guest guest]

Hey Cammie,

Well I had to deal with the Canadian medical system too. It means

long waiting lists but almost no cost to the patient. My surgery

was cancelled the first two times because my teeth were not in

proper alignment and I had to have two teeth removed. The 3rd time

was because my surgeon went away to do some surgeries in another

country. The 4th time was on March 8th. I was in the gown and

everything that time, and almost in the operating room when it got

cancelled. There was not enough room in recovery that day. My

surgeon's office was awesome and got me scheduled the following week

because of everything that happened in the past! They were great!

It was totally worth the wait. The swelling is going down and there

is a difference in appearance. I'm in no rush to get back to work

until I feel 100%. I'm very fotunate that my employer is paying me

fully while I'm off. They only want me back when I'm ready and are

going to construct a program that has me going back to work a few

hours at a time and build up slowly back to full time work. I'm not

sure how long it takes to recover from this? It's like 6 weeeks

right? The thing that's really bothering me today is my hand where

the IV went in. The vein is really irritated and sore. Probably

because I've been a little more active lately.

> > Hi Everyone,

> >

> > Well I'm now 2 weeks post op. My surgery was cancelled 4 times

> > before it finally took place on March 15th. I'm really glad

it's

> > over with and done. I'm recovering a lot faster than I

expected.

> > The procedure only took about 2 hours. My upper jaw was moved

> > forward and lowered down. My surgeon did this by cutting the

bone

> > on an angle. I was banded shut and I still am banded 2 weeks

> later.

> > My surgeon says I'll need to wear the bands for 2 months. I

was

> > only in the hospital for a couple of days. The first night was

> > rough, because I was really nauseated. Most likely it was from

all

> > the blood going into my stomach. I used the suction device

quite

> > frequently. The next day I got up and went to brush my teeth.

It

> > was strange looking at myself in the mirror. I had a bloody

nose

> > and swelling. The nose bleeds were quite annoying the first few

> > days but it's to be expected. I also began to drink out of a cup

> the

> > second day and eat a little bit. My parents got me up and

walking

> > around that night because I needed it. There was so much fluid

in

> > my lungs for some reason, so it was nice to cough and get that

> out.

> > I went home on the Wednesday following my surgery. It was good

to

> > get home. My mom took great care of me and the Zip N Squeeze

bags

> > worked awesome! I really recommend everyone purchasing them

before

> > you have surgery. I had a lot of blend things the first little

> > while and by 5th day after my surgery I was able to cut up

> > Mc's cheeseburgers and put them in my mouth and swallow

them.

> > Eating and drinking is the key to a quick recovery. Sleeping

was

> > really hard the first little while, but it got better after

about a

> > week. Nasal congestion was also a problem but that cleared up

> after

> > about 1.5 weeks. I still have some congestion though. The

> swelling

> > reached is peak about the 4th or 5th day following my surgery.

> It's

> > gone down quite a bit now. I still have a really fat upper lip

and

> > my nose and cheeks are a little swollen. I'm not sure when I'll

be

> > back at work because I talk on the phone all day long. I still

get

> > quite tired during the day and I need to sleep in the

afternoons.

> I

> > think being 24 years old has also aided in a speedy recovery. I

> > have a question for other people in the group. Do you know when

> all

> > the swelling will go down completely? If anyone has a question

for

> > me please feel free to send me an e-mail or post a message.

> >

> > Thanks,

> >