Re: Good news for lower jaw onlies - I agree

[Guest guest]

Hi Bonnie

I have to agree with your comments on Lower surgery .

I had upper & Lower on Feb 17th and the recovery was a litle rough

for the first two weeks, I would say that I started to feel ok after

about 3-4 weeks.

Then I was told at 5 weeks post OP that I had to have a second

surgery (lower only). I had the surgery on 23rd March and was

released on the 24th. I felt well enough to return to work (from home

only) on the 26th.

Maybe because I was expecting the worst after the double surgery or

maybe because it was just a lot easier - but after a week after lower

surgery i felt well enough to go out, meet friends etc..

I have been through both upper & Lower And Lower only and whilst

neither are fun the time soon passes and you feel 90% normal quite

quickly,

I suppose until I am cleared to chew food and get these braces off I

wont feel 100% - but I have to say neither were as bad as i was

expecting, but I suppose this board prepared me for almost everything.

I am now 9 weeks since the first OP and the most important advice I

can give after surgery is rest, Eat well ( even if it is just meal

replacement - Get the calories in As it is important for healing),

Drink lots of liquids, Take you pain meds and don't be afriad to ask

for help if you need it. Have MLD or/ And Cranio sacral therapy if

you can - The MLD had a big effect on my swelling.

I am glad you are having a good recovery too- I think it is

encouraging for people to hear this too.

Any other questions re upper & Lower V Lower surgery only please ask.

Take Care

Joanne

> I hope this will encourage those of you contemplating surgery. I am

> 16 days post op, lower jaw only (8mm). I am doing unbelievably well

> and thought you might like to hear from someone who has had a very

> uneventful (thankfully!) experience. I had a typical first week

post

> op, lots of swelling and bruising and some yucky days, but very

> little pain due to the meds. I just got photos back documenting

each

> day up to day 10. I encourage you to do that! I looked far worse in

> the pics than I felt at the time, and it's fascinating to see the

> progress. By day 11, I was pretty much back to my normal routine

and

> I think 95% of the swelling was gone by about 14. I can take my

> bands off to eat and open my mouth enough to slip a spoon or fork

> in. So, even food is back in my life! Last night I actually went

out

> to a Mexican restaurant and had a wonderful meal (beans, enchilada)-

-

> just no chips. It wasn't pretty for my family to watch me make a

> mess eating, but I was in heaven. I count myself very lucky, and am

> not sure how typical my recovery has been (I'd be interested to

> compare notes with other lower jaw onlies), but I wanted to let you

> know that it is possible to get through this fairly easily. I

posted

> a note last week called " Recovery Tips " with some things that

> helped, if you're interested. I took a month off work to be safe,

> but honestly (don't tell my boss) I could have returned at least

> part time after 1 1/2- -2 weeks. My ortho told me that's how long

it

> would take, but I thought he was plain nuts until about day 9 when

I

> reluctantly had to admit that my pampered days were quickly coming

> to an end, because I really felt fine. I just get tired easily, but

> otherwise I am basically back to my regular routine. Be

encouraged!

> It's already worth it for me. Bonnie

[Guest guest]

Bonnie and Joanne thank you so much for your encouraging words. I'm

also contemplating lower jaw surgery I wasn't going to go through

with it but hearing most of your comments has given me more strength

to go with it. thanks. I'll keep you updated with the whole process.

I have my first appt. on Tuesday April 27.

Tita

> > I hope this will encourage those of you contemplating surgery. I

am

> > 16 days post op, lower jaw only (8mm). I am doing unbelievably

well

> > and thought you might like to hear from someone who has had a

very

> > uneventful (thankfully!) experience. I had a typical first week

> post

> > op, lots of swelling and bruising and some yucky days, but very

> > little pain due to the meds. I just got photos back documenting

> each

> > day up to day 10. I encourage you to do that! I looked far worse

in

> > the pics than I felt at the time, and it's fascinating to see

the

> > progress. By day 11, I was pretty much back to my normal routine

> and

> > I think 95% of the swelling was gone by about 14. I can take my

> > bands off to eat and open my mouth enough to slip a spoon or

fork

> > in. So, even food is back in my life! Last night I actually went

> out

> > to a Mexican restaurant and had a wonderful meal (beans,

enchilada)-

> -

> > just no chips. It wasn't pretty for my family to watch me make a

> > mess eating, but I was in heaven. I count myself very lucky, and

am

> > not sure how typical my recovery has been (I'd be interested to

> > compare notes with other lower jaw onlies), but I wanted to let

you

> > know that it is possible to get through this fairly easily. I

> posted

> > a note last week called " Recovery Tips " with some things that

> > helped, if you're interested. I took a month off work to be

safe,

> > but honestly (don't tell my boss) I could have returned at least

> > part time after 1 1/2- -2 weeks. My ortho told me that's how

long

> it

> > would take, but I thought he was plain nuts until about day 9

when

> I

> > reluctantly had to admit that my pampered days were quickly

coming

> > to an end, because I really felt fine. I just get tired easily,

but

> > otherwise I am basically back to my regular routine. Be

> encouraged!

> > It's already worth it for me. Bonnie