Guest guest Posted May 13, 2004 Report Share Posted May 13, 2004 It has been three weeks today since I had my surgery done (upper and lower jaw, plus chin work) Now, in about two weeks I am graduating high school and I'll be attending my grad ceremony and prom. I'm starting to get a little worried because the way my oral surgeon made it sound, it sounded like I should pretty much be back to normal for graduation, but right now I'm still not really close to being " normal " at all. 1) I know recovery time is different for everyone, but what is the possibility of the swelling going down by then? Like I said, its been three weeks and the swelling has gone down considerably but it is still not gone. I'm still pretty swollen in the lower cheek areas. Any ideas to help speed up the process? 2) Right now I'm eating mushy things with a spoon (blenderized zoodles and ravioli, cream soups, oatmeal, pudding, yogurt, etc.) and I'm kind of hoping that I'll be able to eat some of the dinner grad night. What is the estimated time to start eating soft foods/regular foods? 3) I have a splint in my mouth right now and my orthodontist (whom is doing most of my post-op because i live pretty far from where I got my surgery done) has told me that when I do go visit my oral surgeon (on the 20th) and have the splint removed it should make things alot better. What exactly will the removal of the splint do? Will it really make any difference? 4) Not so much in terms of grad, because I know I'll still have my elastics on then..but what is the usual time that people stop wearing the elastics? Yes, I'm quite impatient. I want to get back to normal as soon as possible. I completely regret having this surgery done (though I'll probably say otherwise years from now). One last question...what are some tips for teeth cleaning? I'm able to brush the front of my teeth but I still have alot of difficulty cleaning in behind. Also, any tips for battling bad breath as well? Seeing as I can't chew gum I've become very self-conscious of my breath and in turn have much difficulty talking to others in fear of embarassment I know, I know...I really should talk to my oral surgeon/orthodontist about these issues but it is late and I can't get a hold of them. Thanks for any help though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 14, 2004 Report Share Posted May 14, 2004 Possibility of reduced swelling in two more weeks? Most excellent, I'd say. Ask your surgeon whether he has any objection to your trying manual lymph drainage massage... That could also help. Also, drink LOTS of water. Not pop. Not coffee. but plain old water. That'll help flush it out. Getting the splint out? Yep. Lots of difference. You'll be able to brush your upper teeth! Wonderful! Best brush I've ever had. Probly also to speak more clearly and with less struggle. And getting rid of the splint will help a lot with breath issues, I think. (I can't smell anything ever, but i sure felt cleaner without it.) As for eating, I'd hope for some mashed potatoes, really fine soup,a puree of something or other. something soft, like meatloaf (ask for one made of sirloin!). I'm kidding about the sirloin -- you'd actually want it made of the tastier chuck, since it would be ground, anyhow, but if you call the restaurant ahead of time and tell them your troubles, I'd bet they'd make you some woweee! special stuff that your friends might even wind up envying. A wonderful custard or creme brulee dessert. (Big N.Y. restaurants specialise in reducing most everything to the liquid essence and using the flavors to make the meal rich.) It could be real fun to have your own customized menu, you know... And you have the perfect excuse. I've long heard that it's way better food if you ask for a Kosher meal on an airline flight... Get whatever special attention you can wangle. But call the place fixing the food, rather than asking an intermediary -- I'd bet you'll get a better response. I started soft foods, best I remember (i mean better than yogurt and ice cream and smoothies) about seven weeks. A soft-scrambled egg was my idea of heaven, at that point. a cold consomme something or other, with even a bit of sherry (or done madrilene) in it, is soooo sophisticated, trust me. You'll be able to mush stuff in the top of your mouth by then, I'd bet! Or a fine sorbet... Hey, anything you can open wide enough for, is super. And don't hesitate to take your own mouth-sized (or baby-sized) spoon, in your very own tiny, elegant evening bag -- with only other room for your " mad money " and a lipstick! Happy prom night! Cammie > It has been three weeks today since I had my surgery done (upper and > lower jaw, plus chin work) > > Now, in about two weeks I am graduating high school and I'll be > attending my grad ceremony and prom. I'm starting to get a little > worried because the way my oral surgeon made it sound, it sounded > like I should pretty much be back to normal for graduation, but > right now I'm still not really close to being " normal " at all. > > 1) I know recovery time is different for everyone, but what is the > possibility of the swelling going down by then? Like I said, its > been three weeks and the swelling has gone down considerably but it > is still not gone. I'm still pretty swollen in the lower cheek > areas. Any ideas to help speed up the process? > > 2) Right now I'm eating mushy things with a spoon (blenderized > zoodles and ravioli, cream soups, oatmeal, pudding, yogurt, etc.) > and I'm kind of hoping that I'll be able to eat some of the dinner > grad night. What is the estimated time to start eating soft > foods/regular foods? > > 3) I have a splint in my mouth right now and my orthodontist (whom > is doing most of my post-op because i live pretty far from where I > got my surgery done) has told me that when I do go visit my oral > surgeon (on the 20th) and have the splint removed it should make > things alot better. What exactly will the removal of the splint do? > Will it really make any difference? > > 4) Not so much in terms of grad, because I know I'll still have my > elastics on then..but what is the usual time that people stop > wearing the elastics? > > Yes, I'm quite impatient. I want to get back to normal as soon as > possible. I completely regret having this surgery done (though I'll > probably say otherwise years from now). > > One last question...what are some tips for teeth cleaning? I'm able > to brush the front of my teeth but I still have alot of difficulty > cleaning in behind. Also, any tips for battling bad breath as well? > Seeing as I can't chew gum I've become very self-conscious of my > breath and in turn have much difficulty talking to others in fear of > embarassment > > I know, I know...I really should talk to my oral > surgeon/orthodontist about these issues but it is late and I can't > get a hold of them. Thanks for any help though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 14, 2004 Report Share Posted May 14, 2004 < > Oh, this brings up memories. My husband used to order Kosher meals because they were sure to be lactose free. (Kosher food will not mix meat and dairy.) One year we went to Philly, and on the way there they brought his lovely meal of chicken and salad and fruit and ... lots of lovely, diary-free food. Only the chicken was frozen solid. The flight attendant took it back to microwave it. My husband ate everything else on his tray, but his chicken never returned. Finally, right before the end of the flight, she finally returned it. She had been trying to defrost it in the microwave the whole time, and it wouldn't thaw. He got it back with the center still solid, with barely enough time to pick at it before we had to stow our trays. Then on the way home it happened again! His chicken made thunking noises when he tapped it with his knife. He told the flight attendant, who said, " I'm sorry, but once you've touched something I cannot take it back from you and put it in the microwave. It's the law. " We argued - the attendant on the way there tried to thaw it - it hadn't been in his hands long enough for him to sabotage it - it was HER fault it was frozen solid, not his. Nothing prevailed. All she would do was offer him one of the normal meals in its place. I think that's when he stopped ordering Kosher meals on airlines. Kris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 14, 2004 Report Share Posted May 14, 2004 it sounds like your regrets are mostly in the form of wishing that the recovery time was quicker than it has been for you, especially considering you have those special events coming up. i can't answer a lot of your questions because i was wired for a full six weeks, so my recovery was different, but i'll try to share what i can. i am two months post-op and my swelling comes and goes a little still. its barely noticeable, but yes, i'm frustrated with it. my OS told me to apply heat a few times a day, but last week, i went against his instructions and started applying ice a couple of times in the evening when i get home from work. that has helped considerably. also, drink lots of water... this is good for you for many reasons, but i'm told that it also helps with swelling. after my wires were clipped at six weeks, i was able to eat soft pasta, breads and well-cooked veggies. i had my first hamburger last weekend, which was my 7 week mark. yesterday, my 8 week mark, my OS told me that i no longer need to wear my elastics and has officially sent me back to my ortho for the finishing touches. my jaws, since i've stopped the elastics, feel a little unstable. but i think this is just another phase of the recovery. being in a new position and all, i imagine it will take time to get used to the way it all feels. i'm paranoid that they are going to slip out of position (i don't even know if that's possible), so i keep checking in the mirror to make sure that they are still where they are supposed to be. lol! anyway, i hope that you have a blast at both prom and graduation! that is certainly an exciting time in life. i was there 9 years ago and loved it. even if you can't eat everything placed in front of you, i encourage you to focus on having fun and not about the food. when you look back on it later, you won't think about what you ate, you'll think about hanging out with your friends and stuff like that. take care, heather > It has been three weeks today since I had my surgery done (upper and > lower jaw, plus chin work) > > Now, in about two weeks I am graduating high school and I'll be > attending my grad ceremony and prom. I'm starting to get a little > worried because the way my oral surgeon made it sound, it sounded > like I should pretty much be back to normal for graduation, but > right now I'm still not really close to being " normal " at all. > > 1) I know recovery time is different for everyone, but what is the > possibility of the swelling going down by then? Like I said, its > been three weeks and the swelling has gone down considerably but it > is still not gone. I'm still pretty swollen in the lower cheek > areas. Any ideas to help speed up the process? > > 2) Right now I'm eating mushy things with a spoon (blenderized > zoodles and ravioli, cream soups, oatmeal, pudding, yogurt, etc.) > and I'm kind of hoping that I'll be able to eat some of the dinner > grad night. What is the estimated time to start eating soft > foods/regular foods? > > 3) I have a splint in my mouth right now and my orthodontist (whom > is doing most of my post-op because i live pretty far from where I > got my surgery done) has told me that when I do go visit my oral > surgeon (on the 20th) and have the splint removed it should make > things alot better. What exactly will the removal of the splint do? > Will it really make any difference? > > 4) Not so much in terms of grad, because I know I'll still have my > elastics on then..but what is the usual time that people stop > wearing the elastics? > > Yes, I'm quite impatient. I want to get back to normal as soon as > possible. I completely regret having this surgery done (though I'll > probably say otherwise years from now). > > One last question...what are some tips for teeth cleaning? I'm able > to brush the front of my teeth but I still have alot of difficulty > cleaning in behind. Also, any tips for battling bad breath as well? > Seeing as I can't chew gum I've become very self-conscious of my > breath and in turn have much difficulty talking to others in fear of > embarassment > > I know, I know...I really should talk to my oral > surgeon/orthodontist about these issues but it is late and I can't > get a hold of them. Thanks for any help though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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