My 2nd post-op appt

[Guest guest]

Hi ya'll,

I had my 2nd post-op appointment with my OS today. He checked out my

bite and told me that the bands were doing there job. He said that

lots of progress had been made since he first put the bands on last

Thursday. He replaced those bands and added a few more. I look like

Hannibal Lectur! He handed me a bag of bands and asked me if I would

be able to change them on Thursday since they lose their elasticity

after a few days. I told him I had no problem changing the bands

out. Glad I bought that hemostat! Since returning home, I have been

checking out the configuration and memorizing the number of bands and

their placement. If it will help me get through this process

sooner . . . I have no problem with participating in my own recovery.

After he was finished all he had to do, I had to ask him about one

thing that had puzzled me after my surgery. Before leaving the

hospital, the assisting OS told me to wear the compression bandage

for another 24hrs. When I removed it and looked in the mirror, as I

turned my head from side to side, I noticed that I did not have the

tiny external incisions that are made in order to put the screws in

the lower jaw. I knew the screws were there because I saw them in

the x-ray last week. I asked him just how did he get those screws

in. He said he retracted like hell and he put the screws in on an

angle. Who knew!!! This explains why the corners of my mouth sort

of scabbed over and eventually fell off. By the way, my lips are in

great condition. I have been using the Aquaphor religiously and so

far no cracking or peeling.

He also said I can now gently blow my nose and that I no longer have

to sleep elevated. Even though my swelling is drastically down, I

think I will continue to sleep elevated for a few more nights.

One thing I told him that needs to be stressed to patients pre-

surgery and I will tell all you pre-ops out there . . . make sure you

do all that you can to prevent, dare I say it, constipation post

surgery. Speaking from experience, this was by far the worse part of

my recovery. Enough said!

Good luck and best wishes to all post and pre ops out there!

With kindest regards,

Dale