3 months post op update and Braces OFF - Hurrah (long post)

[Guest guest]

Hi everybody....

It has been a while since i have posted what with planning my wedding

and the insanity of work But I thought i would post a 3 month update

as I have found other peoples useful going through this experience.

I had my first Op on 17th Feb (upper and lower) for an overbite and

assymetery. - Recovery a bit rough in the first week but on the whole

not too beardable - or could it be that the mind is great at

forgetting :-)

However due to a relapse I had to have the Lower done again on March

23rd (which I have to say was a lot less tough than double surgey for

me) and something I was not expecting - I had tried to plan all of

this so I could be well healed for my wedding in October...

Pain - would say that I am pain free 95% of the time now - get the

occasional jaw joint pain in the morning but can't remember having to

take painkillers for a month or so .

Numbness - My surgeon warned me that because of having two Op's the

risk of permanent numbness was greater and until a few weeks ago I

was very concered and had resigned myself to the fact that I was not

gonna get the feeling back. ( The worse numbness was INSIDE my

mouth ).Then about 3 weeks ago it felt like my nerves were having a

party - they drove me mad my, lips were constantly tingling. my chin

felt like it was having little elecric shock's etc etc... then when

putting lisptick on the other day it dawned on me that i could feel

my bottom lip and the elecytic shock feeling in my chin is subsiding

and i have 90% feeling back there too.. The inside of my mouth had

about 90% feeilng too now and I think I am quite lucky not to have

any permanent numb spots.

Swelling - I would say 95% Gone and again that is only in the last

few weeks (I also have a jaw line which is very nice!)

Scarring - One is almost faded completely and one is slightly raised

and irratted, I am using a product called Cicla Care which is

supposed to reduce raised scars ands you wear it for up to 12 hours a

day over the scar.

Braces - I had a suprise last week when my ortho said - lets get

these off Tuesday as the work is complete. Lets say I was a happy

bunny, Getting them off was quick and reletively painless and I was

extremely suprised at the LACK of damage and staining to my

teeth.They looked fabtastic and all they needed was 40 mins with the

hygenist.( ahd envisiged vaneers and bleaching etc - not needed)

Retainers - I have reatiners to wear permanentely for the next 3

months but they are clear and just clip over my teeth and are

pratiucally invisable.- i will then go onto wearing them at night

only.

Opening - No problems - can't quite fit in a Big Mac but a hamburger

is NO problem as a guidline on how far can i open.

Eating / Chewing - I can manage just about everything now - Have

eaten steak, Sandwiches, Crisps,Good old rAost beef and yorkshire

Pudding (well I am english after all !!!!!!) etc... just must

remember that i can chew on both sides now not just the right !!.

Haven't eaten Toffee yet though.

Weight Loss - I started out at 150 LBS and I now weigh 132 lbs.i

suppose one good thing is that I no longer Snack at all - which is

why I think I have kept off the weight (I have also started walking

eveywhere as this was the only form of exercise I was allowed to do

after the Op and it seems like a good habit to keep up)

Apperence / Results - Am I happy with the final results, was it worth

it etc, would i go through it agian - Hell yeah.

I love the new me and the changes are quite drastic i believe and i

have loads more self confidence -

Also the fact that my jaws function properley for the first time ever

is fantastic and I only wised i had done this years ago.

If anybody has any questions fire away

Good look to anybody preparing to go through this and if I can be of

any help please holler.

Joanne Fron London

[Guest guest]

Congratulations Joanne From London...!

> Hi everybody....

>

> It has been a while since i have posted what with planning my

wedding

> and the insanity of work But I thought i would post a 3 month

update

> as I have found other peoples useful going through this experience.

>

> I had my first Op on 17th Feb (upper and lower) for an overbite

and

> assymetery. - Recovery a bit rough in the first week but on the

whole

> not too beardable - or could it be that the mind is great at

> forgetting :-)

>

> However due to a relapse I had to have the Lower done again on

March

> 23rd (which I have to say was a lot less tough than double surgey

for

> me) and something I was not expecting - I had tried to plan all of

> this so I could be well healed for my wedding in October...

>

> Pain - would say that I am pain free 95% of the time now - get

the

> occasional jaw joint pain in the morning but can't remember having

to

> take painkillers for a month or so .

>

> Numbness - My surgeon warned me that because of having two Op's

the

> risk of permanent numbness was greater and until a few weeks ago I

> was very concered and had resigned myself to the fact that I was

not

> gonna get the feeling back. ( The worse numbness was INSIDE my

> mouth ).Then about 3 weeks ago it felt like my nerves were having

a

> party - they drove me mad my, lips were constantly tingling. my

chin

> felt like it was having little elecric shock's etc etc... then

when

> putting lisptick on the other day it dawned on me that i could

feel

> my bottom lip and the elecytic shock feeling in my chin is

subsiding

> and i have 90% feeling back there too.. The inside of my mouth had

> about 90% feeilng too now and I think I am quite lucky not to have

> any permanent numb spots.

>

> Swelling - I would say 95% Gone and again that is only in the last

> few weeks (I also have a jaw line which is very nice!)

>

> Scarring - One is almost faded completely and one is slightly

raised

> and irratted, I am using a product called Cicla Care which is

> supposed to reduce raised scars ands you wear it for up to 12

hours a

> day over the scar.

>

> Braces - I had a suprise last week when my ortho said - lets get

> these off Tuesday as the work is complete. Lets say I was a happy

> bunny, Getting them off was quick and reletively painless and I

was

> extremely suprised at the LACK of damage and staining to my

> teeth.They looked fabtastic and all they needed was 40 mins with

the

> hygenist.( ahd envisiged vaneers and bleaching etc - not needed)

>

> Retainers - I have reatiners to wear permanentely for the next 3

> months but they are clear and just clip over my teeth and are

> pratiucally invisable.- i will then go onto wearing them at night

> only.

>

> Opening - No problems - can't quite fit in a Big Mac but a

hamburger

> is NO problem as a guidline on how far can i open.

>

> Eating / Chewing - I can manage just about everything now - Have

> eaten steak, Sandwiches, Crisps,Good old rAost beef and yorkshire

> Pudding (well I am english after all !!!!!!) etc... just must

> remember that i can chew on both sides now not just the right !!.

> Haven't eaten Toffee yet though.

>

> Weight Loss - I started out at 150 LBS and I now weigh 132 lbs.i

> suppose one good thing is that I no longer Snack at all - which is

> why I think I have kept off the weight (I have also started

walking

> eveywhere as this was the only form of exercise I was allowed to

do

> after the Op and it seems like a good habit to keep up)

>

> Apperence / Results - Am I happy with the final results, was it

worth

> it etc, would i go through it agian - Hell yeah.

> I love the new me and the changes are quite drastic i believe and

i

> have loads more self confidence -

> Also the fact that my jaws function properley for the first time

ever

> is fantastic and I only wised i had done this years ago.

>

> If anybody has any questions fire away

>

> Good look to anybody preparing to go through this and if I can be

of

> any help please holler.

>

> Joanne Fron London

[Guest guest]

Hi Joanne

Great to hear you are doing well.

If you remeber I had upper and lower with palatal split on 14th

April.

It seemed to go very well - both the ortho and surgeon are pleased.

My worrying nature has however given me a concern - I have some pain

on the left side on opening as wide as I can get (which does not

seem too much)

I have been given tongue depressor exercises but it seems to be a

case of two steps forward three back. Were you given exercises of

any description to help with opening?

My ortho is planning to remove my braces on 14th July - ie 3 months

post op like you.

At the time he said (7 weeks post op) this I had only been given

leave to start chewing things for a couple of days and now I've been

attempting to eat for about 3 weeks I feel the tongue side of my

molars on one side don't meet properly. I'm not sure if that is the

norm or not so I need to ask him and be prepared to be in them a bit

longer if necessary. I do find chewing a bit of a chore and seem

very clumsy at it. I wonder if its just getting used to a new fit

of teeth and jaw.

I'm also wondering how he can take molds for the retainer bearing in

mind my opening width is so awful (its about 20mm).

I've worried about numbness too. My chin and bottom lip have

altered sensation so not strictly numb just all crawly and feeling

stiff and swollen. It feels a bit of a strain to pronounce all my

m's, p's and b's!

I still have a bit of swelling on the lower part of my chin and

slightly puffy cheeks, moreso in the morning.

My nose has deviated to the surgeon said he could fix this for me.

It can wait until we get back from a trip to Australia in August.

That trip is one reason I'm keen to get the braces off sooner rather

than later but I'll stick with whatever the advice is.

Best wishes

Sue (UK)

[Guest guest]

Hi Sue

I did have a problem with Pain and opening at first but in time that

went away and I have not been given any exercises.

I had moulds taken for my second surgery 5 weeks after my first

operation and I there was no problem with taking them so I am sure

you will be fine.( and I couldn't open much then)

Chewing still isn't perfect and I sometimes struggle - though it is

getting better slowly.I think a lot of iy is the new fit too.

Good luck with getting the braces off - It is lovely !!!!!

Have fun in Oz

Joanne

> Hi Joanne

>

> Great to hear you are doing well.

>

> If you remeber I had upper and lower with palatal split on 14th

> April.

>

>

> It seemed to go very well - both the ortho and surgeon are pleased.

>

> My worrying nature has however given me a concern - I have some

pain

> on the left side on opening as wide as I can get (which does not

> seem too much)

>

> I have been given tongue depressor exercises but it seems to be a

> case of two steps forward three back. Were you given exercises of

> any description to help with opening?

>

>

> My ortho is planning to remove my braces on 14th July - ie 3 months

> post op like you.

>

> At the time he said (7 weeks post op) this I had only been given

> leave to start chewing things for a couple of days and now I've

been

> attempting to eat for about 3 weeks I feel the tongue side of my

> molars on one side don't meet properly. I'm not sure if that is

the

> norm or not so I need to ask him and be prepared to be in them a

bit

> longer if necessary. I do find chewing a bit of a chore and seem

> very clumsy at it. I wonder if its just getting used to a new fit

> of teeth and jaw.

>

> I'm also wondering how he can take molds for the retainer bearing

in

> mind my opening width is so awful (its about 20mm).

>

> I've worried about numbness too. My chin and bottom lip have

> altered sensation so not strictly numb just all crawly and feeling

> stiff and swollen. It feels a bit of a strain to pronounce all my

> m's, p's and b's!

>

> I still have a bit of swelling on the lower part of my chin and

> slightly puffy cheeks, moreso in the morning.

>

> My nose has deviated to the surgeon said he could fix this for me.

> It can wait until we get back from a trip to Australia in August.

> That trip is one reason I'm keen to get the braces off sooner

rather

> than later but I'll stick with whatever the advice is.

>

> Best wishes

> Sue (UK)