Thanks all...we're finishing Day Three...A few questions.

[Guest guest]

Sending a note of thanks to this group for all of the support and

wonderful suggestions over the past week. My 15 year old son

who had lower jaw advancement last Wednesday has just

completed Day Three, and things are going OK. I've been able

to get questions answered very quickly via this group, and have

enjoyed connecting with another mama who is taking care of a

son who had the surgery last Thursday. Invaluable instant help

here!

The natural moodiness of adolescence combined with the post-

surgery ups and downs makes for an interesting rollercoaster

ride. Now that we've got the medication/pain managed and are

into some sort of routine, it's feeling better. He has a bowl with

ice with 2-3 zip'n'squeeze bags by him at all times...one with

water, one with Gatorade, and another with whatever else he's

trying to get down. He crashes every day around 5pm...and

needs to sleep. I can imagine that having his jaw wired for up to

6 weeks is going to get old very quickly.

Today bruises became much more evident on his face...which I

know will eventually leave.

1. How many days do we do ice? Is there a time when warm

heat should be used? Your comments/experiences would be

appreciated.

Also, he complains of having a bad taste in his mouth...he's

doing warm salt water rinses when we can get him to.

2. Any thoughts/experiences around freshening breath? What

about using a Water Pik? What did your surgeons recommend?

He didn't like the prescribed anti-bacterial mouthwash because

it hurt upon use. Sounds like his tongue has gotten speared on

the wires at times.

We'll be seeing our oral surgeon next Thursday. Thanks for your

comments.

[Guest guest]

Hello ,

Glad you got to connect with another mom - this is the best source of

information! I believe that all mom are part of an internation secret

network ;-)

> Today bruises became much more evident on his face...which I

> know will eventually leave.

I'm at day #19 and I have a very little yellow spot on my chest. That's all

that remains. Those in my face disapeared quite rapidly (10 days, not more)

> 1. How many days do we do ice? Is there a time when warm

> heat should be used? Your comments/experiences would be

> appreciated.

I was told, but this might differ from one surgeon to another, that ice

should be applied for the first 48 hours, and then move on to heat. Heat

will help relax the muscles and eventually will permit him to stop his

pain medication.

> 2. Any thoughts/experiences around freshening breath? What

> about using a Water Pik?

I was authorized (and strongly suggested) to use the waterpik after my first

visit to the surgeon's office. She looked at the cuts and agreed they were

solid enough for me to use this machine, AT THE LOWEST SETTING POSSIBLE.

I'd suggest you wait until your surgeon has a look at your son's mouth before

using a waterpik.

I used a salty mouthwash as well. Tasted awful, but I did it several times

a day, and it helped to keep my breath ok.

As for the bad taste, that might have nothing to do with the fact that he

can't brush his teeth. I went to several different tastes myself (iron,

porcelain,

plastic), where everything tasted just something else (and usually something

inoragnic). It won't last (it didn't in my case).

> He didn't like the prescribed anti-bacterial mouthwash because

> it hurt upon use. Sounds like his tongue has gotten speared on

> the wires at times.

I know it doesn't taste good, but ask a favour of him.. Have him use it

untill your next visit at the surgeon's office. There are other reaons for

using

this mouthwash... When the teeth and mouth can't be properly cleaned, there's

always a chance of fungus (or something alike) forming on the tongue or the

cheeks. That's why a medically formulated mouthwash is recommended.

I was lucky as when I was expected to use it, my surgeon gave me the Ok to

gently brush my teeth with toothpaste. BUT... Don't go just yet use a

toothpaste.

It might be too strong and could cause his cuts to reopen. We wouldn't want

that!

Ray

[Guest guest]

I did ice for 72 hours post-op and then switched to alternating ice

and moist heat for a day, and finally moist heat a few times per day.

The taste I had in my mouth was rubber from all the elastic bands

that held my jaws shut.

Salt water rinses are good; I also took some antiseptic mouthwash

(like Listerine I guess) and diluted it down 3:1. Then I used a

spray bottle with the nozzle adjusted to a stream to try to get it

back in my mouth and rinse off my braces, etc. I don't know if it

worked or not; it made things seem a bit fresher. Thankfully I only

had to be fixed shut for 5 days.

Your OS may not want you to use antiseptic mouthwash. My OS didn't

give me much in the way of guidance so I just did what I thought

would be OK. I figured if my stitches complained from the alcohol I

would stop doing it; but it wasn't a problem with the diluted

mouthwash.

Jay

> Sending a note of thanks to this group for all of the support and

> wonderful suggestions over the past week. My 15 year old son

> who had lower jaw advancement last Wednesday has just

> completed Day Three, and things are going OK. I've been able

> to get questions answered very quickly via this group, and have

> enjoyed connecting with another mama who is taking care of a

> son who had the surgery last Thursday. Invaluable instant help

> here!

>

> The natural moodiness of adolescence combined with the post-

> surgery ups and downs makes for an interesting rollercoaster

> ride. Now that we've got the medication/pain managed and are

> into some sort of routine, it's feeling better. He has a bowl

with

> ice with 2-3 zip'n'squeeze bags by him at all times...one with

> water, one with Gatorade, and another with whatever else he's

> trying to get down. He crashes every day around 5pm...and

> needs to sleep. I can imagine that having his jaw wired for up to

> 6 weeks is going to get old very quickly.

>

> Today bruises became much more evident on his face...which I

> know will eventually leave.

> 1. How many days do we do ice? Is there a time when warm

> heat should be used? Your comments/experiences would be

> appreciated.

>

> Also, he complains of having a bad taste in his mouth...he's

> doing warm salt water rinses when we can get him to.

> 2. Any thoughts/experiences around freshening breath? What

> about using a Water Pik? What did your surgeons recommend?

> He didn't like the prescribed anti-bacterial mouthwash because

> it hurt upon use. Sounds like his tongue has gotten speared on

> the wires at times.

> We'll be seeing our oral surgeon next Thursday. Thanks for your

> comments.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Glad to hear that all is progressing!

Congratulations to you and your son.

Ice/heat: do what your surgeon tells you. Opinions differ. Mine said,

Ice for 48 hours, then heat, but not heat for longer than 15 minutes

per session. Others say heat is not good, draws fluids to the area.

What my doc said worked for me.

Waterpik: Not until the doc clears him for it, or else you could do

damage to stitches.

Bad taste: Does he have a splint? Is he having trouble cleaning? It

may well be that warm saline is the best he can do. You might,

though, try diluting a non-alcohol mouthwash half and half with

water. (I wouldn't try this with Peridex, if that's the prescription

mouthwash. It can indeed leave a bad taste, which only gets worse

when you rinse with water.)

I'd suggest trying him with some chicken broth or beef consumme. They

might be the change he needs.

I sorry he's wired shut. That must indeed be miserable.

Cammie

> Sending a note of thanks to this group for all of the support and

> wonderful suggestions over the past week. My 15 year old son

> who had lower jaw advancement last Wednesday has just

> completed Day Three, and things are going OK. I've been able

> to get questions answered very quickly via this group, and have

> enjoyed connecting with another mama who is taking care of a

> son who had the surgery last Thursday. Invaluable instant help

> here!

>

> The natural moodiness of adolescence combined with the post-

> surgery ups and downs makes for an interesting rollercoaster

> ride. Now that we've got the medication/pain managed and are

> into some sort of routine, it's feeling better. He has a bowl with

> ice with 2-3 zip'n'squeeze bags by him at all times...one with

> water, one with Gatorade, and another with whatever else he's

> trying to get down. He crashes every day around 5pm...and

> needs to sleep. I can imagine that having his jaw wired for up to

> 6 weeks is going to get old very quickly.

>

> Today bruises became much more evident on his face...which I

> know will eventually leave.

> 1. How many days do we do ice? Is there a time when warm

> heat should be used? Your comments/experiences would be

> appreciated.

>

> Also, he complains of having a bad taste in his mouth...he's

> doing warm salt water rinses when we can get him to.

> 2. Any thoughts/experiences around freshening breath? What

> about using a Water Pik? What did your surgeons recommend?

> He didn't like the prescribed anti-bacterial mouthwash because

> it hurt upon use. Sounds like his tongue has gotten speared on

> the wires at times.

> We'll be seeing our oral surgeon next Thursday. Thanks for your

> comments.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Ooops! I think, if I'm not mistook, that Listerine has a pretty high

alcohol content, and can burn unhealed scars.

Biotene is the traditional recommendation, although I haven't heard

anybody hear mentioning it lately. It's a very gentle product that

won't sting or burn. Sorry I forgot to mention it earlier.

C.

> I did ice for 72 hours post-op and then switched to alternating ice

> and moist heat for a day, and finally moist heat a few times per

day.

>

> The taste I had in my mouth was rubber from all the elastic bands

> that held my jaws shut.

>

> Salt water rinses are good; I also took some antiseptic mouthwash

> (like Listerine I guess) and diluted it down 3:1. Then I used a

> spray bottle with the nozzle adjusted to a stream to try to get it

> back in my mouth and rinse off my braces, etc. I don't know if it

> worked or not; it made things seem a bit fresher. Thankfully I

only

> had to be fixed shut for 5 days.

>

> Your OS may not want you to use antiseptic mouthwash. My OS didn't

> give me much in the way of guidance so I just did what I thought

> would be OK. I figured if my stitches complained from the alcohol

I

> would stop doing it; but it wasn't a problem with the diluted

> mouthwash.

>

> Jay

>