Surgery on July 6th Upper and Lower jaw with bone and reconstruction madible

[Guest guest]

I am 43 year old Male and I am scheduled for surgery on July 6th. My

surgery is quite extensive because it includes upper and lower jaw,

need to use some bone from my hip, chin and also the replacement of

some hardware that was used about 15 years to reconstruct my

mandible.

I am very comfortable with my Doctor but really concenred about

surgery. I am not sure what to expect. The Doctor is saying I should

expect 8 hours of surgery and be hospitialized for 4 days.

WHas anyone had similar surgery? What should I expect when I wake up

in recovery? When will I be fully recovered? What will the pain be

like.

These are all the questions I have if someone can comment I greatly

appreciate it.

Thanks,

[Guest guest]

> I am 43 year old Male and I am scheduled for surgery on July 6th. My

> surgery is quite extensive because it includes upper and lower jaw,

> need to use some bone from my hip, chin and also the replacement of

> some hardware that was used about 15 years to reconstruct my

> mandible.

>

> I am very comfortable with my Doctor but really concenred about

> surgery. I am not sure what to expect. The Doctor is saying I should

> expect 8 hours of surgery and be hospitialized for 4 days.

>

> WHas anyone had similar surgery? What should I expect when I wake up

> in recovery? When will I be fully recovered? What will the pain be

> like.

>

> These are all the questions I have if someone can comment I greatly

> appreciate it.

>

> Thanks,

>

>

,

I just had (3 weeks ago), upper / lower / genio / piece of bone took from

my hip to be grafted in my face (somewhere in the upper jaw and the chin).

The worst pain is, surprise, surprise... THAT DA... HIP!! Sounds strange,

but believe me, it's the thruth. You will not be able to walk freely for at

least

5 to 7 days, depending on how in shape you are currently. I wasn't and it

took like a good 12 days before the pain from the hip became tolerable.

If you're alone, you'll need a cane. Otherwise, for the first 10 or 12 days,

make sure you get someone to help you with the grocery, drugstore, etc.

And I wasn't able to drive (I have a manual transmission car, perhaps it

would have been different with an automatic car)

I was under for 9 hours, and I stayed four days at the hospital (one day

more than I was expecting). I had a bad reaction to morphine (I became

agitated) and in 2 days, I was able to get 1 or 2 hours of sleep. Once I

was transfered to codeine, I was ok, and begun to eat and drink. I was

permitted to leave the hospital on the following day (day #4)

I had help at home for the first two weeks, my friend stayed with me.

I think I needed help only for the first 5 or 7 days, not more. Sleeping was

a problem because of my hip, mainly. I couldn't sleep on it, neither sleep

on the opposite side. I had to sleep on my back, but I'm everything but a

back sleeper. I had a hard time sleeping in my rocking chair. But I managed.

If you have more specific questions, I'd be glad to answer them.

Ray