surgery yesterday a.m. -- discharged today @ 2:30

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone.

Well, I had my surgery yesterday morning and it was done by 8:45 (1

hour long). I had my lower jaw set back (I don't know how far but

this is the first time that I every remember in my 36 years that my

front teeth overlapped my bottom teeth in a proper bite .

Anyway, I am so relieved that it is over. I was really concerned

about being able to breathe and that went fine and in fact, it seems

to be easier now that my jaw has been aligned properly.

I spent about 12 hours in the ICU to monitor my breathing and then I

was moved to a regular room after they removed my nasal trachea

tube. That darn thing gave and is still giving me a killer sore

throat!!!

I ended up being wired shut because of a last minute confusion about

whether I was allergic to latex and since the OS didn't want to take

any chances without knowing for sure, he wired me shut but once he

found out from my ortho that in fact, I wasn't allergic, I have an

appointment on Tuesday to get my jaws banded together and have a

splint installed.

I am a bit anxious about that because right now I can speak o.k. and

people can understand me pretty well, but I understand makes it even

harder to talk and be understood.

I had ice packs continuously on my face for the first 24 to 36 hours

until my OS said that I could stop. He said that my face will reach

peak swelling 48-72 hours after surgery and then should start to

subside. He said that the bruising will take a bit longer to

subside (probably first 7-10 days). I am bruising pretty badly

around my lower chin area. SOme of the stuff I've been reading say

to add heat after 48 hours to reduce bruising but my OS didn't

mention anything about this. Has anyone else heard this?

Other than being tired and a bit sore I'm doing well and just

relieved that it is over. I have the next two weeks of work off so

hopefully, after 17 days, I will be ready to return to work and feel

pretty well.

Well, that's my big news for the day. I'm sure I'll have many more

questions as my recovery progresses.

Talk to you soon.

Helen

[Guest guest]

---Hi Helen,

Good luck with recovery!! I used alot of ice which helped with the

swelling. The doctor told me no heat (didn't ask why). The

stuffiness and breathing get better close to day five to seven. Key

is pushing fluids, when stable ambulating alittle, ice, rest, and

trying to wean off pain meds. I thought the worst days were days two

through five then it gets better. Hope all goes well for you. Take

Care,

In orthognathicsurgerysupport , " hmakosky "

wrote:

> Hi everyone.

>

> Well, I had my surgery yesterday morning and it was done by 8:45

(1

> hour long). I had my lower jaw set back (I don't know how far but

> this is the first time that I every remember in my 36 years that

my

> front teeth overlapped my bottom teeth in a proper bite .

>

> Anyway, I am so relieved that it is over. I was really concerned

> about being able to breathe and that went fine and in fact, it

seems

> to be easier now that my jaw has been aligned properly.

>

> I spent about 12 hours in the ICU to monitor my breathing and then

I

> was moved to a regular room after they removed my nasal trachea

> tube. That darn thing gave and is still giving me a killer sore

> throat!!!

>

> I ended up being wired shut because of a last minute confusion

about

> whether I was allergic to latex and since the OS didn't want to

take

> any chances without knowing for sure, he wired me shut but once he

> found out from my ortho that in fact, I wasn't allergic, I have an

> appointment on Tuesday to get my jaws banded together and have a

> splint installed.

>

> I am a bit anxious about that because right now I can speak o.k.

and

> people can understand me pretty well, but I understand makes it

even

> harder to talk and be understood.

>

> I had ice packs continuously on my face for the first 24 to 36

hours

> until my OS said that I could stop. He said that my face will

reach

> peak swelling 48-72 hours after surgery and then should start to

> subside. He said that the bruising will take a bit longer to

> subside (probably first 7-10 days). I am bruising pretty badly

> around my lower chin area. SOme of the stuff I've been reading

say

> to add heat after 48 hours to reduce bruising but my OS didn't

> mention anything about this. Has anyone else heard this?

>

> Other than being tired and a bit sore I'm doing well and just

> relieved that it is over. I have the next two weeks of work off

so

> hopefully, after 17 days, I will be ready to return to work and

feel

> pretty well.

>

> Well, that's my big news for the day. I'm sure I'll have many

more

> questions as my recovery progresses.

>

> Talk to you soon.

>

> Helen

[Guest guest]

I asked, and was told no heat. I was told ice is only good at the

time of the initial injury (the surgery) - used it for 2 days in the

hospital, and when I got home because it felt good. Was told heat

only draws more fluids to the area hence increases the swelling. This

was told to me by the surgeon, my massage therapist and my MLD

therapist.

There are docs that do suggest heat, but mine wasn't one of them. I'd

go with your doc's advice (but also try what feels good too, just

monitor in case you increase swelling).

And according to my surgeon, swelling peaks on day 3 (surgery day not

counted).

> ---Hi Helen,

>

> Good luck with recovery!! I used alot of ice which helped with the

> swelling. The doctor told me no heat (didn't ask why). The

> stuffiness and breathing get better close to day five to seven.

Key

> is pushing fluids, when stable ambulating alittle, ice, rest, and

> trying to wean off pain meds. I thought the worst days were days

two

> through five then it gets better. Hope all goes well for you.

Take

> Care,

>

[Guest guest]

i was told to apply moist heat after 48 hours, i did that for a week

and i only ended up having a small bruise on my right cheek

[Guest guest]

Yes I was told to apply moist heat after 72 hours. Apparently it

helps to dissolve the blood clots that are in the surgical sites.

It also helps your joints and muscles feel better, especially in

those first few days after you are un-banded and moving your jaws

for the first time.

Jay

> Hi everyone.

>

> Well, I had my surgery yesterday morning and it was done by 8:45

(1

> hour long). I had my lower jaw set back (I don't know how far but

> this is the first time that I every remember in my 36 years that

my

> front teeth overlapped my bottom teeth in a proper bite .

>

> Anyway, I am so relieved that it is over. I was really concerned

> about being able to breathe and that went fine and in fact, it

seems

> to be easier now that my jaw has been aligned properly.

>

> I spent about 12 hours in the ICU to monitor my breathing and then

I

> was moved to a regular room after they removed my nasal trachea

> tube. That darn thing gave and is still giving me a killer sore

> throat!!!

>

> I ended up being wired shut because of a last minute confusion

about

> whether I was allergic to latex and since the OS didn't want to

take

> any chances without knowing for sure, he wired me shut but once he

> found out from my ortho that in fact, I wasn't allergic, I have an

> appointment on Tuesday to get my jaws banded together and have a

> splint installed.

>

> I am a bit anxious about that because right now I can speak o.k.

and

> people can understand me pretty well, but I understand makes it

even

> harder to talk and be understood.

>

> I had ice packs continuously on my face for the first 24 to 36

hours

> until my OS said that I could stop. He said that my face will

reach

> peak swelling 48-72 hours after surgery and then should start to

> subside. He said that the bruising will take a bit longer to

> subside (probably first 7-10 days). I am bruising pretty badly

> around my lower chin area. SOme of the stuff I've been reading

say

> to add heat after 48 hours to reduce bruising but my OS didn't

> mention anything about this. Has anyone else heard this?

>

> Other than being tired and a bit sore I'm doing well and just

> relieved that it is over. I have the next two weeks of work off

so

> hopefully, after 17 days, I will be ready to return to work and

feel

> pretty well.

>

> Well, that's my big news for the day. I'm sure I'll have many

more

> questions as my recovery progresses.

>

> Talk to you soon.

>

> Helen