Re: Surgery July 28th!! - Scuba diving

[Guest guest]

Hi fellow diver,

I would say that six weeks is a little early to be diving. The bones

should be fairly well healed by then but your muscles will still be

adjusting to your new bite. You may not even be able to open wide

enough to get a regulator in your mouth. Even if you can, your jaw

muscles will get really sore trying to hold the regulator in for any

period of time. My guess would be that it would probably be at least

3 months before you could dive again comfortably. Unfortunately for

me because of my TMJ problems, I can only open 17-20 mm and there is

no way I can even get a regulator in my mouth anymore so I haven't

been diving since my surgeries. I'm optimistic though that after my

next round of surgery, I'll be able to " blow bubbles " again.

> Hi all--

>

> Well, I was on here a few weeks ago posting about how concerned I

> was regarding the decisions my doctor is having me make regarding

> surgery. I am to have wisdom teeth removed, my upper jaw moved

back

> and upward, and lower jaw moved forward to correct an overbite and

> I've come to the conclusions that basically I should go along with

> the surgeon's recommendations. He suggests that I get the old

> school " wired shut " jaws for at least 4 weeks, only to avoid any

> chance of relapse. I now go in on Wednesday July 28th to

Washington

> Hospital Center for the surgery (I donated blood on Friday, had a

> complete physical, and now have one more appt. with the surgeon

> tomorrow).

>

> Here's the issue-- how laid up are you beyond the first 3-4

days??

> I would like to go to a concert in Virginia on Aug. 3rd (6 days

> after surgery) and I wonder if I'll feel up to going?? I really

> don't mind the aesthetic part, but I just hope to not feel

miserable

> at the show. If I had some energy drinks like Boost or even a Red

> Bull I wonder if it would improve my chances of feeling good?

I'm

> a very active person to begin with so I think the staying in bed

> thing would really prolong recovery rather than help it.

>

> I will definitely get online after my surgery to let you know how

it

> all went, hopefully with some good news for all of the August

> people!

>

> Another question (now if you hadn't thought so before, you all are

> going to think I'm crazy!)-- does anyone know how long before one

> can scuba dive after surgery?? I assume it's got to be a while

> because of the pressure beyond normal pool depths but I just

wonder

> if it would be okay once the jaw heals in the 6 weeks or so.

>

> W.

[Guest guest]

at 3 months my surgeon didnt want me scuba divin. he said snorkeling

was ok. and at 6 days I woulda felt too weak to go at the age of 24

and fast recovery. good luck!

> > Hi all--

> >

> > Well, I was on here a few weeks ago posting about how concerned I

> > was regarding the decisions my doctor is having me make regarding

> > surgery. I am to have wisdom teeth removed, my upper jaw moved

> back

> > and upward, and lower jaw moved forward to correct an overbite

and

> > I've come to the conclusions that basically I should go along

with

> > the surgeon's recommendations. He suggests that I get the old

> > school " wired shut " jaws for at least 4 weeks, only to avoid any

> > chance of relapse. I now go in on Wednesday July 28th to

> Washington

> > Hospital Center for the surgery (I donated blood on Friday, had a

> > complete physical, and now have one more appt. with the surgeon

> > tomorrow).

> >

> > Here's the issue-- how laid up are you beyond the first 3-4

> days??

> > I would like to go to a concert in Virginia on Aug. 3rd (6 days

> > after surgery) and I wonder if I'll feel up to going?? I really

> > don't mind the aesthetic part, but I just hope to not feel

> miserable

> > at the show. If I had some energy drinks like Boost or even a

Red

> > Bull I wonder if it would improve my chances of feeling good?

> I'm

> > a very active person to begin with so I think the staying in bed

> > thing would really prolong recovery rather than help it.

> >

> > I will definitely get online after my surgery to let you know how

> it

> > all went, hopefully with some good news for all of the August

> > people!

> >

> > Another question (now if you hadn't thought so before, you all

are

> > going to think I'm crazy!)-- does anyone know how long before one

> > can scuba dive after surgery?? I assume it's got to be a while

> > because of the pressure beyond normal pool depths but I just

> wonder

> > if it would be okay once the jaw heals in the 6 weeks or so.

> >

> > W.

[Guest guest]

The surgeon said that I can resume all normal activities once the

wires come off, but he said I probably wouldn't be able to open wide

enough for another month or two so diving might be out of the

question for a little while longer. Have you tried multiple times

to get the regulator in since your last surgery?? Is it too painful

or is your jaw just too tight for it?? I wonder if it might be a

rehabilitation thing-- maybe you could try working at it every

day?? Of course, my TMJ doesn't allow me to open much either

because of the jaw placement, just barely enough to get the

regulator in, so I guess we will see after this surgery how well it

deals with opening.

I just got back from my last appointment with the jaw surgeon and he

restored my confidence. He said that I should be able to go back to

doing some normal things by Monday, and he wants me up and out of

bed after 3 days so maybe this concert is the perfect excuse :-) He

said the only way to recover is to be up and active in order to get

the blood flowing and the swelling to go down as well (hopefully!)

I am going to be optimistic here! I'm going to the beach, going to

this concert, etc. dammit!! Hope you all do the same!! :-) :-) :-)

> > Hi all--

> >

> > Well, I was on here a few weeks ago posting about how concerned

I

> > was regarding the decisions my doctor is having me make

regarding

> > surgery. I am to have wisdom teeth removed, my upper jaw moved

> back

> > and upward, and lower jaw moved forward to correct an overbite

and

> > I've come to the conclusions that basically I should go along

with

> > the surgeon's recommendations. He suggests that I get the old

> > school " wired shut " jaws for at least 4 weeks, only to avoid any

> > chance of relapse. I now go in on Wednesday July 28th to

> Washington

> > Hospital Center for the surgery (I donated blood on Friday, had

a

> > complete physical, and now have one more appt. with the surgeon

> > tomorrow).

> >

> > Here's the issue-- how laid up are you beyond the first 3-4

> days??

> > I would like to go to a concert in Virginia on Aug. 3rd (6 days

> > after surgery) and I wonder if I'll feel up to going?? I really

> > don't mind the aesthetic part, but I just hope to not feel

> miserable

> > at the show. If I had some energy drinks like Boost or even a

Red

> > Bull I wonder if it would improve my chances of feeling good?

> I'm

> > a very active person to begin with so I think the staying in bed

> > thing would really prolong recovery rather than help it.

> >

> > I will definitely get online after my surgery to let you know

how

> it

> > all went, hopefully with some good news for all of the August

> > people!

> >

> > Another question (now if you hadn't thought so before, you all

are

> > going to think I'm crazy!)-- does anyone know how long before

one

> > can scuba dive after surgery?? I assume it's got to be a while

> > because of the pressure beyond normal pool depths but I just

> wonder

> > if it would be okay once the jaw heals in the 6 weeks or so.

> >

> > W.