Guest guest Posted November 21, 2004 Report Share Posted November 21, 2004 First, and most important -- you have a mistaken impression. The very BEST info you will get will come from your surgeon and your ortho, who have been trained, carefully, and have treated many, many patients, and who will have studied your particular case. Nothing anyone here -- including me -- can offer will in any way be more helpful than what your docs tell you. Do you know for sure that you will be wired? If not, ask. It is easier to take in food, even if it needs to be soft or liquid, if you are not. But lots of folks have made it on blended foods, Ensure, Boost and the like. Exercise? Don't worry about that, except for keeping moving (as in walking) post op until your doc tells you it's ok. You do need some movement, to help the circulation and make you feel better, but you also need to be careful not to burn those calories you need for the healing process. I took four weeks off -- but I was almost 57 when I had the surgery. The most difficult aftermath for me was weariness, not pain. You may be younger, stronger and bounce back more quickly. Best, C. > > Hi, I am new to this site and looking for any advice you may have. I > have had on my braces since March and am scheduled for surgery in > December. My lower jaw is too long and off-center, so although it > appears fine (and I had braces as a teenager to straighten my > teeth), my bite is horrible and I have a lot of pain and migraines. > Has anyone else had this problem and had it fixed with surgery? > Anyway, I am really looking forward to having the surgery completed, > but am starting to get nervous now that it's getting so close and > the date has been scheduled! Some of my main questions are: after > the surgery, how long were you in bed or feeling really badly? how > long did you take off from work? with your jaw wired shut, what are > the best things to " eat " ? how did you avoid feeling sick from not > eating enough? how about exercise? I know that my surgeon will be > able to provide me some information but I know its not as good as > someone who's actually had it done. So, any info you can give me > would be much appreciated - thanks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 21, 2004 Report Share Posted November 21, 2004 First, and most important -- you have a mistaken impression. The very BEST info you will get will come from your surgeon and your ortho, who have been trained, carefully, and have treated many, many patients, and who will have studied your particular case. Nothing anyone here -- including me -- can offer will in any way be more helpful than what your docs tell you. Do you know for sure that you will be wired? If not, ask. It is easier to take in food, even if it needs to be soft or liquid, if you are not. But lots of folks have made it on blended foods, Ensure, Boost and the like. Exercise? Don't worry about that, except for keeping moving (as in walking) post op until your doc tells you it's ok. You do need some movement, to help the circulation and make you feel better, but you also need to be careful not to burn those calories you need for the healing process. I took four weeks off -- but I was almost 57 when I had the surgery. The most difficult aftermath for me was weariness, not pain. You may be younger, stronger and bounce back more quickly. Best, C. > > Hi, I am new to this site and looking for any advice you may have. I > have had on my braces since March and am scheduled for surgery in > December. My lower jaw is too long and off-center, so although it > appears fine (and I had braces as a teenager to straighten my > teeth), my bite is horrible and I have a lot of pain and migraines. > Has anyone else had this problem and had it fixed with surgery? > Anyway, I am really looking forward to having the surgery completed, > but am starting to get nervous now that it's getting so close and > the date has been scheduled! Some of my main questions are: after > the surgery, how long were you in bed or feeling really badly? how > long did you take off from work? with your jaw wired shut, what are > the best things to " eat " ? how did you avoid feeling sick from not > eating enough? how about exercise? I know that my surgeon will be > able to provide me some information but I know its not as good as > someone who's actually had it done. So, any info you can give me > would be much appreciated - thanks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 24, 2004 Report Share Posted November 24, 2004 C-Thanks for your message! Its not that I don't trust the OS and ortho at all nor do I minimize their role in all of this, I just think the perspective of someone who's been through it is really invaluable. I am very happy with all that the docs have told me and trust them completely! I do know that I will need my jaw wired shut unfortunately. When I went for my consultation many months ago it was up in the air but as its gotten closer he said it will be necessary, probably about 4 weeks wired shut. I am in graduate school full-time and am having the surgery done over the semester break, which is exactly 4 weeks...so of course I'm hoping to be " back to normal " before school starts, but I don't want to get my hopes up. I also work part-time which is very flexible and they are very accomodating so I am not as worried as falling behind with that as I am with school. But now I have another question. All along it has been sort of a " toss up " as to whether I need to have both my upper and lower jaw done, or just my lower jaw. The ortho and OS are each relying on each other to make this call, and it still has not been made because they still just can't tell if the orthodontia after surgery will be able to keep bringing the teeth down on the right side from he upper jaw. Personally I really just want it to the be the lower jaw because they have told that the recovery will be much easier that way, but of course I want it to be right and whatever needs to be done. As it is, I am scheduled for surgery in three weeks and was scheduled extra time in case at the last minute the OS wants to do the upper jaw. Has anyone else had this uncertainly so close to the surgery? What ended up happening? Thank you! -Colleen > > > > Hi, I am new to this site and looking for any advice you may have. > I > > have had on my braces since March and am scheduled for surgery in > > December. My lower jaw is too long and off-center, so although it > > appears fine (and I had braces as a teenager to straighten my > > teeth), my bite is horrible and I have a lot of pain and > migraines. > > Has anyone else had this problem and had it fixed with surgery? > > Anyway, I am really looking forward to having the surgery > completed, > > but am starting to get nervous now that it's getting so close and > > the date has been scheduled! Some of my main questions are: after > > the surgery, how long were you in bed or feeling really badly? how > > long did you take off from work? with your jaw wired shut, what > are > > the best things to " eat " ? how did you avoid feeling sick from not > > eating enough? how about exercise? I know that my surgeon will be > > able to provide me some information but I know its not as good as > > someone who's actually had it done. So, any info you can give me > > would be much appreciated - thanks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 24, 2004 Report Share Posted November 24, 2004 C-Thanks for your message! Its not that I don't trust the OS and ortho at all nor do I minimize their role in all of this, I just think the perspective of someone who's been through it is really invaluable. I am very happy with all that the docs have told me and trust them completely! I do know that I will need my jaw wired shut unfortunately. When I went for my consultation many months ago it was up in the air but as its gotten closer he said it will be necessary, probably about 4 weeks wired shut. I am in graduate school full-time and am having the surgery done over the semester break, which is exactly 4 weeks...so of course I'm hoping to be " back to normal " before school starts, but I don't want to get my hopes up. I also work part-time which is very flexible and they are very accomodating so I am not as worried as falling behind with that as I am with school. But now I have another question. All along it has been sort of a " toss up " as to whether I need to have both my upper and lower jaw done, or just my lower jaw. The ortho and OS are each relying on each other to make this call, and it still has not been made because they still just can't tell if the orthodontia after surgery will be able to keep bringing the teeth down on the right side from he upper jaw. Personally I really just want it to the be the lower jaw because they have told that the recovery will be much easier that way, but of course I want it to be right and whatever needs to be done. As it is, I am scheduled for surgery in three weeks and was scheduled extra time in case at the last minute the OS wants to do the upper jaw. Has anyone else had this uncertainly so close to the surgery? What ended up happening? Thank you! -Colleen > > > > Hi, I am new to this site and looking for any advice you may have. > I > > have had on my braces since March and am scheduled for surgery in > > December. My lower jaw is too long and off-center, so although it > > appears fine (and I had braces as a teenager to straighten my > > teeth), my bite is horrible and I have a lot of pain and > migraines. > > Has anyone else had this problem and had it fixed with surgery? > > Anyway, I am really looking forward to having the surgery > completed, > > but am starting to get nervous now that it's getting so close and > > the date has been scheduled! Some of my main questions are: after > > the surgery, how long were you in bed or feeling really badly? how > > long did you take off from work? with your jaw wired shut, what > are > > the best things to " eat " ? how did you avoid feeling sick from not > > eating enough? how about exercise? I know that my surgeon will be > > able to provide me some information but I know its not as good as > > someone who's actually had it done. So, any info you can give me > > would be much appreciated - thanks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 24, 2004 Report Share Posted November 24, 2004 Yes, after continued study of my molds, my OS opted to change my surgery plan one week prior to my surgery and it turned out for the best. By doing so, I had numerous plates and screws on the upper and lower jaw which meant bands only and no wiring. I was really grateful for that. Either way, your OS knows the best treatment plan for you. We all understand your anxiety, though. Pam > > > > > > Hi, I am new to this site and looking for any advice you may > have. > > I > > > have had on my braces since March and am scheduled for surgery > in > > > December. My lower jaw is too long and off-center, so although > it > > > appears fine (and I had braces as a teenager to straighten my > > > teeth), my bite is horrible and I have a lot of pain and > > migraines. > > > Has anyone else had this problem and had it fixed with surgery? > > > Anyway, I am really looking forward to having the surgery > > completed, > > > but am starting to get nervous now that it's getting so close > and > > > the date has been scheduled! Some of my main questions are: > after > > > the surgery, how long were you in bed or feeling really badly? > how > > > long did you take off from work? with your jaw wired shut, what > > are > > > the best things to " eat " ? how did you avoid feeling sick from > not > > > eating enough? how about exercise? I know that my surgeon will > be > > > able to provide me some information but I know its not as good > as > > > someone who's actually had it done. So, any info you can give me > > > would be much appreciated - thanks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 24, 2004 Report Share Posted November 24, 2004 Yes, after continued study of my molds, my OS opted to change my surgery plan one week prior to my surgery and it turned out for the best. By doing so, I had numerous plates and screws on the upper and lower jaw which meant bands only and no wiring. I was really grateful for that. Either way, your OS knows the best treatment plan for you. We all understand your anxiety, though. Pam > > > > > > Hi, I am new to this site and looking for any advice you may > have. > > I > > > have had on my braces since March and am scheduled for surgery > in > > > December. My lower jaw is too long and off-center, so although > it > > > appears fine (and I had braces as a teenager to straighten my > > > teeth), my bite is horrible and I have a lot of pain and > > migraines. > > > Has anyone else had this problem and had it fixed with surgery? > > > Anyway, I am really looking forward to having the surgery > > completed, > > > but am starting to get nervous now that it's getting so close > and > > > the date has been scheduled! Some of my main questions are: > after > > > the surgery, how long were you in bed or feeling really badly? > how > > > long did you take off from work? with your jaw wired shut, what > > are > > > the best things to " eat " ? how did you avoid feeling sick from > not > > > eating enough? how about exercise? I know that my surgeon will > be > > > able to provide me some information but I know its not as good > as > > > someone who's actually had it done. So, any info you can give me > > > would be much appreciated - thanks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 24, 2004 Report Share Posted November 24, 2004 Well, I sort of did. When we started out, it was to be lower alone. At about month 14, my ortho started making noises about upper, too. So much so that I asked my surgeon, immediately before surgery at month 16, whether he thought I needed upper too. He told me that he would not do it on me -- " No way; you wouldn't get that much benefit from it. " So I said, " It's up to you. I trust you. " I also know people who have left the decision about genio up to their surgeons, at least one waited until he was actually in the process of surgery to decide, with his patient's approval. He decided not to do it. It's frustrating and frightening, but most of the surgeons are really highly experienced and trained, and some things can happen differently than projected. If so, I'd want my doc to be able to " pick up the pieces " and do whatever, in his judgment, would work best for me. There have been, if I'm not mistaken, folks who've started out expecting two-jaw work, and wound up with one; folks who've started out expecting one and wound up with two... And I even know of one instance in which a woman expected surgery but when my surgeon looked, just before the surgery, he said, " Go home. Your ortho has done it all, and there's nothing left for me to do! " (I tried to bribe him to do the same for me, using a very nice bottle of a champagne he'd told me he liked, but he drank the champagne and said, " See you in the OR! " Cammie > > C-Thanks for your message! Its not that I don't trust the OS and > ortho at all nor do I minimize their role in all of this, I just > think the perspective of someone who's been through it is really > invaluable. I am very happy with all that the docs have told me and > trust them completely! I do know that I will need my jaw wired shut > unfortunately. When I went for my consultation many months ago it > was up in the air but as its gotten closer he said it will be > necessary, probably about 4 weeks wired shut. > > I am in graduate school full-time and am having the surgery done > over the semester break, which is exactly 4 weeks...so of course I'm > hoping to be " back to normal " before school starts, but I don't want > to get my hopes up. I also work part-time which is very flexible and > they are very accomodating so I am not as worried as falling behind > with that as I am with school. > > But now I have another question. All along it has been sort of > a " toss up " as to whether I need to have both my upper and lower jaw > done, or just my lower jaw. The ortho and OS are each relying on > each other to make this call, and it still has not been made because > they still just can't tell if the orthodontia after surgery will be > able to keep bringing the teeth down on the right side from he upper > jaw. Personally I really just want it to the be the lower jaw > because they have told that the recovery will be much easier that > way, but of course I want it to be right and whatever needs to be > done. > > As it is, I am scheduled for surgery in three weeks and was > scheduled extra time in case at the last minute the OS wants to do > the upper jaw. Has anyone else had this uncertainly so close to the > surgery? What ended up happening? Thank you! > > -Colleen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 24, 2004 Report Share Posted November 24, 2004 Well, I sort of did. When we started out, it was to be lower alone. At about month 14, my ortho started making noises about upper, too. So much so that I asked my surgeon, immediately before surgery at month 16, whether he thought I needed upper too. He told me that he would not do it on me -- " No way; you wouldn't get that much benefit from it. " So I said, " It's up to you. I trust you. " I also know people who have left the decision about genio up to their surgeons, at least one waited until he was actually in the process of surgery to decide, with his patient's approval. He decided not to do it. It's frustrating and frightening, but most of the surgeons are really highly experienced and trained, and some things can happen differently than projected. If so, I'd want my doc to be able to " pick up the pieces " and do whatever, in his judgment, would work best for me. There have been, if I'm not mistaken, folks who've started out expecting two-jaw work, and wound up with one; folks who've started out expecting one and wound up with two... And I even know of one instance in which a woman expected surgery but when my surgeon looked, just before the surgery, he said, " Go home. Your ortho has done it all, and there's nothing left for me to do! " (I tried to bribe him to do the same for me, using a very nice bottle of a champagne he'd told me he liked, but he drank the champagne and said, " See you in the OR! " Cammie > > C-Thanks for your message! Its not that I don't trust the OS and > ortho at all nor do I minimize their role in all of this, I just > think the perspective of someone who's been through it is really > invaluable. I am very happy with all that the docs have told me and > trust them completely! I do know that I will need my jaw wired shut > unfortunately. When I went for my consultation many months ago it > was up in the air but as its gotten closer he said it will be > necessary, probably about 4 weeks wired shut. > > I am in graduate school full-time and am having the surgery done > over the semester break, which is exactly 4 weeks...so of course I'm > hoping to be " back to normal " before school starts, but I don't want > to get my hopes up. I also work part-time which is very flexible and > they are very accomodating so I am not as worried as falling behind > with that as I am with school. > > But now I have another question. All along it has been sort of > a " toss up " as to whether I need to have both my upper and lower jaw > done, or just my lower jaw. The ortho and OS are each relying on > each other to make this call, and it still has not been made because > they still just can't tell if the orthodontia after surgery will be > able to keep bringing the teeth down on the right side from he upper > jaw. Personally I really just want it to the be the lower jaw > because they have told that the recovery will be much easier that > way, but of course I want it to be right and whatever needs to be > done. > > As it is, I am scheduled for surgery in three weeks and was > scheduled extra time in case at the last minute the OS wants to do > the upper jaw. Has anyone else had this uncertainly so close to the > surgery? What ended up happening? Thank you! > > -Colleen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 26, 2004 Report Share Posted November 26, 2004 Well, I am very glad to hear that other people have had the surgery plan change close to the date. My ortho and OS decided to meet today and hopefully will be able to make the final desicion (if not my OS will decide during the surgery). I will be fine with whatever they decide, I just want this to be right the first time. Thanks for your responses! > > > > > > > > Hi, I am new to this site and looking for any advice you may > > have. > > > I > > > > have had on my braces since March and am scheduled for surgery > > in > > > > December. My lower jaw is too long and off-center, so although > > it > > > > appears fine (and I had braces as a teenager to straighten my > > > > teeth), my bite is horrible and I have a lot of pain and > > > migraines. > > > > Has anyone else had this problem and had it fixed with surgery? > > > > Anyway, I am really looking forward to having the surgery > > > completed, > > > > but am starting to get nervous now that it's getting so close > > and > > > > the date has been scheduled! Some of my main questions are: > > after > > > > the surgery, how long were you in bed or feeling really badly? > > how > > > > long did you take off from work? with your jaw wired shut, > what > > > are > > > > the best things to " eat " ? how did you avoid feeling sick from > > not > > > > eating enough? how about exercise? I know that my surgeon will > > be > > > > able to provide me some information but I know its not as good > > as > > > > someone who's actually had it done. So, any info you can give > me > > > > would be much appreciated - thanks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 26, 2004 Report Share Posted November 26, 2004 Well, I am very glad to hear that other people have had the surgery plan change close to the date. My ortho and OS decided to meet today and hopefully will be able to make the final desicion (if not my OS will decide during the surgery). I will be fine with whatever they decide, I just want this to be right the first time. Thanks for your responses! > > > > > > > > Hi, I am new to this site and looking for any advice you may > > have. > > > I > > > > have had on my braces since March and am scheduled for surgery > > in > > > > December. My lower jaw is too long and off-center, so although > > it > > > > appears fine (and I had braces as a teenager to straighten my > > > > teeth), my bite is horrible and I have a lot of pain and > > > migraines. > > > > Has anyone else had this problem and had it fixed with surgery? > > > > Anyway, I am really looking forward to having the surgery > > > completed, > > > > but am starting to get nervous now that it's getting so close > > and > > > > the date has been scheduled! Some of my main questions are: > > after > > > > the surgery, how long were you in bed or feeling really badly? > > how > > > > long did you take off from work? with your jaw wired shut, > what > > > are > > > > the best things to " eat " ? how did you avoid feeling sick from > > not > > > > eating enough? how about exercise? I know that my surgeon will > > be > > > > able to provide me some information but I know its not as good > > as > > > > someone who's actually had it done. So, any info you can give > me > > > > would be much appreciated - thanks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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