Re: 6 days post-op-warning, very long and whiny post!---laura

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

No, I haven't had my wires removed yet....Wednesday should be the

day. the OS took an xray at week 4 and the bone on my left side was

not healing so he gave me another week then. Today was tough for

some reason. My sinuses are so swollen, it is a downer, and I am

just so tired from traveling up to massachusetts for a family

event. It is a 5 hour trip, and with 2 kids, it can be a long 5

hours!

I will let you know how it goes on wed. I am just getting snipped,

the wired inside are staying on for a littlw while longer. which is

fine with me, I need to decide wheter or not to be put out or

novacaine. at this point, I don't want any more pain!!!!

B.

---

In orthognathicsurgerysupport , " shanandoah72 "

<shanandoah72@y...> wrote:

>

> Colleen,

> I'm so glad that you " vented " here. I've found myself feeling

better

> from just reading other people's posts and knowing that I'm not

> alone in the process. If you aren't keeping a diary, I would

suggest

> trying it. It helps me clarify my feelings & thoughts. Eating and

> drinking is so hard but so important. And the milestones are so

> worth it: drinking thickeer liquids, chewing soft food, etc. Gives

> ya something to look forward to! As for relaxing your jaw muscles,

> try moist heat. That has really helped me and it just feels so

good.

> Yes, I've sneezed with the bands and it was a scary moment but

> nothing bad happened. Try to blow the force of your sneeze out

> through your mouth and have a tissue ready because it can be a

> little messy.

> Good luck and come back to vent whenever you need to. That's what

> this site if for.

>

>

> Bethanne,

> I had my surgery on Nov. 5th also! I hope the procedure to have

your

> wires removed went well. Hopefully, it will be easier for you to

eat

> now and it will make you feel better. Best of Luck!

>

>

> > > >

> > > > Hi all,

> > > > I posted to this site a few times before my surgery and I

> finally

> > > > had it last Tuesday, December 14. I had my lower jaw reduced

> > > > (osteotomy)and LeFort on my upper jaw (it was tipped so OS

> > brought

> > > > down the right side so that my upper jaw is straight

across).

> The

> > > > surgery was outpatient and the OS said that everything went

> > > > beautifully and couldn't have gone better. Surgery was

> supposed

> > to

> > > > have taken 3 1/2 hours, and only took 2. I felt good the

> morning

> > > of

> > > > surgery, not too nervous and I was completely ready to have

> this

> > > > surgery (I've been planning on it for 5 years now, braces

for

> 9

> > > > months) and was just ready to get it over with. I was ready

> and

> > > > prepared to be wired shut-its my winter break from grad

school

> > and

> > > > have four weeks off from my job. When people would tell me

how

> > > awful

> > > > it sounded, I'd just reply " oh well, its just a few weeks

and

> the

> > > > rest of my life will be that much better with so much less

> pain. "

> > > I

> > > > was actually looking forward to some down time because I

have

> > been

> > > > so busy for so many months now with no breaks at all. Well,

> now

> > > that

> > > > its time for recovery I don't seem to be taking my own

advice

> and

> > > I

> > > > feel a lot worse than I thought I would! Unfortunately for

all

> of

> > > > you reading this, I am taking this opportunity to vent to

> those

> > > who

> > > > have been there...

> > > >

> > > > Where should I start? For one, I am still taking pain

medicine

> > and

> > > > thought I wouldn't need it by now. Pretty much from under my

> eyes

> > > > and down hurts. There are times when I have a searing pain

> that

> > > > feels like a stabbing in the jaw joint on the left side.

> Whenever

> > > my

> > > > body tries to yawn, I try to make it go away but I still end

> up

> > > with

> > > > a shooting pain on that side. Parts of my face are numb,

parts

> > are

> > > > sore, my skin seems to be peeling, I can't feel my nose at

all

> > and

> > > > just can not beleive how fat and swollen my face looks. The

> > > swelling

> > > > is just huge and I feel like I'm carrying a giant yellow-

green

> > > > bowling ball around on my body. Every time I accidentally

look

> in

> > > > the mirror (something I try to avoid) I am shocked that face

> > > belongs

> > > > to me. Because my jaw is wired shut, eating is just such a

> chore

> > > and

> > > > requires so much effort. My throat is still really sore from

> the

> > > > breathing tube and I am extremely congested. I threw up

three

> > > times

> > > > the second day after surgery and it was so horrible that I

am

> > very

> > > > nervous it will happen again. It is such a strange sensation

> to

> > > have

> > > > my jaw wired shut and I hate that I can never relax my jaw,

> its

> > so

> > > > uncomfortable with the muscles so tightly clenched all the

> time.

> > > Not

> > > > being able to talk well is worse than I was expecting, and I

> feel

> > > so

> > > > lazy just sitting around watching TV and napping all day,

but

> I

> > > > don't feel like I have the energy to do anything else.

> > > >

> > > > On the bright side, I slept in my bed for the first time

last

> > > night

> > > > (I've been sleeping on a reclining chair on the sofa) and

that

> > > went

> > > > pretty well, and this is actually the first morning I've

been

> up

> > > and

> > > > around before 9:00 am, so I guess I am making progress. I

know

> > > that

> > > > I will be extremely happy with the results when all is said

> and

> > > > done, I can see how good my teeth look and my teeth meet

> > correctly

> > > > for the first time ever.

> > > >

> > > > I am wondering if anyone else had a very bright outlook

going

> in

> > > to

> > > > this and then were suprised how difficult it actually was?

> Does

> > > > anyone have any tips for relaxing your jaw when you are

wired

> > > shut?

> > > > Has anyone sneezed with their jaw wired shut? I've had a

> sneeze

> > > > coming for days now and I keep willing it away, but I don't

> know

> > > if

> > > > it will stay away forever. From reading all these posts it

> seems

> > > > like the recovery is easier than most people were expecting,

> so I

> > > > feel like I'm being the world's biggest baby. I am usually

> such

> > an

> > > > optimistic, upbeat, active person and I am struggling with

> being

> > > the

> > > > opposite right now. Anyway, I do apologize for the negative

> tone

> > > in

> > > > this post, it is unlike me but I'd rather vent to you guys

> than

> > > > those around me who can't fully understand what I'm going

> > through.

> > > > Oddly enough, I am already feeling a little better having

> written

> > > > this. Anyway, thanks for your time in reading this and any

> advice

> > > > would be appreciated!

> > > > -Colleen

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

No, I haven't had my wires removed yet....Wednesday should be the

day. the OS took an xray at week 4 and the bone on my left side was

not healing so he gave me another week then. Today was tough for

some reason. My sinuses are so swollen, it is a downer, and I am

just so tired from traveling up to massachusetts for a family

event. It is a 5 hour trip, and with 2 kids, it can be a long 5

hours!

I will let you know how it goes on wed. I am just getting snipped,

the wired inside are staying on for a littlw while longer. which is

fine with me, I need to decide wheter or not to be put out or

novacaine. at this point, I don't want any more pain!!!!

B.

---

In orthognathicsurgerysupport , " shanandoah72 "

<shanandoah72@y...> wrote:

>

> Colleen,

> I'm so glad that you " vented " here. I've found myself feeling

better

> from just reading other people's posts and knowing that I'm not

> alone in the process. If you aren't keeping a diary, I would

suggest

> trying it. It helps me clarify my feelings & thoughts. Eating and

> drinking is so hard but so important. And the milestones are so

> worth it: drinking thickeer liquids, chewing soft food, etc. Gives

> ya something to look forward to! As for relaxing your jaw muscles,

> try moist heat. That has really helped me and it just feels so

good.

> Yes, I've sneezed with the bands and it was a scary moment but

> nothing bad happened. Try to blow the force of your sneeze out

> through your mouth and have a tissue ready because it can be a

> little messy.

> Good luck and come back to vent whenever you need to. That's what

> this site if for.

>

>

> Bethanne,

> I had my surgery on Nov. 5th also! I hope the procedure to have

your

> wires removed went well. Hopefully, it will be easier for you to

eat

> now and it will make you feel better. Best of Luck!

>

>

> > > >

> > > > Hi all,

> > > > I posted to this site a few times before my surgery and I

> finally

> > > > had it last Tuesday, December 14. I had my lower jaw reduced

> > > > (osteotomy)and LeFort on my upper jaw (it was tipped so OS

> > brought

> > > > down the right side so that my upper jaw is straight

across).

> The

> > > > surgery was outpatient and the OS said that everything went

> > > > beautifully and couldn't have gone better. Surgery was

> supposed

> > to

> > > > have taken 3 1/2 hours, and only took 2. I felt good the

> morning

> > > of

> > > > surgery, not too nervous and I was completely ready to have

> this

> > > > surgery (I've been planning on it for 5 years now, braces

for

> 9

> > > > months) and was just ready to get it over with. I was ready

> and

> > > > prepared to be wired shut-its my winter break from grad

school

> > and

> > > > have four weeks off from my job. When people would tell me

how

> > > awful

> > > > it sounded, I'd just reply " oh well, its just a few weeks

and

> the

> > > > rest of my life will be that much better with so much less

> pain. "

> > > I

> > > > was actually looking forward to some down time because I

have

> > been

> > > > so busy for so many months now with no breaks at all. Well,

> now

> > > that

> > > > its time for recovery I don't seem to be taking my own

advice

> and

> > > I

> > > > feel a lot worse than I thought I would! Unfortunately for

all

> of

> > > > you reading this, I am taking this opportunity to vent to

> those

> > > who

> > > > have been there...

> > > >

> > > > Where should I start? For one, I am still taking pain

medicine

> > and

> > > > thought I wouldn't need it by now. Pretty much from under my

> eyes

> > > > and down hurts. There are times when I have a searing pain

> that

> > > > feels like a stabbing in the jaw joint on the left side.

> Whenever

> > > my

> > > > body tries to yawn, I try to make it go away but I still end

> up

> > > with

> > > > a shooting pain on that side. Parts of my face are numb,

parts

> > are

> > > > sore, my skin seems to be peeling, I can't feel my nose at

all

> > and

> > > > just can not beleive how fat and swollen my face looks. The

> > > swelling

> > > > is just huge and I feel like I'm carrying a giant yellow-

green

> > > > bowling ball around on my body. Every time I accidentally

look

> in

> > > > the mirror (something I try to avoid) I am shocked that face

> > > belongs

> > > > to me. Because my jaw is wired shut, eating is just such a

> chore

> > > and

> > > > requires so much effort. My throat is still really sore from

> the

> > > > breathing tube and I am extremely congested. I threw up

three

> > > times

> > > > the second day after surgery and it was so horrible that I

am

> > very

> > > > nervous it will happen again. It is such a strange sensation

> to

> > > have

> > > > my jaw wired shut and I hate that I can never relax my jaw,

> its

> > so

> > > > uncomfortable with the muscles so tightly clenched all the

> time.

> > > Not

> > > > being able to talk well is worse than I was expecting, and I

> feel

> > > so

> > > > lazy just sitting around watching TV and napping all day,

but

> I

> > > > don't feel like I have the energy to do anything else.

> > > >

> > > > On the bright side, I slept in my bed for the first time

last

> > > night

> > > > (I've been sleeping on a reclining chair on the sofa) and

that

> > > went

> > > > pretty well, and this is actually the first morning I've

been

> up

> > > and

> > > > around before 9:00 am, so I guess I am making progress. I

know

> > > that

> > > > I will be extremely happy with the results when all is said

> and

> > > > done, I can see how good my teeth look and my teeth meet

> > correctly

> > > > for the first time ever.

> > > >

> > > > I am wondering if anyone else had a very bright outlook

going

> in

> > > to

> > > > this and then were suprised how difficult it actually was?

> Does

> > > > anyone have any tips for relaxing your jaw when you are

wired

> > > shut?

> > > > Has anyone sneezed with their jaw wired shut? I've had a

> sneeze

> > > > coming for days now and I keep willing it away, but I don't

> know

> > > if

> > > > it will stay away forever. From reading all these posts it

> seems

> > > > like the recovery is easier than most people were expecting,

> so I

> > > > feel like I'm being the world's biggest baby. I am usually

> such

> > an

> > > > optimistic, upbeat, active person and I am struggling with

> being

> > > the

> > > > opposite right now. Anyway, I do apologize for the negative

> tone

> > > in

> > > > this post, it is unlike me but I'd rather vent to you guys

> than

> > > > those around me who can't fully understand what I'm going

> > through.

> > > > Oddly enough, I am already feeling a little better having

> written

> > > > this. Anyway, thanks for your time in reading this and any

> advice

> > > > would be appreciated!

> > > > -Colleen