4 days post op and looking for recovery

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone,

This is my first time in print in this group although I have been

here many times and read lots of posts, in fact this group gave me

some of the inspiration to consider getting my teeth fixed in the

first place and that was over two years ago.

ok this is my story so far. I am a 43 yo male living in New Zealand

my teeth were gappy and my bottom jaw overlapped my top jaw, the

bulldog look. Not only that but I had four deciduous teeth, two in

each jaw, that had decided that it was time to come loose, hence a

trip to the orthodontist.

The Ortho determined that to fix everything up I would require

orthodontics for 18 months, top and bottom jaw surgery and implants

to replace the milk teeth and quite a few thousand dollars removed

from my bank account, lol.

So here I am 18 months later sitting in my bed at home having

undergone the orthodontic's and also having had a Maxillary

Osteomtomy (top jaw extented about 5 mm, and yeah in the end I only

needed top jaw) and genio (about a 10mm removed from chin) just four

days ago.

So far I'm feeling pretty sorry for myself looking for signs of

recovery, although positive things can only get better. The surgery

went well I'm told but looking at myself I'm a puffball so no verdict

on the outcome just yet. A triangular section of my face feels like a

mask, rigid and tight from the bridge of my nose out to the sides of

my mouth, not a lot of feeling there just tingly numbness. The soft

palate area inside my mouth is quite swollen and this makes it

difficult swallowing. There isnt really any pain with just the

swelling causing most of the discomfort, the worst thing being blood

clots coming down the back of my throat which at the start made me

feel like gagging but now I have learnt to wash them away with a few

sips of water. So, I'm just wondering how long I'm likely to be

feeling like this? how long before the swelling in my soft palate

goes down?? how long before I get sensation back in my nose and

lips?? The OS said I would need two or three weeks off work but I

have arranged to take up to 8 weeks off and at the moment I feel like

I'm gonna need all 8.

Anywho, thanks for taking the time to read my epistle and I welcome

any replies. For now its an hour at a time, day by day, but at least

there is nothing surer than recovery is on it way.

By the way, I have a whole bunch of before and after shots that I

will post sometime in the next few days.

Bye for Now

Phil

[Guest guest]

None of what you describe is at all unusual. That's probably cold

comfort, but it's true.

Some folks say the fifth day is the worst. Usually after the fifth

day, things start to get better.

Looking like a puffball is standard -- or like a chipmunk. And that

stiff, tight feeling is frequent, too. (Sorry. But you're right, it

does get better!)

I'm guessing that you're neither wired nor tightly banded, or else

you'd have mentioned it. That's good, if true, because it's easier.

Swelling and numbness are very individual matters. It will take as

long as it takes -- and that's no answer, but it's a true one. You

should start seeing and feeling improvement soon, though.

Drinking lots of water will, strangely enough, help get rid of the

swelling. And do be sure you get enough good nutrition to support

the healing.

Glad you're not hurting. Did your surgeon suggest swishing around

with warm salt water? That may make things feel a bit better, but

only if he or she says it's ok. For sure, you don't want to do

anything at this point that will delay or injure your recovery.

Good wishes. You're " on the other side, " and it will only get better

from here!

Cammie

>

> Hi everyone,

>

> This is my first time in print in this group although I have been

> here many times and read lots of posts, in fact this group gave me

> some of the inspiration to consider getting my teeth fixed in the

> first place and that was over two years ago.

>

> ok this is my story so far. I am a 43 yo male living in New

Zealand

> my teeth were gappy and my bottom jaw overlapped my top jaw, the

> bulldog look. Not only that but I had four deciduous teeth, two in

> each jaw, that had decided that it was time to come loose, hence a

> trip to the orthodontist.

>

> The Ortho determined that to fix everything up I would require

> orthodontics for 18 months, top and bottom jaw surgery and

implants

> to replace the milk teeth and quite a few thousand dollars removed

> from my bank account, lol.

>

> So here I am 18 months later sitting in my bed at home having

> undergone the orthodontic's and also having had a Maxillary

> Osteomtomy (top jaw extented about 5 mm, and yeah in the end I

only

> needed top jaw) and genio (about a 10mm removed from chin) just

four

> days ago.

>

> So far I'm feeling pretty sorry for myself looking for signs of

> recovery, although positive things can only get better. The

surgery

> went well I'm told but looking at myself I'm a puffball so no

verdict

> on the outcome just yet. A triangular section of my face feels

like a

> mask, rigid and tight from the bridge of my nose out to the sides

of

> my mouth, not a lot of feeling there just tingly numbness. The

soft

> palate area inside my mouth is quite swollen and this makes it

> difficult swallowing. There isnt really any pain with just the

> swelling causing most of the discomfort, the worst thing being

blood

> clots coming down the back of my throat which at the start made me

> feel like gagging but now I have learnt to wash them away with a

few

> sips of water. So, I'm just wondering how long I'm likely to be

> feeling like this? how long before the swelling in my soft palate

> goes down?? how long before I get sensation back in my nose and

> lips?? The OS said I would need two or three weeks off work but I

> have arranged to take up to 8 weeks off and at the moment I feel

like

> I'm gonna need all 8.

>

> Anywho, thanks for taking the time to read my epistle and I

welcome

> any replies. For now its an hour at a time, day by day, but at

least

> there is nothing surer than recovery is on it way.

>

> By the way, I have a whole bunch of before and after shots that I

> will post sometime in the next few days.

>

> Bye for Now

>

> Phil

[Guest guest]

Your positive attitude should help in a speedy recovery. You are

fortunate to be able to have the time off to properly recuperate.

Congratulations and best wishes!

Cathy

- In orthognathicsurgerysupport , " phil "

<dorfnz@h...> wrote:

>

> Hi everyone,

>

> This is my first time in print in this group although I have been

> here many times and read lots of posts, in fact this group gave me

> some of the inspiration to consider getting my teeth fixed in the

> first place and that was over two years ago.

>

> ok this is my story so far. I am a 43 yo male living in New

Zealand

> my teeth were gappy and my bottom jaw overlapped my top jaw, the

> bulldog look. Not only that but I had four deciduous teeth, two in

> each jaw, that had decided that it was time to come loose, hence a

> trip to the orthodontist.

>

> The Ortho determined that to fix everything up I would require

> orthodontics for 18 months, top and bottom jaw surgery and

implants

> to replace the milk teeth and quite a few thousand dollars removed

> from my bank account, lol.

>

> So here I am 18 months later sitting in my bed at home having

> undergone the orthodontic's and also having had a Maxillary

> Osteomtomy (top jaw extented about 5 mm, and yeah in the end I

only

> needed top jaw) and genio (about a 10mm removed from chin) just

four

> days ago.

>

> So far I'm feeling pretty sorry for myself looking for signs of

> recovery, although positive things can only get better. The

surgery

> went well I'm told but looking at myself I'm a puffball so no

verdict

> on the outcome just yet. A triangular section of my face feels

like a

> mask, rigid and tight from the bridge of my nose out to the sides

of

> my mouth, not a lot of feeling there just tingly numbness. The

soft

> palate area inside my mouth is quite swollen and this makes it

> difficult swallowing. There isnt really any pain with just the

> swelling causing most of the discomfort, the worst thing being

blood

> clots coming down the back of my throat which at the start made me

> feel like gagging but now I have learnt to wash them away with a

few

> sips of water. So, I'm just wondering how long I'm likely to be

> feeling like this? how long before the swelling in my soft palate

> goes down?? how long before I get sensation back in my nose and

> lips?? The OS said I would need two or three weeks off work but I

> have arranged to take up to 8 weeks off and at the moment I feel

like

> I'm gonna need all 8.

>

> Anywho, thanks for taking the time to read my epistle and I

welcome

> any replies. For now its an hour at a time, day by day, but at

least

> there is nothing surer than recovery is on it way.

>

> By the way, I have a whole bunch of before and after shots that I

> will post sometime in the next few days.

>

> Bye for Now

>

> Phil