Re: I don't want to regret but sore throat is making me think about regret

February 6, 2005

,

I know it's not uncommon to have some sort of throat pain/irritation

after the surgery, but what you're describing sounds pretty bad --

would it be easier to swallow liquid versions of painkiller, like

children's Tylenol or Advil? Also, since you're having pain in the

glands, has your doctor ruled out an infection? (Not necessarily

even an infection at the surgery site -- maybe just a " regular " old

throat infection?) Maybe running a humidifier might help give at

least a little relief as well -- dry air can certainly make a sore

throat worse.

>

> I do not want to regret this surgery since it was purely functional

> for a cross-bite that was causing 24/7 TMJ pain, but if my throat

> doesn't get better then I might start regretting. I am 5 days post-

> op (Feb 1st) and the biggest complaint is a really bad sore throat

> that is getting worse every day. The soreness feels like it is

> spreading to the roof of my mouth. I thought any pain would get

> better each day, but that isn't happening. My throat is swollen

> and I can't swallow without extreme amounts of pain. It even hurts

> on the outside, on my neck (where the glands are). I can't sleep

> because it hurts so bad. The pain meds hurt my throat when I

> swallow it, and then the pain remains even after the meds take

> affect. I have searched old posts but haven't found any advice.

> What will help? How long will the sore throat last?

>

> The other complaints I've had are... the pain in my wrist from the

> IV, the pain in my left nostril (where the nose meets the upper

lip -

> - my nose is also uneven now), the constant ache across my entire

> upper jaw, and the severe pain in my left ear. I also didn't like

> the 7lb water weight gain from the steroids. It was shocking and

> caused some concern. I am finally at my starting weight again, so

> no real weight loss yet. I planned ahead and actually gained

weight

> prior to my surgery to make sure that I stayed at an appropriate

> weight during recovery.

>

> The positives are that I am not very swollen and it looks like I

> will only have a small bruise on my left cheek, near my lips. I

> believe the Arnica Gel that I've used at least 3 times per day

since

> Wednesday is the reason for the minimal swelling/bruising.

>

> It looks like my teeth will be where they need to be. I am hoping

> they stay where they are until after the swelling goes away.

>

> I am craving mashed potatoes, but will remain strong on this liquid

> diet because I don't want to mess anything up... and it hurts to

> swallow anything.

>

> ~ Swanson

> Oregon

>

February 7, 2005

Hi

Just wanted to say i know how you feel! My throat felt awful the

first couple of days after surgery. It seems to be OK now although

on an evening I seem to cough quite a lot - it's a horrible feeling

when you just want to choke up all the phlegm but you can't make the

movement you need to get it out or open your mouth wide enough! My

neck hurt so much at first that I could not pull myself up into a

sitting position until I worked out that I could support my head

with one hand and push myself up with the other.

For the pain meds, it sounds like you need to ask your chemist for

versions that dissolve in water. I had a huge list of stuff to get

from the chemist, not all dissolvable stuff, but the chemist managed

to come up with things that have the same ingredients but dissolve

in water.

I still have pain in my wrist after the IV. I can feel the vein is

swollen. I don't know how long that will last for but my boyfriend

did two years in nursing college and reassures me it's normal.

I was surprised where my teeth were after the operation - I expected

the uppers to touch the lowers all the way round but there's a bit

of an overlap. My top teeth come down nearly as far as my braces on

my bottom teeth, if that makes sense. I'm a bit worried that is not

right. But I've got a whole week before i see the surgeon again so

I'm going to try and not worry about it.

Good luck!

> > > > >

> > > > > Hi guys im still in the deciding stage of if surgery is

> > > something I

> > > > > want to do seeing how its only for cosmetic and it looks

ok

> > now

> > > > just

> > > > > a slight gummy smile but only like a cm when fully smiling

> so

> > > that

> > > > > wasnt a concern of mine for me it was I have a bit of an

> > > overbite

> > > > > but everyone thinks i look normal but maybe i would look

> > better

> > > not

> > > > > sure , guess I've always had one of those lips that are a

> bit

> > > high

> > > > > so unless I actually close my mouth on purpose then you

> always

> > > see

> > > > > my front teeth a bit . The two orthodontists i've seen

both

> > said

> > > I

> > > > > needed surgery to make the front teeth perfect again in

the

> > > front

> > > > as

> > > > > they have shifted over the years a bit.

> > > > > Basically I was wondering out of all the people I've

seen

> on

> > > here

> > > > > who have had the surgery or some form of it done, im

> wondering

> > > how

> > > > > many regret having it done and think either they look

worse

> > then

> > > > > they did or they totally regret have it done and they were

> > > better

> > > > > before ?

> > > > > I have to be honest I havent read very many people who

have

> > > said

> > > > > they look great and it was a big improvement and so that

> > worries

> > > me

> > > > > a bit. For me its cosmetic only so looks are everything

for

> me

> > > with

> > > > > getting surgery done etc as im sure with a lot of people

but

> > > some

> > > > > also have pain related issues and other major stuff.

> > > > > I think like most of us out there considering it its the

> > > wanting

> > > > to

> > > > > hear if people regretted it after and looked and felt

worse

> > even

> > > > > months or years later because at least for me I dont want

to

> > go

> > > > > through all this to look better and come out worse then

> before

> > > and

> > > > > on top of that pay lots of money and go through hell .

> > > > > So any opinions as to how their surgery overall was and

if

> > > they

> > > > > regretted getting it done etc I really would like to hear

> > > anything

> > > > > people have to say I mean you hear lot of people saying

> their

> > > nose

> > > > > is not straight and things like that so just want to know

of

> > > > anybody

> > > > > thinks they looked better before and regret having it

done.

> > > > > Thanks for the opinions and stories it really helps

others

> > who

> > > > > havent yet had surgery done and thinking of doing it.

> > > > >

> > > > > Maybe its just you only hear the worst case stories and

> > > problems

> > > > > on here and maybe the ones that turn out fine dont bother

to

> > > write

> > > > > here? Im not sure so trying to get a feel for it , take

care

> > and

> > > > thx

> > > > >

> > > > > Rick

February 7, 2005

Hi ,

I'm really sorry to hear about your sore throat - I also had a sore

throat for awhile post-op. Part of it was the irritation from the

tubes they put down and removed for surgery, but part of it was due

to an asthmatic cough that wouldn't go away (asthma was diagnosed

almost a year post-op). I coughed most of the time post-op, nothing

would relieve it. Cough medicine lasted maybe an hour. I found

sipping icy cold water and holding it at the top of my throat helped.

I sipped constantly, as much as possible. The liquid is good for your

recovery, so try to keep it up, even if it is painful. You need it!

(only alternative is IV, and I'm sure you don't want that).

If your soreness is getting worse or is unbearable, please call your

surgeon right away! At least get some pain meds that will let you get

a bit of sleep.

Hang in there - it will get better. My sore throat got better after

about a week, but I had the cough for months and months (you probably

won't have that problem).

-- In orthognathicsurgerysupport , " "

<hdswan2000@y...> wrote: