Re: Post op questions/remarks

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I hope everything continues to go well for you. I had my second

surgery on Thursday, upper jaw only this time. Apparently one of my

upper plates broke after my second surgery so now I have 4 upper

instead of only 2. I also have 4 on the bottom. They told me I

have really thick bones, but I would have rather had 4 right away

instead of having to go through surgery again.

Also the first time I also forgot to ask how long I need to sleep

sitting up so I slept upright for about 3 weeks, untill I just

couldn't stand it. This time I asked and the OS said that I didn't

really have to sleep upright, just that it helps a lot with drainage

and swelling. I would try to do it as long as you can, but if you

just can't sleep without laying flat, go for it. Plus the first few

nights I am so tired anyway I think I could sleep in any position.

HTH,

>

> Hi!

>

> I'm now five days post-op. I came home from the clinic just

yeserday

> and have since thought of a couple of things I should have checked

> with the surgeon before leaving. Since I can't make myself

> understood over the phone, I thought someone here might be able to

> help. I will see the surgeon a week on Monday.

>

> The roof of my mouth feels really weird. I guess it's just numb.

>

> I don't have a splint.

>

> How long do i need to sleep propped up for? I've piled up loads of

> cushions but I had back ache this morning. I wish we had one of

> those beds where you can raise the top like in the hospital. I

might

> try sleeping in a chair tonight.

>

> The x-rays I did three-days post op show I have four plates on the

> bottom and five on the top - is that a lot? The surgeon told me my

> upper jaw is waifer-thin because of it hardly ever being used.

Will

> the bone get thicker and stronger or will it always be weak? I'm

> making an effort to drink more milk than I usually would in the

hope

> that helps.

>

> I feel like I'm pulling a face all the time, which I guess I am,

> since my muscles will have to get used to the new position of the

> jaw. I'll be glad when I can smile again! I don't know how long I

> will have to wait for that. I can make my lips twitch a bit.

>

> My boyfriend baked a cake last night and I was a bit upset about

> that cos I didn't think I'd be able to have any BUT he put a slice

> in the blender with a glass of milk and made it into a milkshake

and

> it was gorgeous! I guess I shouldn't eat too much sweet stuff

though.

>

> Brushing my teeth is such a pain. I only seem to be able to brush

> the front teeth, between the elastics. Should I be trying to get

> further back? Also, I'm not sure how high I should try brushing. I

> can't work out how high up the stitches are across the top. If I

try

> lifting my lip to see I can only see one stitch so I don't want to

> force and make everything fall apart. I'm using a child's

toothbrush

> with a mouthwash. The nurse didn't show me how to brush, she just

> told me, which ain't exactly the same thing. Also, my French is

> pretty good but I sometimes wonder if I've fully understood

> everything.

>

> Thanks to you all for your support. I'm soooo glad I found this

site

> when I did.

>

> Bye for now

>

> .

[Guest guest]

>

> How long do i need to sleep propped up for? I've piled up loads of

> cushions but I had back ache this morning. I wish we had one of

> those beds where you can raise the top like in the hospital. I

might

> try sleeping in a chair tonight.

Sleeping upright is just to help you breathe. Hehe. I found if I

even tried to lay down, I started suffocating. So just sleep upright

until you've able to lay down comfortably. If you can lay down and

still breathe just fine, then great. And I slept in a chair. It's

very comofortable and easy to do. Easier than the pillows thing, I

think.

> Brushing my teeth is such a pain. I only seem to be able to brush

> the front teeth, between the elastics. Should I be trying to get

> further back? Also, I'm not sure how high I should try brushing. I

> can't work out how high up the stitches are across the top. If I

try

> lifting my lip to see I can only see one stitch so I don't want to

> force and make everything fall apart. I'm using a child's

toothbrush

> with a mouthwash. The nurse didn't show me how to brush, she just

> told me, which ain't exactly the same thing. Also, my French is

> pretty good but I sometimes wonder if I've fully understood

> everything.

I used a syringe and a salt water solution. I can't remember the

ratio of salt to water though. That's someting I'm sure you can find

online. Anyway, the syrine provided a bit of pressure. if I squoze

it fast, it was easy to squirt debris out from the elastics and my

teeth. Also, it's a good idea to squirt your stitches, but do it

gently. My doctor told me I should do that about twice a day, I

think. Also, just swishing with water or saltwater was helpful. It

was kind of difficult to do being numb and swollen, but I eventually

figured it out, and it was very helpful in keeping my mouth somewhat

clean.

Good luck with everything!