Re: Tips for Those Going For Surgery

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the tips! I'm having my surgery next week, pre op is

tomorrow and your cleaning/eating tips were helpful! Thanks for

passing the benefit of your experience along. Katja

>

> Hi all,

>

> I just had my surgery three weeks ago. I just want to give some tips

> for those going for surgery so that my mistakes wouldn't be

repeated.

> So here goes:

>

> - Following surgery, your body will weaken and you will be more

> susceptible to diseases (in my case, flu). Being flu season now,

> protect yourself (it's awful enough after surgery, if you add the

flu,

> you'd be in hell).

> - Cleaning - watch what you eat the few days after surgery. Try

> sticking to pure liquid diet (maybe the terms " pure liquid diet " is

> not so appropriate. What I mean is, try food that can pass through

> your mouth easily, avoid sticky and mucusy food). This is because

> cleaning is difficult with the splint in place, the pain when you

open

> your jaw, minimal jaw opening, and possible new blisters forming on

> the inside of the cheeks. So, when you eat things like a thick soup,

> there will be remaining food on your splint and it would be

difficult

> to clean. It's best to avoid such food until a couple of days when

you

> can open your mouth more and clean it. Also, get a special brush

that

> looks like little Christmas trees - it is INDISPENSABLE in cleaning

> your splint. Also, after one week following the surgery, you can try

> rinsing with Fluorinse (fluoride rinse). Since your cleaning power

is

> reduced, Fluorinse can help you fight plague. But consult with your

> doctor first on Fluorinse. Cleaning is very important, you don't

want

> to have remaining food stuck in your splint. You want to clean your

> mouth after each time you eat. Salt water rinse is also a must to

> prevent infections and maintain a healthy gum.

> - Have someone close by for the first week following the surgery to

> assist you with things.

> - For the first few days, you might be unable to sleep. This is

normal.

> - Drooling will occur so keep your head straight when sleeping.

> - Keep a mirror handy when you eat.

> - Use moist heat therapy when icing no longer works (that is, when

> your jaw feels stiffened). Try using towel dipped in warm water.

> - Tiger Balm is nice to have when your jaw feels numb.

> - Maintain caloric intake and drink lots of water to help you heal.

>

> There are but a few tips but which I think are important. If you

can,

> get a copy of " The Healing Jaw and a Liquid Diet " by Beaudette

> R.N. for more tips and info. Remember, you'll be in hell for the

first

> two weeks but HANG IN THERE and keep your mouth clean.

>

> Best wishes,

>

> humble_carp

[Guest guest]

Thanks for all those great tips. I go in for my pre-op March 3 and

surgery is the 21st so all the insight I can get right now is

greatly appreciated.

[Guest guest]

I have one more tip...

I ate sushi as my " last dinner " before surgery.... BAD IDEA... I was

sooo thirsty after I woke up from all the salt.... I could practically

feel the sushi in my gut and it was a while before I could drink... I

was IV'ed... If I had to do it again, I would have drank more water the

day before surgery so I didn't feel dehydrated, and I would have eaten

more carbs like pasta and less/no salt. I'm jewish and we have a few

days in the year where we have to fast... can't eat anything... the day

before they always tell you to load up on carbs like pasta, rice and

potatoes and stay away from salts which will make you thirsty... I

would have adhered to those suggestions had I thought of it or known

I'd be pretty much fasting the day after surgery.

Good Luck with your surgery!

Tova

>

> Thanks for the tips! I'm having my surgery next week, pre op is

> tomorrow and your cleaning/eating tips were helpful! Thanks for

> passing the benefit of your experience along. Katja

>

>

>

> >

> > Hi all,

> >

> > I just had my surgery three weeks ago. I just want to give some tips

> > for those going for surgery so that my mistakes wouldn't be

> repeated.

> > So here goes:

> >

> > - Following surgery, your body will weaken and you will be more

> > susceptible to diseases (in my case, flu). Being flu season now,

> > protect yourself (it's awful enough after surgery, if you add the

> flu,

> > you'd be in hell).

> > - Cleaning - watch what you eat the few days after surgery. Try

> > sticking to pure liquid diet (maybe the terms " pure liquid diet " is

> > not so appropriate. What I mean is, try food that can pass through

> > your mouth easily, avoid sticky and mucusy food). This is because

> > cleaning is difficult with the splint in place, the pain when you

> open

> > your jaw, minimal jaw opening, and possible new blisters forming on

> > the inside of the cheeks. So, when you eat things like a thick soup,

> > there will be remaining food on your splint and it would be

> difficult

> > to clean. It's best to avoid such food until a couple of days when

> you

> > can open your mouth more and clean it. Also, get a special brush

> that

> > looks like little Christmas trees - it is INDISPENSABLE in cleaning

> > your splint. Also, after one week following the surgery, you can try

> > rinsing with Fluorinse (fluoride rinse). Since your cleaning power

> is

> > reduced, Fluorinse can help you fight plague. But consult with your

> > doctor first on Fluorinse. Cleaning is very important, you don't

> want

> > to have remaining food stuck in your splint. You want to clean your

> > mouth after each time you eat. Salt water rinse is also a must to

> > prevent infections and maintain a healthy gum.

> > - Have someone close by for the first week following the surgery to

> > assist you with things.

> > - For the first few days, you might be unable to sleep. This is

> normal.

> > - Drooling will occur so keep your head straight when sleeping.

> > - Keep a mirror handy when you eat.

> > - Use moist heat therapy when icing no longer works (that is, when

> > your jaw feels stiffened). Try using towel dipped in warm water.

> > - Tiger Balm is nice to have when your jaw feels numb.

> > - Maintain caloric intake and drink lots of water to help you heal.

> >

> > There are but a few tips but which I think are important. If you

> can,

> > get a copy of " The Healing Jaw and a Liquid Diet " by Beaudette

> > R.N. for more tips and info. Remember, you'll be in hell for the

> first

> > two weeks but HANG IN THERE and keep your mouth clean.

> >

> > Best wishes,

> >

> > humble_carp

>

>

>

>

>

>

>