Re: 13 days post op, and yep - still have a couple questions

[Guest guest]

Judy,

I had all the aches and pains you described and still have some of

them, specifically the sinus pain and my eyes sometimes have trouble

focusing on something for too long. It has gotten much better

however. I found that at the 3 week mark suddenly things got MUCH

easier and more bearable and I feel great now at 4 weeks post-op. My

sinuses still hurt and I get tired way more easily than I used to but

then again, this is MAJOR surgery we just had. Take it easy and your

ears will eventually pop and stay unclogged, your cheeks will start

to feel less tender and your eyes will begin to focus again for more

than 5 minutes.

Glad you're enjoying the supplies by the way!!

Sara

> Just wondering how many other people have had a sinus-like 'ache'

in

> their face (right below the eyes, and into the upper cheek area),

as

> well as a plugged-up ears feeling (that feeling like your ears are

> going to pop at any moment, but then don't)...after surgery?

> I'm on day 13 now, and yes still swollen, but way, way, less than

when

> I first came home from the hospital.

> The pressure under my eyes is such that I really can't focus on

> anything (like the computer, reading, TV, etc.) for very long

without

> feeling like I'm getting terrible 'eye strain'.

> I haven't really read too much from others about these issues. So,

I'm

> wondering if I'm one of the only ones being bothered by this? I

can't

> imagine that I am....so, when in the world do the eyes finally

quite

> hurting and the ears finally 'pop', so I can hear properly again?

> Thanks for any insight or replies,

> Judy

> (Upper and lower advancement, genio, deviated septum repaired,

uvula

> removal on June 20)

[Guest guest]

Judy, I still have numbness & pressure feeling in sinus areas below

eyes. My glasses drive my face crazy as the nerves are trying to

regenerate. I wear them when I have to and raise them on top of

head when I don't need them.

I did have the plugged up feeling in the ears for the first few

days, but don't now. Though I have some pain in lt joint. I'm

still numb from under the eyes to lips.

My biggest problem right now is the inability to sleep. Everytime I

try to fall asleep I wake with a startle and heart racing. I'm

lucky if I get an hour or two sleep each night in the last week.

It's like sleep apnea, but a little different, so not sure what's

happening. I see the OS Tuesday and am going to insist that they

ask the pulmonologist do another short sleep study ASAP to find out

what's happening. The OS said it may be my brain doesn't realize

it's got oxygen now, but by now it should!! I need some sleep to

heal. I just need some answers.

Hang in there. Hugs,

Shirley

[Guest guest]

Hi Sara,

Thanks for the insight. It's good to know I'm not the only one

experiencing that 'clogged up' feeling. I knew I couldn't be the

only one. Tomorrow I'll be two weeks, so I will be patient a little

while longer. I'm looking forward to hitting the three week mark,

and trust as you say, that things will get MUCH better then.

That sinus pain can be quite bothersome can't it? I try to focus on

doing something - whether it be reading, being on the computer, etc.

and I simply cannot do it for any lengthy period of time. So, I just

sort of scuttle about - doing this, doing that, and coming back to

the computer or reading after a while. Eventually, it gets so

tiresome that I just want to close my eyes and go to sleep..so I

cave in and do just that ;-)

I've started to experience a lot of draining the past couple days,

so maybe this is my starting point with getting rid of all the mucus

build up (sorry, I know it's gross).

Just curious when did your ears pop and open up again?

I still have some arnica montana 10m, that I got from a homeopath

before my surgery...(I started taking it pre-op, and took it post-op

as well)....I just wonder if it would still do any good at this

point - being 13 days post-op I mean...what do you think?

(BTW - yes, the supplies are wonderful! Again, a million thanks~!!)

Judy

[Guest guest]

Hi Shirley,

Thanks for your reply too...it's nice to know that what I'm feeling

is 'normal'...even if it's bothersome. My eyes get so sore or that

feeling of 'pressure', so sometimes I just lay with a cold cloth

over them and that feels really nice.

As far as the ears, it would be great if mine would un-plug! It's

like having an ear-ache and a sinus infection at the same time. I

try not to think about it as much as possible...but it sure can be

irritating.

I'm numb in the same spots you mentioned, although I do think that

is getting better for me. It's still very, very tender to the touch

and still noticably swollen too.

I'm really sorry you're having such a hard time sleeping, that

sounds horrible and I know what that can be like. I'm actually

sleeping pretty good now; for the most part anyway. I wake up only

once or twice a night for Motrin. I'm up maybe 30 minutes then go

back to bed and generally sleep pretty good. I had a bit of a

restless night last night (woke up twice, so still I can't complain

about that)...but we had a storm last night too, so I think that had

a lot to do with it. I truly think that when it storms here, my pain

increases and that seems to be what happened.

The way you're sleeping now sounds like how it was for me when i was

still in the hospital (I was in 4 days and nights actually). I

hardly slept at all then, and would just lie awake most of the time,

crying and watching the time tick away on the clock! It was not a

fun time at all. I couldn't watch TV, because it hurt my eyes so

much at that time, so I just had to lay there and wait for morning.

I feel like my sleep apnea is now gone, even though I have plenty of

swelling left, I still think I am sleeping better! I would really

think about calling your OS before Tuesday and describing what is

going on with the startle/heart racing problem. That sounds

miserable, and I'm so sorry you're going through that. The least you

deserve after going through all this for sleep apnea, is a half-way

decent nights sleep! I think the idea of another sleep study for you

would be a good one considering the difficulty you're having.

Like you said, you do need sleep to heal. Are you able to take any

naps during the day...or do you experience the same problem then too?

I hope this turns around for you soon...you've been through an awful

lot with this surgery.

I'm sending hugs and prayers your way Shirley, take care!

Judy

[Guest guest]

definitely!!! that describes me exactly! the part that remains the

most sore (other than my damn hip) is my " cheek bone " area. and my

ears do that popping thing all the time...which makes talking

extremely irritating. i asked the surgeon and ortho about this...and

they said it's extremely normal. i'm a little over three weeks post

op - and the popping thing goes in and out.

i have to say i have much less nasal drainage now than i did on monday

- and on tuesday the surgeon recommended saline nose spray (i'm not

sure if that helped...) i've heard people mention decongestants...but

my surgeon wasn't so keen on the idea. i think there was significant

manipulation of the sinus area and hence all the trouble...

i found that placing ice on my cheek bones helped dull the aching -

and in the past i've used warm compresses to soothe the sinus area

(due to the cleft palate i tend to get really bad sinus infections

because my sinuses aren't quite " right " ).

keep your chin up )

-becky

[Guest guest]

Becky,

I agree that it's extremely irritating to try to talk. It puts so

much pressure on my face in general, so when I have company stop by

I know I'm in for more pain once they leave, because I want to talk

to them.

I just posted about the drainage issue, I've been draining

constantly since Friday and it's driving me nuts honestly. I can't

wait for that to stop, and hope that time comes fairly fast.

I do use ice, and that helps a lot. I suppose I should try heat

too, because that would probably feel good as well.

I used to get a lot of sinus infections - mainly because of how my

facial bones used to be. I haven't had a sinus infection in a long

time now and I think it's mainly because I started using a sauna on

a regular basis.

I wonder...would it be ok to use a sauna now to help the drainage

issue or is that a no-no right now?

I know my OS said NO exercise at the gym, not even swimming, for at

least 4 weeks - so that has been hard to adjust to, because I am

used to going 4-5 times a week. But, I forgot to ask him about the

sauna!

Judy

[Guest guest]

Judy,

The drainage while yukky is a good thing and a sign that you are on

your way to breathing properly again! Whoohoo!! As far as the ear

popping goes mine started to pop quite a lot in the 3rd week. Sadly

they still do pop but much less than before and I also suffer from

very delicate sinuses in general so I have a feeling that my

respiratory system was sent out of whack more than most as a result

of this surgery. I am also a life long mouth breather and learning

to breathe through my nose has been quite an adventure. Feels

wonderful to be " normal " again though, I must say. As far as the

arnica goes I'm not sure about taking the tablets this long after

surgery. I was using the cream/gel after two weeks post-op and

applying it only to the areas where I really wanted the swelling to

go down. I think the best person to answer your question would be a

homeopath.

Oh and when you said that sometimes you just topple over with

fatigue and want to sleep, that is ABSOLUTELY fine! It is your body

telling you that it needs to sleep to regenerate itself. It sounds

like you've had A LOT of visitors since your surgery. You might want

to give yourself a break as those will inevitably tire you. I didn't

allow any visitors for the first 2 weeks of my recovery, minus my

fiance' of course.

Keep up the good recovery:-) And enjoy the supplies!

Sara

> Hi Sara,

> Thanks for the insight. It's good to know I'm not the only one

> experiencing that 'clogged up' feeling. I knew I couldn't be the

> only one. Tomorrow I'll be two weeks, so I will be patient a

little

> while longer. I'm looking forward to hitting the three week mark,

> and trust as you say, that things will get MUCH better then.

> That sinus pain can be quite bothersome can't it? I try to focus

on

> doing something - whether it be reading, being on the computer,

etc.

> and I simply cannot do it for any lengthy period of time. So, I

just

> sort of scuttle about - doing this, doing that, and coming back to

> the computer or reading after a while. Eventually, it gets so

> tiresome that I just want to close my eyes and go to sleep..so I

> cave in and do just that ;-)

> I've started to experience a lot of draining the past couple days,

> so maybe this is my starting point with getting rid of all the

mucus

> build up (sorry, I know it's gross).

> Just curious when did your ears pop and open up again?

> I still have some arnica montana 10m, that I got from a homeopath

> before my surgery...(I started taking it pre-op, and took it post-

op

> as well)....I just wonder if it would still do any good at this

> point - being 13 days post-op I mean...what do you think?

> (BTW - yes, the supplies are wonderful! Again, a million thanks~!!)

> Judy

[Guest guest]

mmmmm...i would avoid the sauna for a while reason being that your

weak generally speaking now and not getting that much food into you.

i generally find that staying in a sauna makes me feel all woozy and

light headed after a while so I tend to avoid it during periods

where I am on a diet or recovering from surgery i.e. now. You don't

want to be fainting on the sauna floor and knocking your jaw out of

whack.

That's my 2 cents!

SARA

> Becky,

> I agree that it's extremely irritating to try to talk. It puts so

> much pressure on my face in general, so when I have company stop

by

> I know I'm in for more pain once they leave, because I want to

talk

> to them.

> I just posted about the drainage issue, I've been draining

> constantly since Friday and it's driving me nuts honestly. I can't

> wait for that to stop, and hope that time comes fairly fast.

> I do use ice, and that helps a lot. I suppose I should try heat

> too, because that would probably feel good as well.

> I used to get a lot of sinus infections - mainly because of how my

> facial bones used to be. I haven't had a sinus infection in a long

> time now and I think it's mainly because I started using a sauna

on

> a regular basis.

> I wonder...would it be ok to use a sauna now to help the drainage

> issue or is that a no-no right now?

> I know my OS said NO exercise at the gym, not even swimming, for

at

> least 4 weeks - so that has been hard to adjust to, because I am

> used to going 4-5 times a week. But, I forgot to ask him about the

> sauna!

> Judy

[Guest guest]

Hi Sara,

That was very well put, and a point I will take to heart...no sauna

for me for a while yet. The last thing I want to do is faint in the

sauna and then injure myself and end up back in surgery.

I'll definately not venture into the sauna just yet

Judy

mmmmm...i would avoid the sauna for a while reason being that your

weak generally speaking now and not getting that much food into you.

i generally find that staying in a sauna makes me feel all woozy and

light headed after a while so I tend to avoid it during periods

where I am on a diet or recovering from surgery i.e. now. You don't

want to be fainting on the sauna floor and knocking your jaw out of

whack.

That's my 2 cents!

SARA

[Guest guest]

Greetings Becky~

I too am having a hip bone graft w/my upper and lower surgery late-fall

2005. The hip pain freaks me out a bit. Was the bone taken while you were

under for your surgery? From where on your hip was the bone taken? Do you

know how much bone was taken out? What is the recovery like?

Any advice you might have would be much appreciate.

Diane, Oregon

>

>Reply-To: orthognathicsurgerysupport

>To: orthognathicsurgerysupport

>Subject: [Orthognathic Surgery Support ] Re: 13 days post op, and yep -

>still have a couple questions

>Date: Sun, 03 Jul 2005 17:10:57 -0000

>