Re: the wired decision

[Guest guest]

I only stayed 1 day post op. I did feel pretty good that night in

the hospital, but I was also being pumped full of a bunch of meds

through my IV. I think that if you are wired, they want you to stay

to make sure that you aren't getting sick. If I had to throw up I

would have preferred for it to happen in the hospital. I haven't

gotten sick yet, and I am 3 weeks post op.

As for being wired shut, it may sound impossible, but it really is

not that bad. I am a mouth breather with asthma, so I was really

concerned about being wired because I was concerned about using my

inhaler. Everything has worked out fine, and now I have about 2 more

weeks to go before I get unwired. Overall, the experience has not

been that bad.

> i will be getting single jaw surger (lower jaw) in about a month

and a

> half and am still trying to decide if i want to be wired or not.

i

> know all the pros and cons (pros of being wired: less chance of

> numbness; cons: not being able to talk properly, open your mouth,

not

> eating soft foods).

>

> i really am leaning toward the not being wired way...but its such

a

> hard choice. i just cant imagine not being able to speak properly

and

> eat only liquid foods for 4-6 weeks...i dont know...it just

doesn't

> seem doable...but what is the likelihood of permanent numbness?

also,

> if they dont use wires, they use screws correct?

>

> also, my os tells me that i will be free to leave the hospital

just a

> few hours after my surgery. i guess this makes me wonder when i

hear

> that others on this board have been staying at hospitals for a for

few

> days post-op

>

> is it risky to leave the hospital too soon after the surgery? my

> doctor seems to think i'll be fine

[Guest guest]

(gocats)....

From what I have noticed, whether you are wired or banded, you may be

too sore or " soft " to eat much the first few weeks, regardless, so

maybe that can help in the decision.

My surgeon also said outpatient basis - even though I have a clotting

disorder. Neither he nor my orthodontist seem concerned about heading

home day of surgery.

Question for all - has anyone ever asked what the consequences are of

having plates and screws? I'm specifically wondering about the

possibility of needing an MRI in the future. If we do a cruciate

repair on a dog with a procedure that utilizes 2 small stainless steel

crimps, that dog will never be able to have an MRI... which limits

diagnostics. I'd be very curious to know what everyone's OS would say...

Kate

> i will be getting single jaw surger (lower jaw) in about a month and a

> half and am still trying to decide if i want to be wired or not. i

> know all the pros and cons (pros of being wired: less chance of

> numbness; cons: not being able to talk properly, open your mouth, not

> eating soft foods).

>

> i really am leaning toward the not being wired way...but its such a

> hard choice. i just cant imagine not being able to speak properly and

> eat only liquid foods for 4-6 weeks...i dont know...it just doesn't

> seem doable...but what is the likelihood of permanent numbness? also,

> if they dont use wires, they use screws correct?

>

> also, my os tells me that i will be free to leave the hospital just a

> few hours after my surgery. i guess this makes me wonder when i hear

> that others on this board have been staying at hospitals for a for few

> days post-op

>

> is it risky to leave the hospital too soon after the surgery? my

> doctor seems to think i'll be fine

[Guest guest]

,

I forgot all about your asthma! I'm so glad things have gone

smoothly! My baby brother has asthma and it's a very scary condition.

Congratulations!

Kate

> > i will be getting single jaw surger (lower jaw) in about a month

> and a

> > half and am still trying to decide if i want to be wired or not.

> i

> > know all the pros and cons (pros of being wired: less chance of

> > numbness; cons: not being able to talk properly, open your mouth,

> not

> > eating soft foods).

> >

> > i really am leaning toward the not being wired way...but its such

> a

> > hard choice. i just cant imagine not being able to speak properly

> and

> > eat only liquid foods for 4-6 weeks...i dont know...it just

> doesn't

> > seem doable...but what is the likelihood of permanent numbness?

> also,

> > if they dont use wires, they use screws correct?

> >

> > also, my os tells me that i will be free to leave the hospital

> just a

> > few hours after my surgery. i guess this makes me wonder when i

> hear

> > that others on this board have been staying at hospitals for a for

> few

> > days post-op

> >

> > is it risky to leave the hospital too soon after the surgery? my

> > doctor seems to think i'll be fine

[Guest guest]

the first doctor that I went to and thought I would surgery with

wanted to keep me in the hospital for 4 days (he wanted to wire me).

The second doctor and the one I am actually doing the surgery with is

for now saying that he will keep me in only for one night. Personally

I can't stand hospitals so I'm happy to get out of there as soon as

possible. Not to mention that the less I stay in hospital the lower

my hospital fees. I know good health is the number one goal in this

whole procedure but keeping costs down is another one for me too.

I don't think your doctor would send you home if it were risky. Have

you voiced your concern to him/her? Also, you should ask about the

screws and plates. Some people live with them for the rest of their

lives without any trouble others instead have had to have them

removed because they're body was rejecting them or they were pressing

too hard on sinuses. Even with wiring though, from what I understand,

you have some plates put into your jaw so you will always have metal

inside of you, so to speak.

Sara

> i will be getting single jaw surger (lower jaw) in about a month

and a

> half and am still trying to decide if i want to be wired or not. i

> know all the pros and cons (pros of being wired: less chance of

> numbness; cons: not being able to talk properly, open your mouth,

not

> eating soft foods).

>

> i really am leaning toward the not being wired way...but its such a

> hard choice. i just cant imagine not being able to speak properly

and

> eat only liquid foods for 4-6 weeks...i dont know...it just doesn't

> seem doable...but what is the likelihood of permanent numbness?

also,

> if they dont use wires, they use screws correct?

>

> also, my os tells me that i will be free to leave the hospital just

a

> few hours after my surgery. i guess this makes me wonder when i

hear

> that others on this board have been staying at hospitals for a for

few

> days post-op

>

> is it risky to leave the hospital too soon after the surgery? my

> doctor seems to think i'll be fine

[Guest guest]

The key question for me would be what your surgeon has found to

serve his patients' best.

I had lower jaw surgery only, had no numbness at all, ever. Some

swelling, but only so much that others saw it and I did not. Big-

time bruising, but so what -- it was gone within a week and a half,

anyhow.

I left the hospital on a Wednesday, about 2 p.m., after having had

surgery at 7 a.m. on a Tuesday. I had no problems, and my guy gave

me adequate antibiotics and painkillers to keep me from trouble.

I was weak, wanted to sleep a lot, didn't go back to work for a

month.

Just one person's experience. I'd trust what my doc recommended,

personally, but ask why other options are being offered, and what

the best suggestions are.

I have three little titanium screws in each jaw. Now, almost three

years later, no problems with them.

C.

> i will be getting single jaw surger (lower jaw) in about a month

and a

> half and am still trying to decide if i want to be wired or not.

i

> know all the pros and cons (pros of being wired: less chance of

> numbness; cons: not being able to talk properly, open your mouth,

not

> eating soft foods).

>

> i really am leaning toward the not being wired way...but its such

a

> hard choice. i just cant imagine not being able to speak properly

and

> eat only liquid foods for 4-6 weeks...i dont know...it just

doesn't

> seem doable...but what is the likelihood of permanent numbness?

also,

> if they dont use wires, they use screws correct?

>

> also, my os tells me that i will be free to leave the hospital

just a

> few hours after my surgery. i guess this makes me wonder when i

hear

> that others on this board have been staying at hospitals for a for

few

> days post-op

>

> is it risky to leave the hospital too soon after the surgery? my

> doctor seems to think i'll be fine

[Guest guest]

Kate,

I'd be very interested to find out out if the screws I have will

affect anything like that in the future. I honestly didn't think to

ask. The only thing I was concerned about (with my childlike

fascination for such silly things) was if I would set off metal

detectors! As my four screws are titanium, the answer to that

question was no.

Carol

> > i will be getting single jaw surger (lower jaw) in about a month

and a

> > half and am still trying to decide if i want to be wired or not.

i

> > know all the pros and cons (pros of being wired: less chance of

> > numbness; cons: not being able to talk properly, open your mouth,

not

> > eating soft foods).

> >

> > i really am leaning toward the not being wired way...but its such

a

> > hard choice. i just cant imagine not being able to speak

properly and

> > eat only liquid foods for 4-6 weeks...i dont know...it just

doesn't

> > seem doable...but what is the likelihood of permanent numbness?

also,

> > if they dont use wires, they use screws correct?

> >

> > also, my os tells me that i will be free to leave the hospital

just a

> > few hours after my surgery. i guess this makes me wonder when i

hear

>

> > that others on this board have been staying at hospitals for a

for few

> > days post-op

> >

> > is it risky to leave the hospital too soon after the surgery? my

> > doctor seems to think i'll be fine

[Guest guest]

Ha, Carol, that's the exact same question I asked my surgeon. Made

him laugh. He said that army boots have more power to set a metal

detector off than any of the plates or screws I will have in my

mouth. Lol, our minds are imaginative:-)

Sara

> > > i will be getting single jaw surger (lower jaw) in about a

month

> and a

> > > half and am still trying to decide if i want to be wired or

not.

> i

> > > know all the pros and cons (pros of being wired: less chance of

> > > numbness; cons: not being able to talk properly, open your

mouth,

> not

> > > eating soft foods).

> > >

> > > i really am leaning toward the not being wired way...but its

such

> a

> > > hard choice. i just cant imagine not being able to speak

> properly and

> > > eat only liquid foods for 4-6 weeks...i dont know...it just

> doesn't

> > > seem doable...but what is the likelihood of permanent

numbness?

> also,

> > > if they dont use wires, they use screws correct?

> > >

> > > also, my os tells me that i will be free to leave the hospital

> just a

> > > few hours after my surgery. i guess this makes me wonder when

i

> hear

> >

> > > that others on this board have been staying at hospitals for a

> for few

> > > days post-op

> > >

> > > is it risky to leave the hospital too soon after the surgery?

my

> > > doctor seems to think i'll be fine

[Guest guest]

Sara,

Now, that's what this site is all about. Just when you think that

you've thought up a totally silly question that no one else would

think of - you find someone else who thought of it!!!

Feeling pain in my chin today ... but chipper none the less because

I'm at the two week mark - 6 weeks until I'm unwired,

Carol

> > > > i will be getting single jaw surger (lower jaw) in about a

> month

> > and a

> > > > half and am still trying to decide if i want to be wired or

> not.

> > i

> > > > know all the pros and cons (pros of being wired: less chance

of

> > > > numbness; cons: not being able to talk properly, open your

> mouth,

> > not

> > > > eating soft foods).

> > > >

> > > > i really am leaning toward the not being wired way...but its

> such

> > a

> > > > hard choice. i just cant imagine not being able to speak

> > properly and

> > > > eat only liquid foods for 4-6 weeks...i dont know...it just

> > doesn't

> > > > seem doable...but what is the likelihood of permanent

> numbness?

> > also,

> > > > if they dont use wires, they use screws correct?

> > > >

> > > > also, my os tells me that i will be free to leave the

hospital

> > just a

> > > > few hours after my surgery. i guess this makes me wonder

when

> i

> > hear

> > >

> > > > that others on this board have been staying at hospitals for

a

> > for few

> > > > days post-op

> > > >

> > > > is it risky to leave the hospital too soon after the

surgery?

> my

> > > > doctor seems to think i'll be fine

[Guest guest]

Just to add my 2 cents...

I was wired shut for 6 weeks after lower jaw advancement. Not eating sucked and

being

worried that it was healing " wrong " was stressful but in the end, it looks

perfect. I healed

quickly and had not an ounce of numbness. I did have a tingle on the side of my

chin and

tongue that faded in under 3 weeks. My dr. prefers wiring because he can " guide "

the jaw

as it heals into place. Also, and this may just be me, but I find comfort in the

fact that

there is no foriegn metals finding a home in my face. I read posts from people

who are

worried about feeling the screws... that would bug me out a little I think...

T.

> > > i will be getting single jaw surger (lower jaw) in about a month

> and a

> > > half and am still trying to decide if i want to be wired or not.

> i

> > > know all the pros and cons (pros of being wired: less chance of

> > > numbness; cons: not being able to talk properly, open your mouth,

> not

> > > eating soft foods).

> > >

> > > i really am leaning toward the not being wired way...but its such

> a

> > > hard choice. i just cant imagine not being able to speak

> properly and

> > > eat only liquid foods for 4-6 weeks...i dont know...it just

> doesn't

> > > seem doable...but what is the likelihood of permanent numbness?

> also,

> > > if they dont use wires, they use screws correct?

> > >

> > > also, my os tells me that i will be free to leave the hospital

> just a

> > > few hours after my surgery. i guess this makes me wonder when i

> hear

> >

> > > that others on this board have been staying at hospitals for a

> for few

> > > days post-op

> > >

> > > is it risky to leave the hospital too soon after the surgery? my

> > > doctor seems to think i'll be fine

[Guest guest]

Carol,

Now I'm disappointed! I was really hoping to set off those darn

detectors! LOL Anyway, you may have answered my question. The

problem with MRI is the fact that it's a huge magnet! If the

materials used aren't polar and not magnetically attractive, (hmm...

attractive screws? ;-) then I suppose it's not much of a concern.

Maybe that's the difference between human plates/screws and animal

plates/screws... titanium is not fiscally feasible in veterinary

medicine most times!

Kate

> > > i will be getting single jaw surger (lower jaw) in about a

month

> and a

> > > half and am still trying to decide if i want to be wired or

not.

> i

> > > know all the pros and cons (pros of being wired: less chance of

> > > numbness; cons: not being able to talk properly, open your

mouth,

> not

> > > eating soft foods).

> > >

> > > i really am leaning toward the not being wired way...but its

such

> a

> > > hard choice. i just cant imagine not being able to speak

> properly and

> > > eat only liquid foods for 4-6 weeks...i dont know...it just

> doesn't

> > > seem doable...but what is the likelihood of permanent

numbness?

> also,

> > > if they dont use wires, they use screws correct?

> > >

> > > also, my os tells me that i will be free to leave the hospital

> just a

> > > few hours after my surgery. i guess this makes me wonder when

i

> hear

> >

> > > that others on this board have been staying at hospitals for a

> for few

> > > days post-op

> > >

> > > is it risky to leave the hospital too soon after the surgery?

my

> > > doctor seems to think i'll be fine

[Guest guest]

Kate,

Sorry to disappoint! No bells and whistles for us!

Welp, then I think we both learned something. I like when that

happens - at least once a day.

Take care,

Carol

> > > > i will be getting single jaw surger (lower jaw) in about a

> month

> > and a

> > > > half and am still trying to decide if i want to be wired or

> not.

> > i

> > > > know all the pros and cons (pros of being wired: less chance

of

> > > > numbness; cons: not being able to talk properly, open your

> mouth,

> > not

> > > > eating soft foods).

> > > >

> > > > i really am leaning toward the not being wired way...but its

> such

> > a

> > > > hard choice. i just cant imagine not being able to speak

> > properly and

> > > > eat only liquid foods for 4-6 weeks...i dont know...it just

> > doesn't

> > > > seem doable...but what is the likelihood of permanent

> numbness?

> > also,

> > > > if they dont use wires, they use screws correct?

> > > >

> > > > also, my os tells me that i will be free to leave the

hospital

> > just a

> > > > few hours after my surgery. i guess this makes me wonder

when

> i

> > hear

> > >

> > > > that others on this board have been staying at hospitals for

a

> > for few

> > > > days post-op

> > > >

> > > > is it risky to leave the hospital too soon after the

surgery?

> my

> > > > doctor seems to think i'll be fine