Re: 10-days post op now - questions, concerns, comments

[Guest guest]

Hi Judy,

That would be a lot of information to absorb about the wires, when

you were hoping it would not have to be the case for you. I am

sorry. I haven't had this surgery yet, but I have had other

surgeries, and hear you about the weakness you feel. Some people

don't have this, but many do. It will pass, thankfully!

I don't know about how long the recovery will be extended with the

wires, or even if it will be extended. I am sure someone here can

give you a better idea.

I think it is good that you are increasing your water intake too.

That should be helpful I am sure.

Try to get as much rest as you can. You are entitled. I will watch

for answers to your question about the recovery.

Hugs,

Fran

> Hi everyone,

> I've been pretty quite the past couple days on the board. I am

just

> so wiped out still from surgery. The littlest thing I do wears me

> out and I have to rest or take a nap. It's unreal how tired I

still

> feal from this surgery. (I could go to bed right now if I let

myself

> and it's only a little past 8:00 p.m.!)

> I found out recently something that I didn't know. Some of you

may

> remember me posting about a little bleeding I had two or three

days

> ago...well, that turned out to be nothing - it's perfectly normal,

> and it has stopped. Well, when I talked to my OS, I found out

that

> I am indeed - wired! My lips have been so sore, and I've been

> swollen enough that I didn't take a 'peek' inside my own mouth

until

> yesterday and then saw the wires. I have to say it is upsetting

to

> me, I didn't think they'd have to wire me like this. It's pretty

> freaky to look in my mouth and see little wires going into my gum-

> line!

> It explains why my teeth feel so 'tight' though. Now I am worried

> and scared to death about how it's going to feel when those wires

> have to come out! When do they come out? I was told 6 weeks of

> healing time for me with what I had done (upper, lower jaws

brought

> forward, genio, deviated septum fixed, and uvula removal). So,

does

> that mean I'll be unwired at the end of my 6 weeks...or will I

have

> to have the wires out or changed or anything like that when I go

in

> for my post-op check up on July 12th?

> Sorry if it sounds like I'm paniky...but I'm worried about the

wire

> removal part....

> On the positive side of things...my swelling is going down a lot,

> although I still have a lot under my nose (above my upper lip

area),

> and cheeks, plus the jawline and chin-neck area. It's a lot less

> than it was last weekend though.

> I've also converted soley to using the little 3-oz SOLO cups,

> instead of the syringe. The syringe was messy and I didn't like

> using it much. As long as I take it slow using the small cups is

> working like a charm.

> I think I was getting a little dehydrated so I've tried increasing

> my water intake...it's so slow though that I have to practically

> take little 'sips' of water all day long.

> I'm trying hard to brush my teeth...but it is SO hard! I can get

> the front 'ok'...and I desperately want to brush the back - it

feels

> so scummy and I just want to scrape my teeth clean! Is there

anyone

> who found a solution to that? I'm trying hard, I just can't get

> there with the wires and bands keeping my mouth this far shut :-(

> Judy

[Guest guest]

Thanks Fran!

I feel like it IS a lot to absorb about the wires....I really didn't

know I was until just recently....and now I feel pretty stupid

because I didn't know! I didn't get braces before this

surgery...two reasons mainly - I didn't need them (my teeth are

straight anyway), and plus my insurance company wouldn't cover the

braces, and we just got one child out of braces and another one is

in braces now...so we're still paying off braces and didn't want to

start more braces with me. Anyway, my 'sob story' is that I was

told that a few 'brackets' would be placed on my teeth during

surgery and that's how my jaw(s) would be held in place. I simply

didn't know they had 'hard-wired' my whole mouth! I guess I haven't

gotten to the place where I've accepted it yet, although I fully

realize that I have absolutely NO choice about the matter at this

point.

As far as energy...I've had other surgeries too. I'm 41, and so have

been through a few of them actually, but this one has me really

wiped...I don't know if maybe I've 'forgotten' how much surgery

really takes out of a person, or maybe I was thinking that since it

was surgery on my 'head' that I should still be able to use the rest

of my body just fine. Does that even make sense?! I fixed my kids

some dinner, tidied up the house a bit, did some laundry, and put

away just one basket of clothes, had only one visitor... and I'm so

exhausted now from just doing that; and want to just close my eyes

and sleep!! ( I think I may have to sign off for the night after

this post.... I'm just soooo tired )....

Thanks for your advice and kind words! When is your surgery?

Judy

Hi Judy,

That would be a lot of information to absorb about the wires, when

you were hoping it would not have to be the case for you. I am

sorry. I haven't had this surgery yet, but I have had other

surgeries, and hear you about the weakness you feel. Some people

don't have this, but many do. It will pass, thankfully!

I don't know about how long the recovery will be extended with the

wires, or even if it will be extended. I am sure someone here can

give you a better idea.

I think it is good that you are increasing your water intake too.

That should be helpful I am sure.

Try to get as much rest as you can. You are entitled. I will watch

for answers to your question about the recovery.

Hugs,

Fran

[Guest guest]

Judy,

You mention wires going into your gums. Are you talking about the

wires that hold your teeth together or do you have skeletal wires? I

just had my jaw unwired and my splint removed. I had 7 wires, in

loops, holding my teeth together. 5 of them were removed -

painlessly. 2 of them were removed - and it was painful ... but only

for a moment. Those wires were wrapped around my skeletal wires and

so they tugged on them - hence the pain. I will be having my

skeletal wires out in two weeks. I'm told I will be made numb via

gas, topical anethetic and novicaine shots. So, I'm guessing I won't

feel it.

As for the inside of your teeth - did your doctor prescribe any

mouthwash? Mine did and I used it twice a day. I honestly never had

all the issues everyone else did - about the " sweaters " on their

teeth and their gums and tongue - but I know it happens. A

prescription mouthwash can help.

Take care,

Carol

> > Hi everyone,

> > I've been pretty quite the past couple days on the board. I am

> just

> > so wiped out still from surgery. The littlest thing I do wears

me

> > out and I have to rest or take a nap. It's unreal how tired I

> still

> > feal from this surgery. (I could go to bed right now if I let

> myself

> > and it's only a little past 8:00 p.m.!)

> > I found out recently something that I didn't know. Some of you

> may

> > remember me posting about a little bleeding I had two or three

> days

> > ago...well, that turned out to be nothing - it's perfectly

normal,

> > and it has stopped. Well, when I talked to my OS, I found out

> that

> > I am indeed - wired! My lips have been so sore, and I've been

> > swollen enough that I didn't take a 'peek' inside my own mouth

> until

> > yesterday and then saw the wires. I have to say it is upsetting

> to

> > me, I didn't think they'd have to wire me like this. It's pretty

> > freaky to look in my mouth and see little wires going into my gum-

> > line!

> > It explains why my teeth feel so 'tight' though. Now I am worried

> > and scared to death about how it's going to feel when those wires

> > have to come out! When do they come out? I was told 6 weeks of

> > healing time for me with what I had done (upper, lower jaws

> brought

> > forward, genio, deviated septum fixed, and uvula removal). So,

> does

> > that mean I'll be unwired at the end of my 6 weeks...or will I

> have

> > to have the wires out or changed or anything like that when I go

> in

> > for my post-op check up on July 12th?

> > Sorry if it sounds like I'm paniky...but I'm worried about the

> wire

> > removal part....

> > On the positive side of things...my swelling is going down a lot,

> > although I still have a lot under my nose (above my upper lip

> area),

> > and cheeks, plus the jawline and chin-neck area. It's a lot less

> > than it was last weekend though.

> > I've also converted soley to using the little 3-oz SOLO cups,

> > instead of the syringe. The syringe was messy and I didn't like

> > using it much. As long as I take it slow using the small cups is

> > working like a charm.

> > I think I was getting a little dehydrated so I've tried

increasing

> > my water intake...it's so slow though that I have to practically

> > take little 'sips' of water all day long.

> > I'm trying hard to brush my teeth...but it is SO hard! I can get

> > the front 'ok'...and I desperately want to brush the back - it

> feels

> > so scummy and I just want to scrape my teeth clean! Is there

> anyone

> > who found a solution to that? I'm trying hard, I just can't get

> > there with the wires and bands keeping my mouth this far shut :-(

> > Judy

[Guest guest]

Hi Judy, I know what you about being wiped out. After all I went

through I finally called my internist yesterday morning as I was

concerned my hemoglobin wasn't going to bounce back normally as I

some malabsorption problems. My heart would raise everytime I tried

to walk to bathroom, etc. My pulse was 117 at the Dr.'s office. We

decided to transfuse a unit of packed red blood cells. I was a

blood banker in a transfusion service for 11 years, so I knew the

risks, etc. I went in at 8am this morning for the blood

transfusion. Within a few hours I felt so much better and the nurse

said " now you have some color " .

At the surgeon's office on Tuesday, I mentioned to a lady that I

think this surgery is easier if you're young. She told me her

daughter had the surgery at 29 yrs, and was laid up for two weeks.

So that at least made me feel a little better - I thought it was my

age (62)!

> I am indeed - wired! My lips have been so sore, and I've been

> swollen enough that I didn't take a 'peek' inside my own

mouthuntil

> yesterday and then saw the wires.

That explains why you were having more trouble with the cup. But

you solved that with your Solo Cup!!

My lips are still sore (swelling is go down)and numb. However, I am

getting feeling in the teeth which were hurting this evening.

> I'm trying hard to brush my teeth...but it is SO hard! I can get

> the front 'ok'...and I desperately want to brush the back - it

feels

> so scummy and I just want to scrape my teeth clean! Is there

anyone

> who found a solution to that?

Maybe you can get a syringe with curved tip on it. My surgeon gave

me one. But you have to do it very gently. I've been trying to

brush at least once a day, but it's hard getting it done even though

I can open at least a finger width. I also rinse with plain water,

just kind of force it out of my mouth. I use salt water and

peridex, too. My gums back where they cut the bone are yucky, like

the tissue is sloughing off. I'll see what the OS says on Tuesday

when I see him.

Sorry I can't answer any questions about the wires since all I have

is rubber bands.

Thinking of you,

Shirley

[Guest guest]

Hi Shirley,

Wow - you have been through so much this week, that I feel really

bad complaining about my smaller issues. I'm glad you are doing

better now though! I've never had a blood transfusion, but I am

glad that it has helped you out so much. That's great that you are

feelng better. Lord knows we need all the strength we can muster to

heal from this ordeal.

I'm still wiped out, yes - but it is really helping me to take that

long nap everyday. It seems like such a huge 'waste' of time...but

hey, it's helping me heal, and be better rested and plus feel better

in general. So, I figure it's not really a waste of time in the end.

As far as age goes - I think what we had done would really wipe

anyone out, regardless of age.

I've been trying to brush at least twice, if not three times per

day. It's very difficult though...I am highly looking forward to the

day when I can really clean my mouth out the way I used to without

wires and bands keeping my mouth clamped shut.

My gum area that was cut to get to the bone are yucky too, it sounds

identical to what I'm dealing with. Sometimes I gently take a tissue

and just wipe it across (very very softly!)...and a little bit

of 'stuff' sloughs off. My OS said it was ok to do that as long as

it's very gently.

Sending healing thoughts your way too, take care!

Judy (I'm turning in for the night now...can't seem to make it past

9 or 10 pm these days!)