Re: Upper Jaw Surgery - expected recovery time?

[Guest guest]

Dee,

Why do you need to be wired if you're only having upper jaw surgery?

They use rigid fixation now, which I believe means they just bracket

your maxilla to your skull. I'm having LeFort I Osteotomy, and I

won't have to be wired. Even with wires, are they usually 8 weeks?

> I'm scheduled to have upper jaw surgery on July 18. I'm nervous

about

> recovery, because I have two kids and I'm the primary care giver.

(I

> have a four year daughter and a 10 year old son.) I will be wired

> shut for eight weeks. I do work at home and fortunately my jobs

are

> flexible, but my kids are home with me as well - they don't go to

> daycare. I'm wondering how long I will be " down " . My mom has

offered

> to move in and help while my husband goes to work, and I feel that

I

> will have to take her up on that, but I'm not sure how long?

Starting

> to panic....please set me straight! Any information that you can

give

> me to me will be greatly appreciated.

>

> Dee

[Guest guest]

Hi .

I will have to ask about the rigid fixation. I know when I met with

the oral surgeon she told me that I would be wired for eight weeks

and forbidden to chew that entire time. It would be great if I

don't have to be wired...I'm more nervous about that then anything

else!!!! When is your surgery? What state are you in? I'm from

Maine.

> > I'm scheduled to have upper jaw surgery on July 18. I'm nervous

> about

> > recovery, because I have two kids and I'm the primary care

giver.

> (I

> > have a four year daughter and a 10 year old son.) I will be

wired

> > shut for eight weeks. I do work at home and fortunately my jobs

> are

> > flexible, but my kids are home with me as well - they don't go

to

> > daycare. I'm wondering how long I will be " down " . My mom has

> offered

> > to move in and help while my husband goes to work, and I feel

that

> I

> > will have to take her up on that, but I'm not sure how long?

> Starting

> > to panic....please set me straight! Any information that you

can

> give

> > me to me will be greatly appreciated.

> >

> > Dee

[Guest guest]

Dee and

Different surgeons will have different approaches to wiring and rigid

fixation. Dee it may be that your surgeon is mor conservative and

prefers wiring, which many say allows is better because it allows the

jaw to sit in such a way that enables the jaw muscles to relax more

easily than with rigid fixation where the surgeon has to place the

jaw in exactly the right position. I saw two surgeons who both wanted

to do only upper and one wanted to wire me for 8 weeks and the other

only wanted to band me. I went for the second doctor but not because

of the wiring vs. rigid fixation decision but because i liked the

doctor more. Anyway, just wanted to let you know that there is no

common agreement among doctors on the rigid fixation versus wiring

debate.

Best,

Sara

-

-- In orthognathicsurgerysupport , " dpwilson2182 "

<dpwilson2182@y...> wrote:

> Hi .

>

> I will have to ask about the rigid fixation. I know when I met

with

> the oral surgeon she told me that I would be wired for eight weeks

> and forbidden to chew that entire time. It would be great if I

> don't have to be wired...I'm more nervous about that then anything

> else!!!! When is your surgery? What state are you in? I'm from

> Maine.

>

>

> > > I'm scheduled to have upper jaw surgery on July 18. I'm

nervous

> > about

> > > recovery, because I have two kids and I'm the primary care

> giver.

> > (I

> > > have a four year daughter and a 10 year old son.) I will be

> wired

> > > shut for eight weeks. I do work at home and fortunately my

jobs

> > are

> > > flexible, but my kids are home with me as well - they don't go

> to

> > > daycare. I'm wondering how long I will be " down " . My mom has

> > offered

> > > to move in and help while my husband goes to work, and I feel

> that

> > I

> > > will have to take her up on that, but I'm not sure how long?

> > Starting

> > > to panic....please set me straight! Any information that you

> can

> > give

> > > me to me will be greatly appreciated.

> > >

> > > Dee

[Guest guest]

Thanks Sara, I just want mine done and over with When did you

have yours done? How bad was it? I guess the thing that I'm

concerned most with is being wired shut (God I love to talk!!!) and

the fact that I have a four year old daughter that I don't want to

scare. I had surgery in October 03 for a palatal expander and came

home the same day. I swelled up really bad and was swollen for

about four 1/2 weeks. My OS told me that my kids shouldn't see me

this time after surgery for a few days. I'll leave that up to my

husband and mother.

Enjoy the weekend!

Dee

> > > > I'm scheduled to have upper jaw surgery on July 18. I'm

> nervous

> > > about

> > > > recovery, because I have two kids and I'm the primary care

> > giver.

> > > (I

> > > > have a four year daughter and a 10 year old son.) I will be

> > wired

> > > > shut for eight weeks. I do work at home and fortunately my

> jobs

> > > are

> > > > flexible, but my kids are home with me as well - they don't

go

> > to

> > > > daycare. I'm wondering how long I will be " down " . My mom

has

> > > offered

> > > > to move in and help while my husband goes to work, and I

feel

> > that

> > > I

> > > > will have to take her up on that, but I'm not sure how

long?

> > > Starting

> > > > to panic....please set me straight! Any information that

you

> > can

> > > give

> > > > me to me will be greatly appreciated.

> > > >

> > > > Dee

[Guest guest]

Oh Dee,

I still haven't had my surgery yet. Didn't mean to give you the wrong

impression. Sorry:-( It's just that I spent several months

researching wired versus rigid fixation.

I'm having surgery on June 6th so just around the corner. I

understand your concerns about your kids and how they will react to

how you look. Little ones can be very impressionable but I am sure

that underneath the swelling they will realize that they're loving

mommy is still there:-) I can't wait to get the surgery out of the

way too. At this point I feel like it's hanging over my head and it's

starting to drive me nuts BUT I'm still trying to enjoy as much as

possible now that I can talk freely and eat pretty much freely. I get

my hooks on Tuesday. We'll see how freely I eat after that. has

told me that she lost 6lbs since she got hers. Given that since I

confirmed my surgery date I have put on at least 10 lbs from eating

like crazy with the anticipation of not being able to eat for a

while, I'm thinking it would not do me some harm to lose a few lbs

before surgery. I have never weighed this much in my life. Oh well,

I'm sure I'll lose enough post-surgery.

Sara

> > > > > I'm scheduled to have upper jaw surgery on July 18. I'm

> > nervous

> > > > about

> > > > > recovery, because I have two kids and I'm the primary care

> > > giver.

> > > > (I

> > > > > have a four year daughter and a 10 year old son.) I will

be

> > > wired

> > > > > shut for eight weeks. I do work at home and fortunately my

> > jobs

> > > > are

> > > > > flexible, but my kids are home with me as well - they don't

> go

> > > to

> > > > > daycare. I'm wondering how long I will be " down " . My mom

> has

> > > > offered

> > > > > to move in and help while my husband goes to work, and I

> feel

> > > that

> > > > I

> > > > > will have to take her up on that, but I'm not sure how

> long?

> > > > Starting

> > > > > to panic....please set me straight! Any information that

> you

> > > can

> > > > give

> > > > > me to me will be greatly appreciated.

> > > > >

> > > > > Dee

[Guest guest]

No problem. You've done a lot of research! I can't wait to hear

from you after your surgery. You'll have to let me know how it was

once you feel up to being online.

On the plus side, I am looking forward to some weightloss. I could

stand to lose another 10 pounds or so ! I lost 40 pounds between

Atkins and my first surgery. I've never felt better.

The weekend before my surgery, my husband is sending to

Massachusetts for a Scrappers Dream Vacation. I love to scrapbook!

I was going to cancel my trip since surgery was Monday the day after

I came back, but he suggested that I still go, so I guess I'll go

Friday and Saturday and come home late Saturday night. I could use

a fun day before d-day.

> > > > > > I'm scheduled to have upper jaw surgery on July 18. I'm

> > > nervous

> > > > > about

> > > > > > recovery, because I have two kids and I'm the primary

care

> > > > giver.

> > > > > (I

> > > > > > have a four year daughter and a 10 year old son.) I

will

> be

> > > > wired

> > > > > > shut for eight weeks. I do work at home and fortunately

my

> > > jobs

> > > > > are

> > > > > > flexible, but my kids are home with me as well - they

don't

> > go

> > > > to

> > > > > > daycare. I'm wondering how long I will be " down " . My

mom

> > has

> > > > > offered

> > > > > > to move in and help while my husband goes to work, and I

> > feel

> > > > that

> > > > > I

> > > > > > will have to take her up on that, but I'm not sure how

> > long?

> > > > > Starting

> > > > > > to panic....please set me straight! Any information

that

> > you

> > > > can

> > > > > give

> > > > > > me to me will be greatly appreciated.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Dee

[Guest guest]

Oh I agree with your husband. You have to go! Have as much fun as

possible and it will help to keep your mind off the surgery. I am

flying to L.A. with my boyfriend to see my brother for a few days

before surgery, and hopefully to soak in some sun rays while I can. I

get back the day before the surgery and while I was a little worried

about this before, now I think I made the right decision. The

important thing is that we both don't overdo it during our respective

holidays:-) Must rest for the surgery.

I know what you mean about the Atkins diet. I was on it three years

ago and have never felt so healthy in my life either. I was also

going to the gym four times a week, which obviously helped. But I

think the Atkins all too often gets a bad rep since a lot of people

jump to the conclusion that it's all about eating fat and that's it.

After reading 's posts I have decided to try to eat more protein

and fruit at least for the next week ahead of the surgery. MUST BE

HEALTHY.

When is your surgery Dee by the way? Still a long wait or almost

there?

Sara

> > > > > > > I'm scheduled to have upper jaw surgery on July 18.

I'm

> > > > nervous

> > > > > > about

> > > > > > > recovery, because I have two kids and I'm the primary

> care

> > > > > giver.

> > > > > > (I

> > > > > > > have a four year daughter and a 10 year old son.) I

> will

> > be

> > > > > wired

> > > > > > > shut for eight weeks. I do work at home and

fortunately

> my

> > > > jobs

> > > > > > are

> > > > > > > flexible, but my kids are home with me as well - they

> don't

> > > go

> > > > > to

> > > > > > > daycare. I'm wondering how long I will be " down " . My

> mom

> > > has

> > > > > > offered

> > > > > > > to move in and help while my husband goes to work, and

I

> > > feel

> > > > > that

> > > > > > I

> > > > > > > will have to take her up on that, but I'm not sure how

> > > long?

> > > > > > Starting

> > > > > > > to panic....please set me straight! Any information

> that

> > > you

> > > > > can

> > > > > > give

> > > > > > > me to me will be greatly appreciated.

> > > > > > >

> > > > > > > Dee

[Guest guest]

Enjoy L.A. When are you leaving? Where are you from? I would love

to soak up some rays...but we've had nothing but rain! I'm tired of

it. I think you made the right decision as well. Have fun!

My d-day is July 18. It will be here before you know it. It will

busy right up until. School is finishing up here for my son so

there are a lot end of year things, and then my pre-op appt starts.

Dee

> > > > > > > > I'm scheduled to have upper jaw surgery on July 18.

> I'm

> > > > > nervous

> > > > > > > about

> > > > > > > > recovery, because I have two kids and I'm the

primary

> > care

> > > > > > giver.

> > > > > > > (I

> > > > > > > > have a four year daughter and a 10 year old son.) I

> > will

> > > be

> > > > > > wired

> > > > > > > > shut for eight weeks. I do work at home and

> fortunately

> > my

> > > > > jobs

> > > > > > > are

> > > > > > > > flexible, but my kids are home with me as well -

they

> > don't

> > > > go

> > > > > > to

> > > > > > > > daycare. I'm wondering how long I will be " down " .

My

> > mom

> > > > has

> > > > > > > offered

> > > > > > > > to move in and help while my husband goes to work,

and

> I

> > > > feel

> > > > > > that

> > > > > > > I

> > > > > > > > will have to take her up on that, but I'm not sure

how

> > > > long?

> > > > > > > Starting

> > > > > > > > to panic....please set me straight! Any information

> > that

> > > > you

> > > > > > can

> > > > > > > give

> > > > > > > > me to me will be greatly appreciated.

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > Dee

[Guest guest]

Dee,

I'm actually originally from Italy but I've been living in NYC for

two years now. My mother is Italian and my father is American but

when they split up my mother took my brother and I back to Italy and

that's what I call home. I know what you mean about missing the sun.

The weather here in NYC has been very strange and very non-Spring

like. Keeping my fingers crossed for permanent sun soon. And yes,

July 18th will be here before you know it. And by then hopefully I'll

be able to give you a few valid pointers on how to make the whole

recovery process easier. What I always think about is how great NEXT

summer will be once we are on the other side finally:-)

Have a good weekend.

Sara

> > > > > > > > > I'm scheduled to have upper jaw surgery on July

18.

> > I'm

> > > > > > nervous

> > > > > > > > about

> > > > > > > > > recovery, because I have two kids and I'm the

> primary

> > > care

> > > > > > > giver.

> > > > > > > > (I

> > > > > > > > > have a four year daughter and a 10 year old son.)

I

> > > will

> > > > be

> > > > > > > wired

> > > > > > > > > shut for eight weeks. I do work at home and

> > fortunately

> > > my

> > > > > > jobs

> > > > > > > > are

> > > > > > > > > flexible, but my kids are home with me as well -

> they

> > > don't

> > > > > go

> > > > > > > to

> > > > > > > > > daycare. I'm wondering how long I will be " down " .

> My

> > > mom

> > > > > has

> > > > > > > > offered

> > > > > > > > > to move in and help while my husband goes to work,

> and

> > I

> > > > > feel

> > > > > > > that

> > > > > > > > I

> > > > > > > > > will have to take her up on that, but I'm not sure

> how

> > > > > long?

> > > > > > > > Starting

> > > > > > > > > to panic....please set me straight! Any

information

> > > that

> > > > > you

> > > > > > > can

> > > > > > > > give

> > > > > > > > > me to me will be greatly appreciated.

> > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > Dee