Re: mandibular advancement

June 25, 2005

Hi Nick (can I call you that?),

I'm having the same surgery July 8. I think I can answer a few of your

questions. But you need to ask your surgeon to know for sure, because

they all seem to do things a little differently.

> Anyway, my surgeon says that they do not wire your jaw shut for

> advancement anymore, so are you still restricted to a liquid diet?

My doc told me I won't be on a liquid diet except for 24 hours after

surgery. Then I will be on soft foods (non-chew, like eggs and

noodles) for six weeks.

> this splint I hear everyone talking about? Does it stay in 24 hours

> a day, and if so can you eat with it, if not how long does the

> surgeon leave it in?

It's an acrylic mold around your teeth (I think?) that I believe does

stay in 24/7 for six weeks. Again, soft foods for six weeks. You'll

probably also be banded, which means rubber bands (aka elastics)

between your upper and lower teeth.

> how much weight do people generally loose? Can you also not eat

> because it is painful?

I don't know about these. I think 10 or 12 pounds is probably typical,

but I'm not sure. I don't think eating is as painful as awkward.

> they do not understand mommy does not feel good. Anyone have any

> ideas how long I need to take off of work?

You need to ask your surgeon, but mine told me two weeks. Other people

have said the tiredness may last longer.

Good luck!

Luna

June 25, 2005

Dear Luna:

Actually my name is Marci, the other names listed are my

children. Your surgery is coming up pretty fast. Thank you for

responding. How long have you had your braces on already? It seems

like the day will never come. I have prepared myself emotionally,

now I am ready and my fellow friends and employees keep asking

when??? I am a cirulating nurse in a very busy operating room. I

now only work weekends since my daughter was born 2 1/2 years ago.

So, I know all about the surgery and everything it involves, in fact

I get to pick my whole operating room staff including anesthesia. I

appreciate your knowledge. I have only had one visit with the oral

surgeon so I did not ask about splints, eating, because I was mainly

concerned with outside facial incisions, need for a foley catheter,

wiring, working/help with my young children, insurance, etc. SO,

this acrylic splint, does it have to be removed by the oral surgeon?

Is it sutured in or does it just hang in place per say?

Thank you for chatting with me and good luck to your upcoming

surgery.

Marci

> Hi Nick (can I call you that?),

>

> I'm having the same surgery July 8. I think I can answer a few of

your

> questions. But you need to ask your surgeon to know for sure,

because

> they all seem to do things a little differently.

>

> > Anyway, my surgeon says that they do not wire your jaw shut for

> > advancement anymore, so are you still restricted to a liquid

diet?

>

> My doc told me I won't be on a liquid diet except for 24 hours after

> surgery. Then I will be on soft foods (non-chew, like eggs and

> noodles) for six weeks.

>

> > this splint I hear everyone talking about? Does it stay in 24

hours

> > a day, and if so can you eat with it, if not how long does the

> > surgeon leave it in?

>

> It's an acrylic mold around your teeth (I think?) that I believe

does

> stay in 24/7 for six weeks. Again, soft foods for six weeks. You'll

> probably also be banded, which means rubber bands (aka elastics)

> between your upper and lower teeth.

>

> > how much weight do people generally loose? Can you also not eat

> > because it is painful?

>

> I don't know about these. I think 10 or 12 pounds is probably

typical,

> but I'm not sure. I don't think eating is as painful as awkward.

>

> > they do not understand mommy does not feel good. Anyone have any

> > ideas how long I need to take off of work?

>

> You need to ask your surgeon, but mine told me two weeks. Other

people

> have said the tiredness may last longer.

>

> Good luck!

>

> Luna

June 25, 2005

Hi Marci

Welcome to the group. I'm 19 days post op from upper jaw surgery and

genio. I still have my splint in but am hoping to get it out this

coming Monday. The splint is literally wired to your teeth, at least

mine is. It doesn't hurt because the wires don't go into your gums

or teeth but wrap around your teeth and are connected to the braces

you already have on. They wire it to your jaw when you are asleep

during the surgery. On this board people have had the splint removed

either by their Orthodontist (OD) or Oral Surgeon (OS). I am having

mine removed by my OS and then my OD will put in a new archwire

since mine was cut in 3 places during surgery (my upper jaw was

dissected in 3 pieces). I was restricted to a liquid diet for the

1st week post-op and then I was allowed to move onto a soft diet. I

have been heating mushed up tuna with mayonnaise and lemon juice,

cottage cheese, puddings, yoghurt, risotto, mashed potatoes and LOTS

of soups. I felt pretty crappy the first week post-op but by the 2nd

week I was doing much better. After 14 days I was ready to go back

to work even though since I'm currently an unemployed recent

graduate I didn't need to exert myself. I would say however that you

should be able to take care of your kids again after 2 weeks but

will still need to take it easy as on a different diet one still

lose their energy more easily. I lost 13 lbs in the first 2 weeks

but ever since then have been stable weightwise. I haven't gained

any back yet and I actually hope to keep it that way!

Hope this helps!

Sara

June 25, 2005

Hi Marci,

My upper advancement surgery (and fistula closing) was June 9th. I've

lost a grand total of three pounds. Wahoo. I thought it might be

more but my fiance just keeps nurishing me Healing wise, I think

it's very personal experience. I " felt " fine at 13 days, but was out

for two hours and became completely wiped out for 48 hrs. So I think

it just depends. I'm becoming a little stronger each day - but I'm

not sure if I would be up to working an 12 hr nursing shift.

Good luck )

-becky

June 26, 2005

Dear Becky,

So, did you have a maxillary advancement? If so, I wonder how

different a mandibular SSO is than a maxillary advancement. If you did

have a maxillary, do you have any outside incisions? Have you returned

back to work, assuming that you work? Do you have any young children?

Just covering all of my bases. Thanks for writing,

Marci

-- In orthognathicsurgerysupport , " "

<rebwend@y...> wrote:

> Hi Marci,

>

> My upper advancement surgery (and fistula closing) was June 9th. I've

> lost a grand total of three pounds. Wahoo. I thought it might be

> more but my fiance just keeps nurishing me Healing wise, I think

> it's very personal experience. I " felt " fine at 13 days, but was out

> for two hours and became completely wiped out for 48 hrs. So I think

> it just depends. I'm becoming a little stronger each day - but I'm

> not sure if I would be up to working an 12 hr nursing shift.

>

> Good luck )

>

> -becky

June 26, 2005

Hi Marci,

I had a maxillary advancement in Sept 2002. BSSO (bilateral sagittal

split osteotomies) refers to the cuts that are made through the

mandible. The mandible can then either be advanced or brought back.

I did have one small incision, less than 1/2 cm, on either side

along the jaw line that healed very quickly and weren't even visible

after a week or two.

I returned back to work in a busy ER two weeks post-op which was

much too early. I was still tightly banded shut and could barely

mumble. I worked one shift but I had to have my nurses come in the

rooms with me to talk for me. Needless to say that didn't work out

very well so I ended up having to take the next two weeks as well.

Finally I went back to work after 4 weeks. It was still difficult as

I was still pretty uncomfortable and didn't have much energy but I

got through it.

My children at the time were 12 months and 2 1/2 years old. My

parents and my sister live close by so they helped out a lot. For

this surgery, we're sending the girls to my in-laws for two weeks.

Even though they're out of diapers and don't need to be carried

around, they still want Mommy's attention and don't understand that

I need to rest. My 3 year old, Lexi, is very clingy and bouncy so I

get a lot of unintentional headbutts to the face when she cuddles.

I hope this helps. When is your surgery?

> > Hi Marci,

> >

> > My upper advancement surgery (and fistula closing) was June

9th. I've

> > lost a grand total of three pounds. Wahoo. I thought it might

be

> > more but my fiance just keeps nurishing me Healing wise, I

think

> > it's very personal experience. I " felt " fine at 13 days, but

was out

> > for two hours and became completely wiped out for 48 hrs. So I

think

> > it just depends. I'm becoming a little stronger each day - but

I'm

> > not sure if I would be up to working an 12 hr nursing shift.

> >

> > Good luck )

> >

> > -becky

June 26, 2005

Marci,

I had a maxillary advancement (in addition to the bone graft/fistula

closing). I have no real experience with the maxillary vs mandibular

advancements...although I feel like your lower jaw " moves " a lot more

than your upper normally. I have no outside incisions - all the

incisions were made along the gum line. They even were able to " tuck

in " my nose while they had everything pulled apart. I have no small

children (yet) - I'm 27 and live in NYC. I am currently a graduate

student in immunology...so my " job " is at a bench that usually

requires standing and using my hands to perform experiments. I can

say that my job wouldn't necessarily require a lot of talking - and

that seems to be the most tiring thing. I haven't been back to work

yet (I visited once for about an hour and became completely

exhausted...maybe from talking?) I was thinking about going back

sometime this week - I was going to try maybe a couple hours on Tues.

I'll definitely let you know how it goes.

On a side note, I was menstruating this week (I can't believe I'm

discussing this) - but it seemed to be a bit heavier. I wonder if

that's what made me so tired all week - maybe I was a bit anemic? I

don't know...it's just a theory. I had no real pain to speak of -

just really really tired.

Good luck )

-becky

June 26, 2005

Maybe you were a bit anemic. My OS wants me to donate my own blood,

just in case. He's gonna give me iron supplements to help. I've tried

to give blood in the past but got really dizzy and was put on the

ineligible donor list, so...we'll see. Do you have a history of

menstrual problems? I already have difficult periods and I'm going to

have to ask my OS about this so that won't worsen it.

~Joanne

> Marci,

>

> I had a maxillary advancement (in addition to the bone graft/fistula

> closing). I have no real experience with the maxillary vs

mandibular

> advancements...although I feel like your lower jaw " moves " a lot

more

> than your upper normally. I have no outside incisions - all the

> incisions were made along the gum line. They even were able

to " tuck

> in " my nose while they had everything pulled apart. I have no small

> children (yet) - I'm 27 and live in NYC. I am currently a graduate

> student in immunology...so my " job " is at a bench that usually

> requires standing and using my hands to perform experiments. I can

> say that my job wouldn't necessarily require a lot of talking - and

> that seems to be the most tiring thing. I haven't been back to work

> yet (I visited once for about an hour and became completely

> exhausted...maybe from talking?) I was thinking about going back

> sometime this week - I was going to try maybe a couple hours on

Tues.

> I'll definitely let you know how it goes.

>

> On a side note, I was menstruating this week (I can't believe I'm

> discussing this) - but it seemed to be a bit heavier. I wonder if

> that's what made me so tired all week - maybe I was a bit anemic? I

> don't know...it's just a theory. I had no real pain to speak of -

> just really really tired.

>

> Good luck )

>

> -becky

June 26, 2005

Dear ,

What do you do in the ER? I am a circulator/charge nuse in

surgery in Louisville, KY. My little girl Lexi is 2 1/2 and my son

Nick is 5 1/2. My surgery will like be in September-October, I go

back to the ortho in the am to get one more spring in place. I have

one stubborn tooth to get into place and then I will be ready for

surgery. Everything else is in place. So, you sound like you are

having another surgery other than your maxillary advancement? What

are you having done and when? The good thing is that my oldest

child, Nick, will be starting kindergarten in the middle of August so

he will be out of the house from 900-345pm. My question to you is

that since I am in charge at work, a lot of what I do is talking, so

what is your suggestion on returning to work. Until I am at least

four weeks post-op? I am so glad you told me the incisions on your

face faded quickly. Did you use any mederma or anything like that?

Just curious, hope to hear from you soon,

Marci

-- In orthognathicsurgerysupport , minirascal2002

<no_reply@y...> wrote:

> Hi Marci,

> I had a maxillary advancement in Sept 2002. BSSO (bilateral

sagittal

> split osteotomies) refers to the cuts that are made through the

> mandible. The mandible can then either be advanced or brought back.

>

> I did have one small incision, less than 1/2 cm, on either side

> along the jaw line that healed very quickly and weren't even

visible

> after a week or two.

>

> I returned back to work in a busy ER two weeks post-op which was

> much too early. I was still tightly banded shut and could barely

> mumble. I worked one shift but I had to have my nurses come in the

> rooms with me to talk for me. Needless to say that didn't work out

> very well so I ended up having to take the next two weeks as well.

> Finally I went back to work after 4 weeks. It was still difficult

as

> I was still pretty uncomfortable and didn't have much energy but I

> got through it.

>

> My children at the time were 12 months and 2 1/2 years old. My

> parents and my sister live close by so they helped out a lot. For

> this surgery, we're sending the girls to my in-laws for two weeks.

> Even though they're out of diapers and don't need to be carried

> around, they still want Mommy's attention and don't understand that

> I need to rest. My 3 year old, Lexi, is very clingy and bouncy so I

> get a lot of unintentional headbutts to the face when she cuddles.

>

> I hope this helps. When is your surgery?

>

> > > Hi Marci,

> > >

> > > My upper advancement surgery (and fistula closing) was June

> 9th. I've

> > > lost a grand total of three pounds. Wahoo. I thought it might

> be

> > > more but my fiance just keeps nurishing me Healing wise, I

> think

> > > it's very personal experience. I " felt " fine at 13 days, but

> was out

> > > for two hours and became completely wiped out for 48 hrs. So I

> think

> > > it just depends. I'm becoming a little stronger each day - but

> I'm

> > > not sure if I would be up to working an 12 hr nursing shift.

> > >

> > > Good luck )

> > >

> > > -becky

June 26, 2005

Dear REbecca,

I am sorry if you already told me, but how long post-operatively are

you? The only huge difference that I know of in maxillary versus

mandibular advancements is the high incidence of aveolar nerve damage

in women mandibular advancement patients (60-70%). As I was told is

that it is just something that you get used to. With men the aveolar

nerve is so large it is easily seen and easy to avoid, with women it

is smaller and with so much manipulation it is very easy to get

damaged.