Re: SURGERY TOMORROW AND I REALLY NEED SOME ADVISE

[Guest guest]

Constantine

I had a lower advancement a little over 6 weeks ago. I don't have

screws, but I was splinted and wired for 6 weeks. I just got my

wires cut this week, and my splint comes off tomorrow...YEAH!!! My

post op experience was fairly uneventful. I had very little pain. I

was mostly uncomfortable, which can be expected when having your jaw

broken.

I was terrified as I had never had general anesthesia. I was more

afraid of that than the actual surgery. All turned out well, and so

far, I am happy with my results.

If you have any specific questions, feel free to ask. We are all

here to help.

> Hi everyone,

>

> Tomorrow I have surgery to have my lower jaw advanced and will be

> having screws and a splint fitted post-op.

>

> Honestly, I'm scared.

>

> Anyone who had similar surgery that could offer any advise and

> information on their post-op experience would be most welcome.

>

> Thanks in advance and good luck to all of you.

>

> Constantine

[Guest guest]

and - thanks for your kind replies.

first of all congratulations, I hope you're happy with the

results.

A few questions for you -

How dramatically has your daily life been affected in the last six

weeks? Eating will obviously be a major adjustment that I think I'm

prepared for but how about talking, oral hygiene, laughing and

sleeping. Will my experience be any different as I'm having screws

fitted?

> > Hi everyone,

> >

> > Tomorrow I have surgery to have my lower jaw advanced and will

be

> > having screws and a splint fitted post-op.

> >

> > Honestly, I'm scared.

> >

> > Anyone who had similar surgery that could offer any advise and

> > information on their post-op experience would be most welcome.

> >

> > Thanks in advance and good luck to all of you.

> >

> > Constantine

[Guest guest]

Constantine

My doc has kept me off work the entire time, so that has not been a

problem. However, if I had gone back to work after a couple of

weeks, it would have been very difficult. My job requires me to talk

ALL day, so I don't know how that would have worked out.

Eating was difficult at first, but you get used to it. You don't

have to like it, but you do get better at it. There were times when

I just wanted to cut the wires and jam a piece of pizza in my mouth,

but those times quickly passed.

Talking is difficult if you have a splint, and even harder if you

are wired shut. People close to you start to understand you, and

strangers just look at you like you are some kind of freak. It's

strange, I thought that kind of behavior stopped after grade school.

Guess not!

Hygiene has not been a big deal for me. I brush after every drink as

best I can. It is much easier now that I am unwired. Just use the

rinse that your doc prescribes for you.

Laughing, coughing, yawning, and definitely sneezing can be painful

at first. if you apply slight pressure underneath your chin while

doing any of these, it seems to help.

Sleeping was difficult the first few nights, but it gets easier with

every passing night.

I'm not sure how your experience will differ from mone because of

the screws. Hopefully it won't differ too much because I have been

very fortunate. I haven't really had any problems.

> > > Hi everyone,

> > >

> > > Tomorrow I have surgery to have my lower jaw advanced and will

> be

> > > having screws and a splint fitted post-op.

> > >

> > > Honestly, I'm scared.

> > >

> > > Anyone who had similar surgery that could offer any advise and

> > > information on their post-op experience would be most welcome.

> > >

> > > Thanks in advance and good luck to all of you.

> > >

> > > Constantine

[Guest guest]

Good luck, C! I will have the same surgery on July 8 .... Luna

[Guest guest]

Hi constantine i just wanted to wish you good luck. ask as many

questions as you can before you go. its best to be prepared and know

what to expect.

Kind regards

kat_UK

> Good luck, C! I will have the same surgery on July 8 .... Luna

[Guest guest]

Hi! (jumping in with my two cents) I'm about 5 weeks post-op

(upper/lower surgeyr). Eating has been the biggest change. I'm only

drinking out of a cup - no straws and no zip-n-squeez (no room for

it) so it's all about the blender and then the strainer. On the plus

side I've lost 14 pounds. On the minus side I'm hungry all the

time! Talking came slowly but surely. I used a notebook for the

first 1 1/2 weeks and then started trying to talk. As I went back to

work at 2 weeks, I was concerned about people being able to

understand me. For the most part, they can - if I go slowly. It

continues to get better (albeit a bit frustrating at times). As far

as oral hygiene goes ... I'm wired and splinted with both skeletal

wires and four titanium screws on top. I use a baby toothbrush, a

water pik (on it's softest setting with permission from my Surgeon)

and a prescribed mouthwash. It hasn't been too difficult and I was

praised for how clean everything was at my last visit - so I guess

I'm doing *something* right! Sara and I have both learned that

laughing can be painful, at best. I'd recommend avoiding that for at

least 2 months! Smile, giggle ... don't laugh. Sleeping has been a

learning experience. I slept sitting up for two weeks and have been

using 3 pillows ever since. I usually get up 2 or 3 times a night.

I've only slept straight through once or twice. But I was an

insomniac to start with - so I might not be the norm.

Good luck as you move forward. I hope some of my rambling helps,

even a little.

Carol

> > > Hi everyone,

> > >

> > > Tomorrow I have surgery to have my lower jaw advanced and will

> be

> > > having screws and a splint fitted post-op.

> > >

> > > Honestly, I'm scared.

> > >

> > > Anyone who had similar surgery that could offer any advise and

> > > information on their post-op experience would be most welcome.

> > >

> > > Thanks in advance and good luck to all of you.

> > >

> > > Constantine