Re: leaving off the bands

[Guest guest]

I don't think it matters whether you go out or not -- although I know

you'll feel better if you'll go out for a walk and get both a bit of

modest exercise and some sunshine. If people are rude and inquiring,

either tell them, or carry a note that says I've just had jaw

surgery. Or ignore them, even better. For the drooling, carry a

washcloth or a packet of tissues with you. And you can cover up some

of the bruises with cosmetics, if they really bother you. But why do

you care what other folks think? You know, I hope, that you really

did this for YOU, and YOU'RE the one whose feelings, thoughts, etc.,

are important here.

I do sympathize, and particularly about the barbecue!

But what you say that really concerns me is that you're not exactly

following your doc's instructions about the elastics and the

exercises. You can get yourself in some pretty deep trouble that way.

I'd rather do my damndest to do exactly what the doc said than risk a

relapse or more surgery, and I think you're taking a pretty big

chance there.

Maybe you'll get away with it -- to me it wouldn't be worth the

risks. The doc told you to do it that way for a reason, and it wasn't

because it makes him any more $$$ to have you do it.

Cammie

> Hi everyone!

>

> So I am almost to 2 weeks post op (12 days to be exact, but who's

> counting...) and I have only left my house once to go to my first

> post-op appointment, and twice just for a drive to get out of the

> house. I made this huge deal last night and tonight because I

> refuse to go anywhere. Is anyone else in this same situation? No

> one seems to understand that despite feeling " okay " , I don't look

> even remotely good, I still drool a lot, I can't talk right, and

> again, I look like a swollen bruised crazy! I am for sure getting

> very rambunctious being here, but really don't feel like I can face

> anyone. I swear, I feel like I'm going to stay home until my

splint

> comes out, I can talk, and I can eat like a normal person. (I'm

> going double crazy because it's the biggest b-b-q weekend ever here

> in Kansas City.....AAAHHHH!!!!)

>

> Aside from all of that, things are going " better " . I can

definitely

> see signs of things getting easier and easier, but still very slow

> progress. My surgeon expects me to remove 8 rubber bands 4 times a

> day to do my jaw exercises, but I find it so much better just to

> leave them off for a large portion of the day. Again, anyone else

> have that issue?

>

> Thanks -

[Guest guest]

Today I had my 2 week appointment with my surgeon. He didn't ask me

about wearing my rubber bands, and I actually didn't discuss it with

him. My mouth is still so swollen and it's too small to begin with.

I

really can't get the rubber bands on just like he gets them on, so

I've

been putting them on the only way I can manage. The thing about

that

is, I go a lot of the day without them (especially now that I'm

going

back to work tomorrow) so that I can somewhat talk and communicate.

Not to mention I can breath so much better.

I'm just wondering what these bands are doing? Does anyone have any

answer? I am going to ask my surgeon in a week, but today he just

kept

saying exercise, exercise, exercise. He doesn't seem at all

interested

in the fact that my bands weren't on when I got there. Since most

surgeons over-correct a little to allow for some movement, I am

wondering if what I want to do will overshoot that. ??? Does

anyone

have any suggestion? I know....WEAR THE BANDS! I am trying.....

--

[Guest guest]

You know, I just had a thought...

The best way to pull someone's eyes away from your face is to

redirect them to another, perhaps less " desireable " spot - relatively

speaking.

I just wore one of my favorite shirts to school the other day -

haven't worn it more than once in the past several months - and I was

soon reminded of the power of words...especially when they are

printed on your chest! I swear, I could have walked around with a

full salad stuck in my braces (as a matter of fact, I probably did

that day!) but nobody would have ever noticed because they were too

busy either reading my chest, or looking away because they realized

they were reading my chest.

So... add that one to your post-surgery list... a t-shirt with print

right where it counts the most!

Kate

> > Hi everyone!

> >

> > So I am almost to 2 weeks post op (12 days to be exact, but who's

> > counting...) and I have only left my house once to go to my first

> > post-op appointment, and twice just for a drive to get out of the

> > house. I made this huge deal last night and tonight because I

> > refuse to go anywhere. Is anyone else in this same situation?

No

> > one seems to understand that despite feeling " okay " , I don't look

> > even remotely good, I still drool a lot, I can't talk right, and

> > again, I look like a swollen bruised crazy! I am for sure

getting

> > very rambunctious being here, but really don't feel like I can

face

> > anyone. I swear, I feel like I'm going to stay home until my

> splint

> > comes out, I can talk, and I can eat like a normal person. (I'm

> > going double crazy because it's the biggest b-b-q weekend ever

here

> > in Kansas City.....AAAHHHH!!!!)

> >

> > Aside from all of that, things are going " better " . I can

> definitely

> > see signs of things getting easier and easier, but still very

slow

> > progress. My surgeon expects me to remove 8 rubber bands 4 times

a

> > day to do my jaw exercises, but I find it so much better just to

> > leave them off for a large portion of the day. Again, anyone

else

> > have that issue?

> >

> > Thanks -

[Guest guest]

Ok, without wanting to alarm you I would highly recommend calling

your surgeon as soon as you can to discuss the elastic bands.

Specifically I would tell him that you have not been wearing the

bands as much was originally instructed and ASK HIM if this is OK or

will it cause any PROBLEMS TO YOUR RECOVERY?

I'm only saying this because today I had my pre-op discussion meeting

with my oral surgeon and during it he stressed how important it was

for me to stick to the elastic wearing routine during recovery if I

wanted my jaw to heal 100%. He explained to me that especially within

the first 8 weeks there is a risk of the jaw moving out of the

original position it was set in during surgery. He said that while

this may not cause major problems in terms of physical appearance

(i.e. your jaw doesn't looked deformed) it can lead to the end result

being 85% accurate versus 100% accurate. The way I see it, if you

went through the hell of surgery to begin with you might as well make

sure that your recovery is 100% accurate too, or as much as is

possible. Also, better to hear it from the wolf's mouth. If the

surgeon says it's ok for you to wear the elastics for less hours then

so be it!! All the better. But I wouldn't want to be 2 weeks down the

line and have him yelling at you for not wearing them as much as he

thought you were. Maybe I'm super anal about this stuff but I like to

have everything spelled out to me and super clear just to make sure

we're all on the same page.

Good luck with going back to work and talking again and keep up the

good recovery!

Sara

> Today I had my 2 week appointment with my surgeon. He didn't ask

me

> about wearing my rubber bands, and I actually didn't discuss it

with

> him. My mouth is still so swollen and it's too small to begin

with.

> I

> really can't get the rubber bands on just like he gets them on, so

> I've

> been putting them on the only way I can manage. The thing about

> that

> is, I go a lot of the day without them (especially now that I'm

> going

> back to work tomorrow) so that I can somewhat talk and

communicate.

> Not to mention I can breath so much better.

>

> I'm just wondering what these bands are doing? Does anyone have

any

> answer? I am going to ask my surgeon in a week, but today he just

> kept

> saying exercise, exercise, exercise. He doesn't seem at all

> interested

> in the fact that my bands weren't on when I got there. Since most

> surgeons over-correct a little to allow for some movement, I am

> wondering if what I want to do will overshoot that. ??? Does

> anyone

> have any suggestion? I know....WEAR THE BANDS! I am trying.....

>

> --

[Guest guest]

That's a great suggestion Kate! I'm going straight out tomorrow to

buy a t-shirt that says something outrageous!

Sara xx

> > > Hi everyone!

> > >

> > > So I am almost to 2 weeks post op (12 days to be exact, but

who's

> > > counting...) and I have only left my house once to go to my

first

> > > post-op appointment, and twice just for a drive to get out of

the

> > > house. I made this huge deal last night and tonight because I

> > > refuse to go anywhere. Is anyone else in this same situation?

> No

> > > one seems to understand that despite feeling " okay " , I don't

look

> > > even remotely good, I still drool a lot, I can't talk right,

and

> > > again, I look like a swollen bruised crazy! I am for sure

> getting

> > > very rambunctious being here, but really don't feel like I can

> face

> > > anyone. I swear, I feel like I'm going to stay home until my

> > splint

> > > comes out, I can talk, and I can eat like a normal person.

(I'm

> > > going double crazy because it's the biggest b-b-q weekend ever

> here

> > > in Kansas City.....AAAHHHH!!!!)

> > >

> > > Aside from all of that, things are going " better " . I can

> > definitely

> > > see signs of things getting easier and easier, but still very

> slow

> > > progress. My surgeon expects me to remove 8 rubber bands 4

times

> a

> > > day to do my jaw exercises, but I find it so much better just

to

> > > leave them off for a large portion of the day. Again, anyone

> else

> > > have that issue?

> > >

> > > Thanks -

[Guest guest]

I am now almost 4 weeks post op and am still in bands. I also have a

very small mouth so I am unable to get the elastics on. I have been

told to leave them in and either my ortho or my surgeon has been

changing them every few days. I can not stress enough how important

the elastics are. Because elastics do the job that wiring shut does

and I assume you did not have your mouth wired shut, you have to wear

your elastics atleast 23 hours a day. They help prevent relapse and

keep the jaw bones where they need to be while your facial muscles

are trying to go back to their original positions. The elastics are

the only thing that can help prevent relapse.

As for taking them out for exercise, I've been told to exercise with

them in. The exercises are mainly to help reduce swelling and to use

the muscles, these like another member said are for your own

benefit.

I agree, you came this far went through this much pain and suffering,

why take a chance with relapse which is in your control?? I would

hate for you to relapse and have to go through the surgery again for

your own mistake. I know it's more difficult to eat and talk with

the elastics in but who really cares? I'd say in the long run this

is a short time in your life and the end result is worth it, so live

out the suffering a bit longer to prevent it from happening again.

Again just my advice, I'd recommed you talk to your surgeon and let

him know. And if you don't put them in because it's hard you paid

your surgeon and ortho a hell of a lot of money for their care, keep

visiting them to do it for you. That is what they are there for.

Good luck!

Rina