Re: Wired Shut

[Guest guest]

Hi Jane,

Regarding being wired shut; I am one that is currently 'wired'. The

reason I am wired is because I did not have braces put on pre-op;

although the reasons why some others are wired shut do vary

depending on each persons particular case.

I had a Lefort 1, reconstruction midface, reconstruction mandibular

ramus (both upper and lower moved forward), plus genioplasty (chin

moved forward), plus deviated septum repaired, and uvula removal

from back upper palate, plus an impacted wisdom tooth removed all on

June 20. Because I had so much done, my surgeon felt that without

the braces on my teeth, he needed to wire me shut to stabilize

everything he had done. I am also banded (one on each side of my

mouth) as well. I can't open my mouth too wide, but it's enough to

get liquids in.

My insurance agreed to cover everything BUT the braces part. Because

my teeth were already straight (due to me having braces when I was a

teenager), I felt I didn't need to have braces again.

My OS said not having braces would make the procedure a bit harder

on me, but I felt I could handle it in the long run, rather than pay

several thousand dollars for braces just to make it easier. We just

got done paying off our kids orthodontic bills also (3 kids and two

needed braces!)...so we simply didn't want to shell out anymore.

Call it cheap if you want, but with two kids in braces back to back,

it really got spendy!

What I am not sure of with my mouth being wired is how long I'll be

wired. I'll be three weeks post-op on Monday, and on Tuesday I go

back to my OS for a post-op visit, so will ask then. I'm assuming

I'll be wired the full 6 weeks, which would make me eligible to be

un-wired on August 1st, if my assumptions are correct.

I live in the U.S. and had my surgery done at a Mayo Clinic hospital

in Minnesota. Mayo clinic is very high-tech and up to date on

medical procedures. My OS at Mayo said they do still wire people

with this type of surgery; it just depends on the situation of each

patient.

I also have the rigid fixation with the screws and plates too. I'm

18 days post op today, and am still a bit swollen in the areas where

those were placed.

Judy