Re: Post-op questions

[Guest guest]

Hi Willa,

I also had upper/lower/genio but almost 3 years ago.

I was also warned by my massage therapist about good days and bad

days, and knowing that helps you to get through it, otherwise when

you have a bad day you think you are going backwards or something

serious could be wrong. You need to pay attention, though. That

swelling, for example, sounds normal, but if it changes suddenly and

gets worse, or painful in that area, time to call your surgeon right

away as it could be signs of infection.

Residual swelling can take up to a year to subside. You and your

surgeon may be the only ones who can tell, though. You may have that

stiff feeling in your upper lip, for example, and that takes some

months to go away. Exercising the area helps (I would make faces in

the mirror - big wide grins, fish lips, etc, if nothing else, it was

entertaining!).

I went careful with exercise. I didn't go back to doing yoga

practice until about 6 weeks post-op, and I was careful not to do

poses where my head hangs down. I did do some walking, that's good

for you at any stage, but just don't overdo it. Listen to your body

carefully. Your bones need 6-8 weeks to properly heal, so you need

to be careful not to do anything that might jar the bones (running)

or pull muscles (heavy lifting).

If the pain in your chin is more than you can handle, talk with your

surgeon about your pain meds. I never had pain there as I was quite

numb for a long time. The pain could be nerves regenerating, or it

could be infection, that's why it's important to be careful if it

gets worse.

I went back to work after 5 weeks off - I had a really easy

recovery, but I felt that I didn't have full energy by then. I

wouldn't have been able to take care of 2 small children and work

too! Just go easy on yourself and don't feel that there's any

particular deadline to full healing, and you'll be fine.

Hope that helps,

> Hello all you regulars. I am hoping I can get advice from some of

> you who have been there done that.

>

> I had upper, lower, and genio on April 21, so today I am about 3

1/2

> weeks post op. Before surgery I read this site and others and felt

> very confident about a speedy recovery. I am healthy, 36,

nonsmoker,

> and excercise daily. The surgery itself was noneventful and

> everything went well. Recovery, however, is a different beast

> entirely. I wear a splint on my upper teeth (and will for 8

weeks),

> and my jaws are held together with elastics, which I can remove

> three times a day to eat and clean my teeth. My questions are as

> follows regarding swelling, pain, and healing:

>

> I still have swelling. I have read that most swelling should

subside

> by 10 days. What is the longest I might expect to have swelling?

It

> doesn't appear to be going down on one side of my face at all!

>

> Pain is intermittent, but when it comes it really comes on strong.

> Mostly my chin hurts, as if I can feel exactly where the bone was

> cut and reset. Does this just mean the the bones are healing and

> regrowing? What is the best over-the-counter pain med to use? Most

> of the pain is in the morning when I wake up. I seem to be very

> stiff. My routine is to wake up, take some pain meds, and then

start

> the day. Drinking hot coffee or tea has been, for me, the best way

> to loosen my stiff joints. Also, by the end of the day (I am back

at

> work full time) I am very sore. But I have to be strong and peppy

> and take care of my two small children. It's very hard sometimes.

>

> Finally, as far as healing, I keep reading some posts that every

day

> is better than the previous. Maybe I just don't have enough

> patience, but is there really some point at which you feel like

> yourself again? I was hoping that by four weeks I would be able to

> resume my excercise and other activities, but I don't see that

> happening anytime soon. Is there really light at the end of the

> tunnel? Is there a point where are this early recovery stuff will

be

> forgotten?

>

> Well, thanks for reading, and if possible, thanks for answering my

> questions. My recovery is such that I have good days and bad days,

> and today, I'm afraid, is a bad day. I will just hide myself in my

> cubicle today and hope that by noon I will feel better.

>

> Cheers,

> Willa

[Guest guest]

Thank you . I've read you past posts, and so I know that you

have gone through the worst and have come through okay! I think

today I was just feeling sorry for myself, on top of the pain. There

is a lot of other things happening in my life aside from this

surgery that add to my woes. But it is nice to hear that this pain

is manageable and that soon enough the splint will come off, I'll be

able to eat real food, and that one day in the not too distant

future these braces WILL come off.

Cheers,

Willa

> > Hello all you regulars. I am hoping I can get advice from some

of

> > you who have been there done that.

> >

> > I had upper, lower, and genio on April 21, so today I am about 3

> 1/2

> > weeks post op. Before surgery I read this site and others and

felt

> > very confident about a speedy recovery. I am healthy, 36,

> nonsmoker,

> > and excercise daily. The surgery itself was noneventful and

> > everything went well. Recovery, however, is a different beast

> > entirely. I wear a splint on my upper teeth (and will for 8

> weeks),

> > and my jaws are held together with elastics, which I can remove

> > three times a day to eat and clean my teeth. My questions are as

> > follows regarding swelling, pain, and healing:

> >

> > I still have swelling. I have read that most swelling should

> subside

> > by 10 days. What is the longest I might expect to have swelling?

> It

> > doesn't appear to be going down on one side of my face at all!

> >

> > Pain is intermittent, but when it comes it really comes on

strong.

> > Mostly my chin hurts, as if I can feel exactly where the bone

was

> > cut and reset. Does this just mean the the bones are healing and

> > regrowing? What is the best over-the-counter pain med to use?

Most

> > of the pain is in the morning when I wake up. I seem to be very

> > stiff. My routine is to wake up, take some pain meds, and then

> start

> > the day. Drinking hot coffee or tea has been, for me, the best

way

> > to loosen my stiff joints. Also, by the end of the day (I am

back

> at

> > work full time) I am very sore. But I have to be strong and

peppy

> > and take care of my two small children. It's very hard sometimes.

> >

> > Finally, as far as healing, I keep reading some posts that every

> day

> > is better than the previous. Maybe I just don't have enough

> > patience, but is there really some point at which you feel like

> > yourself again? I was hoping that by four weeks I would be able

to

> > resume my excercise and other activities, but I don't see that

> > happening anytime soon. Is there really light at the end of the

> > tunnel? Is there a point where are this early recovery stuff

will

> be

> > forgotten?

> >

> > Well, thanks for reading, and if possible, thanks for answering

my

> > questions. My recovery is such that I have good days and bad

days,

> > and today, I'm afraid, is a bad day. I will just hide myself in

my

> > cubicle today and hope that by noon I will feel better.

> >

> > Cheers,

> > Willa

[Guest guest]

Hi Willa,

I had the same procedure as you on May 5th. So I am barely 2 weeks

post op however seem to feel the same way as you. The only difference

is I don't have a splint, just two elastics as of today that loop

around 4 teeth on both sides of my mouth. I am still very swollen as

well and as you it's moreso only to one side of my face (the left side).

As for the pain medication, I too usually feel worse early in the

mornings or late at night, and barely sleep at all. The codeine

started giving me bad nightmares. I have switched over to Advil.

Post op I was taking liquid form childrens advil. Advil is an

anti-inflamatory so it helps the swelling and the pain. Give it a

try, my OS recommended it and its helped quite a bit.

I know I'm not as far as you in the recovery stage but keep hope that

each day will get better.

As for the exercise, different people have different views. My OS has

recommended to start light exercise, walking, very light weight

lifting etc. As for heavier, more routine workouts I've heard 4-6

weeks and especially with the upper surgery they say not to rush it

for 2 months.

Good luck!

Rina

> Hello all you regulars. I am hoping I can get advice from some of

> you who have been there done that.

>

> I had upper, lower, and genio on April 21, so today I am about 3 1/2

> weeks post op. Before surgery I read this site and others and felt

> very confident about a speedy recovery. I am healthy, 36, nonsmoker,

> and excercise daily. The surgery itself was noneventful and

> everything went well. Recovery, however, is a different beast

> entirely. I wear a splint on my upper teeth (and will for 8 weeks),

> and my jaws are held together with elastics, which I can remove

> three times a day to eat and clean my teeth. My questions are as

> follows regarding swelling, pain, and healing:

>

> I still have swelling. I have read that most swelling should subside

> by 10 days. What is the longest I might expect to have swelling? It

> doesn't appear to be going down on one side of my face at all!

>

> Pain is intermittent, but when it comes it really comes on strong.

> Mostly my chin hurts, as if I can feel exactly where the bone was

> cut and reset. Does this just mean the the bones are healing and

> regrowing? What is the best over-the-counter pain med to use? Most

> of the pain is in the morning when I wake up. I seem to be very

> stiff. My routine is to wake up, take some pain meds, and then start

> the day. Drinking hot coffee or tea has been, for me, the best way

> to loosen my stiff joints. Also, by the end of the day (I am back at

> work full time) I am very sore. But I have to be strong and peppy

> and take care of my two small children. It's very hard sometimes.

>

> Finally, as far as healing, I keep reading some posts that every day

> is better than the previous. Maybe I just don't have enough

> patience, but is there really some point at which you feel like

> yourself again? I was hoping that by four weeks I would be able to

> resume my excercise and other activities, but I don't see that

> happening anytime soon. Is there really light at the end of the

> tunnel? Is there a point where are this early recovery stuff will be

> forgotten?

>

> Well, thanks for reading, and if possible, thanks for answering my

> questions. My recovery is such that I have good days and bad days,

> and today, I'm afraid, is a bad day. I will just hide myself in my

> cubicle today and hope that by noon I will feel better.

>

> Cheers,

> Willa

[Guest guest]

Thanks Rina. I've tried Advil, Motrin, and Extra Strength Tylenol

Gel Caps, and actually I think Motrin works best (I take two at a

time). However, on bad days I find myself taking medicine every 4

hours. For some reason I hesitate asking my surgeon for more pain

meds...I guess I'm afraid he'll say no or that he'll think I'm an

addict. (Little paranoid :-)).

The only thing that the pains meds don't seem to cover is the pain

in my lips. Has anyone else had this? My lips feel like pins and

needles. I constantly put lip balm on them to keep them moist, but

the pins and needles aspect of the pain is more on the inside rather

than the outside, if you know what I mean. Hopefully this means I

will get feeling back to my lips, but in the mean time it sure is

annoying!

The swelling is also on my left side. And my nose and right under my

nose. It's a hard place to put a heating pad! I feel like I look

like an monkey, like a chimpanzee, with the center of my face

sticking way out.

Since I had genio to give myself a chin, I've noticed that I have to

change the way I hold the phone to my face. Have you noticed that?

Now I put the receiver to my mouth and I bump my chin! How weird to

have a jaw line with a chin!

Thanks again, and I hope your recovery is speedier than mine.

Willa

> > Hello all you regulars. I am hoping I can get advice from some

of

> > you who have been there done that.

> >

> > I had upper, lower, and genio on April 21, so today I am about 3

1/2

> > weeks post op. Before surgery I read this site and others and

felt

> > very confident about a speedy recovery. I am healthy, 36,

nonsmoker,

> > and excercise daily. The surgery itself was noneventful and

> > everything went well. Recovery, however, is a different beast

> > entirely. I wear a splint on my upper teeth (and will for 8

weeks),

> > and my jaws are held together with elastics, which I can remove

> > three times a day to eat and clean my teeth. My questions are as

> > follows regarding swelling, pain, and healing:

> >

> > I still have swelling. I have read that most swelling should

subside

> > by 10 days. What is the longest I might expect to have swelling?

It

> > doesn't appear to be going down on one side of my face at all!

> >

> > Pain is intermittent, but when it comes it really comes on

strong.

> > Mostly my chin hurts, as if I can feel exactly where the bone

was

> > cut and reset. Does this just mean the the bones are healing and

> > regrowing? What is the best over-the-counter pain med to use?

Most

> > of the pain is in the morning when I wake up. I seem to be very

> > stiff. My routine is to wake up, take some pain meds, and then

start

> > the day. Drinking hot coffee or tea has been, for me, the best

way

> > to loosen my stiff joints. Also, by the end of the day (I am

back at

> > work full time) I am very sore. But I have to be strong and

peppy

> > and take care of my two small children. It's very hard sometimes.

> >

> > Finally, as far as healing, I keep reading some posts that every

day

> > is better than the previous. Maybe I just don't have enough

> > patience, but is there really some point at which you feel like

> > yourself again? I was hoping that by four weeks I would be able

to

> > resume my excercise and other activities, but I don't see that

> > happening anytime soon. Is there really light at the end of the

> > tunnel? Is there a point where are this early recovery stuff

will be

> > forgotten?

> >

> > Well, thanks for reading, and if possible, thanks for answering

my

> > questions. My recovery is such that I have good days and bad

days,

> > and today, I'm afraid, is a bad day. I will just hide myself in

my

> > cubicle today and hope that by noon I will feel better.

> >

> > Cheers,

> > Willa

[Guest guest]

Willa

I am 3 weeks post op, and I am starting to get the pins and needles

feeling in my chin and lower lip. I also have an itchy feeling in my

chin. I can't scratch it though because it is numb. My OS assures me

that this is the nerve healing and it means good things, so I am

trying not to worry about it. It is veyr annoying though.

> > > Hello all you regulars. I am hoping I can get advice from some

> of

> > > you who have been there done that.

> > >

> > > I had upper, lower, and genio on April 21, so today I am about

3

> 1/2

> > > weeks post op. Before surgery I read this site and others and

> felt

> > > very confident about a speedy recovery. I am healthy, 36,

> nonsmoker,

> > > and excercise daily. The surgery itself was noneventful and

> > > everything went well. Recovery, however, is a different beast

> > > entirely. I wear a splint on my upper teeth (and will for 8

> weeks),

> > > and my jaws are held together with elastics, which I can

remove

> > > three times a day to eat and clean my teeth. My questions are

as

> > > follows regarding swelling, pain, and healing:

> > >

> > > I still have swelling. I have read that most swelling should

> subside

> > > by 10 days. What is the longest I might expect to have

swelling?

> It

> > > doesn't appear to be going down on one side of my face at all!

> > >

> > > Pain is intermittent, but when it comes it really comes on

> strong.

> > > Mostly my chin hurts, as if I can feel exactly where the bone

> was

> > > cut and reset. Does this just mean the the bones are healing

and

> > > regrowing? What is the best over-the-counter pain med to use?

> Most

> > > of the pain is in the morning when I wake up. I seem to be

very

> > > stiff. My routine is to wake up, take some pain meds, and then

> start

> > > the day. Drinking hot coffee or tea has been, for me, the best

> way

> > > to loosen my stiff joints. Also, by the end of the day (I am

> back at

> > > work full time) I am very sore. But I have to be strong and

> peppy

> > > and take care of my two small children. It's very hard

sometimes.

> > >

> > > Finally, as far as healing, I keep reading some posts that

every

> day

> > > is better than the previous. Maybe I just don't have enough

> > > patience, but is there really some point at which you feel

like

> > > yourself again? I was hoping that by four weeks I would be

able

> to

> > > resume my excercise and other activities, but I don't see that

> > > happening anytime soon. Is there really light at the end of

the

> > > tunnel? Is there a point where are this early recovery stuff

> will be

> > > forgotten?

> > >

> > > Well, thanks for reading, and if possible, thanks for

answering

> my

> > > questions. My recovery is such that I have good days and bad

> days,

> > > and today, I'm afraid, is a bad day. I will just hide myself

in

> my

> > > cubicle today and hope that by noon I will feel better.

> > >

> > > Cheers,

> > > Willa