Shirley/Re: Shirley OS Update

[Guest guest]

Hi Shirley,

Thanks for the update! It sounds like your recovery is going along

rather well! I can't believe you get to already see your OD. My OS

stated that it will be about another 6 to 8 weeks before he sends me

back to my OD. Until then, I have weekly appts. with my OS. What

fun...(haha)

Yes, let us know how your OD appt. goes!

--Caboose

> > Hi (Caboose) & all, I saw the OS and he reassured me all is

> > going well. 3 ½ weeks post op. Only two more weeks and I can

> > chew, yeah!! Oh, we'll see how that goes! I see him again on

> > August 3. Chew day!! I'll be one day short of 6 weeks post op.

> >

> > I found out they moved the upper jaw forward 5mm, and lower jaw

> > forward 13mm. And they had to bring the midline back to the left

> > 5mm on lower jaw (started out 2mm off, but by surgery 5mm off).

> He

> > did tell me to keep rinsing with the salt water and peridex as it

> > takes a quite while for all the stitches to come out. I was

> worried

> > about some white spots on back gums and he said not too worry,

one

> > was a stitch.

> >

> > He also said I could go back to my OD, so I have appointment to

> see

> > him tomorrow (another 120 mile round trip). I guess he'll decide

> > if the rubber bands need any changes. I thought I wouldn't see

> > the OD until 6-7 weeks post op.

> >

> > He did tell me to exercise my lips – get this! Try to pucker up

> > like a kiss and then move my lips to as full a smile as I can.

> > I'll do anything if it'll speed up getting rid of the

> > numbness!

> >

> > The numbness is getting better day by day, but of course not as

> fast

> > as I'd like. I'm still pretty numb below eyes to upper lip.

> > Lower lip has feeling on left side and of course I keep biting

> it.

> > He says my mouth is still adjusting to having teeth there. I

just

> > start to fall asleep (if on back and wake up when I bite my

lip).

> > Guess I'll put a ton of wax on tonight!! Right side of lip is

> > getting less numb as is right side of chin. Part of my palate

has

> > feeling and the other side is getting there. Still pretty numb

> from

> > just to the left and right of nose up to under the eyes and left

> > nostril it still numb. Though yesterday I had shooting pains up

> > side of nose nearer to bridge – good sign I guess. I keep

> > lightly massaging the numb area and making sure when I take my

> > shower I let the hot water hit that area. He said that

stimulates

> > the blood vessels and the regeneration.

> >

> > I'm like a lot of others, as I notice the lips don't close

> > naturally, which I thought they would after the surgery. But

> since

> > the OD still has work to do and I'm still numb, so I hope that

> > changes.

> >

> > I've had a lot problems with sleep (have for a number of years),

> > and after surgery was waking up drenched (not hot flashes & of

> > course the humidity is high here). He said the sympathetic

> nervous

> > system is still trying to read adjust it's self to realize it can

> > get enough oxygen at night (after years of waking up because I

> > wasn't getting enough oxygen). He told me to give myself 3 mos

> > and then I will need another complete check up. I might not need

> as

> > much of some my meds or adjustments on them. One of his

> > patient's who is a dentist was on anti-hypertensive drugs & went

> > from three to a low dose of one. (I currently only take one).

> >

> > I have a trip planned for the end of August, so plan on going on

> > it. Just hope the ears aren't a problem flying.

> >

> > Guess I just have to hang in and realize it takes a while to get

> > back to normal. I will let you all know how it goes with the OD

> > tomorrow. All you post opers, hang in there!

> >

> > Shirley

> > (LeFort 1, BSSO, genio and turbinectomies for sleep apnea on

> 6/23/05)