Re: 2nd Post-Op Appointment

[Guest guest]

sounds like things are goins well

did you meet w/ dr. schwartz? he seemed nice when i met him, and it

sounds like he defifnitly took the time to answer all your

questions. i actually went back to the gym yesterday for the 1st

time (5 weeks post op) it felt good to get back into things. hope

you are feeling good and the recovery continues to go well

amy

> Hi Everyone!

>

> I just thought I would share my 2nd Post-Op information in the

hopes

> it might be helpful, to someone. I saw my Surgeon on Monday.

> Following are the questions and answers involved in that

appointment:

>

> What are my Surgical Wires? Why do I have them? How will they

come

> out and when?

> There are four thin wires (2 on top & 2 on bottom) that are

wrapped

> around my jaw holding everything stationary. The wires on my

teeth

> are only for my teeth. These wires are for my jaw. They will

come

> out two weeks after my wires are cut. My Surgeon says that it

will

> only require some gas & novacaine and will only take 5 minutes to

> take out. They were put in through my chin (which explains the

> indents and the brusing that I had just after surgery). I wasn't

> aware of this pre-surgery but it was explained to me that having

the

> two tiny incisions in my chin would alleviate any worry of

infection

> being brought from my mouth through and around my bone. The entry

> points under my chin was sterilized - and therefore much safer.

The

> points on my chin are sore (but no cuts are visible) and not too

> terribly bad.

>

> I was told that I had tongue thrust as a child. Do I need to

worry

> about this situation now?

> Any slight thrust that I still have is being corrected via the

wiring

> and the splint. My Surgeon says that my tongue is being " trained "

> over these 8 weeks and that I've no need to worry.

>

> I was concerned about broken teeth as they felt strange when

touched

> with my tongue: small and sharp and there seems to be a pointy

sliver

> of some sort on both sides. Why and what is that all about?

> My Surgeon stated that no teeth were broken and that what I was

> feeling was most likely related to the plastic splint. Again, no

> need to worry.

>

> I advised that after speaking for a few hours my muscles were

tensing

> up and I was feeling like I was clenching and couldn't relax.

What

> is that all about?

> My Surgeon explained that over time the muscles would get stronger

> and the clenching would lessen. He suggested an over the counter

> pain medicine (Motrin) if the clenching was uncomfortable. But

> mostly, just to stay hydrated and get lots of rest.

>

> Can I sleep flat on my back?

> Absolutely! My Surgeon said I can sleep on my back, side, face -

> whatever makes me comfortable!

>

> I was worried that my lip looks crooked. Is it?

> Absolutely not! Because of the swelling and the Surgical Wire

> pulling down a bit on one side, there is a slight tilt to my

smile,

> which will go away as the swelling goes down and when the wires

are

> removed.

>

> Can I work out?

> Yes! No running or heavy weight lifting but feel free to start

out

> slowly and gradually. Walking, yoga, stretching - all ok!

>

> I have bumps on the roof of my mouth. Why?

> Due to swelling and bone movement. It will " smooth " out slightly

as

> time goes by but is nothing to worry about.

>

> I feel like I can move things around. Can I? Am I? And if so,

am I

> doing any damage?

> I am probably moving things *very* slightly. I can't do any

damage.

> Things are magnified by my tongue so what seems like serious

movement

> isn't even visible to the naked eye. Again, nothing to worry

about.

>

> When I tilt my head from side to side and back and forth I feel

> pressure from different places. Why?

> This is due to both the pressure of the wires and my sinuses. My

> Surgeon suggested that I continue to use my Flonase and my

Dimetapp

> if I feel stuffy or congested. Otherwise, it's totally normal.

>

> Thumbs up or thumbs down for Arnica Cream and Aquaphor?

> Thumbs up for both. My Surgeon said to use whatever makes me

happy.

> When pressed to tell me what would really work best on my swelling

> his response was a giggle, a grin and Preperation H.

>

> I have heartburn. Can I medicate?

> It sometimes happens with a liquid diet and yes - over the counter

> medication is fine.

>

> Can I return to work?

> If I'm up to it - absolutely! My Surgeon's office wrote a letter

for

> my company advising of my return: 1/2 days Thursday and Friday and

> back full time next Monday.

>

> My Boyfriend is a pilot and has his own plane. Can I go flying?

> My Surgeon asked how large the plane is (4 passenger) and how high

it

> will be flying (wanted it no higher than 9000 feet). He gave me

the

> go ahead as long as I don't fly too far away.

>

> He advised that I use less stuff on my lips. Said I was keeping

them

> too slick.

>

> He also mentioned that I'd been reading this site - and was

obviously

> well informed. He's right! Thankfully, he is extremely patient

> and allowed me to ramble on for as long as I needed to in order to

> satisfy my long list of questions. At the end of the appointment,

> the one thing that stuck out the most was - that I was worrying

too

> much and should try and relax a bit more. All is well and I'm on

my

> way to a full recovery!

>

> Thanks for listening everyone!

> Carol

[Guest guest]

Amy,

Yes, I think that they are. Yes, I met with Dr. . (my

orthodontist and my surgeon are both Schwartz' ... so I use Dr.

and Dr. in order not to confuse them!) He is really

nice and patient ... and he always seems to be listening and taking

his time - he's never in a rush. I really appreciate that about him.

Yay for you on your gym visit!

Thanks for your well wishes!

Take care,

Carol

> > Hi Everyone!

> >

> > I just thought I would share my 2nd Post-Op information in the

> hopes

> > it might be helpful, to someone. I saw my Surgeon on Monday.

> > Following are the questions and answers involved in that

> appointment:

> >

> > What are my Surgical Wires? Why do I have them? How will they

> come

> > out and when?

> > There are four thin wires (2 on top & 2 on bottom) that are

> wrapped

> > around my jaw holding everything stationary. The wires on my

> teeth

> > are only for my teeth. These wires are for my jaw. They will

> come

> > out two weeks after my wires are cut. My Surgeon says that it

> will

> > only require some gas & novacaine and will only take 5 minutes to

> > take out. They were put in through my chin (which explains the

> > indents and the brusing that I had just after surgery). I wasn't

> > aware of this pre-surgery but it was explained to me that having

> the

> > two tiny incisions in my chin would alleviate any worry of

> infection

> > being brought from my mouth through and around my bone. The

entry

> > points under my chin was sterilized - and therefore much safer.

> The

> > points on my chin are sore (but no cuts are visible) and not too

> > terribly bad.

> >

> > I was told that I had tongue thrust as a child. Do I need to

> worry

> > about this situation now?

> > Any slight thrust that I still have is being corrected via the

> wiring

> > and the splint. My Surgeon says that my tongue is

being " trained "

> > over these 8 weeks and that I've no need to worry.

> >

> > I was concerned about broken teeth as they felt strange when

> touched

> > with my tongue: small and sharp and there seems to be a pointy

> sliver

> > of some sort on both sides. Why and what is that all about?

> > My Surgeon stated that no teeth were broken and that what I was

> > feeling was most likely related to the plastic splint. Again, no

> > need to worry.

> >

> > I advised that after speaking for a few hours my muscles were

> tensing

> > up and I was feeling like I was clenching and couldn't relax.

> What

> > is that all about?

> > My Surgeon explained that over time the muscles would get

stronger

> > and the clenching would lessen. He suggested an over the counter

> > pain medicine (Motrin) if the clenching was uncomfortable. But

> > mostly, just to stay hydrated and get lots of rest.

> >

> > Can I sleep flat on my back?

> > Absolutely! My Surgeon said I can sleep on my back, side, face -

> > whatever makes me comfortable!

> >

> > I was worried that my lip looks crooked. Is it?

> > Absolutely not! Because of the swelling and the Surgical Wire

> > pulling down a bit on one side, there is a slight tilt to my

> smile,

> > which will go away as the swelling goes down and when the wires

> are

> > removed.

> >

> > Can I work out?

> > Yes! No running or heavy weight lifting but feel free to start

> out

> > slowly and gradually. Walking, yoga, stretching - all ok!

> >

> > I have bumps on the roof of my mouth. Why?

> > Due to swelling and bone movement. It will " smooth " out slightly

> as

> > time goes by but is nothing to worry about.

> >

> > I feel like I can move things around. Can I? Am I? And if so,

> am I

> > doing any damage?

> > I am probably moving things *very* slightly. I can't do any

> damage.

> > Things are magnified by my tongue so what seems like serious

> movement

> > isn't even visible to the naked eye. Again, nothing to worry

> about.

> >

> > When I tilt my head from side to side and back and forth I feel

> > pressure from different places. Why?

> > This is due to both the pressure of the wires and my sinuses. My

> > Surgeon suggested that I continue to use my Flonase and my

> Dimetapp

> > if I feel stuffy or congested. Otherwise, it's totally normal.

> >

> > Thumbs up or thumbs down for Arnica Cream and Aquaphor?

> > Thumbs up for both. My Surgeon said to use whatever makes me

> happy.

> > When pressed to tell me what would really work best on my

swelling

> > his response was a giggle, a grin and Preperation H.

> >

> > I have heartburn. Can I medicate?

> > It sometimes happens with a liquid diet and yes - over the

counter

> > medication is fine.

> >

> > Can I return to work?

> > If I'm up to it - absolutely! My Surgeon's office wrote a letter

> for

> > my company advising of my return: 1/2 days Thursday and Friday

and

> > back full time next Monday.

> >

> > My Boyfriend is a pilot and has his own plane. Can I go flying?

> > My Surgeon asked how large the plane is (4 passenger) and how

high

> it

> > will be flying (wanted it no higher than 9000 feet). He gave me

> the

> > go ahead as long as I don't fly too far away.

> >

> > He advised that I use less stuff on my lips. Said I was keeping

> them

> > too slick.

> >

> > He also mentioned that I'd been reading this site - and was

> obviously

> > well informed. He's right! Thankfully, he is extremely

patient

> > and allowed me to ramble on for as long as I needed to in order

to

> > satisfy my long list of questions. At the end of the

appointment,

> > the one thing that stuck out the most was - that I was worrying

> too

> > much and should try and relax a bit more. All is well and I'm on

> my

> > way to a full recovery!

> >

> > Thanks for listening everyone!

> > Carol