Anita/Re: My Daughter's Upper Jaw surgery, advice needed

[Guest guest]

Anita,

Being that your daughter is so young, I am sure she will have a

quicker recovery. At almost 4 weeks post op, I still have a bit of

swelling on my upper lip and a little on my cheeks. My swelling has

went down quite a bit from the first week post-op. Day 3 to 5 post

op seems to be the worse swelling period for the majority. There

really hasn't been any change in my nose which is good news. I would

advise your daughter to drink lots of fluids post op and to start

walking for exercise as soon as possible after surgery. This really

seems to aid in the swelling. I had to apply ice packs the first 48

hours post op and then switched to heat packs after that. I am still

using the heat packs occasionally. Be sure she has lots of pillows

because she will need to keep her head elevated at least for the

first few weeks which will also help with the swelling.

As far as foods go, I stocked up on Boost, Ensure, juices, soup, soft

foods like yogurt, ice cream, mashed potatoes, or any other soft

foods that doesn't require chewing that you can think of. My mom

bought me a blender which to tell you the truth I really haven't used

much because I was able to start a soft food diet right away. But it

is nice to have around for smoothies, and shakes. Did her doctor say

yet if she would be able to start a soft food diet right away after

surgery? I would have her try the Ensure & Boost before you buy to

much like I did. I am okay with the Boost Chocolate flavor but most

of the other stuff I can't stand and have a stock of it in my

cabinets. Oh yes, a baby spoon is a must to get those soft foods down

because she will probably not be able to open her mouth to wide at

first. I am still actually using the baby spoon because I prefer it

over a regular spoon at this time. I was able to drink from a cup

right away after surgery, so I never needed the Zip-n-squeeze bags.

Another thing I would ask her OS if he can give you the prescriptions

before the surgery so you can have them filled and ready to go when

she gets home from the surgery. My OS gave the prescriptions after

the surgery and I wasn't released to go home until late the next

night. When I left the hospital it was pooring down rain so I didn't

get the prescriptions filled until the next day. I surely could of

used a painkiller the first night home. Some OS prefer to wait until

after surgery to give the prescriptions, but it would be one less

burden to deal with post op if he would give them to you sooner.

Best of luck

--Caboose

> > Hello,

> > My daughter is to have upper jaw surgery (lafort) on August

13th.

> > He will bring her jaw 4 millimeters forward and down in the

back

> so

> > her teeth in back touch and her bite is corrected. Says she

will

> only

> > have rubber bands for 4 days then only 1 on each side for a

couple

> of

> > weeks.

> >

> > He has made is sound fairly simple but I cannot think it will

> > be as easy as he acts. He says that she will have very little

> > bruising and fairly little pain as this area naturally goes

numb.

> > Says no blowing of the nose and that she will be swollen for up

to

> > 6 months. He said it will be more " cheeky swelling " than

horrific

> > swelling. Said she will be able be fine in about a week after

her

> > surgery.

> >

> > Tell me the truth and what I am to expect. I need to be

prepared.

> He

> > said that since I do daycare in my home not to watch any

children

> > for 4 days after her surgery.

> >

> > Help me help my daughter.

> >

> > Anita

>

>

>

>

>