Guest guest Posted June 16, 2005 Report Share Posted June 16, 2005 My name is matt and I am a 20 year old college student. I had both my jaws realigned and I am already two weeks into recovery. I have been surprised on how well I have been doing, already the majority of my swelling is down and I am beginning to see the " new " me each day. Yesterdya my doctor allowed me to open my mouth for the first time in two weeks! I am only wearing two rubber bands and it feels great to just open and close my mouth. Through out my recovery i felt that biggest issue was swelling and adjusting to life not being able to move my mouth. I realized how much i took it for granted. What helped a lot for me in controling and minimizing the swelling was using hot packs on my face for 30 mins. I would do this every hour and a half or so religously and I cannot believe the progess Ive made. I tied to socks together and put the hot packs around my face so i would be able to target my cheeks and sides of my mouth insted of wrapping it around my head which would only target my jaw line and chin. Another great product that helped with my swelling was Arnica Cream. I would apply this cream in the morning and at night before bed as well as 3-4 times daily or as needed. Though it is not proved to relieve swelling it did wonders on relieving the feeling of pressure in my face and cheeks. I highly recommend it. Yesterday my doctor also put in my splint on the roof of my mouth. He told me my case was extremely complex. I had three incisions in my mouth. Two incision on the bottom which was used to move my lower jaw back and one long incision on my upper jaw acroos my front teeth. My upper jaw was reduced a little and my front teeth were brought down. As of now it looks a lot better than what i started with however I feel that it is not completley perfect. I know there is still ortho work to be done so I am hopeful all will be well. My greatest fear in all of this is having to go through such lengths and not having everything be 100% perfect. Though i know this is a somewhat unrealistic goal I hope that I can be closer to a more symmetric and straight looking teeth and Jaw. For all those who feel this is an unbearable burden, stay positive! I feel this has helped me through the worst of my recovery and though i know there is more to go, staying positive and having a good outlook each day has helped me get this far. I know in the end it will all be worht it. If any one has questions or concerns please dont hesitate to ask or emial. Wishing you all the best !!!! ~Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 16, 2005 Report Share Posted June 16, 2005 Hi Matt...what a positive outlook & attitude for someone who is going through so much. I have had a few different surgeries in my life as well as having children and I truly can't say I have been as brave as you have been on this one. I consider myself pretty tough but this has to be the worst thing I have gone through. I had my surgery June 7th and go tomorrow to get my wires off. I am scared but excited at the same time becuase I am so hungry. I have suffered terribly with nausea & vomiting and lost 14 lbs in 9 days. I still think the oral meds and lack of food are the cause. Anyhow, I had both top & bottom done too. I had a receeding chin and needed surgery on my upper palate too (which was actually news to me) As of right now I do not like my look at all. I am still swollen a bit and am going to try your sock trick!! thanks....I am hoping that I am pleased in the end too. I am sure you will be just handsome! A freind of mine who had it done said it was about 6 months b4 she saw the 'real' her and she was very happy. In b/w she would look in the mirrow and think 'is this what I am going to look like??!?' TAke care everyone Sherry > My name is matt and I am a 20 year old college student. I had both my jaws > realigned and I am already two weeks into recovery. I have been surprised on > how well I have been doing, already the majority of my swelling is down and I > am beginning to see the " new " me each day. Yesterdya my doctor allowed me > to open my mouth for the first time in two weeks! I am only wearing two rubber > bands and it feels great to just open and close my mouth. > > Through out my recovery i felt that biggest issue was swelling and adjusting to > life not being able to move my mouth. I realized how much i took it for granted. > What helped a lot for me in controling and minimizing the swelling was using > hot packs on my face for 30 mins. I would do this every hour and a half or so > religously and I cannot believe the progess Ive made. I tied to socks together > and put the hot packs around my face so i would be able to target my cheeks > and sides of my mouth insted of wrapping it around my head which would > only target my jaw line and chin. Another great product that helped with my > swelling was Arnica Cream. I would apply this cream in the morning and at > night before bed as well as 3-4 times daily or as needed. Though it is not > proved to relieve swelling it did wonders on relieving the feeling of pressure > in my face and cheeks. I highly recommend it. > > Yesterday my doctor also put in my splint on the roof of my mouth. He told me > my case was extremely complex. I had three incisions in my mouth. Two > incision on the bottom which was used to move my lower jaw back and one > long incision on my upper jaw acroos my front teeth. My upper jaw was > reduced a little and my front teeth were brought down. As of now it looks a lot > better than what i started with however I feel that it is not completley perfect. I > know there is still ortho work to be done so I am hopeful all will be well. > > My greatest fear in all of this is having to go through such lengths and not > having everything be 100% perfect. Though i know this is a somewhat > unrealistic goal I hope that I can be closer to a more symmetric and straight > looking teeth and Jaw. > > For all those who feel this is an unbearable burden, stay positive! I feel this > has helped me through the worst of my recovery and though i know there is > more to go, staying positive and having a good outlook each day has helped > me get this far. I know in the end it will all be worht it. > > If any one has questions or concerns please dont hesitate to ask or emial. > > Wishing you all the best !!!! > > ~Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 16, 2005 Report Share Posted June 16, 2005 Glad to know all goes so well for you, Matt. One caution about your advice: Many docs want their patients to use ice for the first 48 hours, then heat. And some say not to use the heat for more than 20 minutes at a time. Some say not to use heat at all. So ask your own experts what their instructions are. Your own doc is your best source of help, advice and information on your own individual case. As for whether your outcome will be " perfect " ... well, it's just way too soon to see what your eventual results will be. It's another part of this business of learning patience, to wait and find the face unmasked as the swelling recedes. Cammie > My name is matt and I am a 20 year old college student. I had both my jaws > realigned and I am already two weeks into recovery. I have been surprised on > how well I have been doing, already the majority of my swelling is down and I > am beginning to see the " new " me each day. Yesterdya my doctor allowed me > to open my mouth for the first time in two weeks! I am only wearing two rubber > bands and it feels great to just open and close my mouth. > > Through out my recovery i felt that biggest issue was swelling and adjusting to > life not being able to move my mouth. I realized how much i took it for granted. > What helped a lot for me in controling and minimizing the swelling was using > hot packs on my face for 30 mins. I would do this every hour and a half or so > religously and I cannot believe the progess Ive made. I tied to socks together > and put the hot packs around my face so i would be able to target my cheeks > and sides of my mouth insted of wrapping it around my head which would > only target my jaw line and chin. Another great product that helped with my > swelling was Arnica Cream. I would apply this cream in the morning and at > night before bed as well as 3-4 times daily or as needed. Though it is not > proved to relieve swelling it did wonders on relieving the feeling of pressure > in my face and cheeks. I highly recommend it. > > Yesterday my doctor also put in my splint on the roof of my mouth. He told me > my case was extremely complex. I had three incisions in my mouth. Two > incision on the bottom which was used to move my lower jaw back and one > long incision on my upper jaw acroos my front teeth. My upper jaw was > reduced a little and my front teeth were brought down. As of now it looks a lot > better than what i started with however I feel that it is not completley perfect. I > know there is still ortho work to be done so I am hopeful all will be well. > > My greatest fear in all of this is having to go through such lengths and not > having everything be 100% perfect. Though i know this is a somewhat > unrealistic goal I hope that I can be closer to a more symmetric and straight > looking teeth and Jaw. > > For all those who feel this is an unbearable burden, stay positive! I feel this > has helped me through the worst of my recovery and though i know there is > more to go, staying positive and having a good outlook each day has helped > me get this far. I know in the end it will all be worht it. > > If any one has questions or concerns please dont hesitate to ask or emial. > > Wishing you all the best !!!! > > ~Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.