Re: 11-days post op now - questions, concerns, comments

[Guest guest]

Hi Carol,

I don't honestly know the difference between the wires you mention

or exactly why they're there either. I know, I know - it's very

stupid of me...I've already been there with that thought believe me!

I have no splint, just these wires going around my gumline both in

front of, and in back of, my teeth...it sorta feels like the wires

are 'pushing' my teeth together, and 'pinching' my gums at the same

time. I've looked in my mouth as closely as I can manage and it

looks very much like my OS literally 'sewed' that wire in there.

That's as close as I can try to describe it...it's a weave-in/weave-

out effect in the front, and I presume the same on the backside of

my teeth/gumline; although there's no way for me to check the back

of them.

I go back to see the OS on the 12th. I called his assistant today,

and talked to her about a 'new problem' I thought I was having. My

stitches have already started to come out, and I wasn't sure if it

was time for them to start doing that yet. I'm only 11 days post-op,

and thought they'd be in longer.

I took another long nap today (I feel much better when I nap during

the day now so I've made it a regular thing for me to do while this

is healing). What woke me up, was I was sorta gagging on

something....sorry, but this is going to sound SO gross!.... I raced

into the bathroom to rinse my mouth out...and out pours all this

stringy-gunk....I truly freaked at first, my husband came running

and he simply said " Oh, I'll bet that's your stitches coming

out " ....well, easy for him to say because they were half-way down my

throat and I was trying to spew them out of my mouth rather than

swallow those nasty things.

Once I calmed down I called my OS, talked to his assistant and she

said " yes, it's your stitches and yes, it's OK for them to come out

now, not to worry. "

So - there I went again, worrying for nothing I guess. I rinsed with

warm salt water to clean my mouth out and it worked pretty good. My

mouth actually does feel a lot less cruddy than it has been feeling -

so maybe it was those stitches I was feeling all along.

As far as the mouthwash...no my doc said no mouthwash because it

would be drying and irritating...so I've stayed clear of it and just

used the saltwater rinses he's encouraged me to do. I've done them

about 6 times per day which is what he recommended. Is there a point

when mouthwash can be used again...regular mouthwash that is? I

don't have any prescription for mouthwash or anything so for now I

am stuck with saltwater rinses and brushing my teeth (trying to do

the best I can with that).

I did ask about how these wires were going to come out and they told

me today that they would highly sedate me....so I am liking that

idea.... A LOT! I do not want to be awake when those come out!!!

Judy

Judy,

You mention wires going into your gums. Are you talking about the

wires that hold your teeth together or do you have skeletal wires?

I just had my jaw unwired and my splint removed. I had 7 wires, in

loops, holding my teeth together. 5 of them were removed -

painlessly. 2 of them were removed - and it was painful ... but

only for a moment. Those wires were wrapped around my skeletal

wires and so they tugged on them - hence the pain. I will be having

my skeletal wires out in two weeks. I'm told I will be made numb

via gas, topical anethetic and novicaine shots. So, I'm guessing I

won't feel it.

As for the inside of your teeth - did your doctor prescribe any

mouthwash? Mine did and I used it twice a day. I honestly never

had all the issues everyone else did - about the " sweaters " on their

teeth and their gums and tongue - but I know it happens. A

prescription mouthwash can help.

Take care,

Carol