-Cabose/Re: My update at 4 weeks post op

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Hi (Cabose),

That's ok about the delayed reply...this week has been busy for me

and I am behind in replying to other posts myself.

Thanks for the hugs - they helped :-)

What you wrote about feeling the same as you did at your last OS

appt., is exactly how I feel right now too. I did see definite

improvements initially, of course right after surgery those first

two weeks or so. I think after that point is when the ear and sinus

infections started to kick in. I initially chalked it all up to

swelling and drainage, etc. -- I went quite a while, I'd say close

to two weeks before I knew I had the infections raging.

I called my OS office Tuesday, and the nurse told me that the doctor

wanted me to wait and see if the swelling/discomfort would go away

on it's own, by the end of the week. She said " after all you had

major surgery, and have to expect some swelling discomfort " . That

call got me upset because the 'some discomfort' that she was talking

about was really a major problem; and they wanted me to

simply 'wait' longer for it to go away? That's when I posted my

message to the board and got myself so worked up over everything. I

called my family doctor and luckily they were able to see me right

away. My doctor looked in my ears, nose and as much of my throat as

he could see since I couldn't open up very wide - and he said he

could understand why I was having so much pain and all the

headaches. I had an ear infection in both ears, plus a sinus

infection. He gave me antibiotics called Avelox, which I started

taking that day (Tuesday).

I've noticed definite improvement in my sinus area, I don't feel so

swollen/tender, and my eyes aren't so sore and tired, and I'm not

getting the bad headaches that I was.....BUT, I've still got the

exact same problems with my ears. They hurt, they feel very 'full'

with lots and lots of pressure inside, and I still can't hear any

better. I'm getting worried and very close to desperate in all

honesty. Everyone keeps telling me to be patient, that it's all due

to swelling. Well, I'll be 5 weeks post op on Monday and things are

not even close to back to normal. I accept 'some swelling', some

discomfort even yet, and as much as I despise these darn wires

everywhere in my gum tissue, this ear pressure problem is really,

really bothering me. I've never had an ear problem like this in my

life, and after weeks with them like this I'm honestly pretty

worried about it!

I'm going to finish out this course of antibiotics, I mean - I have

to if I want to have a chance at getting better. What I don't know

is what to do next if these antibiotics don't clear up all the fluid

and 'pus' (sorry to be gross but that's what the doctor saw in my

ears on Tuesday!)

My left ear is much worse than my right, and the funny thing is

that's the side of my face and inside of my mouth that is more

swollen than the right. I have some feeling back inside the roof of

my mouth again, and have had for over a week - but only on the right

side; left still completely numb. I have a 'lumpy' area of swelling

also on the left that's right below my lower jawbone, between my ear

and chin. There's no lumpy mass like that on the right side at all.

I don't know how usual or unusual these problems are that I'm

having. I thought I was having a fairly good recovery at first, but

now I think I was wrong to think so.

After almost 5 weeks of these wires in my gums, along with the

rubber bands, the inside of my mouth is getting ripped up and sore.

I've developed some kind of sores where some of the wires are

located. Out of desperation I began using Anbesol and a Q-tip to

give me temporary relief. I've had braces before, and will say that

the braces were much easier to deal with than these torturous wires.

I went to the store today and also bought Peroxyl, which is an

antiseptic oral cleanser, and is supposed to help heal oral

irritations. I'll be using that tonight before going to bed, and I'm

praying it helps.

I go back to the doctor (OS) on August 3rd, I'll be 6 weeks and two

days post op at that visit, and I am desperately hoping that he will

agree to take these wires out of my mouth soon after that. I think I

will go crazy if they have to stay on for much longer than that!

I hope your swelling starts to go down more for you very soon too.

It stinks when we try so hard to get better and it seems like some

of us get stuck in healing 'limbo'. At least that's how I feel

about it at this point, like I'm hanging in limbo, until the rest of

this darn swelling and fluid build up decides to go away.

Keep me updated on how you're doing ok?

Take care :-)

Judy

Hi Judy,

So sorry I am just reading this post, but as you know I had been

without a computer most of the duration of my post op.

It sounds like you have been having a really tough time. I am

sending you big hugs hoping that it will get better for you as each

day passes. I noticed your b-day is August 3rd, mine is August 5th!

I know what you mean when you say it hurt like heck when your OS

touched your upper lip. When my OS touched my upper lip this past

Tuesday I thought I was going to jump right out of that chair.

OUCH!! He asked me if I was feeling better which I told him that I

am feeling about the same since my last appt. with him. I am at the

point where it doesn't seem to be getting any better just staying

the same. The swelling is starting to worry me a little.

Please let me know how you are doing since your post was sent at the

beginning of the week. Are you still having sinus/ear problems? If

so, I surely hope you have made an appointment to see your doctor.

--Caboose