Re: 3 weeks post-op

[Guest guest]

- Congratulations on your successful surgery and getting to

the other side. Thank you very much for your update and all the

information that you have shared. I will be undergoing the same

procedures next June, as I too have an underbite. My surgery will

probably take as long as yours did, only because my OMS will be doing

some neck and chin Lipo on me as well. (He's also a Cosmetic

Surgeon.) Was your LeFort a 1-piece or segmented? My OMS will not

only be moving my maxilla forward, but will be dropping it down 2mm

in front because he says I show only my lower teeth in my resting

smile, and need to show my upper teeth. I've had my braces in for

only six weeks (feels longer) and my teeth are moving like crazy.

When will you be resuming your Ortho? How much longer will you be in

braces? I only have one REAL concern about having the surgery, and I

hope you can help me: I am concerned/worried about how I will feel

when I wake up without my underbite, the underbite I have had for

nearly forty years. Did it feel really strange to have a different

bite? My OMS says it will feel very foreign and strange, but he

assures me that he will be there the moment I wake up and he will get

me through this, which is a huge relief - I don't want to wake up all

alone, panicking, and feel totally terrified that I did this to

myself! My OMS plans to keep my splint in for three to four weeks,

and I will also have bands on as well.// Well, , thank you

again for your info and thank you in advance for your help. Hope you

get better and stronger with each passing day. Take care. ~~~ Diane

Idaho) :-)#)

> -Hi everyone

>

> I had upper (Leforte I) and lower (BSSO ramus) surgery on August 31

> to correct my underbite and thought I would give an update on how

> things have gone. I'll start by saying that everything has gone

> great so far. Don't get me wrong, the whole process is an ordeal

> but

> it has gone really well- so far.

> My surgery was at 8:30 am and lasted about 6 hours. Evidently this

> was a little longer than expected because my bone was difficult to

> cut through but the surgery went excellent according to my OMS. My

> upper jaw was moved forward 5mm and leveled slightly and the lower

> was moved backward 6 mm and leveled slightly. He also said he did a

> partial septoplasty to position my nose since moving my upper jaw

> forward affects its position. I remember being very cold when I

woke

> up but otherwise I felt pretty relaxed and it wasn't too weird as

> I

> expected it might be. I had a splint in and was banded shut tightly

> so I couldn't move my jaw any. The rest of that day and overnight

> I

> was kept in the PACU where there was constant observation. I had a

> NG tube in as well as a breathing tube to keep my airway open but

> they both came out during the night and once they did I was able to

> breathe even better. About 8 am I was released from the PACU since

I

> was drinking water on my own through a syringe and generally felt

> good. Once in my hospital room, I was able to drink boost and apple

> juice. I was also up on my feet and able to walk in the hallway

> short distances. I was discharged Thursday afternoon around 3:30. I

> never experienced any nausea at all.

> The swelling peaked around the third day and slowly went down over

> the next 7-10 days. My face looked about twice its normal size. My

> sister said I looked like a busted-up boxer due to the swelling and

> cracked lips. I think I am a little puffy in my cheeks near my nose

> still but it diminishes each day. I had just a little bruising (the

> yellow kind) from my lips down along my neck. It is gone now. As

for

> the pain, it wasn't as bad as I expected and never what I would

> consider severe. I didn't need to finish all the pain meds that

> were

> prescribed. I was pretty numb everywhere on my face the first 2

days

> after, but feeling has returned everywhere except one side of my

> upper lip and part of my cheek on that same side. I have some

> tingling/itchy/other strange sensations there occasionally which

> they say are signs that the nerves are repairing themselves so

> hopefully that numbness will be gone soon. The worst part was

> keeping my nose decongested but that was manageable with Dimetapp

> and Q-tips. I've been back to see my OMS twice so far since

> surgery

> and everything looks great according to him. He removed most of the

> bands at the first post-op visit 6 days after surgery. 2 bands are

> still in which allow me to move my jaw some and I get to take them

> off completely 3 times a day for up to 2 hours each time. My splint

> fits all my teeth so it guides my bite in place when I open and

> close. When the bands are off I do stretching exercises. The splint

> comes out on Monday. I'm looking forward to that since talking

> with

> it is a bit difficult and it does trap a lot of food that is hard

to

> get out. I will still have another 5+ weeks of no chewing depending

> on what the doc thinks I guess, as time passes.

>

> Generally I can say the whole process has gone better than I

> expected so far. Largely I guess because I was prepared. Having a

> good OMS and this site helped with that tremendously. I am very

> pleased with my new look. I have no regrets having had this

surgery.

> I hope this helps others who have upcoming surgery. If anyone has

> any questions, I'd be happy to try and answer based on my

> experience.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

What a great post! It really gives you a feel for the post op

progress. Thank you for posting this!

Will cross my fingers for you that you do get the splint removed on

Monday. That seems to be a great milestone for many members post

op. I can't imagine how that must feel to wear the splint, but I am

already looking forward to mine being gone - and I haven't had

surgery yet! lol

How far are you able to stretch open at this point. Three weeks is

still pretty early. Were you given a goal for how far to stretch,

or is it more individually? Sorry for all the questions!

Hope your recovery continues as well as it has so far.

Hugs,

Fran

> -Hi everyone

>

> I had upper (Leforte I) and lower (BSSO ramus) surgery on August

31

> to correct my underbite and thought I would give an update on how

> things have gone. I'll start by saying that everything has gone

> great so far. Don't get me wrong, the whole process is an ordeal

> but

> it has gone really well- so far.

> My surgery was at 8:30 am and lasted about 6 hours. Evidently

this

> was a little longer than expected because my bone was difficult to

> cut through but the surgery went excellent according to my OMS. My

> upper jaw was moved forward 5mm and leveled slightly and the lower

> was moved backward 6 mm and leveled slightly. He also said he did

a

> partial septoplasty to position my nose since moving my upper jaw

> forward affects its position. I remember being very cold when I

woke

> up but otherwise I felt pretty relaxed and it wasn't too weird as

> I

> expected it might be. I had a splint in and was banded shut

tightly

> so I couldn't move my jaw any. The rest of that day and overnight

> I

> was kept in the PACU where there was constant observation. I had a

> NG tube in as well as a breathing tube to keep my airway open but

> they both came out during the night and once they did I was able

to

> breathe even better. About 8 am I was released from the PACU since

I

> was drinking water on my own through a syringe and generally felt

> good. Once in my hospital room, I was able to drink boost and

apple

> juice. I was also up on my feet and able to walk in the hallway

> short distances. I was discharged Thursday afternoon around 3:30.

I

> never experienced any nausea at all.

> The swelling peaked around the third day and slowly went down over

> the next 7-10 days. My face looked about twice its normal size. My

> sister said I looked like a busted-up boxer due to the swelling

and

> cracked lips. I think I am a little puffy in my cheeks near my

nose

> still but it diminishes each day. I had just a little bruising

(the

> yellow kind) from my lips down along my neck. It is gone now. As

for

> the pain, it wasn't as bad as I expected and never what I would

> consider severe. I didn't need to finish all the pain meds that

> were

> prescribed. I was pretty numb everywhere on my face the first 2

days

> after, but feeling has returned everywhere except one side of my

> upper lip and part of my cheek on that same side. I have some

> tingling/itchy/other strange sensations there occasionally which

> they say are signs that the nerves are repairing themselves so

> hopefully that numbness will be gone soon. The worst part was

> keeping my nose decongested but that was manageable with Dimetapp

> and Q-tips. I've been back to see my OMS twice so far since

> surgery

> and everything looks great according to him. He removed most of

the

> bands at the first post-op visit 6 days after surgery. 2 bands are

> still in which allow me to move my jaw some and I get to take them

> off completely 3 times a day for up to 2 hours each time. My

splint

> fits all my teeth so it guides my bite in place when I open and

> close. When the bands are off I do stretching exercises. The

splint

> comes out on Monday. I'm looking forward to that since talking

> with

> it is a bit difficult and it does trap a lot of food that is hard

to

> get out. I will still have another 5+ weeks of no chewing

depending

> on what the doc thinks I guess, as time passes.

>

> Generally I can say the whole process has gone better than I

> expected so far. Largely I guess because I was prepared. Having a

> good OMS and this site helped with that tremendously. I am very

> pleased with my new look. I have no regrets having had this

surgery.

> I hope this helps others who have upcoming surgery. If anyone has

> any questions, I'd be happy to try and answer based on my

> experience.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Diane,

My upper was just a 1-piece. I started in braces about 14 months ago

(even though it doesn't seem that long). After the initial getting

used to being in braces, time went by fast for me. I think my teeth

moved fairly quickly. This was the second time I've had braces- the

first was in Junior high school before I knew I would need the jaw

surgery. I go back to see my OD on Monday also, after my splint gets

removed, but my OMS said they will probably just have a look at me

without making any adjustments first visit back. Last time I was in,

they seemed to think I would need another 4-6 months in the braces

post surgery so we will see. I'm really hoping to have them off by

January.

As for your question regarding how it feels to wake up with a new

bite I can say I had the same fears you did but it turned out to be

no big deal. When I first woke up I was so relaxed, numb and

basically tired from the anesthesia and pain meds that I really

couldn't react in an abrubt way to the new feel. I just remember the

feel of having the splint in mostly. It takes up so much room in

your mouth (or at least it feels that way) and it keeps you from

being able to feel exactly where your upper teeth are with your

tounge (at least in my case since I was banded shut). So I really

couldn't tell that my underbite was gone by the feel of things. I

suspect that I will really feel the difference when the thing comes

out Mon. and I can bite my teeth together. I know everyone has

different reactions to surgery but I wouldn't worry about being

alarmed or panicking when you wake up.

> - Congratulations on your successful surgery and getting to

> the other side. Thank you very much for your update and all the

> information that you have shared. I will be undergoing the same

> procedures next June, as I too have an underbite. My surgery will

> probably take as long as yours did, only because my OMS will be

doing

> some neck and chin Lipo on me as well. (He's also a Cosmetic

> Surgeon.) Was your LeFort a 1-piece or segmented? My OMS will not

> only be moving my maxilla forward, but will be dropping it down

2mm

> in front because he says I show only my lower teeth in my resting

> smile, and need to show my upper teeth. I've had my braces in for

> only six weeks (feels longer) and my teeth are moving like crazy.

> When will you be resuming your Ortho? How much longer will you be

in

> braces? I only have one REAL concern about having the surgery, and

I

> hope you can help me: I am concerned/worried about how I will feel

> when I wake up without my underbite, the underbite I have had for

> nearly forty years. Did it feel really strange to have a different

> bite? My OMS says it will feel very foreign and strange, but he

> assures me that he will be there the moment I wake up and he will

get

> me through this, which is a huge relief - I don't want to wake up

all

> alone, panicking, and feel totally terrified that I did this to

> myself! My OMS plans to keep my splint in for three to four weeks,

> and I will also have bands on as well.// Well, , thank you

> again for your info and thank you in advance for your help. Hope

you

> get better and stronger with each passing day. Take care. ~~~

Diane

> Idaho) :-)#) --- In

[Guest guest]

Hi Fran,

Last week when I was in (2 weeks post-op) I could open 25 mm. My OMS

said that was right where I should be and wanted me to be able to

open somewhere in the low 30s range by Monday. When I do stretching

exercises I basically open as far as I can and hold it for 10

seconds and repeat a few times. This seems to be working pretty

good. Good luck with your surgery!

> > -Hi everyone

> >

> > I had upper (Leforte I) and lower (BSSO ramus) surgery on August

> 31

> > to correct my underbite and thought I would give an update on

how

> > things have gone. I'll start by saying that everything has gone

> > great so far. Don't get me wrong, the whole process is an ordeal

> > but

> > it has gone really well- so far.

> > My surgery was at 8:30 am and lasted about 6 hours. Evidently

> this

> > was a little longer than expected because my bone was difficult

to

> > cut through but the surgery went excellent according to my OMS.

My

> > upper jaw was moved forward 5mm and leveled slightly and the

lower

> > was moved backward 6 mm and leveled slightly. He also said he

did

> a

> > partial septoplasty to position my nose since moving my upper

jaw

> > forward affects its position. I remember being very cold when I

> woke

> > up but otherwise I felt pretty relaxed and it wasn't too weird as

> > I

> > expected it might be. I had a splint in and was banded shut

> tightly

> > so I couldn't move my jaw any. The rest of that day and overnight

> > I

> > was kept in the PACU where there was constant observation. I had

a

> > NG tube in as well as a breathing tube to keep my airway open

but

> > they both came out during the night and once they did I was able

> to

> > breathe even better. About 8 am I was released from the PACU

since

> I

> > was drinking water on my own through a syringe and generally

felt

> > good. Once in my hospital room, I was able to drink boost and

> apple

> > juice. I was also up on my feet and able to walk in the hallway

> > short distances. I was discharged Thursday afternoon around

3:30.

> I

> > never experienced any nausea at all.

> > The swelling peaked around the third day and slowly went down

over

> > the next 7-10 days. My face looked about twice its normal size.

My

> > sister said I looked like a busted-up boxer due to the swelling

> and

> > cracked lips. I think I am a little puffy in my cheeks near my

> nose

> > still but it diminishes each day. I had just a little bruising

> (the

> > yellow kind) from my lips down along my neck. It is gone now. As

> for

> > the pain, it wasn't as bad as I expected and never what I would

> > consider severe. I didn't need to finish all the pain meds that

> > were

> > prescribed. I was pretty numb everywhere on my face the first 2

> days

> > after, but feeling has returned everywhere except one side of my

> > upper lip and part of my cheek on that same side. I have some

> > tingling/itchy/other strange sensations there occasionally which

> > they say are signs that the nerves are repairing themselves so

> > hopefully that numbness will be gone soon. The worst part was

> > keeping my nose decongested but that was manageable with

Dimetapp

> > and Q-tips. I've been back to see my OMS twice so far since

> > surgery

> > and everything looks great according to him. He removed most of

> the

> > bands at the first post-op visit 6 days after surgery. 2 bands

are

> > still in which allow me to move my jaw some and I get to take

them

> > off completely 3 times a day for up to 2 hours each time. My

> splint

> > fits all my teeth so it guides my bite in place when I open and

> > close. When the bands are off I do stretching exercises. The

> splint

> > comes out on Monday. I'm looking forward to that since talking

> > with

> > it is a bit difficult and it does trap a lot of food that is

hard

> to

> > get out. I will still have another 5+ weeks of no chewing

> depending

> > on what the doc thinks I guess, as time passes.

> >

> > Generally I can say the whole process has gone better than I

> > expected so far. Largely I guess because I was prepared. Having

a

> > good OMS and this site helped with that tremendously. I am very

> > pleased with my new look. I have no regrets having had this

> surgery.

> > I hope this helps others who have upcoming surgery. If anyone

has

> > any questions, I'd be happy to try and answer based on my

> > experience.

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

- - Thank you for your reply to my question - your response

makes me feel better. I guess I'll find out first-hand when I undergo

my surgery, but it's also important to be prepared before it happens.

The hardest thing is the waiting; I procrastinated about having the

surgery for twenty-five years and now that I've decided to have it

done, I want it done NOW. I have no patience; I'm just hoping that my

teeth continue to move as fast as they already have so my surgery can

be moved up. I'm not picky - even one or two months earlier would be

great.LOL.// I bet you are getting excited about Monday; I'm sure it

will feel great to be splintless. Well, take care and thank you again

for your reply. ~~~~ Diane (Idaho) :-)#)-- In

orthognathicsurgerysupport , " thewaterone "

<thewaterone@y...> wrote:

> Hi Diane,

> My upper was just a 1-piece. I started in braces about 14 months

ago

> (even though it doesn't seem that long). After the initial getting

> used to being in braces, time went by fast for me. I think my teeth

> moved fairly quickly. This was the second time I've had braces- the

> first was in Junior high school before I knew I would need the jaw

> surgery. I go back to see my OD on Monday also, after my splint

gets

> removed, but my OMS said they will probably just have a look at me

> without making any adjustments first visit back. Last time I was

in,

> they seemed to think I would need another 4-6 months in the braces

> post surgery so we will see. I'm really hoping to have them off by

> January.

> As for your question regarding how it feels to wake up with a new

> bite I can say I had the same fears you did but it turned out to be

> no big deal. When I first woke up I was so relaxed, numb and

> basically tired from the anesthesia and pain meds that I really

> couldn't react in an abrubt way to the new feel. I just remember

the

> feel of having the splint in mostly. It takes up so much room in

> your mouth (or at least it feels that way) and it keeps you from

> being able to feel exactly where your upper teeth are with your

> tounge (at least in my case since I was banded shut). So I really

> couldn't tell that my underbite was gone by the feel of things. I

> suspect that I will really feel the difference when the thing comes

> out Mon. and I can bite my teeth together. I know everyone has

> different reactions to surgery but I wouldn't worry about being

> alarmed or panicking when you wake up.

>

>

>

>

> > - Congratulations on your successful surgery and getting

to

> > the other side. Thank you very much for your update and all the

> > information that you have shared. I will be undergoing the same

> > procedures next June, as I too have an underbite. My surgery will

> > probably take as long as yours did, only because my OMS will be

> doing

> > some neck and chin Lipo on me as well. (He's also a Cosmetic

> > Surgeon.) Was your LeFort a 1-piece or segmented? My OMS will not

> > only be moving my maxilla forward, but will be dropping it down

> 2mm

> > in front because he says I show only my lower teeth in my resting

> > smile, and need to show my upper teeth. I've had my braces in for

> > only six weeks (feels longer) and my teeth are moving like crazy.

> > When will you be resuming your Ortho? How much longer will you be

> in

> > braces? I only have one REAL concern about having the surgery,

and

> I

> > hope you can help me: I am concerned/worried about how I will

feel

> > when I wake up without my underbite, the underbite I have had for

> > nearly forty years. Did it feel really strange to have a

different

> > bite? My OMS says it will feel very foreign and strange, but he

> > assures me that he will be there the moment I wake up and he will

> get

> > me through this, which is a huge relief - I don't want to wake up

> all

> > alone, panicking, and feel totally terrified that I did this to

> > myself! My OMS plans to keep my splint in for three to four

weeks,

> > and I will also have bands on as well.// Well, , thank you

> > again for your info and thank you in advance for your help. Hope

> you

> > get better and stronger with each passing day. Take care. ~~~

> Diane

> > Idaho) :-)#) --- In