Shirley 6 week Post Op - Lefort 1, BSSO, Genio, and Turbinectomies

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Hi all, I can chew again! I finally got the ok to chew again.

I'm to start with soft foods and work up to harder foods over the

next two weeks. But I am not to bite on things - no biting into a

sandwich, pizza, etc. Apparently the biting down with front teeth

causes more pressure on the joints and my OS does not want that

pressure on the joints at present (left joint has degenerative

changes & has TMD). I must say that chewing seems odd after 6 weeks

and of course my teeth are in a position they never have been in.

Also some of the teeth are still numb.

I actually ate ¾ of a hamburger, albeit cut up in very small

pieces and ate with fork. Since I can't bite into things yet I

have to cut up items (or pull apart) and place in mouth. But, boy,

did that hamburger taste good!

My jaws open to about 30 mm, but pre-op was 43 mm. OS has now

started me on the tongue depresser stretch exercise (adding an

additional depresser every other week to stretch opening). I am to

put them in mouth multiple times during day to stretch jaw muscles.

I can start back to the WaterPik in about 10 days - the reason I

have to wait 10 days is OS had to remove a stitch that wasn't

falling out on its own. He wants to make sure that has healed

before I start WaterPik. But ok to use electric toothbrush again.

I had already been flossing since I can't use the WaterPik. I

also have the ok to see my dental hygienist on Aug 18th for cleaning.

My numbness is about 90-95% gone. I still have some on rt lower

upper and lower lip. Chin still has some numbness. Each day the

numbness gets better and I can tell it's healing.

After seeing OS & pulmonologist, I had another sleep study (my

surgery was for sleep apnea) and I am still having some problems

sleeping (probably not sleep apnea as the airway is now opened up

from 9mm to about 19mm). I am now waiting to see the results of

that study. My OS did say that it takes about 3 months for the

throat, etc. to heal up from the surgery and he stills wants me to

have another sleep study done at 3 mos.

I'm still using a fair amount of wax. As the upper ties wires

are still rubbing on my lips that are regaining their feeling. Hope

to have those off on my next OD appt. on Aug. 15th. Also mouth is

still getting use to the teeth and brackets in farther forward and

rub on mouth. I'm still having trouble with biting lower lip at

night, so load up on wax there at night.

Bands (one on each side) are still on except for eating and cleaning

teeth.

I will be traveling the end of month and I was concerned about ear

pressure when flying. OS said just to load up on anti-histamine

before hand. I normally do that as I've always had trouble with

left ear (may be related to that left jaw joint).

All in all it's getting better. We just all have to remember it

will get better, it just takes time.

Shirley

(Lefort 1 [upper jaw], BSSO [lower jaw], genio, and turbinectomies

on 6/23/05).