Re: Upper Jaw Surg Question..Clare...

[Guest guest]

Oh, you poor thing. Do you really have to do the surgery now with only a

week before school? You don't sound like a teenager, so hopefully you are

talking about night school or something less strenuous than the all day thing.

Anyway, here's my input, for what it's worth....

I had roughly the same upper jaw surgery on 7-6. When the doc splits your

jaw, he cuts most of the nerves, so the pain is manageable and I didn't get

black eyes. You didn't say whether or not your wisdom teeth are impacted, but

assuming they are, you will probably have black eyes. Clinique makes a

really good foundation that covers and doesn't burn. Most of my swelling and

pain

is from the NG tube rammed up my nose when they put me to sleep, but even

the skin on the outside of my face is still tender. You're going to need

almost the full week just to recover from the wisdom teeth if they are

impacted.

I wish that I was one of those bright, sunny people who could say, " Oh,

sweetie, it will be a breeze; you'll be fine, " but I just can't do it. This

surgery is no walk in the park and I can't imagine a recovery time of one week.

Do I hear an " Amen " out there?

K

[Guest guest]

Amen K,

The older you get the harder it gets to recover. Even as a teen I

needed a couple of weeks to recover from wisdom teeth being

extracted. Definitely talk to the doctor, and if possible, make

different arrangements one way or the other. That alot of work and

little recovery.

Connie

> Oh, you poor thing. Do you really have to do the surgery now

with only a

> week before school? You don't sound like a teenager, so

hopefully you are

> talking about night school or something less strenuous than the

all day thing.

> Anyway, here's my input, for what it's worth....

>

> I had roughly the same upper jaw surgery on 7-6. When the doc

splits your

> jaw, he cuts most of the nerves, so the pain is manageable and I

didn't get

> black eyes. You didn't say whether or not your wisdom teeth are

impacted, but

> assuming they are, you will probably have black eyes. Clinique

makes a

> really good foundation that covers and doesn't burn. Most of my

swelling and pain

> is from the NG tube rammed up my nose when they put me to sleep,

but even

> the skin on the outside of my face is still tender. You're going

to need

> almost the full week just to recover from the wisdom teeth if

they are impacted.

>

> I wish that I was one of those bright, sunny people who could

say, " Oh,

> sweetie, it will be a breeze; you'll be fine, " but I just can't do

it. This

> surgery is no walk in the park and I can't imagine a recovery time

of one week.

> Do I hear an " Amen " out there?

>

> K

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Sorry if I spoke too general, but that's how it was explained to me or maybe

that's how I heard it. Must be the meds....lol

k

[Guest guest]

Hey, Kathy - From what I understand about this surgery (and I

understand alot since I'm in the medical profession), the surgeon is

to NEVER cut any nerves! The reason no nerves are ever cut is to

preserve sensation and function. The nerves in the mandible are

located in an area known as the Mandibular Canal and great care is

taken to not even disturb this area. Despite the best care to not

disturb the nerves, parathesia (localized numbness) is a very common

side effect of this surgery. And, some people have more problems with

the pain than others. ~~~~ Diane

> Oh, you poor thing. Do you really have to do the surgery now with

only a

> week before school? You don't sound like a teenager, so hopefully

you are

> talking about night school or something less strenuous than the all

day thing.

> Anyway, here's my input, for what it's worth....

>

> I had roughly the same upper jaw surgery on 7-6. When the doc

splits your

> jaw, he cuts most of the nerves, so the pain is manageable and I

didn't get

> black eyes. You didn't say whether or not your wisdom teeth are

impacted, but

> assuming they are, you will probably have black eyes. Clinique

makes a

> really good foundation that covers and doesn't burn. Most of my

swelling and pain

> is from the NG tube rammed up my nose when they put me to sleep,

but even

> the skin on the outside of my face is still tender. You're going

to need

> almost the full week just to recover from the wisdom teeth if they

are impacted.

>

> I wish that I was one of those bright, sunny people who could

say, " Oh,

> sweetie, it will be a breeze; you'll be fine, " but I just can't do

it. This

> surgery is no walk in the park and I can't imagine a recovery time

of one week.

> Do I hear an " Amen " out there?

>

> K

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Dianne,

It's a difficult recovery not because it's so painful afterwards. I

am on day 10 and experience a constant pressure (like a braxton

hick) in my face. My face and lips are numb but I have, almost a

constant tingling sensation which is only uncomfortable. I can't

speak very intelligently. My heart races constantly and I get out of

breath easily partly maybe because of the decongestant. I've gone

out: got my nails done, grocery shopping, WalMart but I have trouble

sitting and concentrating on a book for very long. I spend much of

my day eating and cleaning out my teeth and mouth. My stomach must

have shrunk from not eating for the first couple of days so I've now

worked up to the point where I can eat a small bowl of soup before

filling my stomach (150-200 cal). I'm lucky to get 1200 calories a

day. I think I've had a very easy recovery compared to most.

I'd recommend more than 1 week.

Halley

> > Oh, you poor thing. Do you really have to do the surgery now

with

> only a

> > week before school? You don't sound like a teenager, so

hopefully

> you are

> > talking about night school or something less strenuous than the

all

> day thing.

> > Anyway, here's my input, for what it's worth....

> >

> > I had roughly the same upper jaw surgery on 7-6. When the doc

> splits your

> > jaw, he cuts most of the nerves, so the pain is manageable and I

> didn't get

> > black eyes. You didn't say whether or not your wisdom teeth are

> impacted, but

> > assuming they are, you will probably have black eyes. Clinique

> makes a

> > really good foundation that covers and doesn't burn. Most of

my

> swelling and pain

> > is from the NG tube rammed up my nose when they put me to

sleep,

> but even

> > the skin on the outside of my face is still tender. You're

going

> to need

> > almost the full week just to recover from the wisdom teeth if

they

> are impacted.

> >

> > I wish that I was one of those bright, sunny people who could

> say, " Oh,

> > sweetie, it will be a breeze; you'll be fine, " but I just can't

do

> it. This

> > surgery is no walk in the park and I can't imagine a recovery

time

> of one week.

> > Do I hear an " Amen " out there?

> >

> > K

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Thank you all for your response!

I am a college student, in my senior year actually. Being a senior has

benefits and different issues though. I go to a small-mid size school, and

have formed a good relationship w/ my professors. So I can ask for some time

off, and they can trust me to make up the work. However, it is all relative,

as I could probably only ask for about 2 weeks off (3 weeks total recovery).

If I need to take more time off than that, I seriously jeopardize whether I

would be able to finish the semester and graduate on time. Anyway, with my

surgery pushed back now to the 15th, I start to get concerned, but really

there is nothing I can do but wait to see how recovery is....

Also, only 1 of my wisdom teeth is impacted, on the lower right side. So

that makes the wisdom teeth situation a little more manageable. Also, I know

some people mentioned breathing tubes, feeding tubes and even cathedars. I'm

only in the hospital 1 night, is this standard procedure, particularly for

my surgery? Or does it depend on the doctor? I dont even want an IV, so the

less tubes in me the better! Thanks again for all your input!

Clare

>

> Dianne,

> It's a difficult recovery not because it's so painful afterwards. I

> am on day 10 and experience a constant pressure (like a braxton

> hick) in my face. My face and lips are numb but I have, almost a

> constant tingling sensation which is only uncomfortable. I can't

> speak very intelligently. My heart races constantly and I get out of

> breath easily partly maybe because of the decongestant. I've gone

> out: got my nails done, grocery shopping, WalMart but I have trouble

> sitting and concentrating on a book for very long. I spend much of

> my day eating and cleaning out my teeth and mouth. My stomach must

> have shrunk from not eating for the first couple of days so I've now

> worked up to the point where I can eat a small bowl of soup before

> filling my stomach (150-200 cal). I'm lucky to get 1200 calories a

> day. I think I've had a very easy recovery compared to most.

> I'd recommend more than 1 week.

> Halley

>

>

> > > Oh, you poor thing. Do you really have to do the surgery now

> with

> > only a

> > > week before school? You don't sound like a teenager, so

> hopefully

> > you are

> > > talking about night school or something less strenuous than the

> all

> > day thing.

> > > Anyway, here's my input, for what it's worth....

> > >

> > > I had roughly the same upper jaw surgery on 7-6. When the doc

> > splits your

> > > jaw, he cuts most of the nerves, so the pain is manageable and I

> > didn't get

> > > black eyes. You didn't say whether or not your wisdom teeth are

> > impacted, but

> > > assuming they are, you will probably have black eyes. Clinique

> > makes a

> > > really good foundation that covers and doesn't burn. Most of

> my

> > swelling and pain

> > > is from the NG tube rammed up my nose when they put me to

> sleep,

> > but even

> > > the skin on the outside of my face is still tender. You're

> going

> > to need

> > > almost the full week just to recover from the wisdom teeth if

> they

> > are impacted.

> > >

> > > I wish that I was one of those bright, sunny people who could

> > say, " Oh,

> > > sweetie, it will be a breeze; you'll be fine, " but I just can't

> do

> > it. This

> > > surgery is no walk in the park and I can't imagine a recovery

> time

> > of one week.

> > > Do I hear an " Amen " out there?

> > >

> > > K

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

> Thank you all for your response!

>

> I am a college student, in my senior year actually. Being a senior

has

> benefits and different issues though. I go to a small-mid size

school, and

> have formed a good relationship w/ my professors. So I can ask for

some time

> off, and they can trust me to make up the work. However, it is all

relative,

> as I could probably only ask for about 2 weeks off (3 weeks total

recovery).

> If I need to take more time off than that, I seriously jeopardize

whether I

> would be able to finish the semester and graduate on time. Anyway,

with my

> surgery pushed back now to the 15th, I start to get concerned, but

really

> there is nothing I can do but wait to see how recovery is....

>

> Also, only 1 of my wisdom teeth is impacted, on the lower right

side. So

> that makes the wisdom teeth situation a little more manageable.

Also, I know

> some people mentioned breathing tubes, feeding tubes and even

cathedars. I'm

> only in the hospital 1 night, is this standard procedure,

particularly for

> my surgery? Or does it depend on the doctor? I dont even want an

IV, so the

> less tubes in me the better! Thanks again for all your input!

>

> Clare

What your doc will do depends on what has worked best in his

experience, what he believes you need, etc.

I had work on lower jaw only. I did have an NG tube (nasogastric) to

get any blood out of my stomach. I did have the breathing tube --

you will, too. Anything less than general anesthesia isn't enough to

keep you out while they do this work on your jaw, at least according

to my surgeon. I had a urinary catheter, and was grateful for it.

The medications they give you make you have to pee, pee, pee, and I

was mighty glad not to have to get myself out of bed and struggle to

the bathroom. Others feel different, though, and some folks do not

have the urinary catheter.

I feel certain that you will have an IV line in place, to put you

under before they REALLY put you under the anesthesia, and to give

you the antibiotics and steroids which help avoid infection and as

much of the swelling as possible. You probably will also have an

arterial catheter in your wrist, to monitor blood gases, but if they

do you the way they did me, they put that in after you're out, and

remove it before you come too. (Same was true for me with the

breathing tube and the nasogastric tube.)

I was only in the hospital one night, too. I didn't have to have

wizzies out, but if only one is impacted, hurrah for that!

And yess'm. You really do want that IV tube, although you may think

now that you don't.

Cammie

Here's hoping your recovery is as easy as mine was!