TO KAT -Re: fun with Resorbable plates and screws! to katya +everyone

[Guest guest]

Hi Kat!

Thanks for writing! It's cool to find someone else who also had the

resorbables. Sorry you were the guinea pig! But, I'm glad it all

turned out well.... I'm recovering very nicely. My teeth are finally

starting to look pretty good now that I'm going on 8 months post op,

LOL I'm hoping to get the metal works off by my birthday which is

also just after my one year post op anniversary. The

pain/swelling/discomfort started 6 months post op to the day and just

as the surgeon predicted, it all subsided about two weeks later. My

joints are taking their sweet time settling in too. My ortho just

took new xrays two weeks ago, and I saw all the holes in my jaws...

the film didn't show the upper holes as clearly, but there were

definite holes in the lower jaw. I am totally amazed by that! I have

dent-like-bump things on either side of my jaw too- they are where it

was cut and lengthened rather than shortened. We had the opposite

problems! I don't think my upper screws were as high up as yours

were. Right under your eyes is totally up there!! Mine are next to

the middle of my nose... say about half way up. Then there are more

plates, or I should say, WERE, back just above my molars. I could

also see on the xray where my chin was cut for the genio. The day

after surgery I could feel a very sharp edge from the cut and

dramatic advancement as I had NO chin or jaw preop, but now all of

that has really filled in. My OS said the bumps on either side of my

lower jaw is due to calluses building up on the inside, but he

thought that eventually they would break down and the dips in the

bone would fill in so that my jawline eventually will be smooth. My

scars there are oh so barely noticeable. I can feel them if I try.

Anyway, I am sorry if this will disappoint you!But, alas, I am in

upstate NY. When I first met with my surgeon summer of 2003 he was

using resorbables then, so it's been at least a few years that he's

been using them.... I have no idea why it seems to be that he's the

ONLY surgeon in the states that uses them! Who knows?!?! The

resorbables are the only thing he uses as far as I know. I was at

least not a guinea pig! But, we're alike... I also like being

different and this whole jaw surgery has certainly set me apart not

to mention the resorbables! lol Thanks for writing! Drop me a line

anytime to say hi. Oh, lastly, have you seen xrays recently... are

you holes totally filled in?? I'm surprised you have the dents under

your eyes.. I hope they eventually fill in too. Ok, I've been very

rambly too....

Take care,

Katja

> > > > Hi everyone,

> > > > I saw my OS today for my 6 month post-op check up. Everything

> is

> > > > looking good according to my surgeon- my teeth and bite and

> the

> > > > position of everything. I have diminished/altered sensation

in

> my

> > > > chin, lower lip, the left side of my tongue, and some random

> > places

> > > > in my mouth.... My surgeon is confident that all my feeling

> > should

> > > be

> > > > restored ultimately, but that it could take up to a year or

> more.

> > > It

> > > > does give me hope that I am at least not dead numb in those

> > places

> > > > and some feeling is slowly returning. Phew!!

> > > >

> > > > And, I thought this might be interesting just because I'm not

> > > really

> > > > aware of anyone else around here who has posted about these

or

> > has

> > > > them or has had them. I guess they are unusual! So, I will be

> the

> > > > guinea pig for the group..... I have resorbable plates and

> > screws.

> > > > They are my surgeon's preference. Anyway, last Friday, I

> noticed

> > > that

> > > > the left side of my face has been a little swollen

(externally

> > and

> > > > internally) and tender in places. I've had some throbs here

> and

> > > > there, pain and aching at other times, and general

> discomfort....

> > I

> > > > guessed it was due to the plates starting to do " their

thing " .

> My

> > > OS

> > > > confirmed that right around 6 months they will start to

> resorb...

> > > > they first soften and turn into something like a jelly, and

my

> > body

> > > > takes over and finishes them off.... he said usually it's

just

> > one

> > > of

> > > > the plates, if any, that can cause some minor swelling and

> > > discomfort

> > > > if my body really goes to town on it! Apparently I am one of

> the

> > > > lucky ones (ha ha) and have a bothersome plate, but

> fortunately

> > my

> > > > swelling isn't noticeable to anyone that doesn't know me

well.

> I

> > > > guess some people experience a lot of swelling due to this.

He

> > said

> > > > it should only last a week or two. So, I guess all my

plates

> > and

> > > > screws will be gone soon. I think that is so crazy and weird

> and

> > > > cool! Ultimately, the bone fills in everything and years from

> > now,

> > > > when all that is left of me is a skull and 2 femurs, forensic

> > > > scientists won't be able to tell I had this surgery. Wild,

> huh? I

> > > > guess that also happens with those who end up having their

> > hardware

> > > > removed. From what I understand, the resorbable plates and

> screws

> > > are

> > > > made of a certain compound where one element breaks down

> first,

> > and

> > > > then others go. I have instructions to not poke around in my

> > mouth

> > > so

> > > > that the material is left alone and undisturbed as it is so

> soft

> > > now.

> > > > In the meantime, my OS recommened that I take some aleve or

> advil

> > > to

> > > > help with the inflammation (just like after surgery). I've

> been

> > > > occaisionally icing my jaw too. Glad I still have my jaw

wrap!

> > > >

> > > > My upper jaw was very slow to heal, but is solid now thank

> > > goodness.

> > > > I have been cleared to resume life as normal.... no

> restrictions.

> > > > That includes getting my teeth cleaned finally!! They were

> black

> > > from

> > > > incessant drinking of very black tea in Russia for a month!

> > They're

> > > > better now, but I'm anxious to get rid of the few remaining

> > > stains!!

> > > > I think I'll wait until everything is resorbed before I go

> > > though....

> > > > this is going to require me to get up the courage too. I hate

> > when

> > > > they aren't gentle enough. And is anyone else's lower lip as

> > crazy

> > > as

> > > > mine is about some sensations or different things touching

> > it??...

> > > > ooooh can you imagine the horrible spinning head on the

> polisher

> > > > hitting against the lip accidentally?! Yikes! I hate it when

> I'm

> > in

> > > > bed a the sheet touches my lip. For some reason I can't stand

> > > certain

> > > > sensations.... Now that I have full clearance, I'm hoping to

> > start

> > > > swimming again... I wonder if that will be weird with my

> > sinuses...

> > > I

> > > > am much more aware of them now. (I am sure I could have gone

> > > swimming

> > > > much earlier on in my recovery, but I never asked or wanted

to

> > > until

> > > > recently. My sinuses have been interesting since my sx).

> > > >

> > > > I've also been having some minor pain and discomfort

sometimes

> > when

> > > > eating and talking in my left joint. I asked my OS about it

> > today,

> > > he

> > > > said that due to all the ortho work moving my teeth over and

> the

> > > > pressure the bands are putting on the muscles in the area,

the

> > > joints

> > > > are very sensitive and probably have some adema (your

standard

> > > > swelling and inflammation). I kind of guessed it was that, so

> I

> > > feel

> > > > relieved that my guess was right and this is only a temporary

> > > > problem. I was sort of feeling concerned.

> > > >

> > > > As a side note, on my exact 6 month anniversary, I celebrated

> by

> > > > having my first postop steak dinner! It was a very tasty

> filet

> > > and

> > > > I very much enjoyed it! AND I was able to eat it just fine!!

I

> > > think

> > > > I would be able to eat pretty much anything at this point if

I

> > > wasn't

> > > > still having ortho adjustments that make my teeth sore and

> > tender.

> > > I

> > > > can't wait until I'm done with ortho and my teeth are perfect

> > along

> > > > with my new perfect jaws.... (perfect for me, probably not

> > > > objectively perfect or amazing or anything!)

> > > >

> > > > My OS wants to see me at 1 year post op, and when my braces

> are

> > > taken

> > > > off. But, I highly doubt they will be off before my 1 year

> date.

> > I

> > > am

> > > > hoping for around that time though, so we'll see!

> > > >

> > > > Oh, and ortho has been doing a good job slowly but surely

> getting

> > > my

> > > > canted bite corrected. It was minor to begin with, but

> noticeable

> > > to

> > > > me and my family & boyfriend.

> > > >

> > > > Well, that's my official update. Hope it wasn't too boring,

> > > > especially the stuff about the resorbables! I'm off to

take

> > two

> > > > aleve.... thanks for reading! Oh, and one last thing, I love

> my

> > > > surgeon!!!

> > > > Katja

> >

>