Diane

[Guest guest]

Diane,

I don't think anything with this surgery is a done deal until you are

wheeled out of the OR. It is not unusual for your OD & OS not to

know what is going to be needed until about 2 months out from

surgery. My OD originally felt I was going to need SARPE surgery at

the start of my treatment and was mentioning that to me as a

possibility. Then about 14 months into treatment he told me that no

surgery was going to be necessary. Then about 24 months into

treatment he stated that surgery was going to be back on and was

looking like a possibility of 3 options which were either a SARPE,

Lefort 3 Piece, or both. He really tried to avoid the surgery all

together which is what I was hoping for. Even my OS didn't tell me

going into surgery what was going to be performed because he was

trying to avoid the Lefort 3-piece because of my dental history and

risk of complications. So I didn't know until I woke up in the

hospital that I ended up with the Lefort 3-piece. I didn't even know

if I was going to be splinted or banded either.

I would recommend you doing the bloodwork again because during my

physical before surgery my glucose level came out a little high.

When I did the bloodwork again it came out okay. I do have to go

back in a few weeks to recheck the glucose level just to make sure it

is okay. I was told to fast starting at midnight and I did my

bloodwork around 8:30am. They told me at least 8 hours of fasting.

Anyway, I think it is always best to recheck before taking any

medications!

Good luck to you,

--Caboose

> > 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).

[Guest guest]

Hi Diane,

It's good to hear from you also, and to hear that your moving forward

with your treatment. I'm glad your teeth are moving into a better

position since getting the braces on.

My wires were removed yesterday (I didn't have braces before surgery,

so when I say wires, I mean these were wires put into my jaw/gums

during surgery. I had them in exactly 8 weeks and am SO thrilled they

are now out of my mouth. It was getting so hard to tolerate them for

such a long time. I used anbesol and oragel the last few weeks to help

with all the cut, torn and irritated gum tissue from those wires. It's

really been something around our house this summer, so much going on

and of course I had the sinus and ear infections to deal with post-op

too which didn't help. My 15 year old son had surgery shortly before I

did so we've dealt with a lot this summer. I just got so far behind

in literally everything - I couldn't keep up with it all, so I fell

behind in posting and keeping up here to be honest.

I do understand how sore your mouth is now though, because I did have

braces when I was younger. It really does become a chore to eat,

especially anything involving much chewing - because the teeth and

gums are so sore from the braces changing things around in there. My

wires are out, and I've been told I can resume a pretty normal diet,

just nothing real chewy or crunchy. I told the doc don't worry, I

won't be doing any of that for a while yet! I've gotten accustomed to

eating this way, and it's not too bad really. I actually feel much

better eating smaller amounts of food more frequently throughout the

day. I seem to have more energy and just generally feel better. I'm

back to my full fitness routine now too, which feels great to get back

into all my classes.

I know you have been worried about the Lefort procedure the doctor

wants you to have, but now that I'm 8 weeks post-op, please let me

reassure you that the Lefort honestly has been the easiest part of

what I had done to deal with. The lower jaw and chin have been more

trouble for me because I still have some numbness yet, and it does

bother me a lot at times. It's gotten much better than it was before,

but I certainly hope this continues to get better with time. My lower

lip in the center is still quite numb - the sides have feeling back,

and upper lip is fine too. The roof of my mouth, I have sensation back

on the sides and on the right middle area. Hope that makes sense! My

chin is still really numb, but I do get a lot of itchy, crawly

sensation at times, so I'm pretty sure I'll get more feeling back at

some point. If I had it to do over again, I'd rather do the Lefort 1

over the other procedures anytime - it was simply easier for me to

personally deal with.

I hope this eases a little of the anxiety you might still have over

having the Lefort 1 procedure, should you end up needing it.

Take care!

Judy

Judy - How nice to hear from you; you've been missed. Hope your hand

and jaw are both on the mend. Well, I'm finally in braces! Got them

(the bands and wires) on last Tuesday; the brackets were installed on

July 26th. I'm slowly but surely getting used to the sensation of the

pressure; the good news is that my teeth are starting to move - my gap

between the upper two front teeth is almost completely closed, and a

few teeth on the bottom look like they are changing their positions

slightly too. My OD told me that there would be movement right away

and to keep a positive outlook. Eating is a real chore since my teeth

are sore, so I've been eating soft foods. My next OD appointment is

Sept.13th; he says he will change the wire. I go back to my OMS in

Dec. or Jan. - he says he will have a better idea about my need for

the LeFort procedure six months out from the surgery.

Well, that's it for now. Take care of yourself, okay? ~~ Diane---

[Guest guest]

Judy - Thank you for your continued support and for reassuring me

about the LeFort procedure. I think I've come to terms with that

surgery; I told my OMS at my last appointment on the 3rd that IF he

needed to do the LeFort, it was okay with me and that I was becoming

more comfortable with the whole idea. He said he understood what I

was going thru, and reassured me that everything would be just fine,

and he would take very good care of me. He also told me that, right

now, the LeFort is somewhere between a possibility and a probability,

but he won't know if it's truly needed until six months prior to the

surgery. He is still hoping he can avoid the LeFort altogether,

because he knows I didn't want it to begin with. He says it all

depends on the ortho; as my teeth are moved into the correct position

and aligned in my arches for the surgery, my underbite and midface

deficit may become more pronounced. He will take another set of

cephalometric and panoramic xrays in Dec. or Jan., so the mandibular

set-back and maxillary advancement values he gave me in July may be

changing, and the need for the LeFort will be decided at that point.

I think that the one really good thing about having the LeFort ( & the

BSSO), besides getting four to six weeks off of work LOL, would be

that my tongue won't be too long. If I only have the BSSO set-back,

my mouth will be shortened and therefore, my tongue will be too long

for my mouth. He told me that this could lead to a possible speech

problem as I resume talking. He also has emphasized over and over

that the final decision on what gets done rests with me (with his

help), but he doesn't want me to worry about anything right now. My

OMS is truly wonderful; I am so blessed to have him taking care of

me! // The wires you mentioned - are they known as skeletal wires?

They sound awfully painful to be removed; did they sedate you when

they were removed? You sound so-o relieved to have them out - now you

can eat real food - congratulations! Hope you and your son continue

to be on the mend. Thank you again for being there, Judy! ~~ Diane---

In orthognathicsurgerysupport , " rainbow55076 "

<jkhmo3@c...> wrote:

> Hi Diane,

> It's good to hear from you also, and to hear that your moving

forward

> with your treatment. I'm glad your teeth are moving into a better

> position since getting the braces on.

> My wires were removed yesterday (I didn't have braces before

surgery,

> so when I say wires, I mean these were wires put into my jaw/gums

> during surgery. I had them in exactly 8 weeks and am SO thrilled

they

> are now out of my mouth. It was getting so hard to tolerate them

for

> such a long time. I used anbesol and oragel the last few weeks to

help

> with all the cut, torn and irritated gum tissue from those wires.

It's

> really been something around our house this summer, so much going

on

> and of course I had the sinus and ear infections to deal with post-

op

> too which didn't help. My 15 year old son had surgery shortly

before I

> did so we've dealt with a lot this summer. I just got so far

behind

> in literally everything - I couldn't keep up with it all, so I fell

> behind in posting and keeping up here to be honest.

> I do understand how sore your mouth is now though, because I did

have

> braces when I was younger. It really does become a chore to eat,

> especially anything involving much chewing - because the teeth and

> gums are so sore from the braces changing things around in there.

My

> wires are out, and I've been told I can resume a pretty normal

diet,

> just nothing real chewy or crunchy. I told the doc don't worry, I

> won't be doing any of that for a while yet! I've gotten accustomed

to

> eating this way, and it's not too bad really. I actually feel much

> better eating smaller amounts of food more frequently throughout

the

> day. I seem to have more energy and just generally feel better. I'm

> back to my full fitness routine now too, which feels great to get

back

> into all my classes.

> I know you have been worried about the Lefort procedure the doctor

> wants you to have, but now that I'm 8 weeks post-op, please let me

> reassure you that the Lefort honestly has been the easiest part of

> what I had done to deal with. The lower jaw and chin have been more

> trouble for me because I still have some numbness yet, and it does

> bother me a lot at times. It's gotten much better than it was

before,

> but I certainly hope this continues to get better with time. My

lower

> lip in the center is still quite numb - the sides have feeling

back,

> and upper lip is fine too. The roof of my mouth, I have sensation

back

> on the sides and on the right middle area. Hope that makes sense!

My

> chin is still really numb, but I do get a lot of itchy, crawly

> sensation at times, so I'm pretty sure I'll get more feeling back

at

> some point. If I had it to do over again, I'd rather do the Lefort

1

> over the other procedures anytime - it was simply easier for me to

> personally deal with.

> I hope this eases a little of the anxiety you might still have over

> having the Lefort 1 procedure, should you end up needing it.

> Take care!

> Judy

>

>

> Judy - How nice to hear from you; you've been missed. Hope your

hand

> and jaw are both on the mend. Well, I'm finally in braces! Got them

> (the bands and wires) on last Tuesday; the brackets were installed

on

> July 26th. I'm slowly but surely getting used to the sensation of

the

> pressure; the good news is that my teeth are starting to move - my

gap

> between the upper two front teeth is almost completely closed, and

a

> few teeth on the bottom look like they are changing their positions

> slightly too. My OD told me that there would be movement right away

> and to keep a positive outlook. Eating is a real chore since my

teeth

> are sore, so I've been eating soft foods. My next OD appointment is

> Sept.13th; he says he will change the wire. I go back to my OMS in

> Dec. or Jan. - he says he will have a better idea about my need for

> the LeFort procedure six months out from the surgery.

> Well, that's it for now. Take care of yourself, okay? ~~ Diane---