6 month post-op appt with OS & fun with Resorbable plates and screws!

[Guest guest]

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