What to expect from upcoming surgery?

January 2, 2004

Hi All,

I just discovered this group. I'm becoming extremely interested in

this topic since I will be having surgery on Thursday (1/15). My

orthodontist works with an oral surgeon in Dallas, so I will be

traveling there for my surgery. I understand about the food prep,

but I've read many statements about drooling, difficulty swallowing,

difficulty opening my mouth, etc.

I am curious about just what to expect from a patient's point of

view. I am going to have the procedure for the upper and lower jaws

and genioplasty to correct an overbite. The insurance will cover

this, so at least I have that part out of the way. However, the

doctor has explained to me about the adapted diet, but I have a few

questions for post op patients:

1. Will I be able to swallow?

2. I have another chronic pain condition. Will I be able to take my

medication?

3. When will I begin to see my facial muscles come back?

4. When can I expect to be able to chew soft foods?

5. When will the tightness in the jaw diminish, so I can open my

mouth wider?

6. Will I be ready to teach a one night a week night course by the

time that I am three weeks post-op?

Thank you so much for this information. My doctor, Dr. Wolford, is

very up front and has taken the time to answer detailed questions,

but I always seem to have more.

ann

January 2, 2004

Hi!

And Welcome!

You will find accounts of post op experiences in the archive here, as

someone else suggested to another poster. You will also find some in

susan fiddlesticks' geocities site. (Look in the links to find your

way there.)

Many people do have problems with drooling for a time, but be of good

cheer. It does not go on forever, nor do the swelling and congestion,

although for many people, even one day of those is too much.

As for other pills, once your throat stops being sore from the

anesthesia and nasogastric tubes inserted during surgery, most

probably you will be able to. Be sure your doc knows about your other

troubles and whatever drug you're taking for them.

I'm thinking that Dr. Wolford may have worked on Cyn, whose pictures

you can see on site 2. She thought a great deal him, best I recall,

had major work done and is still thrilled with her results, or was

when last I communicated with her. Or maybe I have it all confused

with someone else.

As for all the whens, they are among the larger challenges of this

surgery. There really isn't a norm. These things come, and they stay

until they decide to go. I would, however, ask the doc. He may be

able to give you some kind of estimate. Just don't be upset if it

changes... The norms and averages don't help much if you're not

within them, but if you're lucky, you might be one who takes less

time to heal.

I'd think three weeks a bit soon for teaching, myself, but unless you

have to make a definite commitment, why not let your bosses know, and

see how you're doing closer to the time?

best,

Cammie

> Hi All,

> I just discovered this group. I'm becoming extremely interested in

> this topic since I will be having surgery on Thursday (1/15). My

> orthodontist works with an oral surgeon in Dallas, so I will be

> traveling there for my surgery. I understand about the food prep,

> but I've read many statements about drooling, difficulty

swallowing,

> difficulty opening my mouth, etc.

>

> I am curious about just what to expect from a patient's point of

> view. I am going to have the procedure for the upper and lower

jaws

> and genioplasty to correct an overbite. The insurance will cover

> this, so at least I have that part out of the way. However, the

> doctor has explained to me about the adapted diet, but I have a few

> questions for post op patients:

> 1. Will I be able to swallow?

> 2. I have another chronic pain condition. Will I be able to take

my

> medication?

> 3. When will I begin to see my facial muscles come back?

> 4. When can I expect to be able to chew soft foods?

> 5. When will the tightness in the jaw diminish, so I can open my

> mouth wider?

> 6. Will I be ready to teach a one night a week night course by the

> time that I am three weeks post-op?

>

> Thank you so much for this information. My doctor, Dr. Wolford, is

> very up front and has taken the time to answer detailed questions,

> but I always seem to have more.

>

> ann

January 2, 2004

Hi!

And Welcome!

You will find accounts of post op experiences in the archive here, as

someone else suggested to another poster. You will also find some in

susan fiddlesticks' geocities site. (Look in the links to find your

way there.)

Many people do have problems with drooling for a time, but be of good

cheer. It does not go on forever, nor do the swelling and congestion,

although for many people, even one day of those is too much.

As for other pills, once your throat stops being sore from the

anesthesia and nasogastric tubes inserted during surgery, most

probably you will be able to. Be sure your doc knows about your other

troubles and whatever drug you're taking for them.

I'm thinking that Dr. Wolford may have worked on Cyn, whose pictures

you can see on site 2. She thought a great deal him, best I recall,

had major work done and is still thrilled with her results, or was

when last I communicated with her. Or maybe I have it all confused

with someone else.

As for all the whens, they are among the larger challenges of this

surgery. There really isn't a norm. These things come, and they stay

until they decide to go. I would, however, ask the doc. He may be

able to give you some kind of estimate. Just don't be upset if it

changes... The norms and averages don't help much if you're not

within them, but if you're lucky, you might be one who takes less

time to heal.

I'd think three weeks a bit soon for teaching, myself, but unless you

have to make a definite commitment, why not let your bosses know, and

see how you're doing closer to the time?

best,

Cammie

> Hi All,

> I just discovered this group. I'm becoming extremely interested in

> this topic since I will be having surgery on Thursday (1/15). My

> orthodontist works with an oral surgeon in Dallas, so I will be

> traveling there for my surgery. I understand about the food prep,

> but I've read many statements about drooling, difficulty

swallowing,

> difficulty opening my mouth, etc.

>

> I am curious about just what to expect from a patient's point of

> view. I am going to have the procedure for the upper and lower

jaws

> and genioplasty to correct an overbite. The insurance will cover

> this, so at least I have that part out of the way. However, the

> doctor has explained to me about the adapted diet, but I have a few

> questions for post op patients:

> 1. Will I be able to swallow?

> 2. I have another chronic pain condition. Will I be able to take

my

> medication?

> 3. When will I begin to see my facial muscles come back?

> 4. When can I expect to be able to chew soft foods?

> 5. When will the tightness in the jaw diminish, so I can open my

> mouth wider?

> 6. Will I be ready to teach a one night a week night course by the

> time that I am three weeks post-op?

>

> Thank you so much for this information. My doctor, Dr. Wolford, is

> very up front and has taken the time to answer detailed questions,

> but I always seem to have more.

>

> ann

January 2, 2004

Welcome to the group, ann...

Here's my two cents worth...I agree with what most have already said,

especially about everyone's situation/recovery being different. As soon as I

woke up from my surgery, my doctor was standing there and asked me a question.

I started to look for my white board and she said, " You can talk, you're not

wired or banded. " I could talk, but it wasn't very understandable because I

could barely open my mouth at all and I was EXTREMELY swollen. I was never

given liquid meds...I could take pills from the start and had no problem

swallowing them. I had no throat pain, although I did get a little sore throat

about 3-4 days later, but I think I was actually coming down with a cold or

something...vitamin C took care of that real quick. :-)

I had no congestion at all - btw, I had upper and lower surgery. I am now 9

weeks post-op and I can open 3 fingers wide. As for drooling, I had none, but

strangely enough, I had a " drooling " sensation. In other words, I felt (and

sometimes still feel) like I was drooling all over the place, but there was

nothing there. My Fweetie blended me some chicken noodle soup once and it

wasn't too bad, but that was the only time I had anything blended...I just

couldn't do it...I wanted " real " food. My OS gave me the " go-ahead " to chew at

week 6, but my teeth hurt really bad when I tried, so now even at 9 weeks, I'm

doing more " swallowing " than chewing, which really isn't good for the digestive

system, but Christmas dinner sure was good. :-)

I was back singing in the choir at about 3 weeks post-op and it actually

seemed to help more than hurt. I still have tightness and strange sensations in

my bottom lip and sometimes in my cheeks and chin. I also still feel VERY

swollen inside my mouth especially after I eat, but I don't look too swollen on

the outside anymore (just a little...okay, maybe a little more than a little).

Hope this helps.

Smooches

What to expect from upcoming

surgery?

Hi All,

I just discovered this group. I'm becoming extremely interested in

this topic since I will be having surgery on Thursday (1/15). My

orthodontist works with an oral surgeon in Dallas, so I will be

traveling there for my surgery. I understand about the food prep,

but I've read many statements about drooling, difficulty swallowing,

difficulty opening my mouth, etc.

I am curious about just what to expect from a patient's point of

view. I am going to have the procedure for the upper and lower jaws

and genioplasty to correct an overbite. The insurance will cover

this, so at least I have that part out of the way. However, the

doctor has explained to me about the adapted diet, but I have a few

questions for post op patients:

1. Will I be able to swallow?

2. I have another chronic pain condition. Will I be able to take my

medication?

3. When will I begin to see my facial muscles come back?

4. When can I expect to be able to chew soft foods?

5. When will the tightness in the jaw diminish, so I can open my

mouth wider?

6. Will I be ready to teach a one night a week night course by the

time that I am three weeks post-op?

Thank you so much for this information. My doctor, Dr. Wolford, is

very up front and has taken the time to answer detailed questions,

but I always seem to have more.

ann

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

January 3, 2004

ann,

I am a little over 3 months post-op and will try to help you with

your questions.

- I never had to deal with the drooling - I think that depends on

how much you are numb and if you can control your swallowing or not.

- You will be able to swallow - it is difficult at first and you

have to kind of re-learn how to swallow with your mouth completely

shut - if you can try to practice beforehand - I found that I was

choking on just a little bit of liquid and it took some time to get

used to - I tried the day after surgery the first time to drink some

juice - it was hard and I didn't try long before giving up and going

back to sleep - try just a little tiny bit of liquid at a time and

work up.

- Only your doctor can answer the question about the medication -

you may not have to take it because they give you drugs to deal with

the pain from the surgery and it may help your other problem???

- I am not sure what you mean about your facial muscles coming back -

but if you mean the numbness almost all of it wore off for me after

the first few weeks - I have a spot on my lower lip to my chin that

was completely numb and now it just getting some sensation back - my

gums are almost completely numb still and half of my palette. I

started trying to make funny faces and work the muscles a few weeks

after surgery to try to regain some strength.

- I was just given the ok to start chewing soft foods this week

(almost 15 weeks)- it seems like for me that is longer than most on

this group - my OS is being extra careful.

- You can only open your mouth a few mm's right after being wired

shut - it loosens up after about a week and you can open almost

about finger wide and almost get that toothbrush in there and it

just keeps getting better from there - I can almost open 3 fingers

wide now. My OS said that I have to start doing my exercises to get

the full range.

- About teaching - it depends if you are wired or banded shut - I

was almost inaudible until the wires were clipped at 4 weeks and it

wasn't much better after until the splint came out at 8 weeks, but

just a tad better. You will be able to find ways around it perhaps -

I went back to work after 3 weeks and I was still wired and seemed

to manage pretty well with a supportive group around me.

If you have any other questions - I would be glad to try to help!

> Hi All,

> I just discovered this group. I'm becoming extremely interested

in

> this topic since I will be having surgery on Thursday (1/15). My

> orthodontist works with an oral surgeon in Dallas, so I will be

> traveling there for my surgery. I understand about the food prep,

> but I've read many statements about drooling, difficulty

swallowing,

> difficulty opening my mouth, etc.

>

> I am curious about just what to expect from a patient's point of

> view. I am going to have the procedure for the upper and lower

jaws

> and genioplasty to correct an overbite. The insurance will cover

> this, so at least I have that part out of the way. However, the

> doctor has explained to me about the adapted diet, but I have a

few

> questions for post op patients:

> 1. Will I be able to swallow?

> 2. I have another chronic pain condition. Will I be able to take

my

> medication?

> 3. When will I begin to see my facial muscles come back?

> 4. When can I expect to be able to chew soft foods?

> 5. When will the tightness in the jaw diminish, so I can open my

> mouth wider?

> 6. Will I be ready to teach a one night a week night course by

the

> time that I am three weeks post-op?

>

> Thank you so much for this information. My doctor, Dr. Wolford,

is

> very up front and has taken the time to answer detailed questions,

> but I always seem to have more.

>

> ann

January 3, 2004