Guest guest Posted February 25, 2004 Report Share Posted February 25, 2004 Hi All: I've been reading this site since before my surgery Feb 5th. It's been very helpful and has had some great information. I'm now 3 weeks post op - from having lower jaw surgery (it was moved back 5mm), a genioplasty and a necklift. It hasn't been the most horrible thing in my life - but it has definitely been worse than I thought it would be. I think part of the reason is that I had so many procedures done at the same time. I had bands on until a few days ago - couldn't take them off - and was on a liquid diet for the first 2 1/2 weeks. I was so excited to get the bands off - but it was the most surreal experience to have the bands off and for my mouth not to know how/where to close. I definitely had the experience others have talked about of being afraid my faw would fall off and not wanting to either close or open my jaw. I can only open about 1 finger's worth for now. Truthfully it was scary and for a few hours I really wanted them back on (can you believe I said that?) I'm still really swollen at the back inside of my mouth and my lips are really swollen too since my surgical wires are still on and the rub the inside of my lips constantly. When I bite down I have to make sure my cheeks are out of the way so I don't chew on them. My chin is completely numb but it feels like someone has rubbed a jalapeno pepper all over my bottom lip and chin and it burns - a lot. (My OS said that is good news because it is all of the nerves regenerating - good news or not it still hurts like crazy). I've been kind of bummed out and grumpy for the past week - I'm ready to " get on with life " but my mouth isn't cooperating. I still sound like I have a mouth full of marbles (because of the swelling) and I talk slowly. I have my own business so it's tough to see time just keep ticking and to just sit here and heal. I also look " normal enough " from the outside so I think some people think I feel better than I actually do - much of the swelling is inside so they can't see it from the outside. I'm not normally a complainer and I have a huge tolerance for pain - but this has been a tough one for me. I think I'm getting sick of hearing myself talk about my face/jaw/ cheeks/chin - but it's on my mind constantly because it hurts and doesn't work right. Anyway - it feels better to post this and get it off my chest. I'm tired of talking about my stuff w/those around me. I have a lot to be thankful for - my OS is amazing and my fiance has been amazing. But I'm still grumpy feel like " I'll never be back to my old self again " . Thanks for listening - any words of advice will be much appreciated. Greta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 25, 2004 Report Share Posted February 25, 2004 Hi Greta, Your post reminded me of some of my post-op days too. It's ok to be grumpy, I was told by some of my alternative therapies practitioners to expect that. I told my husband to expect it too, that it was just part of the healing process (I'll admit that it's a handy excuse at times!). My ortho told me that post-op, most people just want everything out of their mouths! even though I urged him to take his time post-op. I really had an easy recovery, no complaints other than the usual (drooling, numbness, couldn't find my mouth without a mirror, cheekbites, the runs from the 1 week liquid diet, having to use a whiteboard to communicate, etc). I had some recurring swelling in my mouth at 6 weeks post-op (I took 5 weeks off work) that was mainly the result of too much talking (which I tried to minimize, believe me!) and the stress of trying to do a lot of overtime during a very hectic period with strict reporting deadlines. At the end of the week, I actually started feeling faint and trembling, so I packed up and went home and sacked out for about 3 days. I had never had my body react like that before. Going forward, I'd recommend taking it easy, don't push yourself too hard, listen to your body. Resist the urge to be Superwoman (I've already got the title, and it is of no use during surgery recovery, believe me!) Hang in there, this part of the journey takes a long time and requires a tremendous amount of patience. Whine away whenever you need to! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 25, 2004 Report Share Posted February 25, 2004 Hi Greta, Your post reminded me of some of my post-op days too. It's ok to be grumpy, I was told by some of my alternative therapies practitioners to expect that. I told my husband to expect it too, that it was just part of the healing process (I'll admit that it's a handy excuse at times!). My ortho told me that post-op, most people just want everything out of their mouths! even though I urged him to take his time post-op. I really had an easy recovery, no complaints other than the usual (drooling, numbness, couldn't find my mouth without a mirror, cheekbites, the runs from the 1 week liquid diet, having to use a whiteboard to communicate, etc). I had some recurring swelling in my mouth at 6 weeks post-op (I took 5 weeks off work) that was mainly the result of too much talking (which I tried to minimize, believe me!) and the stress of trying to do a lot of overtime during a very hectic period with strict reporting deadlines. At the end of the week, I actually started feeling faint and trembling, so I packed up and went home and sacked out for about 3 days. I had never had my body react like that before. Going forward, I'd recommend taking it easy, don't push yourself too hard, listen to your body. Resist the urge to be Superwoman (I've already got the title, and it is of no use during surgery recovery, believe me!) Hang in there, this part of the journey takes a long time and requires a tremendous amount of patience. Whine away whenever you need to! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 25, 2004 Report Share Posted February 25, 2004 Hey Grumpy Greta Ok, everything you are feeling is totally normal, even after 3 weeks postop. I've been there ... twice. I was on with life a bit faster after Surgery 2, but I remember I did not even feel like doing " normal " things until Week 3. It gets better faster after this. Although this won't heal your pain, I just hope that some words of comparison will help you get through this tough time. More below: > of being > afraid my jaw would fall > off and not wanting to either close or open my jaw. I can only open > about 1 finger's worth > for now. Truthfully it was scary and for a few hours I really wanted > them back on (can you > believe I said that?) I totally believe that! I remember telling my surgeon after he unbanded and unwired me the first time, " Don't leave go of my bottom jaw!!! " He just laughed but I wouldn't move my hand from under my chin, I was so afraid. Like someone else posted here once, it felt like someone else's teeth were in my mouth and my jaw had little control. Very foreign feeling and yes, the security of bands are a comfort, surprisingly enough since we can't wait to get them out! > I'm still really swollen at the back inside of my mouth and my lips > are really swollen too > since my surgical wires are still on and the rub the inside of my > lips constantly. When I > bite down I have to make sure my cheeks are out of the way so I don't > chew on them. Although I can't remember for how long, I do remember that the most lingering part of recovery for me (other than some numbness) was the swelling inside behind and around the back molars and cheek biting. It will gradually become less and less until one day you realize how much room you have in your mouth and that you aren't biting your cheeks anymore. It is normal what you are feeling now (but it stinks!). > I've been kind of bummed out and grumpy for the past week Not grumpy! Just where you should be right now. You just undertook a very major surgery and inside your mouth for goodness sake! You should feel grumpy! > I also look " normal enough " from the outside so I think some people > think I feel better > than I actually do - much of the swelling is inside so they can't see > it from the outside. Ok, THIS I have to comment on. This was frustrating for me when I was postop. Once you start looking better, folks assume you are all better. No one who hasn't experienced this knows how long you can feel " not back to normal " . You get tired faster, you have a limited diet, you are expected to do life's stuff, dishes, cooking (yikes), caring for the babies, laundry, while you are trying to ignore mouth incisions, scratchy surgical wires/hooks, and facial numbness combined with feelings like you have bugs crawling all over your face! You can have the most supportive spouse/family but they just don't realize once the swelling's down that you still have a long way to go. Come here, as we understand. > I'm not normally a complainer ... And you aren't know. Just sharing frustrations ... You won't believe it now, but this will be a fuzzy memory for you. Hang in there. Irish! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 25, 2004 Report Share Posted February 25, 2004 You're welcome, Greta. Actually, I did a typo just now, and your name came out as Great. Which is what I hope for your recovery going forward! > What a supportive and thoughtful email. Thank you so much for > taking the time to respond. Really! > > Greta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 25, 2004 Report Share Posted February 25, 2004 You're welcome, Greta. Actually, I did a typo just now, and your name came out as Great. Which is what I hope for your recovery going forward! > What a supportive and thoughtful email. Thank you so much for > taking the time to respond. Really! > > Greta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 26, 2004 Report Share Posted February 26, 2004 Thanks Corinne for your really kind words. It's good to know what I'm going through is " normal " . Good luck to you with your recovery - since we're at about the same post op timeframe - we're kind of going through this together I guess. Best, Greta ---- > Hi Greta! > When I read your email - I felt everything you're going through. > > I'm 2-weeks post-op and going through many of the same things... > I was totally banded shut 24-hours a day for the first 5-days after > surgery... and as excited as i was to breathe through my mouth again > (I am a mouth breather,) I was scared when my OS showed me how to > take them off and put them back on. I still worry when I leave them > out too long - maybe my bite will go back? (I know it won't.) And I > am starting to think about resuming my life again. I go back to a > very stressful, detail oriented job in 2-weeks where not giving 110% > is not acceptable. And I want to have something besides soup and > pasta at restaurants!!! > > But I keep reminding myself to take it one day at a time - and this > situation is only temporary. And there are so many understanding, > supportive people on this site who understand!!! > > Keep your chin up (literally and figuratively) > Corinne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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