Connie- Re: fun with Resorbable plates and screws!

[Guest guest]

Hi Connie,

After I wrote to you, I found your post... oh well, I try!

I would be curious to see them when they are just jelly... I wonder

what they look like on Xray at this point.... I guess they are

supposed to be kind of squishy, so I'm supposed to leave those places

alone so I don't squish the jelly into some other area of my face for

it to also react to the resorbing process. I have also been amazed by

my own body's recovery after this surgery. It IS just incredible.

Since I just wrote you, I'm going to stop my endless stream of

writing Now! Katja

PS, It will be no time at all before you're enjoying your own

Filet. :)In the meantime, I'm glad you at least go to brust your

teeth! That's something!

> > 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