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Jaw Surgery Forums » Share Your Jaw Surgery Experience!

1. 

   Leah Ariel
   Member

   I think anything that ties all these forums together is the fact that jaw surgery sucks. No matter the circumstances it's never easy. I'm a college freshman at a small liberal arts school and the weekend back from winter break i injured myself in a skiing accident. (this was last saturday). I fractured my jaw in two places, and of course am now wired shut for the next 6 weeks. I also have the most unattractive bands covering my teeth as well, so i can't even open my mouth to smile. This incident was entirely unexpected. In fact, i've never even had any issues with my mouth or jaw. No braces, no retainers, not even cavities. So with no time to mentally prepare myself i feel my life has changed dramatically.
   The upcoming weeks at school terrify me. So far college has been great. I've adjusted well socially and academically. But now that i can no longer communicate well, i feel isolated from my peers. Of course i still have good friends who have shown support but at the same time not being able to go out, due to the meds and the pain, really takes a toll on my esteem. Speaking of esteem, i also have a scar on my face from the accident so that when i do go to class everyone notices. So therefore, i feel like i'm trapped to my dorm room.
   To give you an example of the kinds of issues i have to deal with being wired shut and also being a freshman in college i'll briefly describe my first day back. I go to class, and i'm nervous because the guy who i've been hooking up with since the beginning of the year is there (it's college so don't judge). He knew i had been in the hospital, however as soon as the class is over he bolts without even acknowledging me. This on top of the jaw pain makes me feel like shit. Then i go to my next class, where although i had emailed the professor asking him not to call on me because i couldn't talk, addresses me in front of the entire class inquiring about my accident. This is extremely embarrassing, because my entire class is now looking at me, i am incapable of responding and none of them no why i can't talk so i just look like an idiot.

   basically, college plus jaw surgery equals misery. if anyone has any similar experiences, comments or advice please share. i still have 5 weeks lefts.

   Leah

   Posted 1 year ago #
2. 

   champ
   Member

   Damn, sorry to hear that. I'm kind of in the same situation: freshman in college, 3 weeks after surgery, mumble a lot, feels weird smiling around friends and whatnot....Yesterday in my first day of class I had to talk in front of the class. I just said 'forgive me, I had jaw surgery so I can't speak that clearly'. I feel like that was a good idea just so people don't think I really have that goofy of a smile and everything. Don't fret, it will get better. It still is nice to have those friends who don't care and won't judge you.

   Posted 1 year ago #
3. 

   BrandonC
   Member

   I'm a sophmore at college and we started school this week. I am about 5 weeks post op surgery and have a splint in my mouth. I'm no where near as bad as you, but I make an effort to avoid talking because i cant speak clearly and they just look at me funny. Yes it does suck and you cant do much of anything really. The only advice I can give you is to just do your best to wait it out and use all this free time you have to study and try to make straight As. Might as well make something positive out of your situation rather than just sit in your dorm and do nothing

   Posted 1 year ago #
4. 

   runawaynoise
   Member

   I saw this post and have shared a similar experience to yours.

   I wasn't able to get the most ideal surgery date, but I ended up having it done 5 days before school started. Yep. And I'm in college too. By the 5th day, the swelling had not gone down enough for me to go out in public comfortably, so I walked around with a face mask all day for a week. Needless to say, strangers all assumed I was sick, and no one wanted to sit next to me in my classes or even be near me for that reason. I was miserable and depressed until I realized that when my friends saw me, they saw ME and not my face mask. They knew what I was going through and supported me 100%, and that helped me realized that I could care less about what strangers or my classmates thought of me.

   Even now, I can go without a face mask, but my jaws are still banded together so I can't talk properly. I've tried introducing myself to people, only to be faced with strange reactions as well. But it's okay because my friends are the ones who are patient enough to decipher what I'm trying to say and to help me find easier ways to communicate.

   Lean on your friends! They should care enough to understand what you're going through. And in your free time, I agree with the poster above to focus on your schoolwork and make the best of what you have. Happy patients are healthy patients, and a positive attitude could very well help you heal faster (:

   Posted 1 year ago #
5. 

   Blondek1
   Member

   Hey so i saw this thread and totally had to comment on it. I am currently getting set up for getting braces before my surgery im hoping it will work out that i would have the surgery this summer. I dont even have braces on yet but my doctor says i have straight teeth (i used to have braces for 5 years) so it should take max 5-6 months to be ready for surgery. Anyways the only thing holding me back is that i currently am a college student and im in a sorority. I am freaking out having braces let alone being wired shut during school. I know my sisters will support me they r the ones pushing me for the surgery because I have really bad pains in my jaw, but im worried about every1 else. I just wanted to know did any1 criticize you for having braces at college and when you wired shut could you tell there was something wrong w. you if your mouth is closed? I know its shallow but this is the only thing holding me back from doing the procedure.

   Posted 1 year ago #
6. 

   BrandonC
   Member

   Anyways the only thing holding me back is that i currently am a college student and im in a sorority. I am freaking out having braces let alone being wired shut during school. I know my sisters will support me they r the ones pushing me for the surgery because I have really bad pains in my jaw, but im worried about every1 else. I just wanted to know did any1 criticize you for having braces at college and when you wired shut could you tell there was something wrong w. you if your mouth is closed? I know its shallow but this is the only thing holding me back from doing the procedure

   If your biggest fear about having jaw surgery is wearing braces then you dont have too much to worry about. If your fear of being made fun of because you have braces is holding you back from relieving yourself of your "jaw pain" then priorities are pretty messed up. If you managed wearing braces for 5 years, then getting braces for surgery should be no problem. BTW your going to have the braces on for atleast a year after surgery incase you weren't aware of that, so you might as well get used to it. I am a soph in college and have never been made fun of for having braces, and barely any1 has even noticed I have them. If you are worried about your sorority friends making fun of you though, then they probably arent your friends to begin with. As for being wired shut, that will be terrible for you during school. I am warning you right now that if your in school you need to get the surgery done either during the beggining of summer or the beginning of winter break. DO NOT get it done anywhere near schooltime. Especially since you seem to be a self conscious person--You will probably not even want to go to class because you will be embarrased of swelling.

   Posted 1 year ago #
7. 

   Leah Ariel
   Member

   *two weeks later update*

   thanks everyone for responding. of course i am grateful to have family and friends supporting me. But having people who can actually relate to your situation goes along way. i know my first post was pretty depressing but it's getting easier. i mean it still sucks a lot but it fluctuates and i know it'll be ok.

   @runawaynoise sorry bout the inconvenient surgery date. but glad to see you dealt with it well. i've definitely can relate to the awkward introductions. it's still not my favorite. and good friends are key. so far i've learned who i can really count on. my best friend at school has been an absolute godsend.

   @blondek
   no, no one has criticized me about my mouth being wired shut and if anyone does they're an asshole and not worth the time. and from the outside i look totally and completely normal (ask your doc how long you'll be swollen though. i was only a few days but my jaw was initially fine, i just broke it in a skiing accident, so idk if that makes a difference).
   it's definitely a transition though. you have good days and bad days. At the beginning it will be difficult because you won't be talking clearly. but that gets better fast. You'll need some time to get used to the wires, but you'll have your sisters and that's the best kind of support you can get. Once your used to it, and the swelling's gone, my advice is to just live normally. it's easy just want to stay inside and not have to explain to people why you can't open your mouth but it's isolating. Go out, have fun, and fuck being self conscious. it's not easy but it's doable and the more you start getting back into your life, the easier it will seem.

   and no your fears aren't shallow, they're normal. if you have anymore questions just ask.

   Posted 1 year ago #
8. 

   cheer2010
   Member

   im in a similar situation because i had jaw surgery two weeks before starting a new semester of college. i dont know anyone who goes there so its all a brand new experience. my swelling was pretty much gone but my lips refuse to shut. my doctor said its normal but it drives me crazy because i feel everyone stares. the splint gives me the worst lisp ever! one more week tho and its off. its also hard trying to eat at school, its impossible. does anyone else have like zero energy? its awful. but hey you all have to agree its a lot better each day and by next year well all be looking back and most likely be satisfied with the results.!

   Posted 1 year ago #
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   Posted 10 months ago #
10. 

    Alanna
    Member

    Hey everyone, I am a college student majoring in engineering taking 18 hours this semester. It ended up that I could not have the surgery over winter break (spaces did not close in time)so I will have to get it during the school year. The soonest I could have it is the end of Feb, which my doctor said I would have the wires cut after a month of having the surgery and my orthodontist said after 3 weeks of the wires being cut my braces would come off. This would allow me to finally enjoy my April Birthday with a nice smile and possibly spring break :) Is this going to be overkill? My teachers keep telling me keeping up with my school work will be harder than I think, but my doctor told me I could go back to school after two weeks. Did anyone have problems being able to do their work when they got back to school or was it just socially awkward? By which week would you say you are able to function/study? Most of my classes are stricly doing problems anyways so I won't have to talk much at all anyways, however I do have to be able to focus and think straight as im in senior level classes. I def do not want to sacrafice my grades,but im pretty vain when it comes to image and the sooner Im done with this the better. The only other option I have is to wait until spring break and at least have 12 days off and not miss so much (better academically, but highly unfortunate for partying on my birthday if I even feel well enough to go out :(.)

    Posted 4 months ago #

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