Jaw Surgery Forums » Post-Surgery and Recovery Questions

SCARED!

(10 posts)

  1. ks47
    Member

    Hey guys,
    SO I'm getting jaw surgery next week and I am totally freaking out! Does it hurt afterwards? If so, what kind of pain is it? Did anyone feel like they weren't able to breath because their nose was filled with blood and their mouth was shut? Also how long was everyone's recovery in terms of being able to go back to work?

    Posted 6 months ago #

  2. Euphobia
    Moderator

    The pain is different for everyone. Only pain I had was like a dull monotonous pain/ache while I slept during the first week, but this was because I was sleeping upright at night. Once I started sleeping normally again after 7 days that stopped. Also had what felt like earache on the left side for a couple of days as well, but to compare how little pain I had, the first time I got my braces tightened after the surgery gave me more pain than anything I had during recovery from the surgery.

    I didn't have my mouth banded shut or anything, so breathing wasn't a problem for me through my mouth, but I've only started being able to breath properly through my nose in the last 4 or 5 weeks, and I'm nearly 14 weeks post-op now.

    I was recommended to take 3 weeks minimum off of work.

    Posted 6 months ago #

  3. Abbil
    Member

    Feel free to read my blog http://www.jawsurgeryblog.com/forums/topic/abbils-surgery-24102011-lower-jaw-moved-forward-5mm-before-and-after-pictures
    I'm 17 days post up. What are you having done?

    Posted 6 months ago #

  4. coffeecups
    Member

    It's not really painful, but you do feel a bit drowsy/tired/sick. It's also hard to move your mouth when you start swelling up, but you'll be expected to eat/drink before they set you free from the hospital lol.

    As for a clogged nose, I had a really bad one for 4 days straight. The key is to not panic, even if it feels like you're hardly getting any air into your lungs. Use a Q tip wrapped in tissue and gently try to unclog. I find that just keeping myself distracted/napping helps my nose dry up more, the more I thought about it, the wetter it got lol.

    Hope your surgery goes well and I'm sure you'll get over the initial hurdles :)

    Posted 6 months ago #

  5. Realist
    Blocked

    My only advise is... don't be a pussy.

    Posted 6 months ago #

  6. Trobb
    Member

    Hey, good luck for next week!, what jaw sugery you getting?, well for me the actuall jaw never hurt it was the swelling that was most uncomfatable because my bottem lip got so big I used to hold a scrunched up tissue against it to releve the pressure becasue there was so much pressure, but this only lasted about 3 days then gradually started easing, I never had no nose issues not even a bloked nose even when I first woke up, nore did I have a sore throat which I heard some people do. And I never felt sick which is the main thing I was petrified about, but I think this is because I didn't take any of the hard drugs that the hospital gave me as I herd these were the course of sickness I just stook to calpol and childrens strawberry nurefen and they did the trick perfectly :), to help the swelling for the first 2 days I hated walking because I could feel my face wobble becasue their was so much swelling so I just sat in bed but after that I made myslef walk as that helps the swelling go down as well as icepaks. And sleeping up right, but after 7 days I just selpt normally and all was fine. But unluckly for me I caught an infection, the surgeoun told me this was beacause I had a loose bit of bone stuck which made a hole in my gum but it only took a few days to clear up so from the start I would advice warm salty water and rince your mouth several times a day to prevent infections, which my surgeoun never told me about till after :( Anymore questions just ask :),

    Posted 6 months ago #

  7. RachelM
    Member

    Hey ks, if you read what people write on here after their surgery you will find they all comment that it was nowhere near as bad as they thought it would be. In terms of pain, your jaw won;t hurt because it will be numb (for weeks), but the swelling can get pretty uncomfortable. Personally I would confidently say I was never in any pain but day five I felt a bit sorry for myself because of my swelling but I just used ice packs and was fine.
    Sleeping upright for the first week will help, as will maintaining a routine of getting up, showered and dressed each day. Apart from having a broken jaw, you're not really sick so don't need to lie in bed all day which is the worst thing you could do. Even if you get up and then fall asleep in a chair it doesn't really matter!
    Make you you stay hydrated and get as many calories down your neck as possible. Pain meds on an empty stomach will make you feel sick so unless you really force something down beforehand then you'll be uncomfortable.
    In terms of breathing, I had a tube up my nise for the first 24 hours and as soon as tried to stop breathing through my mouth and used my nose instead I was completely fine. I never had any problems with breathing during my recovery but you do need to keep picking stuff out of your nose (it's very sexy!)
    I was signed off work for six weeks as that is normal for double jaw surgery in the UK but I could probably have gone back after 4 weeks although I was still pretty tired.
    Make sure you've got lots of DVDs and things to keep you occupied that don't take too much energy.
    All the best with your surgery. It won't be nearly as bad as you think it is!

    Posted 6 months ago #

  8. srtn
    Member

    Hi ks47, I had surgery on my upper + lower jaws (Le Fort I Maxillary Osteotomy + Mandibular Bilateral Saggital Split Osteotomy w/ rigid fixation) on 10.20.11. I was not in any pain when I woke up from anesthesia, slight discomfort, but not real pain. I could breathe fine and they had removed the tube from my nose before I came around. I had ice packs on my face and I felt the usual disorientation after waking up from anesthesia. Past experience prepared me for the fact that it does take a little while for your vision to re-focus. My husband was allowed to come back and see me for 10 minutes after I was awake. I could talk to him even though my face was incredibly stiff from the swelling and I had double rubber bands on my braces to hold my teeth together.

    I felt incredibly tired so I was glad the visit was short and spent the rest of my hospital stay (24 hours) dozing. I had pain pump so that I could click it when I needed more meds. Even though I said I wasn't in pain, I definitely did use the pump. It helps with the discomfort. Like most people will say, your face is very numb and will be for quite sometime and that is a blessing. But, despite the numbness you can perceive that there has been trauma to your face and you will feel tight, maybe tingling and burning where you lips have been stretched and achy where your cheeks are bruised from being manipulated for surgery. Pain meds help with all of that. Plus they helps you sleep, which is good.

    I spent the better part of 3 days in bed. I had movies to watch on my iPad and those were a great way to stay distracted when I was awake. I was religious about taking my meds to help keep the swelling down, to combat the discomfort and to prevent infection. I used ice packs constantly for the first week. My poor husband, he was up every few hours in the night to keep up with the medication schedule. It was worth it though.

    I was 3 weeks post-op yesterday and I've been back at work for a week now. My energy level is finally starting to feel normal again. I can talk pretty well. I do have some lingering numbness in my bottom lip and chin, but that is to be expected. The hardest part for me right now is the inability to chew anything [I want a cracker so bad!!]. I didn't realize it would be so difficult [psychologically] to be prohibited from chewing my food, but it's definitely getting old now that 3 weeks have gone by.

    It's a good thing I like pudding and mashed potatoes. I tried to be good in the beginning and drink weight-maintenance drinks like Ensure Plus, but quite frankly I thought it tasted disgusting! So, I settled for Carnation Instant breakfast, blended with whole milk and a banana most mornings. It is wise to just treat yourself to whatever tastes good because pain meds on an empty stomach SUCK and keeping your weight stabilized is healthier! My surgeon did give me an anti-nausea pill to take with my Oxycodone...highly recommend. Nothing worse than being uncomfortable and nauseous!

    I drank my food for the first week. By week 2, after my follow up with my surgeon, I upgraded to eating things like pudding and ice cream with a baby spoon very carefully. Of course, this does depend on whether you jaw will be wired shut or not. I had my jaws fixed with metal plates and screws, so I was afforded the "luxury" of not needing to be wired.

    Try not to be scared. You'll do fine. Once it's over, you'll be glad it is behind you and you'll begin healing, one day at a time. That's exactly what I say to myself every day...one day at a time. Pretty soon this will all be behind me and I'll be biting into a slice of pizza for the first time in who knows how many years! I can't wait!

    Posted 6 months ago #

  9. Anonymous

    Don't be a pussy.

    Posted 6 months ago #

  10. ks47
    Member

    Wow! Thanks everyone!! It sounds like it doesn't hurt too much but I may not have requested enough days off from work... Hopefully I'll get lucky and be able to make it back after 12 days =/. I might keep a blog if I have enough energy so I'll keep you all updated! Thank you all SO much!!!! Way more helpful about answering questions than my surgeons been!

    Posted 6 months ago #

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