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1. • CommentAuthorla
   • CommentTimeNov 11th 2009

    
   Reading about other patients' experiences (especially on this board) helped me so much through my surgery.. so I guess writing about mine would help others too (I hope) .. I had an anterior open bite and a gummy smile. I needed upper jaw expansion and impaction (make it wider and place it in an upper position) and mandibular advancement (bringing the lower jaw forward).
   
   - 1 week before the surgery: I met the surgeon and we discussed the procedures, expected results, and possible risks. The surgical assistant took x-rays + impressions for my upper and lower jaws to fabricate the upper jaw retainer. I also signed a consent form.
   
   -1 day before the surgery: stopped eating and drinking at midnight. Had a shower with only soup and shampoo (no hair products ..etc)
   
   - day of surgery:
   *checked in, asked many times about my name and birthday (to confirm identity and that I know what I'm doing I guess) throughout the day. If you are a female you would have to have a pregnancy test as a routine procedure. IV needle inserted. Dressed in the surgical gown and waiting in the pre-op room with other patients, having a family member or a friend would be really good for support. The anesthesiologist talk to you then if you have any question..etc the surgeon comes only if you ask for him (which I did, I was so anxious I needed to talk to him before surgery)
   
   * When I entered the surgery room it was so cold but I was covered with warm blanket immediately. It was scary but within less than 2 minutes I was under anesthesia.
   
   * The surgery took around 2.5 hours (my surgeon was really experienced), but I stayed in recovery for around the same duration :/ ..
   
   * When I woke up I felt really congested cuz my nose was blocked with the blood clot (caused by the upper jaw impaction + the oxygen tube) and couldn't breath cuz my mouth was shut with the elastic wires to stabilize the jaws. After I was taken to my room, ice packs were placed on my face, oxygen supply to my nose (which was congested already so I don't know what was it for), a device that measure oxygen saturation on my finger and another to monitor the blood pressure. on my legs there was this thing that compresses every now and then to prevent the blood from clotting in the legs ( thrombosis). All of these stuff + the pain after surgery was too much my pain level was 9.5/10.
   
   * the Dr. came and cut the elastic wires so I could breath easily from my mouth which was of a major relief. I was given strong pain killers (morphine: best thing a man has ever made :p ), anti nausea and anti swelling medications. I also changed the heavy uncomfortable ice packs the hospital provided to those I already bought from cooljaw.com. The nurse agreed to remove the thing compressing my legs cuz I'm a low risk patient only if I did feet exercises every hour (which I did). pain level was 6/10
   
   * Going to the bathroom was a bit difficult cuz I had nausea every time I try to get up .. but with the assistant of the nurses and my family it was possible.
   
   * Blood will continue to ooz. of course there would be no control over the salivation so a the suction was of a great help.
   
   - day after surgery: nausea much less. The dr. checked on me one more time and said I could go home. I had to be able to walk around normally and that my vital signs were normal to be discharged.
2. • CommentAuthorla
   • CommentTimeNov 11th 2009 edited

    
   - First weeks after surgery:
   ** Swelling and pain: as I mentioned before, the pain I felt after the surgery was 9.5/10 .. it decreased to 6-5 after pain killers. The following day it decreased to 4-7 the following was 4-6. From that day fwd the pain decreased. On the 4th or 5th day, the I stopped taking morphine, I used liquid Tylenol twice and did not use any pain medications afterwards.
   Swelling increased till the 3rd day and decreased afterwards. I was given anti-swelling medications in the hospital and used ice packs the first 5 days. First 3 days decreases the swelling but afterwards I used them just for comfort. From the 5th day people who didn’t know me before did not feel that I had surgery but though that I may have the flue because of the speaking difficulty. After that (during the 4th week) the swelling decreased and was minimal even to people who knew me before the surgery. swelling will completely go 3 months after surgery.
   
   ** Stitches: they usually start falling in the 2-3 week, but mine started falling on the 4th week.
   
   **Drinking and eating: first 2 days I used syringe to drink some juice, milk and chicken broth. Third day started using the zip and squeeze bags (ordered them from dinnerthroughastraw.net) to drink larger amounts of liquids. Started eating the fifth day! It was really difficult and frankly my “eating” was chunky soup. During the second week I had mashed potato, risotto, pureed food ..etc you will have more solid food gradually. Dr. said that I can eat whatever I want on the 7th week (looking forward to that day! )
   
   ** Sleep: you have to sleep inclined for the 2 weeks to decrease the swelling. Up to the 4th day I kept waking up every 2 hours at night! Either because ice packs were not ice anymore and I needed to change them or because I chocked (because of the swelling and numbness) .. The interval decreased during the first 2 weeks but I didn’t have really deep sleep till the third week. Maybe because I used to sleep on my side and the new sleeping position was not comfortable to me.
   
   ** Oral hygiene: I brushed my teeth (using baby toothbrush) the 4th day after surgery and used hydrogen peroxide where it was difficult to reach. Ideally it should be before but I couldn’t! I only flushed with water with the syringe.
   
   ** Shower: I’ve been helped taking a shower first two times ( 4th and 6th day), but I was alone the 3rd time.
   
   ** Traveling: took a 5-hour flight on day 12.
   
   ** Depression: I was depressed first few weeks (which is normal as the dr. mentioned) but I’m very satisfied now. The swelling decreases but you won’t have the final look till at least 4 weeks of surgery.
   
   ** parasthesia (numbness): when I got out of surgery my face (from the cheeks down) was numb .. I felt my left lower lip the day after surgery and parts of my upper lip. Since then everyday was a progress. Now (6 weeks since surgery) the sensation is starting to come back to my right lower lip.
   
   
   If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to ask :)
3. • CommentAuthormaszatkaa
   • CommentTimeDec 29th 2009

    
   hi, I also had an upper and lower jaw surgery 7 month before, and i recovered well except my numbness of my chin. i'm worrying about it. can i ask if u feel ur chin and lips well now???
4. • CommentAuthorpushead
   • CommentTimeDec 29th 2009

    
   Maszatkaa I am going on my one year anniversary for the same procedures as above. My chin/lower lip is still numb. I am not trying to discourage you but it may never come back. Everyone is different. I am still hopeful the nerves will just turn on one day. If not I hope I will eventually get used to it. I think the only negative impact I take from it is the reminder of how I used to look and I think my speech is occasionally blurred. But both items may just be in my head. I know the first one is.
5. • CommentAuthorla
   • CommentTimeJan 2nd 2010

    
   hi maszatkaa .. it's now 3 months since surgery and sensation on my right lower lip/chin is almost completely back ..
6. • CommentAuthorShurn64
   • CommentTimeJan 6th 2010

    
   Thanks so much for your posts, La. I'm still trying to absorb that my Ortho wants me to plan for surgery next month. My insurance company last year flat out denied the surgery. I'm hoping that now that will change, but I work for an insurance company so I'm a realist. :) But your tips (especially about the websites) will be very beneficial for me! Did you have a battle with your insurance company?
7. • CommentAuthorla
   • CommentTimeJan 8th 2010

    
   Hi Shurn64 , glad that my posts were beneficial to you. about your question: I don't have an insurance so I paid for my surgery :)
8. • CommentAuthorpolkadot
   • CommentTimeMay 15th 2010

    
   Thanks for taking the time to write this up.
   My daughter is going for her pre surgery appointment in June, and I am not sure how long this process will take. Unfortunately, I booked a flight for both of us assuming it would only take a short while. Can you remember how long the pre surgery appointment took? I believe you list it as the one where they take xrays and impressions.
   thanks very much for any info!