I just had jaw surgery and am now banded shut!

Hello all,

I cannot talk very well and am bored at my parents house recovering so I thought i'd type.

I had an underbite because of over developed lower jaw and under developed top jaw.  Because I had issues with both and I had both my jaws operated on.

To move the top jaw forward, the Dr. basically cut my jaw off, by slicing right under my nose from side to side them moved it forward and secured it with titanium plates.  the back sides of my lower jaw were sliced in half to allow the Dr. to slide my jaw back and then again secure it with plates.

I have been waiting for this surgery since I was 10 and now at 23 it's finally over.  It's a $50k surgery and the insurance just now agreed to cover it 100%.  I have been in braces for over a year to prepare my teeth and have another year to go for finishing touches.

I went into the hospital on June 19th at 5 am, just to have to sit there until 7am when they actually wheeled my down to surgery. My surgery was peformed by a renouned oral surgeon who has done over 20,000 of these surgeries.  He is well known throughout the world for his work.  He is located in Chicago, so i had to travel from my home in Colorado.  Luckily my parents live in Chicago (where I grew up)  My fiancee made the trip with me.

Once I was wheeled down to the pre surgery room I was counting down the minutes until the anesthesiologists knocked me out.  Finally I met him and he wheeled me into the operating room.  There were three long 6ft tables against the wall, all with tools and devices on it (yikes!)  There were about 10 people in there all getting ready.  The anesthesiologist had to wait a little longer than normal to knock me out because they were waiting on the hospital to confirm a negative pregnancy tests.  So I had to lay there awake for about 5 minutes longer than I should have with all the knifes and saws in plain view.  They had put the pulse monitor thing on my finger and I could hear my pulse on the machine loudly.  Every time a nurse or the dr. came closer to me it woulds start beeping louder (lol)  finally the negative test was confirmed the dr. told me I would start to feel drowsy and the next thing I know I woke up in the recovery room.

My surgery only took 2 hours because I didn't bleed much.  I woke up with my jaw completely banded together with layers upon layers of rubber bands attached to my braces.  My through was sore due to the tube they put through my nose and into my windpipe during surgery.

the first night at the hospital was miserable.  Every two hours I would have to suction blood out of my mouth with a suction tube.  due to my upper jaw being moved my nose was bleeding down into my throat.  I woke up every two hours that night.  Coincedentally I could get pain meds every two hours that were slightly stronger than morphine (I liked those)

the second nigth was not as bad but still stunk.  I went home on sunday and the next few days were miserable.  I couldn't sleep and the liquid vicodin gave me the weirdest dreams I have every had.

On Tuesday I went for a follow up appointment and felt nauseous from the time I woke up.  At the Dr. he took the bands off, had my open my jaw as much as I could (about 1/2 inch) and put new bands on.  These bands however I can take off and on.  He even told me to start moving my jaw and exercising it. On the car ride home I couldn't take the nausea anymore and had to throw up in plastic bag.  throwing up when you cannot open your mouth is probably the most unpleasant experience ever.  Luckily I had no solid food in my stomach.

I felt like crap for the next few days.  Finally figured out that it was the antibiotic pill they had give me that I had to take 4 times per day so I was able to switch to liquid.  My fiancee had to drive back to colorado on thursday.  It's also very hard to cry when you cannot open your mouth.  I tried not to, I don't even know why I was getting so upset but I miss him.  We haven't been away from each other for longer than a week in 5 years and I won't see him again for another 2.5 weeks.

Starting that evening I started feeling much better.  My bottom lip and chin ar completely numb do to bruising of the nerve but I'm not in much pain.  My face is extremely swollen.  I look like a chipmuck.  I can only eat liquid/mush.  I have to use a giant plastic syringe to squirt food into my mouth.  I have been "eating" tons of yogurt, ensure, muscle milk and mashed potatos and califlower

I want to chew something sooooo bad!!! I swear once I am allowed to chew again I will probably become a gum addict.  I have to stay on liquid/much for the next two weeks and can than transition to semi liquid/mush like pasta and scrambled eggs and actually chew!  I would be on solid foods for another 6 weeks and even then I still cannot chew anything really tought (like pizza crust)

I cannot belive the surgery has finally come and gone.  It's really irritating that the only finished product I can see is my xray.  I am so swollen that I have been strictly instructed by my doctor not to obsess over how my face looks because I won't really be able to see a "finished" product for another few weeks.  It is extremely aggravating to not know what I know look like (you know besides being a chipmunk)

Well I have rambled enough, most of you probably stopped reading awhile ago, but for those who stayed thank you and I will keep posting update pictures and information.  I may not have a before and after weight picture yet, but I will have this one and I have been waiting a long time.

-Liz

Wow!!!!! What can I say that you haven't been told by the professionals?

It is behind you now, it no time, this post op time will just be a memory.  You sound very fortunate to have experts like discribed above working on you.  Good luck.  Keep us posted and don't try to rush your recovery.  Just rest as you body has been through a lot!!!

whoops, double entry.

Wow. I wish you the best of luck with your recovery. It's also wonderful that your insurance covers it in full. It's reassuring that you have trusted and reputable doctors working with you too. I empathize with you and your pain,you described it so well. I can't say I know how you feel, but I empathize with your pain. I'm glad that you have a supportive family and partner. Try to focus on healing/resting right now instead of missing your fiancé. :)  It's important to relax your body and ease your mind. Anxiety can set in after surgery, so try to relax. Try to gather your thoughts and soothe your mind. Relaxation can decrease your recovery time and help things. Stress can really adversely affect your recovery.  Best of Luck!

Thank you for the kind words.  I have a Dr. appointment tommorrow and I'm hoping he will give me the go on soft foods.  Crossing my fingers.  Swelling seems slightly less today but not much change :(

Congratulations Liz on your surgery! I hope your recovery is going well. Do you mind sharing your surgeon's info? I am based out of Chicago and looking to get opinion from different surgeons. Take Care!

WOW! Congrats on the long-awaited surgery, and especially that its covered 100%!

((HUGS)) for recovery!

Yay! Congratulations :D I have some titanium too :] Not plates though, just two little screws in my jaw for some tooth implants. We're titanium buddies! Hope your recovery goes well :]

Good luck with your recovery

wow! what a long time to wait, and now it's finally over and all you have to do is get better!

i know it's not the same, but i had four wisdom teeth out a few month back, and had a slow recovery. i can TOTALLY sypathize with you about the wanting to chew something. i remember craving a big crusty slice of french bread for some reason! (sorry that probably isn't helping). soft stuff got really old.

anyway, before you know it, this will be a memory, and you'll have your new jaw and your new look!

make sure you share some pictures with us once you are all unswollen and feeling good!

wow, totally just realized this is an old thread from june! if you're out there Liz, lets see some after pics!

Drats! I was hoping there was a status update by the OP. 

By the way please let us know how you're doing. - If possible.

It would be appreciated. :) Best wishes,Liz!