Pics - 10.5 Weeks Post Op

It's hard to believe, over 10 weeks since surgery. Here are my pics from today ...

Plate Removal Scheduled

I saw my OS on Thursday. He asked me how soft chew was going, I said good ... I can just about eat anything as long as it is small enough to get between my teeth. No pain what-so-ever. That's what we were waiting for to remove the plate. Everything appears to be solid, plus I will still have the other plate that will still be in the side they remove it from, so there shouldn't be any risk of relapse. He will also cut away some of the over growth from my cheek at the same time so i am not chewing on my cheek.

I scheduled to have it removed on Thursday, December 4th. I was hoping to do it on a Friday so I had the weekend to recover, but that didn't work out so I took off on the 5th. If I don't have to take the heavy duty pain meds after (I will try to get away with just OTC if I can, but certainly will take the heavier ones if needed), I may try to go in to work the next day, we'll just play it by ear.

As far as the procedure goes, I will be sedated with a cocktail of Versed, Fentanyl, and a steroid to reduce the swelling. You are half awake, half asleep for the procedure, but 95% of people don't remember. Hopefully the fentanyl won't affect my vision again, I guess it is just temporary if it does, although I'm not sure if it was my anti-nausea patch or the fentanyl patch that blurred my vision so much after my bimax surgery . The procedure will last about 45 minutes. Pretty straight forward and MUCH less invasive than the last time.

Recovery wise, it shouldn't be too bad, I will just need to keep away from the stiches and incision site again. I am prepared for the lopsided swelling, but hope it doesn't linger too long so I am back to normal by Christmas and New Years. It should be pretty good after a week. It could limit my ROM some, we'll have to wait and see. I can get 1 finger in there now, vertically, all the way back to the back knuckle, so I still have a ways to go. I think I was able to get 3 fingers in before surgery.

I'll post if anything happens before my plate removal, but no appointments between now and then. I'll try to get some new pictures up before plate removal.

Soft Chew!!!

Sorry that I haven't posted and left you all hanging ... I am in Argentina right now and going to Brazil tomorrow ... so I haven't had much time to post. I did get the ok for soft chew on week 8 as I was hoping, and I have been really enjoying it! I was upgraded on my flight here, and they give you mixed nuts before your meal. I was shocked that I could actually eat the cashews! The biggest pain is getting them out of the braces. I actually think I can eat about anything right now if I have the patience to chew it. The most limiting factor for me is my range of motion, I can only open about a finger and a half, so it is not like I can just bite into things and start chomping. I also have to try to just chew on my right side so I don't get a ton of food stuck in the gap where my exposed plate is. I have my next appointment with my OS this Thursday, so I have a feeling we will be discussing at that time when we will take the plate out. At my last appoinment, my OS held my forhead firmly and torqued on my maxila and then on my mandible. No mobility what-so-ever, so it looks like thinks are pretty solid at this point. When I go through airports and crowded areas, though, I am still a little gun-shy, afraid that someone is going to elbow me in the jaw and knock something out of place.

I am almost at 10 weeks right now, and still have some residual swelling. On my right side along my jaw line, I can feel a lump there, I am not sure if it is just more swollen there than on the other side, or if it is scar tissue, but it definately feels different. It is also a little tender in that area when I touch it. Strange, since I would have expected that to happen more on the side where the plate is exposed.

Still no migraines ... I just can't tell you how happy I am about that. Over ten years of suffering from them ... I don't want to speak prematurely because who knows what could happen once I get my range of motion back, but if they are truley a part of my past I will be more grateful than you can ever imagine for having this surgery. I still get the occasional ear pains, but they usually go away and don't last too long.

I can't wait until I can stop using the Peridex. My teeth are now very dingy looking and I am looking forward to getting them cleaned, even if the hygienist can only get the outsides and can't get inside my mouth.

I don't think I mentioned this before, but my cheek is basically healing over my lower left bracket. It is almost completely covered now. My OS told me last week that the same thing happened to him. It is like that on the right side, too, but not nearly as bad as the left. Not too fun, unless you like chewing on your own cheek.

Well, that is about it for now, I will post more after my appointment Thursday.

8 weeks post-op ...

Well, I am just shy of 8 weeks post-op ... day 53 to be exact. And I am long over due for some photos, so finally I took some new ones today. I believe I have just a bit of residual swelling left, but pretty minimal by this point, mostly around my nose area.

I still get some shooting pains in my ear now and then, but it is manageable. What I am most pleased about is that I used to get migraines every time I would have a few cocktails, and the few times I have had drinks over the fast few weeks have not resulted in a mind boggling migraine. I haven't really had them period ... so I am hoping this lasts.

So ... here are the latest pics ... I am definately pleased with the results so far ... we have some work to do yet on my bite but actually having a side profile, plus (hopefully) reducing the migraines ... has made this whole process all worth while.

I have an appointment with my OS on Wednesday, I am hoping to get cleared for soft chew, so cross your fingers for me!!