talking after surgery

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#1 Post by **lindss20** » Sat Sep 23, 2006 4:07 pm

I was wondering how long it takes after surgery till you can talk normally. Also, I have a little tongue thrust when I talk due to an open bite, has surgery corrected this for anyone?

#2 Post by **Teigyr** » Sat Sep 23, 2006 4:18 pm

Define normally

I was double banded for two weeks after my BSSO and while I could be understood (so they say), talking was definitely awkward. I really didn't like talking to people who didn't know the whole story because I sounded like my jaw was closed which it mostly was.

When I went to single bands, I almost spoke normally. I was told I had a slight lisp which disappeared, I believe, when I got my surgical hooks out a month and a half ago.

I think my speech was "normal" after the double bands were removed because I sounded no different unless you really knew me. I think the lisp was due to a difference in my jaw (took a while to get used to), the hooks, the swelling, and my braces.

I don't have a tongue thrust or anything so I hope this helps a bit! I suppose everyone is different though. When is your surgery?

#3 Post by **chrisk** » Sun Sep 24, 2006 5:51 am

Hi

I'm nearly 6 weeks post-op. I could be understood straight after surgery, but I still feel like I'm talking through cotton wool and I have no projection on my voice (due to not being able to open very wide). I think, like swelling, numbness, and eating, everyone is different.

#4 Post by **lindss20** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 5:18 pm

Teigyr, by normal I mean what your talking was like before surgery and then after surgery how long it took to get back to that after all the swelling and so on. Thanks for your replies everyone!

#5 Post by **Teigyr** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 6:06 pm

lindss20,

I was back to normal as soon as the double bands were off. I think there was a period of adjustment to my new jaw but it was really minor. I also tended to bite my tongue a bit but it was just a matter of getting used to things.

Really, everyone was amazed I sounded as good as I did! I work in a job where I have to pronounce things well and I have to read a lot of numbers and be understood on a radio. It was fine and nobody noticed anything different.

Jane