Metal Mouth Message Board

Hi.

At my latest adjustment the ortho said, "Go see the surgeon now". That appointment will happen in about three weeks.

Question 1: I'm very lean (6'3", 180), with a very high metabolism and easily dehydrated. Should I be fattening up, bulking up, both, or neither? Is anybody aware of any other methods (e.g. jaw exercises, supplements) for preparing for this type of surgery?

Question 2: I've read that patients who must speak frequently - like teachers - can find jaw surgery quite a challenge. I am (really) hoping that I can be scheduled in late November, take a few weeks of medical leave during December, followed by the holidays, to heal, and then return to teaching in the new year. Can I please hear from you folks who speak for a living and have had this procedure? I need to find out more about recovery, especially if I miss my surgical window.

Thanks and Cheers

Glen

Hi-

I am a professor at the university level. I had upper and lower (8mm advancement) jaw surgery and genioplasty on July 13th to correct an open bite. I successfully returned to teaching on August 24. However, I teach upper division classes, not large lecture type. I find my voice projection (loudness) isn't quite there yet and my voice and jaws get tired easily (as well as a little achy) when teaching. If you are having single jaw surgery you might have an easier time. I beleive what impacted me was having to wear a splint for 5 weeks after the surgery to hold the upper jaw expansion. This really limited my speech and made me use muscles in weird ways so when it was removed talking normally (for about a week) was tiring to my vocal chords. I really didn't think I would make it back to teaching that quickly but it is OK, I am getting stronger by the week. I have some residual swelling and numbness yet in the lower lip and chin that impacts things as well which is to be expected with lower jaw surgery. With what I had done, I don't think I could have comfortably taught for about 5 1/2weeks (until the splint was out and I had a couple days of speaking normal tone, not projecting)

I'm also lean and an athlete (5,7", 125 lbs). I lost about 7 lbs though this but now that I am back to a 'soft-chew" diet I am gaining it back. I really supplemented with high protien shakes to ensure adequate protein intake. I was able to return to riding my cycling trainer after 1 week (shocked me), after three weeks I was allowed to run and road ride outside (again a shock). These things were initally difficult because of the swelling but were good because they made me feel normal! I tried to gain a few pounds before hand but I was training for cycling races and it never really happened.

Hi.

Thanks smile2006 and Meryaten. I'm starting to gather that people respond to orthognathic surgery, as they do orthodontics, in quite different ways. But it sounds as if one month is enough time to lose the puffer fish look and to be blabbing away for 8 hours per day.

The tips about Zip 'n Squeeze bags seem very wise - time to start prepping. Also, I'm starting to think that I should be up and moving around, and talking, as soon as possible.

I'm looking forward to hearing what others have to say.

Cheers

Glen

Yes, with single jaw I think you will have an easier time, especially if there is no long term splint placed. I was on liquids and "no-chew" food for 5 weeks which got a bit tedious. Also, relative to the numbness I have experienced in the lower jaw. My surgeon did my surgeries in what he called record time for the amount done (5 hours). He said my nerves were bundled well and everything fell into place alignment-wise. Meryten had no numbness and it's possible mine was/is more related to the genioplasty. So you may not experience what I did relative to numbness.

Overall though, as for you likely, it was a big decision to go through with this and I'm very happy I did. I'm excited to see the changes so far and I only wish the ortho at this end of things could progress more quickly! Good luck and as everyone says, I was so nervous about the surgery leading up to it but one minute your being wheeled into the operating room and the next minute (it seems) they are waking you up in recovery. Alot of nerves were spent on nothing Make sure you pick a surgeon you're comfortable with. I saw two and one was clearly my favorite in terms of his style and attitude. By the way, what level of education do you teach?

Hi.

Smile2006; your comments about my comfort level with the surgeon, and my own nerves, are appreciated. Dr. W. has a stellar reputation and in fact he operated on two of my colleagues. Any anxieties about surgery are likely rooted in my experience with wisdom teeth extraction, where I awoke from sedation during the procedure – I’d rather not go through that again.

I teach high school during the regular academic year and at university most summers. If the timing is good I’ll be defending my Ph.D. dissertation a few weeks before my surgery.

Cheers

Glen

Hi there

My surgery was 5/09 and I had lower advancement only. I do a LOT of talking at work and I have to be easily understood because I'm talking on a radio to pilots and ground crew. I work ten hour days, also. I was given two weeks off work and I remember thinking there was no way I could ever recover in that short of time.

My first week post-op was challenging because I was double banded. I felt like I was mumbling because I could not open my mouth! I've been told I could be understood though it felt very very awkward and uncomfortable. My double bands were reduced to single after a week and talking was 100% better. I had a splint, also, and had that for 3-4 weeks. The splint made me lisp a bit and I'd periodically bite my tongue but it wasn't that bad.

As long as I've been post-op, I still have puffiness going away. I've been told it takes ages to go back to "normal" and I still notice subtle changes every so often.

I concur with Meryaten regarding eating. It isn't that bad, honestly. I think the weight I lost wasn't due to eating (or lack thereof) but the increased activity and the absence of adult type beverages.

The challenges that I noticed were decreased endurance (I'd hit a wall around 9:30pm and would just have to go to bed), inability to sleep well, and a decreased mental capacity thing where I was just plain ditzy a lot of the time. Along with work I also go to school and I got really behind just because I'd have trouble concentrating with schoolwork. I think I used up my allotment of mental abilities while I was at work and the other times I was good for absolutely nothing.

There you have it! Honestly, it isn't as bad as what you're thinking. You will have quirky little things come up but those things won't prohibit your normal daily activities.

Jane

Hey There- Good luck with finishing your Ph.D. What area are you studying? My Ph.D. is in elementary education (teacher pedagogy). Since you are a teacher I was wondering if you are going into education at the higher education level. Don't stress yourself out trying to finish your dissertation and do surgery (and teach)!!!!! I was lucky to plan my surgery for the summer when I had time off from University schedule. I taught one summer class, had surgery and then watched more DVDs than I have probably over the last three years in about a month!

YES, we watched a lot of DVDs too, smile2006. Thank goodness for Netflix. We watched so many I thought my eyes were going to rot out of my head.

Glen,

Question 1: I too am a lightweight (at 55kgs (121 pounds) pre-surgery and 167cm height (5 ft 7inches) and also have trouble putting on weight. Weight loss after my surgery was a major concern for me, but depending on what your surgeon advises dietary-wise, post-surgery you may be okay. I lost about 2 1/2kgs after my surgery (upper, lower and genioplasty). The following is straight from my post operative instructions - If you can open your mouth a few millimetres you can eat 'squishy food' ie scrambled eggs, pasta, fish, stewed fruit, porridge, mash potato. If you can't open very wide eat soups, smoothies etc. He also said to weigh yourself when you get home. If you are losing a lot of weight get some Ensure or Sustagen from the chemist. I ate anything that I could swallow without chewing, and have managed to maintain my weight at around 53kgs since I got home.

Question 2: I'm also a teacher and took 4 weeks off from school. I have one more week until I go back to work. I only work 1 regular day teaching pre-primary so I'll be easing back into work, and doing relief teaching work if I feel up to it. At 3 weeks post-op, I'm finding talking is getting easier but I don't feel as if I have a lot of projection on my voice at the moment. I'll let you know how it goes next week after I go back to work.

Chrisk

Hi.

Thanks for asking. I'll be undergoing mandibular advancement, using BSSO, on December 15, which gives me until the first week in January for recovery.

It turns out that not only is my surgeon top-flight, but in my sleepy little town lives a Canadian expert in manual lymph drainage. I'll let you folks know how that side of things progresses.

Cheers

Glen

Oh Glenn,
Please do keep us posted on the manual lymph drainage and you BSSO. My friend had it done before her surgery and swears by it. I will be interested to hear your take on things and how you progress afterwards too!

Brandy

Hi.

I feel well informed about what is going to happen to me. Emotionally I am looking past the operation toward a peaceful, nutrient-rich, and disciplined recovery as well as a good bite (finally), new face (why not?), and ultimately no braces (with limited to moderate nostalgia).

Funny that I should pick an orthodontic forum to vent about my Ph.D. If the bbs admin will permit a few off-topic words: Focused revisions were cooking well right down toward the final submission deadline (no extensions), which is some time around now. Then, at the 11th hour, a retired and fumbling committee member who has not even properly read the thesis announces "grave reservations" over the current state of the work. My committee advisor is overwhelmed with doctoral students facing crisis deadlines, and has not yet weighed in on the matter. So basically six years of work is now in jeopardy, right at the point where we were talking about oral defense dates a few weeks before my surgery. What a drag.

But enough about that. I'm about to post over on the MetalMouth forum something positive.

Cheers

Glen