Sinuses still swollen three weeks after bimax?

[Up up and Erik]

Hi All -

Like many of you, I was recently chipmunked by an orthognatic surgeon. I had an underbite, and sleep apnea, so my surgeon decided to move my lower jaw about 10mm (approx 1/2 inch) forward, my upper jaw a bit more forward, reduce the size of my lowest turbinates and perform a genioglossal advancement.

Today, three weeks later, about 70 percent of the swelling is gone and I'm running around trying to graduate. There is only one concern: my sinuses are still quite swollen, much more than anywhere else, and they ache after a long nights sleep. My surgeon told me, over the phone, that it's normal, but I can't shake the feeling that something's a bit off.

What do you guys think? Probably not an infection, right, since I am equally swollen on both sides? Has anyone experienced something similar?

Erik

[sarahorsomeone]

I seem to recall my sinues were still pretty swollen at that stage; especially in the mornings, even though I was still sleeping upright in a chair until about a week five or six.

[jonathon003]

i'm at 2 months now and there's still puffiness! at 3 weeks still tons of swelling, i wouldn't be worried. i'm *trying* to wait until 6 months before i start nitpicking at things, as hard as that seems to be.

[Up up and Erik]

Thanks for your responses guys - good to know these things are normal. I have been reasonably lucky with my recovery so far, so I shouldn't complain about the little things.

While I have your attention: does it strike anyone ad odd that I still need the occasional 5mg of hydrocodone? Most accounts I've read seem to say that drugs are seldom needed after the first week, but I'm still quite achy in the face sometimes, and feel a bit beaten up, especially in the morning. The pills do the trick though.

So...drug fiend or normal? Or possibly a bit of both?

[AF104]

That depends on how you define "quite achy". If the pain is greater than a 4-5 on a 10 scale then you probably need the hydrocodone. If it's less than that you might be able to get by with OTC painkillers. OTC's can also help with your swelling.

[freakyteeth]

2 1/2 months. Still achy and bruising under the eyes. Once and a while I need an ibuprofen. I think they are still healing and this is normal. Not fun, but normal. I also have been blowing my nose like crazy because I have a minor sinus infection. I think my sinuses are going to be messed up for a while, I'm afraid.


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