Hi again- 4 months post-op

[Jeff15]

Hi

I know I haven’t posted in a while, so let me give you an update. I’m now over 4 months post-op. I’ve recovered nicely from the lower jaw surgery. The braces are going fine. And I’ve been through physical therapy to open wider. The liq diet went fine, and I've been back to a normal diet since mid-Nov.

But there is still a problem. I still feel like I have a bad bite. Just like prior to surgery, it’s still taking me plenty of extra time to eat, especially foods that are hard or chewy. Even things like salad can be pretty difficult. Salads aren’t exactly “hard”, but they are chewy. Most meats give my some degree of difficulty, depending on the texture. I feel like I need to chew and chew and chew before I can eventually swallow. The problem isn’t terribly severe, but it is bad enough. I generally just stick to pretty soft foods and allow extra time for myself. But this problem is quite annoying, especially when eating with others. My ortho and oral surgeon are telling me there’s nothing in my teeth or jaws to suggest that I should be having any difficulty chewing or swallowing.

Now I’m being sent to an ear, nose, and throat doctor who will evaluate my swallowing, and hopefully fix it. Any of you been to one of these doctors before? I have no idea what to expect.

This experience has become quite frustrating. I was so confident that the jaw surgery would fix the problem, but eating really feels the same now as prior to surgery. I do see the improvement (my overbite isn’t severe anymore), but I don’t feel any improvement.

My ortho suggested maybe my swallowing mechanism isn’t right, or it could be a bone structure issue, but he didn’t want to speculate. I don’t know what to think right now, but maybe I’ll find out in 2 weeks when I see this doctor.

As always, I appreciate any answers, insights, or even just encouragment that you can give me. I will hang in there.

Thanks,

Jeff

[mikeg]

Hey Jeff.

Did you get your braces off? Sounds like you are in good shape as far as your bite goes.

I've been to an ear,nose, throat doc before for allerigies. Be prepared that finding a good one may take you several tries.

Did you have your lower jaw moved forward and that was it?

[Jeff15]

Mike,

The braces are still on. Yes, I had the lower jaw brought forward and that was all.

Jeff

[mikeg]

Gotcha. How was the recovery. I am also in my lower 30's. Have a bit of jaw pain probably due to a slight class 3, but it's not quite enough for me to go through surgery just yet. But like you, I am a bit worried about how my bite will feel in my 40's and on...

[Phantom Muse]

Jeff,

I think sometimes we underestimate the changes our bodies go through when we have any sort of intervention or procedure done. When I first got my Invisalign, I did not sleep quite as well and the rest of my "system" seemed just a little bit out of whack. Some of that had to do, quite probably, with a change in my diet (too much of a hassle to eat more than three times daily), but I think some of it was due to the stress on my entire body from my teeth shifting. I think we all react differently, and I do tend to be more sensitive than most, but I think it is a consideration.

Jaw surgery is a big deal, and it takes some time for everything to feel "normal" again (coupled with the fact that you may now have a "new" normal!). In addition, if you are still in braces, I suspect things are shifting around there, too, so you are really in transition! Certainly see a doctor you trust to rule out any other issues, but also realize that until braces come off permanently, your bite will continue to shift around some (on some days my jaw feels like it weighs a ton, and I started out with a normal bite - and sometimes I am afraid that having Invisalign has messed-up my bite, too - but I trust my ortho). In general, by dinner time, my jaw is ready to "check-out" for the rest of the day. After talking and smiling all day long, it is fatigued. I often eat softer foods for dinner, and that feels good to me.

I have had to learn to not worry so much about my altered eating habits, especially when dining with others. I won't take my trays out in front of anyone (they make loud noises upon removal and are just generally icky to look at) and I insist on putting them back in right after I eat. I just excuse myself, run to the washroom, and get on with things. I realize that my braces are only temporary, so that helps.

It sounds as if you are moving in the right direction, Jeff; it is just that sometimes that journey feels a little too long! But if things have been improving, I'll bet all will be well and become more and more comfortable as you progress through braces. How long have you had the braces, and how long will you need to continue to wear them?

Good luck, and keep your "eyes on the prize!"

[Jeff15]

Hi

My recovery wasn’t too bad. I guess in the end it was kind of what I expected. The liq diet certainly got old after 6 weeks. The night in the hospital was miserable, mostly because I didn’t sleep. Also, pain and extreme difficulty swallowing were bad the first day. But I got more comfortable fast after going home. I was able to keep myself full and with fair energy even while on liquids. I had many smoothies and Ensure. I also had drinakable oatmeal and cream of wheat. But 6 weeks really was enough. I took 3 weeks off work to recover, but I probably could’ve made it in 2. I don’t know how much longer I’m wearing the braces; I keep forgetting the ask the ortho. I suspect another 8 months or so.

This has been quite an experience. I guess all I can do now is wait and see what the ENT doctor says.

Jeff

[Sunny]

Jeff I hope the ENT can help with the issues you're having,they do sound really frustrating.

It takes quite a bit for our bodies to adjust to change ... and this has been a big change with surgery to correct your bite. Still you'd expect things to be improving a heap more by now and your chewing ability to not be so affected.

Have you watched yourself eating ... I mean watched yourself in a mirror? If you haven't I recommend you do this, so that you can see what your chewing action is. For example are your teeth coming together correctly at the sides and if they are, do they do this when you're chewing. If they do ... there shouldn't be an issue, if they don't, then what's happening ... for example is your subconscious somehow stopping your bite from functioning.

I still have an open bite (small) and most of my molars don't meet ... but I can chew food with minimal issues. I know people with great bites who have problems chewing some foods, due to not liking the textures of those foods ... mostly fruit and a few vegies.

There are definitely reasons outside of our bite that affect our ability to chew and swallow. Here's to finding out what your's are and getting them sorted!

Take good care and please keep us up-to-date with your progress!

[Jeff15]

Hello again

Well, I saw the ear, nose, and throat Dr. last week. I’m now on a prescription for acid reflux. Not a big deal. Also, in a few weeks they are going to do an OPMS swallow study on me. My understanding is such a study allows the docs to see my x-rays as I’m eating and drinking, so they can see if my swallowing mechanism is off. It’ll be interesting to see what they find. But I thought a bad bite was causing my problems. The ortho and oral surgeon tell me my bite has greatly improved, but I feel about the same as I did prior to surgery. We’ll see what’s going on.

The braces are still going fine. I had an adjustment last week. I’ve now got chains on the top braces. They’re starting to close some spaces in my upper teeth. I had my teeth cleaned on Monday. All these appts. are sure making me feel old. Oh, well. You gotta do what you gotta do.

Thanks,

Jeff

[mikeg]

ya you gotta do what you gotta do... you are not alone...

I'm curious if this procedure will be the same 10,20, 30, 50 years from now or what the advances will be.

Keep us posted.

[Jeff15]

Well, I've now done the OPMS swallow study. The speech/swallow therapist told me my swalowing function is normal. I do just have a little tongue thrust, but nothing serious, nothing that would explain my difficulties. Like the ortho and oral surgeon, she said my jaw and teeth really look quite good. It's probably just an anamoly that I have to live with, but no further treatment seems necessary. I'm guess I'm just very sensitive to the texture of what I eat.

The braces are going good, and they shoud be off by about July or August.

I'm not terribly disappointed. My face does look better now post-surgery, and I guess I just have to live with a little issue in my chewing/swallowing. It's not awful anyway. I can see some bright sides. I can live with it. And my insurance has been very good.

Take care all,

Jeff

[Sunny]

Great to read that things are going well for you and your treatment should be over in a few months!

Good luck with life continuing to get easier!