Getting ready for surgery

[sol]

Hey guys/gals i mentioned here before or maybe not, i do not remember but either way here goes. Ok I have always had an open bite and under bite, and just recently started braces to get ready for surgery, I have been quoted about 24 months in braces and about after a year to have surgery to correct my bite problem, well here I am not not quite ready for surgery but getting close I see my ortho again in 10 weeks and i am supposed to hear an estimate on the surgery so i have a couple questions for people who have been through this. I have already asked my surgeon what to expect and he said no solid food for about 8-10 weeks, and that I will not be wired up but they will be putting plates to keep the jaw attached, also I will be having upper and lower jaws worked on.

Now that you have a good idea of what I am told will happen let me ask the questions, being on a non-solid food diet entails what? I feel that I need to start planning on what I will be living on for at least 8 weeks any tips and such will be great.

At my last adjustment they said my class three was getting worse, what does this mean?

If I will not be wired shut what keeps me at night from breaking the screws loose on the plates that keep my jaw attached? Does this mean i may be banded I forgot to ask last time but imagine someone may know.

Thanks

[boatsink]

Hey there Sol, I can only answer two of your questions that you've posed:

1) "non-solid food diet". This literally means a clear-liquid (see through liquids) or a full liquid diet (clear to opaque). Some may also consider a pureed diet as a non-solid. However, mechanical soft textures and up are considered to be solid food diet. I will leave some recommendations at the end of this post. I'm a dietitian and these are some common recommendations I provide to my patients. Likely, post surgery diet is full liquid diet as many patients often drink supplemental nourishment to replace lost calories for maintenance and body repair.

2) "Your severe class III is getting worse". What it means, likely, is that the deviation of your underbite relative to the "normal" bite is getting bigger (worse).

Hope that helps.


To increase your calories and be compliant of your full liquid diet, consider:

Recipes for increased calories:

High-Protein Milk:
6 cups of whole milk
1 ½ cups of nonfat dry milk powder (can go for regular fat if available)
*Make this recipe in advance and keep the mixture in your refrigerator. You can use it in any recipes that calls for milk or even drink it in place of regular milk.

High-Calorie, High-Protein Instant Pudding
1 box of instant pudding mix
12 ounce can evaporated milk
½ cup whole milk
Frozen whipped topping (optional)
Chocolate (optional)
*Directions: wash the lid of the can of milk. Pour the canned and the whole milk into a large bowel or blender container. Slowly pour the instant pudding mix into the milk and mix or blend until smooth. Pour into 4 dishes. Refrigerate and serve cold. For more calories, top with frozen whipped topping and drizzle chocolate syrup
Nutritional facts (per serving): 240 kcals, 44 g carbs, 8 grams protein, 9 g fat.

High-Calorie, High-Protein Baked Custard
2 cups whole milk
1 cup-half and half
5 eggs
2/3 cup sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
*Directions: preheat oven to 350F. Mix milk and cream in saucepan. Heat until mixture steams but does not boil. Remove from heat and cool. Place eggs, sugar and salt in a bowel and mix well. Pour cooled milk slowly into the mixture and mix well. Fill 4 single-serving baking dishes ¾ full. Set dishes in a baking pan and put in the oven. Pour hot water into the baking pan (do not add water to the custard dishes). The water level should be even with the custard. This helps custard to bake evenly and have a smooth texture. Bake about 50 minutes or until a knife inserted in the custard comes out clean. Serve warm or cool. Store in refrigerator.
Nutritional facts: 380 kcals, 42 grams carbs, 14 grams protein and 18 grams fat.

High-Calorie, High-Protein Fruit Smoothie
6 ounces orange juice
1 banana
6 frozen strawberries (unsweetened)
1 ounce (3 table spoons) protein powder
*Directions: place all ingredients in blender. Blend until smooth.
Nutritional facts: 320 cals, 60 grams of carbs, 18 grams protein and 2 grams fat.

Super Cream Soup
10.5 ounce can condensed cream soup (of choice ie: cream of chicken, mushroom)
12 ounce can evaporated milk
1 small jar strained turkey or chicken (baby food works)
*Directions: was lids of cans and jar before opening. Place all ingredients in blender. Blend until smooth. Heat before serving.
Nutritional facts: 290 kcals, 20 grams carbs,15 grams protein and 17 grams fat.

[Sunny]

Sol make sure you ask your surgeon and orthodontist these questions, as they're the best people to tell you there answers.

Where I work ... a non-solid diet means a pureed diet. Often this is taken via 'zip bags' which can be bought online, or by using small teaspoons, like those used to feed babies. In the very early days, having the food squeezed gently into your mouth, helps not to tire the muscles that have been affected by the surgery.

Your bite getting worse ... this is often the case prior to surgery. By moving the bite to a position so that the teeth are in there best alignment in the arch, without taking into consideration the bite. This usually means the bite becomes worse, but better for the surgeon to work with during surgery.

Your bite plate will be made so that your teeth do bite (fit) into it. This means it helps to keep your bite together in the right place. During the early stages elastics are used to keep the teeth/jaw in the right place. These elastics are usually quite tight and help the patient to feel secure with them in place.

Good luck with your preparation!

[mikeg]

ya the bite actually gets worse as they are preparing you for surgery.. very common.

How far along are you now?

[sol]

Thanks for the advice. I was told that the bite would get worse just not really sure exactly what it meant. I was told a little about the bite plate but not to much detail. I am only about 6 months in and know if that went by fast a couple more months will go by even faster so I figured I would need to go ahead and figure out what I plan on eating and getting ideas more on what to expect. I have been told I will be in the hospital for about 4 days and I will be putting aside a thing of blood to replace what is lost in surgery. I will be going back to see the surgeon about a month before I have the surgery so I will ask more questions then, just need to work on the questions and such.
Thanks

[Sunny]

Sol make a list of questions for your surgeon and get as much advise from him as possible. Often they will have material for you to take away and read.

Make sure you're clear about the food issues as some people spend money buying equipment to puree their food, while others learn how to do this by hand. Some people buy the 'zip squeeze' bags online, while others are happy to use the syringe method ... and usually the syringes will be provided by the hospital ... but check to make sure this is the case.

Your surgeon will have treated many people before you, so I'm sure he'll have loads of advice with regard to how you should keep healthy before and after surgery. It's a good idea to ask if there's additional things ... like vitamins etc ... that you can take before surgery. Will you be able to take the 'ice bags' used in hospital (sometimes called an ice bra) to help reduce your jaw swelling, home with you, or do you need to buy these, or does your surgeon have a better way for you to make them.

It's great that you're planning ahead, as this will definitely help you when the time comes.

Good luck!

[sol]

Will do, thanks for the tips. I figured that if I plan ahead and get advice from people that have done this already so that i can be ready for it. I am not terribly excited about it but need to figure out as many of the angles so that I can make it as comfortable as possible.
Thanks

[kellieam1]

Originally Posted by boatsink

Hey there Sol, I can only answer two of your questions that you've posed: . . .

Recipes for increased calories: . . .

Boatsink, thanks for those recipes. My 17-year-old son is having this surgery in early June; I have saved these recipes for him. It's great to have some ideas ready to go.

[sol]

17 really? They said I could not do anything until i turned 20, I am not irritated.

[kellieam1]

Originally Posted by sol

17 really? They said I could not do anything until i turned 20, I am not irritated.

Sorry, haven't checked in in a few days. Yes, he will be 17 1/2 by that time, but they have been x-raying his jaw for the past four years to determine when he has stopped growing enough to proceed with everything.

[sol]

Very nice, I had to wait which sucks because I will be out of braces when I turn 22 almost 23 so going to the club and picking up chicks is not quite as easy when you look 16-17.