Recovery Tips
Following is a summary of the most important things I learned during my recovery from double jaw surgery.
- Drink lots of prune juice and water. Your toilet time will be far from enjoyable for the first couple of weeks because you’re likely to be severely dehydrated. The prune juice will provide your body with the fiber it needs to work those bowels properly, but fiber is useless without water because it won’t dissolve in your body. I recommend a bare minimum of 1 L of water per day. Drink 2 L per day as soon as you can.
- Before you attempt to pull any dead skin off of your lips, be absolutely certain that it’s not a stitch. I learned this the hard way.
- Start using medicated lip balm immediately following your return to your own home. If you don’t, you’ll end up with flaps of dead skin that are half an inch in diameter, and I promise you they won’t feel good when they catch on your braces.
- Apply heat to your face 3-4 times per day for the first 5-6 weeks to help with the swelling. The heat will also help you fall asleep.
- Begin each day at a decent time. If you sleep most of the day, you won’t be able to sleep at night, and you’ll hate yourself for it. Get out of bed, shower, eat some breakfast and brush your teeth and you’ll enjoy each day a lot more. (This is good advice for any day of your life, but it especially applies when you’re on the verge of depression from having jaw surgery.)
- Go to bed on time. Yawning will cause you quite a bit of pain, so prevent it by getting the right amount of sleep during the proper hours.
- As soon as you’re able to talk clearly enough for friends and family to understand you, call people and be social. Go outside and enjoy nature. Whatever you do, ensure you don’t fall into a trap of loneliness and self-pity.
- Start drinking from a cup as soon as you’re physically able to. Your upwards trek back to having full energy begins the day you can throw your syringes in the garbage.
- Eat solid food as soon as your surgeon gives you the go-ahead. It’ll be a slow, tedious and frustrating process, but you need to go through with it in order to build your jaw muscles back up and learn how to chew properly once again.
- It may take some time to get used to your new smile and your newly structured face. Don’t be ashamed of yourself. You don’t look funny at all. You’re simply not used to looking like you’re supposed to.
- And lastly, don’t worry about your looks, bite or facial feeling for at least 6 months. You may have an open bite, but you’ll wake up one morning and your teeth will have migrated back together. You may be completely numb, but feeling will return almost overnight.
If you have any questions about the recovery process, or perhaps have other pointers to share with upcoming jaw surgery patients, feel free to jot them down in the comments.
May 13, 2011 at 9:12 am
Gracey, they removed my bands for a few minutes so I could brush my teeth. I was really slow, but it felt amazing!
Then they replaced the bands and just made sure I wasn’t experiencing any chronic pain. Simple but necessary.
May 13, 2011 at 5:21 am
It was my understanding that the tube would have been in my abdomen, but I expect a call back for my appointment time with the surgeon to confirm my readiness for surgery. I will confirm the details with him at that time (I’ll let you know), thanks!
May 13, 2011 at 2:32 am
The first checkup you had with your Dr after surgery what was it about? Did they change your bands it clean inside your mouth?
Etc would love to know thank you!
May 12, 2011 at 9:05 pm
Hi Tara! What does your surgeon mean by “tube fed”? I had to eat with syringes for the first 2 weeks, so I feel like that’s fairly close.
Hopefully you’re allowed to be a bit more civilized than they’re setting you up to be! Although time will still fly by and you’ll be happy you went through with it. 🙂
May 12, 2011 at 7:43 pm
Thank you EVERYONE!!! I have read ALL of your comments, they are indeed wonderful and a big round of applause for Graham keeping this blog alive!!
I will be having lower jaw surgery in the upcoming months (hoping July) to correct an overbite. I’ve been told I will be wired shut for 6 weeks and will be tube fed (I’m not sure if that will be the entire time).
I’ve read other folks who have been wired shut, but not for this duration and I haven’t seen anyone who hs been on a tube. Has anyone else experience this?
I’m just trying to understand/prepare for what’s to come. Thanks in advance!
May 12, 2011 at 11:19 am
I recently had double jaw surgery to correct severe obstructive sleep apnea. I am in week 4 of recovery and progressing well. One of the best things I have found for oral hygiene is a water pick. I got it for 60 bucks at walmart. It works REALLY well at cleaning hard to get places like behind the splint. Hope this helps.
May 12, 2011 at 8:14 am
Azita, you’ll just have to be the strong, silent type for your first few weeks at school, hehe.
I was so slow when I first started taking my elastics out. It took me about a week before I mastered that trick, but you’ll become a pro soon enough.
Only eat what you’re able to swallow right now. You don’t want to end up choking (or become overly frustrated, that’s no fun either). Once your swelling goes down a bit more, you’ll be able to swallow food with no problem so you can start blending anything you like (soups blend well).
I love that you’re eating baby food as well. That’s awesome, haha!
May 12, 2011 at 8:11 am
Gracey, you’ll appreciate food so much more when you get to take your first bite all over again!
May 12, 2011 at 8:10 am
Brande, I haven’t heard of anyone who hasn’t stayed overnight yet, but perhaps your surgery won’t be as bad since you’re only having one jaw operated on.
We could have all survived with no hospital stay–it’s just a nicer way to start the recovery. Make absolutely sure you have someone to take care of you for the first 2 days if you’re heading straight home after surgery though. And make sure you have some Ensure or Boost and a few syringes ready for eating.
May 12, 2011 at 4:28 am
Thank you so much for this website , Graham. I can’t even begin to express to you how helpful it has been to me!!
I am now almost 8 days post op. I had my mouth banded shut until yesterday where I now have 5 rubberbands in my mouth. I am able to take them out to eat. Did you have trouble taking them out and putting them back in in the beginning? I find this very difficult. Also hard for me to fully open my mouth to put the bands in since my lips are still swollen with my left side being more. I did try to eat some soup and yogurt with the bands off but it was impossible to actually get it down my throat cause it would just stay on my tongue. Should I be trying to eat something else?
I’m trying my best to stay positive and approach everything with a good attitude but it’s definitely hard sometimes. My face will feel locked up in tingling/pain every 6 hours or so once my pain meds wear off. I am also unlucky because I do not have the luxury of taking 2 weeks to a month off of life to recover. I will be starting nursing school next Monday and I am so scared as to how my recovery is going to affect my ability to succeed in the first month. I will have clinicals in a lab starting the first day! I am just rightfully nervous that my surgery will interfere with my studies 🙁
I still can’t talk very well with rubberbands. I’m going to sound so goofy at school! I’m wishing for a speedy recovery these next few days so I can be okay once school starts.
I have only lost maybe 5-7 lbs, but I am pretty small to begin with so it’s hard for me to lose weight. For my liquid diet I have been eating chicken broth, ensure, and baby food thru a syringe. Surprisingly, baby food is pretty tasty and there is quite the variety!
Oops, I typed up a lot — thanks to my lack of sleep. I go to bed at 10 and wake up approx 3 hours later, take medication, go back to sleep and wake up 2 hours later. That’s usually it for me for the night. So much fun!
May 12, 2011 at 3:31 am
This is so helpful! When I was reading I kept thinking omg that happens to me! Its great your here on a daily I’m 5 days post open and miss food so much 🙁
May 12, 2011 at 12:13 am
Okay, I’m worried. I’m having my upper jaw done in July. My surgeon said I won’t stay overnight. I go into the hospital at 6 in the morning and should be released by 5 pm that same night. Has anyone else been discharged like that?
May 11, 2011 at 10:51 pm
Umar, you’re a lucky person! Enjoy those soft foods!
May 11, 2011 at 9:04 pm
Hi peeps, thought I might aswell share my experince i had lower jaw surgery done on the 26th April and have to admit it looks like I have been one of the luckier ones as I stayed in hosp for 1night and most of my swelling seems to have gone and i can eat soft foods and drink wivout any probs but my mouth does tend 2get sore but apart from im recovering better than expected… Love the NHS
May 11, 2011 at 1:57 pm
My loss of 30 lbs is associated with my surgery and then I had a week of not being able to keep anything in my stomach due to a colon restriction. Was treated with a lot of antibiotics and have since been eating everything that I can tear off in pieces and swallow,lol. I went from 190+ lbs to 162 lbs in less than 3 weeks. But, I would do it all over again. I believe 100% in having the surgery. The final result I will end up with I’m sure is well worth any minor struggles that I incur.
May 11, 2011 at 1:22 pm
Hey Gordon,
I had difficulty breathing for the first couple of weeks as well. It’s stressful and claustrophobic, but it’s certainly not hurting anyone. It’s must of a frustration than anything else.
I took Dimetapp (a decongestant) to clear out my sinuses as best I could. I also used Ipratropium (nasal spray) to try and alleviate some of the blockage in my nose. Both of these meds were prescribed by my surgeon immediately following the surgery.
As for that extra bit of liquid in your mouth, unless you buy/rent some suction system of your own (which I don’t think is a worthwhile use of funds), you just have to deal with it until you can spit properly. You’ll probably be able to control your lips enough to gurgle and spit by the two-week mark. I just hung my head over the sink for ~5 minutes and let everything drool out of my mouth for the first few weeks (as disgusting and primitive as that sounds).
In conclusion, there’s not a lot you can do. Take your medicine, for sure, but beyond that, you just have to make it through the first two weeks and then everything will start getting better really quickly! 🙂
Best of luck!
May 11, 2011 at 10:53 am
Graham I was wondering if you can drop some advice for me.
I’m having a lot of difficulty breathing. I had double jaw surgery and work on my nose/chin done in addition. I just got back home from the hospital.
Essentially my nose is definitely very stuffed. I was wondering if there was a way to get some relief. After the first day my oral surgeon had to come and suck out my sinus cavities because it was bothering me so much.
Also, how can I get that excess bit of water out of my mouth since I don’t have a suction? Hanging my head over the sink doesn’t get all of it, and when it’s still there it makes mouth breathing a bit more difficult.
Any suggestions are appreciated.
Thanks,
Gordon
May 11, 2011 at 8:04 am
Let us know how you’re doing as your date with the dentist approaches, Crystal!
May 11, 2011 at 8:02 am
Scottie, you lost over 30 lbs?! That’s nuts! You’re the first person I’ve heard from who’s lost that much weight!
May 10, 2011 at 9:25 pm
I’m reading through this blog and I’m definitely excited for everyone. It’s a pretty extreme process and it’s nice to find people who understand… I’m sure this blog is going to help me when the time comes. I believe my surgery date is set for August or September this year, but I’m really anxious and extremely nervous. I think about it constantly! Thanks to all of you for sharing your experiences and thank you Graham for opening up this forum that has apparently eased a lot of people. I’m less nervous and more prepared. I will have a good amount of shopping to do before then. Thank you guys!