Post surgery and results not looking well

osagirl · Post by **osagirl** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 3:11 pm

I never thought id be back to the forum after my bi-maxillary advancement but it looks like i am. 5 weeks after surgery and im still exhausted everyday. My partner still says that i sleep with my mouth open and my tongue drops back in my throat. doctors tell me its too soon to tell and theres stil residual swelling but i dont have a good feeeling about this. supoosed to go back to school very soon....and have to wait at least 3 months for sleep study.
any input at all would be appriciated..

ALSO- i took a nap with a piece of tape over my mouth so my tongue wouldnt fall back from me inhaling through my mouth. i think it may have helped a little

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 3:16 pm

(((hugs))), OSAGirl. I don't have any advice or suggestions to offer. Just my sympathy and prayers that your disappointment and discomfort are shortlived and that the surgery has some good when all the healing is done.

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 3:25 pm

I'm not that great with words for emotional support ... so ditto what Slinky said

Welcome back though!

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 4:35 pm

If you get your software and reader, you won't need the sleep test. You can have one every night. Jim

socknitster · Post by **socknitster** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 7:24 pm

I had tonsilectomy surgery in July and it took me 6 weeks to see any difference--your surgery was so much more invasive that I would expect a much longer healing time. There is probably lots of swelling still in your airway so try to be patient with the healing. Taking Omega 3 supplements can naturally help bring down inflammation and is so good for you, so you might try that just to feel like you are doing something positive for your body.

If, though, the problem continues to be that your tongue does this--all is not lost. There is a very minimally invasive surgery to watch that neatly handles the tongue. It is in trials now and is called the Aspire. It effectively tethers the tongue to the front jaw and doesn't allow it to fall back. I'm hoping to have this surgery myself sometime in the next few years.

To put your mind at rest for now and get better sleep, just try sleeping on your side in a position so gravity will help keep your tongue more forward. If this is truly happening to you, sleeping on your back would be the worst possible position.

I feel for you and hope you feel better soon!

Jen

RosemaryB · Post by **RosemaryB** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 8:21 pm

I found that sleeping with a pillow stuffed small backpack kept me sleeping on my side consistently.

Do the doctors think you might be able to use a cpap temporarily until the swelling goes down and you know if the surgery is successful. Probably not your favorite thing, but if you have a data capable machine you could find a pressure that works for you.

Bearded_One · Post by **Bearded_One** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 8:46 pm

Is your mouth wired shut?

Humidifier