[Amanda_1981]

I found out today that I need more surgery done on my jaw to fix it and to stop the pain in my jaw and ears. This one is going to be a lot more invasive than my last surgery (which was just done microscopically). This time they are going to take part of my bone out and wire my jaw shut (for three weeks) and I will have to stay in the hospital overnight. I'm really anxious about having to have my jaw wired shut because I have really bad (all year round) allergies and can hardly ever breathe through my nose and am worried that I won't be able to breathe through my mouth very well and that it will feel like I can't breathe. Also I'm worried about what will happen if I throw up (as I have really bad gag reflexes and throw up a lot). I don't think any of my meds are time controlled release so I think I"ll be able to crush them up and take them that way for the three weeks that I'm wired shut, but I'm still just really anxious about the whole thing (mainly about how it will feel after not being able to open my mouth for that long).

The type of procedure they're doing is called 'Right Introoral Vertical Ramus Osteotomy'. I'm going to try to look up a bit on it so that I will be prepared to what to expect and so that I know what they will be doing.

Has anyone here ever had their jaw wired shut? Please tell me it's not so bad and that I will in fact be able to breathe just fine...

[Inny2009]

I have never had my jaw wired shut. I do know someone remotely who had it done but it was my mothers friends daughter and thats all i know lol. All i can really say is im sure your probably worried about i am getting worried and its not even me!! I am sure if you brought up these concerns with your doctor he would have a proper solution. Im not sure but im thinking they might give you a suction machine that you can still in one of the holes (it would probably be a small hole i guess between your teeth or in the crease of your mouth) but im sure your not the only one with these concerns! I would write a list down and go to your doctor and see what he says. Good luck! I will pray fervently that you dont vomit while your jaw is wired shut!

[lynn P.]

Hi Amanda,
I went through the same procedure 15yrs ago. I had very painful TMJ and an uneven bite line due to a slightly recessed lower jaw. I was completely wired shut for 2 months - I had to blend all my food. I was very scared at first, but my surgeon was one of the best. You will be able to breath just fine. If you clench your teeth together now - can you breath? That's what it will be like.
I know you had another thread where you discussed a vomitting problem - is that better now?? If it's not then tell your surgeon. I was the most worried about losing weight since I'm already a thin person. They told me I would lose between 15-20lb's. I only lost 8lb's because I was so determined not to lose weight - I hate being deprived of food LOL. I blended everything - even stew one time. For breakfast I would put in cereal, a cooked egg and milk - and drink it. The worst was macaroni and cheese - yuk! What bothered me the most was not being able to brush the inside of my mouth and not being able to talk very well. Feel free to PM me with any other questions. BTW my TMJ improved alot and now I only have flare ups once in a while. When you get the wires off - you will be very stiff but they will give you exercises to do. I remember when they took my wires off - I rushed to brush the inside of my mouth and got my toothbrush stuck inside LOL - I couldn't open it to get it out for a few minutes. I'm very happy I had it done -he said I would end up with alot of pain in the future if I didn't fix it. Best of luck with the surgery. Please make sure your vomitting problem is under control before the surgery.

[Rhapsody]

I just talked to my rheumy doctor last week about surgery for my TMJ and he stated what while surgery seems to be the main treatment for severe TMJ that surgeons are now starting to shy away from this form of treatment as it not proving to be as helpful as it was once thought to be.

I am holding off on having surgery at the moment.

[Rhapsody]

P.S.
Do you have a mouth guard (made by your dentist or TMJ specialist) and Do you wear it every night with out fail? - it has really helped relieved a lot of the pain I suffered from during the day when I wear my mouth guard at night.

[lynn P.]

When I went for physiotherapy for my jaw, one of the things that helped me alot was being focused on the tension in my jaw. Whenever people are stressed they automatically clench their teeth. He told me to get in the habit of relaxing my jaw during waking hours - this helped alot.

[lizardlady]

Amanda, I'm with Inny2009. Make a list of your concerns/fears and talk to your doctor about them. You could also find out if any of your meds are available in a liguid form to make them easier to take. Good luck hon!

[Amanda_1981]

Thank you everyone for your replies! .. I keep clenching my teeth together to practice to see how it will feel like to breathe like that and I don't think I can do that for 3 whole weeks! It makes me feel anxious if I can't take in a full deep long breath (my anxiety is triggered around my breathing, I"m always focusing on my breathing). But I know that I need this surgery in order for all my jaw and ear pain to get better.. I just hope that my gag reflexes don't act up during the time that I'm wired shut. (I still have trouble gagging a lot and it causes me to throw up often.. I don't think it's anything serious I think I just have really really bad gag reflexes, but I don't know how well that will go over with not being able to open my mouth. I wonder if there's something they can give me to prevent me from throwing up.

I"m just so nervous that my anxiety will be really bad and I'll start to panic when I can't open my mouth. At least though it will be after Christmas (the great thing about living in Canada is that our healthcare system is free but the wait list is sooooo long). I also am trying to think positive that I will lose some weight from being on a liquid diet for 9 weeks. (I've been trying for awhile now to lose the weight that I gained from meds). I just hope my anxiety is ok throughout all of this. I'm more worried about my anxiety/panic than the actual pain afterwards. That might change though once the pain meds wear off!

[lizardlady]

I just hope my anxiety is ok throughout all of this.

Maybe your doc could give you something for the anxiety?

[January]

Amanda, talk to your Dr. about your anxiety. List every concern you have. Surely your Dr. will give you something for anxiety and explain all the things you need to know. Leave nothing out and insist on answers. It will help a lot.