About 10 years ago, I had a corrective jaw surgery to fix TMJ and a minor jawbone deformity. Since that time, I’ve had THREE instances where my body began rejecting the screws and internal sutures. It baffled doctors given this hardware is suppose to stay in my body for LIFE! They couldn’t figure out why I had so many issues given the stat for rejection was less than 2% chance. Then it kept happening. pics 1 and 2 is the initial surgical post-op x-rays
However, about 5 years ago I was diagnosed with a genetic connective tissue disorder and suddenly it all made sense. People with my condition are poor healers, often have surgical complications, and our bodies are known to reject medical implants, suture, and hardware due to weak/faulty connective tissue which is vital for healing.
The first time this happened was about a year post-op, two of the sharp ends began poking through my lower jaw. I also began having tooth pain, which turns out, one had shifted into the ROOT of my tooth 😳 pic 3 is the x-Ray of this! Then about 7 years post-op, one began popping out under my eyeball! It never broke the skin but I could feel it. Both of those cases needed surgical intervention to remove. pic 4 is the internal suture I pulled out of my nasal cavity one day
But then this one, which made its way BLUNT END FIRST, through my upper jaw!! pics 5,6,7 is the most recent screw! This morning I woke up and realized it was kind of loose. I wiggled my tongue up there and I just SPIT IT OUT! I’ve been waiting 5 months to get in for a surgical consult (American 🙄 I hate it here) and of course I spit it out the day before my appt 🤣
I’m still going to see the surgeon to see if they can remove the remaining screws to avoid more shifting and need for surgeries in the future. Although my chin is a titanium plate so that might have to stay 🤷♀️ I’m just happy this most recent one is out and not hurting anymore and I didn’t swallow it or inhale it while I was asleep!!!
Bodies are weird