tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87955890066669987512024-02-20T08:55:58.235-08:00Revisiting adolescence through orthodontiaI'm 28 years old and I've decided to finally get braces and oral surgery to fix my crooked messed-up teeth. It's like being 13 all over again, only this time I have a mortgage and a master's degree!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger111125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795589006666998751.post-79962192554633995982010-01-08T07:09:00.000-08:002010-01-08T07:10:38.652-08:00oops<div class=Section1> <p class=MsoNormal>After almost 2 months of “perfect attendance”, I forgot my retainer this morning. Hopefully I survive until the end of the day. I’m too far from home to go back, but I feel “naked” without it. I am one of those odd people that really likes their retainer – I feel more secure with it!<o:p></o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal>Other than that, all is well. Loving the braces-free life!<o:p></o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p> </div> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795589006666998751.post-20998162604388540792009-12-07T19:11:00.000-08:002009-12-07T19:15:38.934-08:00Smile!It just occurred to me that I posted a decent photo on Facebook last night and that it might go well here too! :) I don't think I ever noticed before that I tend to smile more on one side of my mouth than the other - I'm trying to pay attention and make it more event... Oh well. This was at a belly dance thing yesterday afternoon...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDL-94nZDcyYMlfGgHdFIFpy_KGzcfViYRnT_w7nMIvUY3laYyUxjZuKK5sK5VAXMulW35pyvt2sS8cs3c7lrLAQoWvrhip0RaFspj4xERIT76WkFMN1AAp0u6eXUxDZNreDjhEIIdFyJa/s1600-h/WoM_HappyToBeHere.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 215px; height: 144px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDL-94nZDcyYMlfGgHdFIFpy_KGzcfViYRnT_w7nMIvUY3laYyUxjZuKK5sK5VAXMulW35pyvt2sS8cs3c7lrLAQoWvrhip0RaFspj4xERIT76WkFMN1AAp0u6eXUxDZNreDjhEIIdFyJa/s200/WoM_HappyToBeHere.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412698059258514978" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I have been pretty good about wearing the upper retainer. It's not uncomfortable and sometimes I even forget that it's there. The real issue for me is eating in the car... I do that a lot because I'm on the go quite a bit. So, rather than dig out the retainer case, I've been just setting the retainer on my lap...and then completely forgetting it, getting out the car and walking away. So far, I've been able to find it each time - on the floor of the drivers side, next to the curb (in the dark!) at my parents' house, etc. Eek. I do the same thing with my cell phone sometimes - I'm lucky that nothing ever breaks!<br /><br />First real winter day of snow today and a blizzard forecast for tomorrow. Fun!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795589006666998751.post-47946042165470473962009-11-11T08:16:00.001-08:002009-11-11T08:16:18.234-08:00retained<div class=Section1> <p class=MsoNormal>The bottom braces are OFF! <span style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Naturally, I forgot to pretreat with ibuprofen, so it HURT when the gal snapped off those last few brackets, but I’m not complaining (too much). She cleaned the teeth off really well, then glued on a wire to the back of my bottom teeth. I’m aware that this is in leui of a removable bottom retainer, but I’m not sure if it’s permanent. Probably. She also fitted my upper retainer. Wow, this thing is so much more comfy than the one I had in college, the first time my mom tried to convince me to brace up. It’s not bothering me at all, other than the taste/smell. Ever drank nail polish remover? That’s what this reminds me of… well, what I imagine drinking it would be like… I’ve never tried it either. </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Wingdings'>J</span><span style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> I brushed it really well when I stopped at home, but it still smells. Hopefully that’s just the “new retainer smell” and will fade. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>My orthodontist’s office recently bought a Flip camcorder and has been shooting little “thank-you” video clips for the newly-debraced to send home. Children send them to their parents, but they sent mine to my hubbie. I look ridiculous, but I’m sure he thought it was cute. Basically you just grin into the camera and say “thank for putting up with all my whining!” He’s buying me sushi tonight, and I’m so looking forward to not having it stuck all over my teeth!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>I go back in 10 weeks to see if my retainer is doing its job and to get final photos taken. I’m post some before that, but I didn’t have time this morning…today I’m going to pop out this retainer and indulge in some long-missed junk food. Crunch ‘N Munch, Cheez-its (could have eaten those, but hated cleaning all the gunk off), Jolly Ranchers, and Sour Patch Kids! A couple days of this and then back to the diet… I did bring a nice juicy red pear for a snack as well – something healthy to bite into!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>As I was typing this, my dentist’s office called. They have an opening tomorrow and can move my cleaning up from next week. 5 minutes later, they called back to confirm. Apparently, the second receptionist didn’t realize that the first one had just called. At least they’re thorough… </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Wingdings'>J</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p> </div> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795589006666998751.post-23069820294144664922009-11-03T10:41:00.001-08:002009-11-03T10:41:15.204-08:00weird, but wonderful<div class=Section1> <p class=MsoNormal>Top braces are off! And most of the bottom, too, actually. All of my brackets are gone except for the bottom front 6. Dr. Weber and crew then sand-blasted all the glue off (well, that’s what it felt like!) and even lightly sanded the bottom of my two front teeth to smooth out the ridges that have always been there. I go back next Wednesday to get my retainers and have them yank off these last 6 brackets. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal>For those of you close to the end – it didn’t hurt like I was worried that it would. There was a little big of a twinge on the front teeth when they pull them off, but it’s not that bad. If you are worried like me, pre-treat with ibuprofen. I didn’t do that today and didn’t have any ill effects. I might next week though, because I was told the bottom front ones are more sensitive. They left those brackets on for an extra week because those teeth have the shortest roots and are most prone to shifting. Best to wait until I have the retainers ready.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal>Before I left, Dr. Weber’s team presented me with a gift bag of all the foods I was supposed to avoid while in braces. <span style='font-family:Wingdings'>J</span> Popcorn, sunflower seeds, peanuts, tootsie rolls, bubble gum, suckers, and taffy. Nice! What I really want is an apple and a Snickers. <span style='font-family:Wingdings'>J</span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal>I have these remaining brackets completely encased in wax – the now-exposed remaining wire is really digging into my lip. I see no reason to tough it out – it’ll be “wax on” for the rest of the week.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal>I tell ya, though – this is the most awesome and weird feeling ever – and I love it!<o:p></o:p></p> </div> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795589006666998751.post-28907595111451866812009-11-02T17:46:00.001-08:002009-11-02T20:30:06.395-08:00The sun will come out...Tomorrow! Upper braces come off tomorrow! Did I mention that I'm getting the upper ones off tomorrow??? Yea!<br />5 bucks say that I am too excited to sleep tonight, wake up in a fog, and drive halfway to work before I remember the appointment.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1tj0_CxW2j7XVlGtojFMU-CrnNbsCs1JnWsHlYfbPXeEQ2QsibGxXU-5StyftN6hoObi3BKYzK2OMbRAtbac0gAPBqGtUcmWpP0ZaUPZuqsLcZaoo7UYY5LT5iOFGatKoePAsOBjfdUUX/s1600-h/elastics.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 97px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1tj0_CxW2j7XVlGtojFMU-CrnNbsCs1JnWsHlYfbPXeEQ2QsibGxXU-5StyftN6hoObi3BKYzK2OMbRAtbac0gAPBqGtUcmWpP0ZaUPZuqsLcZaoo7UYY5LT5iOFGatKoePAsOBjfdUUX/s200/elastics.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399729799287549794" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Anyways, last night of elastic-ing the mouth shut before bed! (btw, I tilted my head in this show - I don't think my mouth is this lopsided anymore!)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795589006666998751.post-51870117150722245542009-10-26T12:16:00.001-07:002009-10-26T12:16:10.384-07:00In the chair<p>Blogging from the orthodontist chair - my new phone rocks. Upper debanding next Tuesday!<br> </p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795589006666998751.post-65936208737422732009-10-05T12:26:00.001-07:002009-10-05T12:26:38.207-07:00and on and on and on<div class=Section1> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Meh. 5 more weeks. Well, 3 weeks to check on my progress – Dr. Weber wants to see two teeth on the right side move a little closer together. Then another week until they take off the top brackets. Then yet another week until they have my retainers ready, at which time they will take off my bottom brackets, and I’m done. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>I had sort of hoped to have these things off before our big Halloween show, but oh well. Better to get them as good as possible than to rush for vanity’s sake (yeah, still trying to convince myself of that!).</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The receptionist asked me if there was any particular food that I was craving. I thought that was odd – I suppose she meant hard or chewy candy or something, especially since it’s October and so close to Halloween and all the sticky food that goes along with this creepy holiday… I told her hot wings – I haven’t been able to eat them well, without pulling the meat off the bones. But then again, at the point, I hadn’t have breakfast yet, so anything sounded great!</span><span style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p> </div> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795589006666998751.post-15871256277572226722009-09-24T18:42:00.001-07:002009-09-24T18:42:11.230-07:00The light! Can you see it?The one at the end of this long orthodontic tunnel? It's on! I went in for my orthodontist appointment this afternoon. There was no discussion of delays due to my infection. The infection which has miraculously (finally) felt better the past two days... Instead, the assistant snipped off my back wires, wrapped my front brackets in thinner wire, and showed me how to use my finishing elastics! Yea! She told me I'd wear them for 3 weeks at night, but Dr. Weber came over and told me two weeks. So, I go back on the 5th of October, and then I'll probably have 2-3 more weeks after that and then I'm D-O-N-E. <br> <br>My ow-ies are not gone, but they don't hurt nearly as bad. I haven't worn wax since Tuesday night (mostly because I ran out). They did, however, get rubbed open and bled all over the poor lady's hands and instruments while she was trying to put the elastics on... oops. Not that I could have controlled it, but I'm sure she was just as grossed out as I was. Ew. Dr. Weber had her take photos of the infected spots, so that they could compare them next time to see if it's not getting better. He thinks I'm somehow getting them caught in my teeth/brackets, because they are not flat against my cheeks, but raised - and may have to be taken off...which sounds painful. Hopefully not.<br clear="all"> <br>But nonetheless, almost done! Almost done! Almost done! Yea!<br> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795589006666998751.post-6499206711539503252009-09-23T08:11:00.001-07:002009-09-23T08:11:56.992-07:00the scoop on the goo<div class=Section1> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Stephanie asked for more info on Gishy Goo. While no expert, I can at least link you to their website. <a href="http://www.gishygoo.com">www.gishygoo.com</a> </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Wingdings'>J</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> I meant to take a picture of my stash but toss the empty syringe before thinking about it. It’s basically a “<span style='color:black'>flavored, thixotropic, polyvinyl siloxane silicone elastomer” that you squeeze out, roll between your fingers and gob onto your brackets. It tastes really great and feels pretty darn good. I don’t like the fact that it’s opaque and therefore highly visible when I smile or talk. At least with wax, the person you’re talking to doesn’t necessarily know what they’re seeing! </span></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family: Wingdings;color:black'>J</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; color:black'> But comfort becomes far more important than style when your face is being shredded by brackets, am I right?</span><span style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal>I have no clue where you get this stuff other than from the orthodontist. It was the first time they’d offered it to me, so maybe it’s new?<o:p></o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal>I officially ran out of the goo last night, and am wax-free at the moment. That’ll last until I need to eat or have to speak in a meeting at work. I bought more wax, but am trying to see how long I can go without. Back to the ortho tomorrow afternoon to get a verdict on the state of my teeth.<o:p></o:p></p> </div> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795589006666998751.post-18993477942177984872009-09-21T10:42:00.001-07:002009-09-21T10:42:18.397-07:00possible delay<div class=Section1> <p class=MsoNormal>OK, I’m getting nervous about this. My mouth is still not healing from whatever infection this is – the icky cankers are still there, despite a new medication. I’m told this one takes a while to work, but it has been an entire week. I ended up going in to see the orthodontist last Monday because I was still in a lot of pain, so they switched me to a different treatment. Ooh, and gave me Gishy Goo, which I’ve never tried before, but is quite nice as an alternative to wax. Gotta love anything bubble-gum flavored. But still… this is going on 3 weeks now and I haven’t been able to floss much or wear my rubber bands…which undoubtedly means that I’m delaying my “release date”. I am scheduled at the ortho this Thursday to get the last route of torturous rubber bands and stuff put on, but I’m guessing that Weber will push it off until I’m less swollen and pained.<span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> Which means that everything gets pushed back. Ugh.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>I just can’t figure out what I did to cause this. Surely it’s something I did or didn’t do…too many tomatoes? Too little of one vitamin or another? Who knows…</span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p> </div> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795589006666998751.post-18533734791293310632009-09-10T07:55:00.000-07:002009-09-10T07:56:00.413-07:00freak show<div class=Section1> <p class=MsoNormal>So, apparently I am just a freak of nature. I saw the surgeon this morning (my xrays look great!) and he confirmed that it was highly unusual for anyone to get an infection like this. That means I’m incredibly lucky right? Maybe I should also play the lottery. Ugh. That would explain why Google wasn’t finding me very much information on “infected canker sores”. Great.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal>However, 5 days into my course of antibiotics, my mouth does feel better, so that’s a plus. I pulled off all my wax last night, brushed and rinsed really well and <i>carefully</i> applied my night-time rubber bands (the first time in a week). I did not, of course, remember to put on lip balm or anything, so my lips managed to stick themselves together during the night and when I unpeeled them this morning, I bled all over the sink. Sorry, TMI. The lip balm is now ON, permanently!<span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> Hopefully this will all be even better by tomorrow night, when we go out to celebrate my birthday. Because I would like more sushi, not soup, for dinner. </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family: Wingdings'>J</span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p> </div> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795589006666998751.post-56699664679949817902009-09-06T12:56:00.001-07:002009-09-06T20:53:35.890-07:00go figureWell, at least I'm not just paranoid, or overly wimpy. My fun little canker sores (both sides of my mouth, top and bottom) seem to be infected; I just came from the Urgent Care place up the street, where the doctor said "Wow!", tested me for yeast (ew) and prescribed a course of antibiotics for the next 10 days. I went from "normal wear-and-tear" spots that you get when your braces hit a new spot on your cheeks to horribly inflamed and white (ie pus-filled) sores that hurt so bad every time I move my mouth that I can hardly talk. Eating has not been fun, but fortunately for some reason, brushing doesn't hurt. My throat was feeling swollen yesterday, so we decided that it was bad enough to get checked out.<br /><br />I don't get it - this has never happened before, so I don't know what I did differently this time to let them get all icky like this. :( Oh well, at least antibiotics will also clear up my skin, however temporarily! <br /><br />The best thing (braces-wise) about having a pharmacist for a husband: homemade magic mouthwash...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795589006666998751.post-74855011321698055312009-09-04T12:22:00.000-07:002009-09-04T12:23:41.292-07:00I'm such a baby, I would suck on my thumb...if it didn't hurt.<div class=Section1> <p class=MsoNormal>I hurt, I hurt, I hurt, I HURT! Gah, it feels like my braces have razor blades attached to them. I hope that something isn’t really really wrong. I don’t think I’ve ever had this much damage done to the inside of my mouth in a 3 day period. I even gave in and put wax on yesterday; I’ve really tried not to use the wax any more than necessary and am actually still on the first little container of wax that Dr. Weber gave me in Jan 08. I didn’t put any on today but I’m leaning in that direction. This is horrible. Did I mention that I hurt? Please feel sorry for me; my pity party is getting lonely. :P<o:p></o:p></p> </div> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795589006666998751.post-28362492328314468942009-09-02T07:30:00.001-07:002009-09-02T07:30:28.274-07:00still moving<div class=Section1> <p class=MsoNormal>I woke up this morning to the taste of blood; one of the brackets in the front not only rubbed my cheek raw during my sleep, it apparently ripped it open. Ow. Not the best start to the day. I’m drinking my coffee through a straw in hopes of not soaking my wound in French vanilla creamer; sucking on the straw hurts too, but I figure it feels better than eating will… <span style='font-family:Wingdings'>L</span> I suppose this is all a sign that the braces are still doing their magic – my cheeks should be fully callused against the old position of my teeth, so any new injury tells me that something has moved.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p> </div> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795589006666998751.post-30840440932348043492009-09-01T07:31:00.000-07:002009-09-01T07:32:09.146-07:00ouch!<div class=Section1> <p class=MsoNormal>I have a tooth that hurts <i>so bad</i> – like “I have a cavity that will need a root-canal” bad. This is the part (well, OK, one of the many parts) or this ordeal that I hate the most. The horrifying feeling that something bad has happened to my teeth that will require more (expensive) treatment. Usually it turns out to just be some movement of the tooth that is causing the pain and/or sensitivity, but until the pain subsides, it’s impossible to tell. I’m sure it’s just the nighttime rubber bands pulling on this particular tooth that is the problem, but still… ouch. <span style='font-family:Wingdings'>L</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> I want it to stop!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>I have an appointment with my surgeon next week to get X-rays and see if I’m “all good” (ie if he’s finished with me), and an orthodontist appointment two weeks later to get the final “stuff” done – I’m not sure what all they do, but it’s the last step in this process before removal, or so I was promised… </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Wingdings'>J</span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p> </div> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795589006666998751.post-7862975617530212322009-08-27T09:17:00.001-07:002009-08-27T09:17:14.725-07:00nothing much<div class=Section1> <p class=MsoNormal>Thanks are quiet in my braces-covered world. Or, mainly, I’ve just gotten whiny and haven’t wanted to fill a blog with complaints. I’m ready for this to be over! I know its just a few months more, but man, it’s dragging. What’d’ya do, though, right? Just wait…<o:p></o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal>Chin and lower lip are still pretty numb. Occasional tingles and I do notice when I managed to bite my lip instead of my sandwich, but otherwise, nothing. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal>Sigh…OK, I’m logging off before I get too Debbie Downer about this again! Hope everyone is having a great week!<o:p></o:p></p> </div> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795589006666998751.post-87323639393101531852009-08-04T15:23:00.000-07:002009-08-04T15:24:00.663-07:00Closer!The unofficial word from Dr. Weber was 3 to 3 1/2 more months. I go back in 8 weeks for my "finishing bands" (which the girl warned me are horrible! Anyone have any tips?). Ooh, and I got most of my hooks off. And got to floss sans wires while she took them off. Yea!<br> <br>So, not before my birthday, but at least before Christmas! :)<br clear="all"> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795589006666998751.post-15040947099207909202009-08-02T21:09:00.001-07:002009-08-02T21:09:17.949-07:00update from my surgeonTotally forgot to mention that I saw Dr. Desa last week - he was extremely enthusiastic about how I am healing and thought that I should be very close to done with the braces (oh, how I wish it was his decision!). <br><br> I told him that a lot of my friends here were having similar experiences, so I wasn't so nervous that my progress was anything but normal. He was highly intrigued about the whole world of braces/surgery blogging.... <br> <br>Anyways, appointment with the ortho on Tuesday, at which I'm supposed to get some of these surgical posts off - hurray! <br><br>Ooh, and I won a limbo contest last night...after I cleared the last bar, someone told me to try even lower...I did, and smack my tooth on the bar. Ow. That's what I get for showing off!<br clear="all"> <br> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795589006666998751.post-27755285502749404322009-07-07T07:41:00.001-07:002009-07-07T07:41:37.269-07:00for-e-ver<div class=Section1> <p class=MsoNormal>Ugh, these things are never coming off, are they? I had my first trip back to the orthodontist since my surgery. Dr. Weber said I looked pretty good, then slapped some thicker rubber bands on my teeth and sent me on my way. I have one on the left that is to stay on all the time, and one on the right to wear at night. I didn’t even ask if he could estimate my “release date”. I am so ready for this to be over. It’ll be 18 months this week. I don’t want to be 30 With Braces, but the chances of getting them off within the next two months before my birthday aren’t looking so promising. Grrr…<o:p></o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal>My top lip is mostly back, but my bottom is still numb. For the most part, I’m eating pretty good, but a lot of food is upsetting my stomach – I much eat TOO well on Fridays because the last two Saturdays I’ve felt like ripping my stomach out. I missed the whole holiday on Saturday – my husband grilled 16 hamburgers and 12 brats for our family, and I didn’t get even one, I was so sick. But on the plus side, I’m still losing weight…it’s just not much fun! <span style='font-family:Wingdings'>J</span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal>I’m changing the name of this blog to “My Adventures in WHINING About Adult Braces.” Sorry. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p> </div> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795589006666998751.post-7343138571815859242009-06-29T08:44:00.001-07:002009-06-29T08:44:15.292-07:00chewing, kind of<div class=Section1> <p class=MsoNormal>At my appointment on Friday with Dr. Desa, he encouraged me to ramp up the chewing and work on my range of motion, so Friday night I had pizza and Saturday I had steak. OK, it was teeny tiny pieces of steak but nonetheless. Ah, progress. Unfortunately my poor tummy wasn’t prepared for the pizza… if you’re not there yet, please proceed with caution when you add things back into your diet!<o:p></o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p> </div> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795589006666998751.post-86803710866087499612009-06-21T21:09:00.000-07:002009-06-21T21:11:45.515-07:00weirdOK, so I've emailed a couple of posts here, and they didn't ever show up. Just in case anyone thinks I've totally gone MIA; I haven't, I just apparently wasn't getting through. That's annoying.<br />Mouth is still mostly numb. Also annoying. Eating better, but still not back to normal. Lots of pasta...<br />I need to catch up on everyone's progress, but I also need to sleep, so I'll be back...soon!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795589006666998751.post-36400354183447626982009-06-05T07:13:00.001-07:002009-06-05T07:13:34.412-07:00mmm...food<div class=Section1> <p class=MsoNormal>I had my 4 week checkup with Dr. Engel (Dr. Desa’s partner) on Wednesday and he told me to start leaving my rubber bands off during the day and to start incorporating soft foods in to my diet. I wasn’t sure, so I thought I’d better wait…about 15 minutes or however long it took my to drive to the grocery store and order a slice of meatloaf and two big scoops of mashed potatoes and mac’ n’ cheese from the deli. I ate it in my car in the parking lot, covering myself with towels and using the mirror on the visor for aim. This was not because I was super starving, but because I didn’t have time to go home and eat before driving back across town for dance practice… Got about half the meal down and thought it was best to stop so I didn’t hurt myself during rehearsal…but even though I wasn’t super-full, I also forgot what a number a drastic diet change can do on your digestive system…from 4 weeks of completely liquid diet to a big meal of meat and starches…the rumblings began! Eek. So, if you find yourself in this position, take my advice, and go slow! <o:p></o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal>The nice thing was that eating only half the meal, I had leftover for work the next day. Mmm… <o:p></o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal>The bills have started rolling in. My insurance has picked up 90% of the hospital bills, but have yet to approve the surgeon’s charges…hopefully we can get that resolved soon and without too much grief – I just don’t have that kind of change laying around.<o:p></o:p></p> </div> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795589006666998751.post-79199895876413544412009-06-02T06:57:00.001-07:002009-06-02T06:57:58.721-07:00creepy feeling<div class=Section1> <p class=MsoNormal>Last night as I lay awake due to the rapid fire of nerves in my cheeks and chin, I wondered what it will feel like with the inside of my mouth wakes back up. I didn’t realize that my palate and gums were numb until I put food in my mouth and noticed that I couldn’t feel it and didn’t know if I was trying to chew the food (a small piece of cheese in this case) or my cheek. <span style='font-family:Wingdings'>J</span> Well, of course, no sooner do I have this thought that I learn how it will feel. Like a spider crawling across the roof of my mouth! Eek! I guess the nerves there are rousing themselves now too… Progress, yes…pleasant, no.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal>I became so fed up with the liquid diet yesterday that when I swung through Sonic to get a shake, I also grabbed some tator tots…which I then proceeded to break apart, flatten, and stuff into my mouth, only to push them around with my tongue until I could swallow them. Oh, the salt was so good… <span style='font-family:Wingdings'>J</span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p> </div> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795589006666998751.post-45241054382477065772009-05-29T09:05:00.001-07:002009-05-29T09:05:49.721-07:00life on the liquid diet<div class=Section1> <p class=MsoNormal>I’ve had a lot of people at work ask me what I’ve been subsisting on the past few weeks… While I started off with a lot of Slimfast and Ensure, I can only handle so much sweetness (and so much dairy). I am also in love with Naked fruit smoothies, especially the Mango (which I can get in ½ gallon jugs) and the Strawberry-Banana… Once again, that’s a lot of sweet. Life got a whole lot better when I realized how well canned soups blend up – for Memorial Day “grilling out”, I pureed a can of Campbell’s Chunky Steak and Baked Potato soup – heavenly. My favorite right now (it’s even today’s lunch) is the Chunky Chicken and Corn Chowder. Oh, so good. <span style='font-family:Wingdings'>J</span> I haven’t really been able to make myself do too much with protein powder or any other “healthy” (yet medicinal) products…I am super-duper picky and if I even get a bad thought about a food item, I can’t make myself eat it. I still can’t eat applesauce 20 years after my mom crushed a pill into it for me to eat (I had a hard time swallowing pills) – it tasted so bad that I still get that horrified sensation just thinking about applesauce… <o:p></o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal>I suppose the soup is also the reason that I haven’t lot THAT much weight. <span style='font-family:Wingdings'>J</span> A good or bad thing, depending on your perspective. I lost 10 pounds pretty rapidly, but I hit a plateau as I started dancing again and returned to work – the extra activity really spiked my appetite, so I’m eating a lot more. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal>Did I mention the crazy dream I had a week or so ago? I’ve been having a lot of weird dreams lately (even without the pain meds!)… In this one, my bottom braces fell off. I went to the ortho and they told me that I didn’t need them anymore and not to worry about it. Then I go home and look in the mirror…and realize that only the wire fell out and I still have all the bottom brackets…and I now have 3 ROWS of bottom teeth, like some sort of alien. And they’re still crooked. Eek!<o:p></o:p></p> </div> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795589006666998751.post-30937522427333326712009-05-28T05:54:00.001-07:002009-05-28T05:54:58.203-07:00back to the grindNot having a pleasant week. On top of the "tingles" (which feel more like electric shocks sometimes), I had to go back to work...which is less of a distraction from my face and more of a complication. :P So tired and cranky this week!<br> <br>On a good note, though, I did find these <a href="http://www.colgatewisp.com/wisp/HomePage">little disposable toothbrush thingies</a> that are small enough to fit into my mouth and reach my back teeth. Phew! I feel so much better when I can brush! They were kinda pricey, but worth it during this hellish period of not being able to get my regular brush in my mouth without pain...<br> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1