Hello all my fellow TPA club members!! Glad to see most everyone is actually doing very well with their TPAs. I've had mine in for one month as of Oct. 25th, and I can't say that life is completely wonderful with it. Maybe it's my age......I'm 45, and been in braces for almost 3 years, had upper/lower jaw surgery 6 months ago, and now the TPA. I can swallow just fine...still just a little trouble with capsules or small pills, but if I don't give up they eventually get past the arch and go down my throat.The tongue pain is better, but definitely not gone. At first my entire tongue hurt, but now it's just one spot on the back of my tongue on the left that still hurts most of the time when I swallow. I've been using the oral anesthetic paste and I have to reach so far back to the back of my tongue where the sore spot is, I actually gag myself. At least the all-over pain is gone, but the last bit of pain is still bothersome. I can sleep throught the night with the pain, which is a definite improvement.
I do have a large groove on the very back of my tongue and raised areas where the tongue has been sore, almost like callouses are forming, and the sore on the left hasn't become calloused enough yet and is still raw and open. No blood noted, just discomfort.
Ok, I'm done complaining. I wish I was having an easier time in the TPA club, but I must be slower than others for getting over pain and problems with dental appliances. I'll be very glad when my entire ordeal is over, and I can finally get the braces off for good. I'll wear a night splint; I'll wear a retainer 24/7 if needed; I'll pay big bucks to get my teeth whitened after braces, if only I could be done with all the "metal mouth" issues!!!
Take care all!
Katie
-I guess they NEVER tell you b4 you start what all *may* happen!!!or else more people wouldn't go thru with it!!!!
