How to swallow meds with TPA???

[Katie A]

Hello all - I'm new to this board and look forward to hearing from others about their experiences and plan to share my own as well, if it will help someone else going through orthodontia, upper/lower jaw surgery, bite splint therapy for TMJ disorder, etc.

Right now though I have a question for others who have dealt with a TPA. I have been through 14 months of 24/7 bite splint therapy (since Oct. 2003); been in upper/lower braces since Dec. 2004; had both maxillar reduction and mandibular advancement surgery April 2007, and am now at the point of wearing a TPA. I have been through so many rounds of various pain and discomfort from shifting bite, teeth shifting, recovery from surgery, and now a TPA........it seems like a never-ending situation of pain/discomfort of varying severities.

I am adjusting to the TPA (just inserted yesterday) and not really bothered yet by tongue soreness and mild difficulty swallowing liquids and food. My biggest complaint and where I need the advice is: how to swallow medications (some small, some large) with this thing in? Every time I try to take any of my pills they either stick to the TPA and just about choke me, or don't seem to go down at all, and then begin dissolving in my mouth.....YUCK!!!

I try tipping my head back to force the pills to the back of my throat past the arch, but this doesn't seem to help. Any advice on how to easily swallow pills? I could usually swallow up to 5 pills at a time of various sizes before the TPA, but now..............?????

Thanks for any advice out there!
Katie A

[ABraces2007]

I have TPA as well and it was a hell for me for the first week or so..
but it will get better, your tongue will adjust to it and you will not notice any TPA in you mouth later.
First of all, try not to eat long pieces of food, like long spaghetti or letuce as it will more likely make you choke as you`re not accustomed to your TPA, i repeat, it will get better and you`ll eat any kind of food.
It`s more difficult with the pills, i know, you should try to put pills in the place where your tongue doesn`t touch the tpa and then swallow it with much water one by one. however can`t tell you anything more about them, i just take about 1 or 2 pills/month, so , never thought about it.
good luck with your new hardware... it will get better!

[Clo]

Hi,

I used to have a TPA a while ago. Maybe you can indeed experiment by searching
a spot on your tongue to put the pills on so that swallowing them works better.
Maybe some water or a bit of food could help too. I am sure your mouth will
get used to this. Don't try to rush this, you just have this TPA for about a day.
It will get better.

[Katie A]

Thanks! I'll try to be more patient........I'm just so tired of 4 years of treatment and discomfort every step of the way.

Katie A