Freaking Out!

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#1 Post by **SunnyO** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 9:46 am

Have you ever heard that sometimes too much info can be a bad thing? Well after reading a lot of the topics on this board I am worried. I was put in braces top and bottom with a RPE all the same day. Besides really hating the RPE for the way it affects my speech, I'm starting to wonder if it will even work. I've read a lot of posts on people having surgery to allow the RPE to work. I didn't have surgery. I do need to have lower jaw surgery down the road, so maybe my ortho was just trying to spare me having 2 surgeries. I've heard of quad helixes, Damon brackets and other ways to widen the arch and I'm just frustrated (which I cannot even pronounce!) that I have this horrible contraption and it won't work (or it won't produce a lasting, stable result).

I guess I just need some reassurance. Thanks a bunch - Sunny

#2 Post by **rolo** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 11:59 am

I don't have an RPE, but do get stressed when I read too much. I got stressed about a couple of things after reading, and booked an appointment with my ortho who was great, now I feel much calmer. I have to say I think I would be more likely to post about things if they weren't working out, so maybe you read more about times when things don't go so well and less about the times when things work out. Great idea to write stuff down. If you are feeling stressed maybe you could get an appointment just to chat things through, sooner, rather than waiting until your next appointment.

Good luck with the speech, I have upper linguals and a couple of people recommended singing along to music to beat the lisp. It worked for me.

#3 Post by **walkabout** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 12:36 pm

I did exactly the same thing you are doing. I researched and read almost every article I could find on the topic. I questioned my ortho as to why I would not require sarpe at my age (30) to get the expansion I needed. She showed me some before and afters of her patients that were able to do this without the surgery. I decided to trust her judgement and went for it without surgery. The speech thing brought me to tears several times but I am almost 5 weeks along and only a few words come out with a lisp. I went for my checkup earlier this week after I finished all the turns and I was told everything went well, I got the expansion (and it wasn't from tipping my teeth) along with the large gap between my two front teeth. My nose is quite sore still, but she said that would go away as everything stabilizes. I get my top braces in late July and the rpe out in August.

Don't be afraid to call your ortho and ask questions.

#4 Post by **SunnyO** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 6:41 pm

A big thank you to all of you. I think it's great advice to write things down and ask my ortho, because sometimes I forget. And I guess I was a little afraid of offending him, but it's my mouth and I need to express my concerns (that's always been a problem of mine, but that's probably for another forum

) Sometimes it's just nice to have some reassurance from someone who's been there or is going through it at the same time.

Walkabout - I have also been in tears over the speech thing. But on a good note, I have noticed I can breathe easier through my nose.

Not freaking out so much anymore!

#5 Post by **katybeth212001** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 4:23 pm

I just wanted to tell you that talking AND breathing gets easier! I got my top braces and it at the same time. I was freaking out when I first got my expaner (thats what i call it) because I couldnt say more than a few words without gagging and having to breath through my nose. The worst part was I couldnt say my own name for weeks without it sounding spitty and horrible -the k's are the worst for me. But after a few weeks I didnt really notice it anymore at all. There are still just a few words that I think still sound weird. I have had it for 6 mths now and it comes out Thursday so I am very excited!!
I totally agree about asking questions every single time you go. I joke that sometimes I feel like I needed to go to school to be an ortho assistant to be able to understand what they are talking about. I didnt ask questions the first few times because I just really didnt know what was going on and I am kinda bad about just doing what ppl tell me to anyway! (working on that) Anyway, I started asking questions about my expander my last visit and the ortho was like "wow, yeah you can have that taken out next time" and if I hadnt asked - they wouldnt have done it!!! So, just a few questions saved me from months more of expander that has already done its job.

#6 Post by **SunnyO** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 5:53 am

Thanks katybeth. It is improving, but I too have a problem pronouncing my own name - which is very embarrassing! I am now more optimistic that it will continue to get better.

I bet you are sooo happy to be getting it removed though! They told me 4-6 months, so I'll start asking about removal at 4 months - no point suffering any longer than necessary

#7 Post by **Marguerite** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 8:43 pm

Your speech will get better: I promise! After awhile you will be a pro at talking with that thing. If you have homework for school or reading at work, go somewhere you can be alone and practice reading aloud to get used to the device. My biggest problem with the RPE was the long "E"--but it's almost fun to structure your speech so you don't have to use words with that sound! As for the effectiveness of the RPE on adults, a lot of doctors seem to be doing it (including mine) so there must be people that it works on.

#8 Post by **SunnyO** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 11:14 am

Hi Marguerite

I've been doing the reading aloud thing. I believe that it's helping. I also seem to have the hardest time with the long "E". And of course that sound has to be in my name

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