Adjusting to braces and lingual cleats

[gres1061]

Hi Everyone, I had my braces put on Jan.31/12 and I haven't had a comfortable day since, but still trying to remain positive and hopeful. My name is Lin (from Canada) and I am 62 years old. I was excited last week to have the spacers removed, but my excitement was short lived, as I now have two upper molar bands with tubes on the outside and lingual cleats on the inside which dig into the top of my tongue (very narrow jaw). I have to live with them for future elastics or apparatus (I was afraid to ask what's coming). Does anyone have any tips or words of encouragement? It's been a week since the molar bands went on and the inside of my cheeks and tongue are raw. My orthodontist recommended wax and said in two days I would have adjusted to the cleats (NOT!). Wax is my only vice now, but I find it hard to stick when it is on the inside of your teeth and interfering with the tongue. It's so hard to function and be productive at work when this is all I think about. In spite of all this, I have no regrets as I know the end result will be rewarding. Thanks for your advice. Oh yeah, one other thing, my upper and lower teeth sometime crash into each other, wow that hurts too, I guess the alignment is just shifting...probably good news but it sure is a new feeling.