Decisionmade's (D.M's) story:summer '07 update

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#46 Post by **decisionmade** » Sat Sep 03, 2005 4:32 am

Thanks for your enthusiasm Lisa...I checked out your progress as well and WoW! congrats to you too..I think we all have a lot to celebrate on this board..no matter what phase of treatment we are in.. just taking the step as adults is HUGE..And yes I'm in MA and wearing my Red Sox hat as I type. Go Sox! Enjoy the beautiful Labor day weekend!..I look forward to following your continued progress!

#47 Post by **decisionmade** » Tue Sep 06, 2005 6:17 pm

I went out for my first real run since my April marathon..there was a time a few weeks ago when I wondered if I'd ever have the desire to run again..but I am feeling really good and positive...and the power walks and free weights have kept me from completely losing my fitness level....Just made a mental note as I ran.."always bring water no matter how far I am running"..The saliva build up was an annoyance..just harder to keep up with all the swallowing while running...Since I have had the expander the amount of spit produced is the same..I have just learned to swallow it more effectively..Oh its gross..never in a million years did I think I'd be sharing such info on a web site

I think focusing on my next marathon this April will be an excellant distraction from my orthodontics and at the same time boost my self esteem and my overall mental health...anyone else out there taken up a sport or activity to help them through this time?..Well anyway I am meeting my ortho on Thursday to just check in and go over the next phases of my treatments....I am so excited to see her!..oh and other good news is that the sores on my tongue are gone and I have to talk a lot at work so I am very happy it isn't hurting to speak anymore...but I've definately learned that each day is a little different so I'll just cross my fingers on that one:) so enough of this journal entry..hopefully I'll be back to report some more good news after Thursdays appointment:)

#48 Post by **caryca** » Tue Sep 06, 2005 11:28 pm

congrats on going out and RUNNING

I run a marathon in April 2004....and since then my running is a bit... well... I am trying to put a run in front of me so I can start running regulary but

it doesn't work...no desier to do so.

When I you planing to run next April? Now I live in the north of Europe (scandinavia) and I was already told by my coworkers to find a hobby for long dark winter...so maybe next marathon in April next year? It would be nice:-)

What was your time? Mine was 4:42:30! which for me was really fast:-)

ups sorry for a running post

Good luck with your appoitment

#49 Post by **decisionmade** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 5:33 pm

Hi caryca...Yes training for a spring marathon helps me get throught the winter ugh!!!..i'll be doing the boston marathon this april and it will be my 7th!! I can't even believe that myself..I got hooked! I am a mid -packer with times ranging from 4:30 to around 4:50..I've run some hot spring marathons...A competative runner I am not.. but I enjoy reaching a personal goal...getting my orthodontic issue taken care of has motivated me in so many ways..good luck in your running as well!

#50 Post by **decisionmade** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 9:40 am

well its been 8 weeks and just got back form the ortho ..my teeth are not lining up quite as predicted which means I may need an additonal tooth extracted and probably elastics too..but thats all ok..nothing wil stop me now

Here is my 8 week photo and my "incredibly shrinking gap"

Next on the agenda: 9/13-cleaning 9/15-extraction 9/22- separation and 9/29-FULL BANDING

21 days til braced!

#51 Post by **caryca** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 11:02 am

DM good luck this month! seems to be very busy on the ortho front

Wow 7! I only managed to run one....and I still think about next one..would be nice...but well have problems to stick to a plan...

I guess I have to start think about my running in a more planed way

#52 Post by **decisionmade** » Sun Sep 11, 2005 7:54 am

Caryca..I encourage yu to stick with the running ...and running a marathon is one of the most amazing expereinces of my life! Really indescribable..especially in a wonderful history full city like boston!.

.As for my active ortho month..I say bring it on.!...I went out with friends the other night for drinks for the first time in over 9 weeks and it was great.!.My friends say my smile already looks better then before sarpe..even without the braces on yet..My teeth just aren't so crowded and you can see so many of my top teeth when I smile! Going out was a real boost for me...My family, friends and I still make the Lauren hutton and condaleeza Rice jokes.. and we have a lot of laughs over it..the space is so much smaller now but wow it took a long time! oh and my expander is no longer my enemy but I am aware of it most of the time...just 4 more mos. to go with it!

#53 Post by **decisionmade** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 3:57 pm

Bad news at the dentist..I have a cavity..ugh..The appointment was over an hour with multiple xrays so he could see around the expander..and of course ..the tooth I have the cavity in is NOT the tooth being extracted on Thursday..but just its neighbor.. now that cold have worked out just perfectly!..more than two hundred additional dollars later..although whats $200 at this point

here I am with an additional appointmet on my agenda...Thankfully My dentist is squeezing me in at 8 am next tuesday so that the filling can set before the separators go in on the following thursday...ahh the adventue of it all

my revised plan of action:

today: check up and cleaning
9/15: extraction
9/20: cavity filled
9/22: separators
9/28: full banding

oh and how long do you all with braces go between cleanings ..i'm told every 3-4 months ..wow this process gets more expensive every day!

#54 Post by **decisionmade** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 10:57 am

It has been 9 weeks! Today I had 1 premolar extracted this morning and it was painless and took about 10 mintes in all...The novacain is just wearing off and so far so good although I popped a painkiller just in case...My OS says everything looks "beautiful"..He did my expansion surgery as well so he checked all that out too..I am thrilled and even though the extraction spot is up front ..others can't see it so I am relieved about that.. I must say how incredibly lucky I feel that I have such an incredibly top notch surgeon, dentist and ortho..especially after reading all the issues peple have had on these boards...I have absolutely no complaints and the professionalism and thoroughness has been exceptional... well here is my nine week photo

next stop: filling tuesday

#55 Post by **caryca** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 12:57 pm

DM how are you? I hope the after-extraction days are ok.
I had a good guy who done mine and it was really painless!!

I am really a chicken...

BTW thanks for the encouragment on running...I am considering duing the Stockholm marathon in next June...I am just wondering how the sport gel goes with braces

it's pure sugar...which one needs...
oh well I was just thinking, maybe we could make a running topic in the off-topic forum

could be nice to see if there are others on the foum

what do you think?

#56 Post by **paperpony** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 4:10 pm

Please, Decisionmade, please don't get "invisible" ceramic brackets. They stain horribly and are much more bulky than metal brackets. I made that mistake the first time and had them removed due to staining. I will document my new metal experience soon. Good luck.

#57 Post by **HollyDontSpend** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 10:52 pm

Wow Decisonmade! The progress on your teeth is pretty amazing! How exciting! Hope you're feeling better after your extraction.

#58 Post by **caryca** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 11:34 pm

paperpony, the clear bracets do not stain...the ligaturs do..
Well the only clear braces that can stain are the plastic one...but i do not think that some one have them. The bulky one are the ceramic the sapphine are nearly the same size as the metal one. I have them and I really satisfied with them, the ligatures stain a bit....but after 5 weeks they look still ok

#59 Post by **decisionmade** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 5:54 am

Thanks for your input paper pony,..I am open to all comments and suggestions

..I am getting the "tom cruise" braces and am ready to take my chances with staining..I actually gave up coffee at the time of my surgery since I couldn't drink it then anyway...well first I changed to ice coffee with a straw then got rid of it alltogether..Starbucks must miss me!!....I can deal with a couple years without mustards, red wine and curry if it means a more beautiful me:)
and yes Caryca definately start up running topic and i hadn't even thought about all the sugary snacks i usually eat while running and training..that will have to stop..I'll definately have to rethink that..maybe have to turn to gatorade in my camelback and forget about the gus and gels for a while!

My extraction spot is healing very well and I never had one bit of pain..really amazing..although I did take things easy..lots of lying around for a couple days to be sure not to disturb the blood clot..I got all freaked out reading about the complications with extractions..
Thanks for your ongoing encouragement holly! the space that I was so tottally freaked out about for a while has shrunk down to just a sliver and even without the braces on yet my smile is sooo much better! I am so glad I went the surgery route..if anyone has questions about it I hope they will chime in.. it wa definately the way to go for me:) Happy brace days to all!

#60 Post by **JN_Woods** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 9:13 am

DecisionMade,

You are making great progress!

Clear ceramic braces do not stain, only the ligatures, but with proper brushing they shouldn't stain too much if at all. A lot of people just go with colored ligs to avoid the whole staining problem. I'm not ready for that yet.

Sorry about the cavity. At least they caught it now before the braces went on.

Good luck!

Jen

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Decisionmade's (D.M's) story:summer '07 update

Wow!