Expander in before SARPES

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#1 Post by **ZmaN277** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 12:51 pm

I already made a post earlier about my situation so I'll skip all that part for now, you can read it if ya want~

Anywho, I was just wondering, my surgeon told me i need to have the expander in 3 weeks prior to the SARPES.

Now all these people posting about problems speaking/eating/mouth doesn't feel clean etc. , is this when they first put the expander in pre-op or after the SARPES post-op?

Also, some people seem to say they have alot of discomfort for 2-3 days and then theyre 90% and others say its 2 weeks before they can do remotely eat/talk.. is this different for everyone or is one more occuring then the other?

I'm asking this stuff cause they didnt give me any kind of recovery time for just putting in the expander pre-op, and im wondering if its gonna be hard to talk / eat cause I need to go to school (Im 17).

If you can answer any of these questions that'd be great

#2 Post by **MGood** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 1:06 pm

Hi ZmaN277,

I had my SARPE on June 1st. My expander was placed 1 week before my surgery. Personally, I had a really tough time in the beginning with my expander. I am however very glad I had it placed before surgery. It gave me time to get used to it instead of waking up to the shock of it all, all at once. I still have it in and I have to say, I still don't like it. I get by, I talk and I eat but, I still think it has been the worst part for me.
I'm sure you'll do just fine with it. I think our bodies adapt pretty well.

When is your surgery?

Michelle

#3 Post by **ZmaN277** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 2:18 pm

November 7th, but he wants it in 3 weeks prior to surgery.

How long after he put the expander in were you comfortable eating / talking relatively normally?

-Zach

#4 Post by **science teacher** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 5:13 pm

I had my expander placed 24 hours before surgery. I am SOOO glad I didn't fight it for a long time before surgery. I also wore mine more than most after surgery. 6months expander 4 months TPA.

kim

#5 Post by **Brandyleigh35** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 9:09 pm

Pardon my bluntness but its going to be Heelll that far in advance. I got mine 3 days before surgery and it sucked! I'm also glad I didn't have to fight it for a long time before surgery. Talking took awhile, as did just getting used to it. For like the first two weeks you will probably be dealing with saliva overflow. Your mouth will think this intrusion is food and will be overproducing saliva for several days. I won't get into all they gory details, however, if you go to my blog below. Start on Feb 2006 and read the the post that pertains to the appliance. Then go to March 2006 and start at the bottom. This will give you a good idea of what to expect, good and bad.

Brandy

Wed Sep 19, 2007 10:46 pm

Took me four days for my mouth to 'helping' me diges the rpe (i.e. salivate constantly).

Actually, the first two days were the worst--I bought a dishtowel just to mop up the fluid--it died down considerably on the third, requiring just an occasional mop, and then on the fourth I maybe had to spit once an hour.

The salivate till you scream phases seems to vary in duration, but everyone who gets fitted with an rpe seems to report having to put up with it for at least a day, or two.

#7 Post by **MGood** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 8:43 am

ZmaN277 (Zach),

After 4 months I still don't think I eat and talk like I used to. I find swallowing difficult and I still can't pronounce certain words correctly. Sometimes my family laughs because when I'm in a good conversation, words will get all slurred together.
You just have to keep telling yourself it's what you have to do to get where you want to be. What has happened with my jaw and teeth over the last 4 months has been amazing. I definately have days where I'm very anxious and tired of it all. That's when I get on Archwired or read all the blogs and know that I am not alone. Most everyone has had such fantastic results. I hope mine are just as good.

I think you'll adjust just fine! Good luck!!
Michelle

#8 Post by **ZmaN277** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 2:46 pm

The only positive thing I can think of is that since Im only 17 my body has a much higher recovery rate / hopefully not as much pain as some of you um... more mature...people..

#9 Post by **ohmyjaw** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 5:34 pm

It's not soooo bad, really. I had a removable expander for many many months as a kid, and then a fixed one for many many months more. Once I got over the gagging, it wasn't that big of a deal. I had a hard time proouncing words that start with a 'k' sound, like car or key. Somehow the device interferes with your tongue when you make that sound. Otherwise, you will get used to it no problem.