Jrp31,
If your tongue hurts I came up with an idea for what you can do using a blister bandaide on my blog. Check March 2006. I used the wax and it did nothing, plus it was really hard to get out of my appliance.
Brandy
SARPE Surgery
Moderator: bbsadmin
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Brandyleigh35
- Posts: 1018
- Joined: Mon Jan 23, 2006 4:25 pm
- Location: Alaska
- Contact:
sarpe
Brandy
thanks I will try that. I seen a mom get upset with her kid for not wanting to talk.He had an expander put in. That was before i had these contraptions in my mouth I cant help but simpithize with the kid. Sharing a thought. Joy
thanks I will try that. I seen a mom get upset with her kid for not wanting to talk.He had an expander put in. That was before i had these contraptions in my mouth I cant help but simpithize with the kid. Sharing a thought. Joy
sarpe
Brandy
I had noticed that your swelling had taken quite a while to go down. My os said that it can take up to six months too go down. I still have swelling all around my sinus and i feel it every time i wash my face. He said to put a warm rag around it but i dont think thats enough. Any recommendations that have worked for anyone or do i just have to wait till it goes down on its own its been about a month. I checked out your march and found nothing on the rpe idea for a sore tongue. it said to check out your blog for the great idea your dh gave you but i must be blind i could not find it. Thanks for anyones help Joy
I had noticed that your swelling had taken quite a while to go down. My os said that it can take up to six months too go down. I still have swelling all around my sinus and i feel it every time i wash my face. He said to put a warm rag around it but i dont think thats enough. Any recommendations that have worked for anyone or do i just have to wait till it goes down on its own its been about a month. I checked out your march and found nothing on the rpe idea for a sore tongue. it said to check out your blog for the great idea your dh gave you but i must be blind i could not find it. Thanks for anyones help Joy
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science teacher
- Posts: 428
- Joined: Wed Aug 30, 2006 7:31 pm
- Location: kansas
sarpe
jrp31,
My OS told me to use a heating pad on my face to finish taking out the swelling. It worked well I saw/felt a lot of difference in about 3 days.
Kim
My OS told me to use a heating pad on my face to finish taking out the swelling. It worked well I saw/felt a lot of difference in about 3 days.
Kim
SARPE 11/23/06
Expansion over 12/18/06 8.5mm
Brace day tops 1/15/07
Brace day bottoms 3/19/07
all expansion devices removed 9/19/07
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Brandyleigh35
- Posts: 1018
- Joined: Mon Jan 23, 2006 4:25 pm
- Location: Alaska
- Contact:
You probably looked in March of 2007, its in March 2006. Just scroll down about two entries from the top and you will see my open mouth in all its glory with a blister bandage on the appliance, as well as a pic of the actual box of bandaides I used.
As for the swelling, I religiously used Bromelain for 8 weeks, which helped a lot. I also used heated rice packs. They offer moist heat and stay warm for a long time. Other then that I would think your just going to have to wait. I don't know if all the vitamins helped with my swelling but the majority of it came down pretty quick. I can notice a bit of residual swelling still but most others cannot really see it anymore. My doctor told me it can take up to a year to go away. Another friend of mine had swelling til she was 8 months post op and then it went down. It really is very individual and you will probably just have to stick it out like the rest of us, til your body decides its ready to release the fluid its retaining. Sorry!
Brandy
As for the swelling, I religiously used Bromelain for 8 weeks, which helped a lot. I also used heated rice packs. They offer moist heat and stay warm for a long time. Other then that I would think your just going to have to wait. I don't know if all the vitamins helped with my swelling but the majority of it came down pretty quick. I can notice a bit of residual swelling still but most others cannot really see it anymore. My doctor told me it can take up to a year to go away. Another friend of mine had swelling til she was 8 months post op and then it went down. It really is very individual and you will probably just have to stick it out like the rest of us, til your body decides its ready to release the fluid its retaining. Sorry!
Brandy
sarpe
Thanks everyone for your great tips. Well i went to the ortho today and i have too still turn once daily for the next three weeks then 8 weeks stabilization. I marked my calendar 
. I was at about (beginning)before sarpe. 17-18 mm and the goal is for 33-35mm. each turn is about 1/4 mm. I have pics that i can post for the new people like me too see. I dont have a right before pic of my upper jaw. I tried to upload some pictures what is the easiest way to do that. talking to someone who has never done that before.Thanks Joy
. I was at about (beginning)before sarpe. 17-18 mm and the goal is for 33-35mm. each turn is about 1/4 mm. I have pics that i can post for the new people like me too see. I dont have a right before pic of my upper jaw. I tried to upload some pictures what is the easiest way to do that. talking to someone who has never done that before.Thanks JoyWell, I went to my appt. yesterday. I was a little discouraged when I left. I do finally have a date to have my expander removed, November 13th. BUT now, he wants to put in a TPA. I guess he likes to be really careful. It seems too careful to me. On November 13th, I'll be just shy of 6 months!! UGH!!
On another note, he put in an 018 stainless steel wire and put some bends in it to help me close that annoying triangle gap between my upper two front teeth. Hopefully it will do the trick.
Does anyone have any info. on TPA's?? I'll have to go back and read about when Brandy had hers.
I hope everyone is doing well.
Talk soon.
Michelle
On another note, he put in an 018 stainless steel wire and put some bends in it to help me close that annoying triangle gap between my upper two front teeth. Hopefully it will do the trick.
Does anyone have any info. on TPA's?? I'll have to go back and read about when Brandy had hers.
I hope everyone is doing well.
Talk soon.
Michelle
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chipmunkcheeks
- Posts: 206
- Joined: Wed Jul 11, 2007 3:59 pm
- Location: Long Island, NY
first adjustment
hey all,
michelle- i know waht i a tpa is, and im sorry you just cant go expanderless, but im sure it must be better than this tcontraption. at least yours is coming off relatively quickly. 8-9 months for me!!! now that is a sentence to be cry about! plus! no braces to finish closing the gap until jan or feb. i asked the OD if i would be ready for surgery in july and he said thats the plan so i guess my teeth are not that bad that he is starting me so close to a surgery timeframe. even still, my bottom wire is straight, even from the beginning. i really only have to rotate my bicuspids and close the gap from removing a teeth. as i quote the OS and OD...nice teeth, bad jaw. that is what i was told everywhere i went. nobody could figure out why i was there until i stopped faking my bite...i gues you could call me a pro smile faker. even in school the other teachers dont believe it until i show them. nobody ever realized how bad it was...
anyways, onto my first adjustment ever...
i went in and got settled. they checked that all of the hardware was intact and it was! i tried to be really good. they didnt yell at me that i had nasty teeth, so i guess im doing a good job flossing, brushing, etc. anyways, he put on a heavier wire and couldnt believe that my teeth were still sensitive to the first wire...does that mean im never going to get used to these wire becuase they keep changing them when my teeth are still sensitive. i dont know. i guess i will find out. i have no choice, right? so anyways, he said i could have elastics if i wanted otherwise i was done until next month. i chose not to do elastics. i know i teach 1st grade and theyd love halloween rubberbands on my teeth, but it doesnt help to pick up a date. especially since i already look so young. anyways, i will try to post some pics sometime soon, but there is not really much of a difference yet, as it will take some time to turn these stupid bicuspids and close th egap. maybe afew before and after pics when that happens will be good. anyways, i will try to post a few gap clsing pics this weekend. right now, 3 months post op with NO braces on top yet, my gap has gone from 7mm ish to 2mm! pretty good i think! let me know how your gaps are doing. hope all is well... talk to you later.
lisa
ps- michelle, ward...after braces what does your treatment call for??
i have another surgery next julyish...just wondering if we are in the same boat at all. thanks.
michelle- i know waht i a tpa is, and im sorry you just cant go expanderless, but im sure it must be better than this tcontraption. at least yours is coming off relatively quickly. 8-9 months for me!!! now that is a sentence to be cry about! plus! no braces to finish closing the gap until jan or feb. i asked the OD if i would be ready for surgery in july and he said thats the plan so i guess my teeth are not that bad that he is starting me so close to a surgery timeframe. even still, my bottom wire is straight, even from the beginning. i really only have to rotate my bicuspids and close the gap from removing a teeth. as i quote the OS and OD...nice teeth, bad jaw. that is what i was told everywhere i went. nobody could figure out why i was there until i stopped faking my bite...i gues you could call me a pro smile faker. even in school the other teachers dont believe it until i show them. nobody ever realized how bad it was...
anyways, onto my first adjustment ever...
i went in and got settled. they checked that all of the hardware was intact and it was! i tried to be really good. they didnt yell at me that i had nasty teeth, so i guess im doing a good job flossing, brushing, etc. anyways, he put on a heavier wire and couldnt believe that my teeth were still sensitive to the first wire...does that mean im never going to get used to these wire becuase they keep changing them when my teeth are still sensitive. i dont know. i guess i will find out. i have no choice, right? so anyways, he said i could have elastics if i wanted otherwise i was done until next month. i chose not to do elastics. i know i teach 1st grade and theyd love halloween rubberbands on my teeth, but it doesnt help to pick up a date. especially since i already look so young. anyways, i will try to post some pics sometime soon, but there is not really much of a difference yet, as it will take some time to turn these stupid bicuspids and close th egap. maybe afew before and after pics when that happens will be good. anyways, i will try to post a few gap clsing pics this weekend. right now, 3 months post op with NO braces on top yet, my gap has gone from 7mm ish to 2mm! pretty good i think! let me know how your gaps are doing. hope all is well... talk to you later.
lisa
ps- michelle, ward...after braces what does your treatment call for??
i have another surgery next julyish...just wondering if we are in the same boat at all. thanks.
Michelle,
A TPA is a transpalatal arch. Mine was attached to my first permanent molars (sixes) with molar bands, and basically it is a wire that goes across the palate to give a bit of added stability for a couple of months. It's just to ensure that sufficient bone fills in the gaps before it's left without anything to support it.
It's a pain, but most people feel it's not as much of a pain as the expander. I didn't like mine, but before I knew it, the OD was taking it out.
Brandy does have pictures of hers on her blog, and I would imagine that it's pretty typical of what SARPE patients get.
A TPA is a transpalatal arch. Mine was attached to my first permanent molars (sixes) with molar bands, and basically it is a wire that goes across the palate to give a bit of added stability for a couple of months. It's just to ensure that sufficient bone fills in the gaps before it's left without anything to support it.
It's a pain, but most people feel it's not as much of a pain as the expander. I didn't like mine, but before I knew it, the OD was taking it out.
Brandy does have pictures of hers on her blog, and I would imagine that it's pretty typical of what SARPE patients get.
There are no ordinary moments.
Check out my blog! http://pcadams.wordpress.com/
Check out my blog! http://pcadams.wordpress.com/
Hi Lisa,
I don't think it's uncommon for your teeth to be sensitive, given what we've been through. My teeth are like that sometimes. Actually, my right canine is still super sensitive. I mentioned it a while ago to my OS but, he didn't seem very concerned.
It is funnt how all of the Ortho's do things so differently. It really bothers me that mine hasn't put my bottom braces on yet. He said he wanted my expander out first. So on the 13th, I'm going to remind him that the next appt. should be to put them on. I just feel like we're wasting time. UGH! My next surgery should be next spring/summer sometime and I should be having a LeFort I Osteotomy to shorten my posterior maxilla. Although, at my last appt., my Ortho mentioned something about a possible advancement, which would mean my lower jaw too. I'm trying not to think about that right now because the lower surgery was not in the original game plan.
Ward,
I've been waiting to see if you would post. I wondered how your appt. went on Thursday and if you had your expander removed??
Phil,
Thanks so much for the info. I did go back and read Brandy's blog. I do hope it is better than this expander. I just wish I didn't have to have anything!!!
How is everyone else doing? jrp31, jma295psu, sauerkraut??
Take care.
Michelle
http://www.myorthojourney.blogspot.com/
I don't think it's uncommon for your teeth to be sensitive, given what we've been through. My teeth are like that sometimes. Actually, my right canine is still super sensitive. I mentioned it a while ago to my OS but, he didn't seem very concerned.
It is funnt how all of the Ortho's do things so differently. It really bothers me that mine hasn't put my bottom braces on yet. He said he wanted my expander out first. So on the 13th, I'm going to remind him that the next appt. should be to put them on. I just feel like we're wasting time. UGH! My next surgery should be next spring/summer sometime and I should be having a LeFort I Osteotomy to shorten my posterior maxilla. Although, at my last appt., my Ortho mentioned something about a possible advancement, which would mean my lower jaw too. I'm trying not to think about that right now because the lower surgery was not in the original game plan.
Ward,
I've been waiting to see if you would post. I wondered how your appt. went on Thursday and if you had your expander removed??
Phil,
Thanks so much for the info. I did go back and read Brandy's blog. I do hope it is better than this expander. I just wish I didn't have to have anything!!!
How is everyone else doing? jrp31, jma295psu, sauerkraut??
Take care.
Michelle
http://www.myorthojourney.blogspot.com/
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sauerkraut
- Posts: 573
- Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2007 2:57 pm
- Location: Germany
Hi Michelle
Sorry to hear the roof of your mouth won't gain its freedom for a while yet. From what I've read on here it sounds like the TPA might not be as cumbersome as the expander so here's hoping you get on with it OK. And I hope you manage to get some answers about treatment progress at your next appointment. Poor you, if you're going to be lumbered with more surgery later. Perhaps it won't come to that after all. And even if it does, it will all be worth it in the end!!
My ortho sounds a bit like yours actually - very cautious! Before my expander was fitted he told me it would need to stay in for at least 3 months. First appointment after it was fitted he said 4 months would be better. Somehow I can just picture that being put back yet again when the time comes. Oh well, I suppose it's just a long drawn out process and I didn't help matters by dithering for 10 years+ before committing myself!
As for my progress, I'm over 3 weeks post op now and not doing badly. I can eat much more normally although I still prefer things that don't need much chewing. And cleaning up afterwards is a bit of a pain! Talking is mostly OK if I take it slowly. The "f" and "ch" sounds are hardest - partly perhaps because of the huge gap between my front teeth, and a top lip that's still a bit numb.
I'm off to England for a week very soon, and it will be interesting to see the reaction from folks there, many of whom don't know what I've been up to.
Take care, everyone!
Sorry to hear the roof of your mouth won't gain its freedom for a while yet. From what I've read on here it sounds like the TPA might not be as cumbersome as the expander so here's hoping you get on with it OK. And I hope you manage to get some answers about treatment progress at your next appointment. Poor you, if you're going to be lumbered with more surgery later. Perhaps it won't come to that after all. And even if it does, it will all be worth it in the end!!
My ortho sounds a bit like yours actually - very cautious! Before my expander was fitted he told me it would need to stay in for at least 3 months. First appointment after it was fitted he said 4 months would be better. Somehow I can just picture that being put back yet again when the time comes. Oh well, I suppose it's just a long drawn out process and I didn't help matters by dithering for 10 years+ before committing myself!
As for my progress, I'm over 3 weeks post op now and not doing badly. I can eat much more normally although I still prefer things that don't need much chewing. And cleaning up afterwards is a bit of a pain! Talking is mostly OK if I take it slowly. The "f" and "ch" sounds are hardest - partly perhaps because of the huge gap between my front teeth, and a top lip that's still a bit numb.
I'm off to England for a week very soon, and it will be interesting to see the reaction from folks there, many of whom don't know what I've been up to.
Take care, everyone!
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wardenclyffe
- Posts: 45
- Joined: Tue May 29, 2007 9:34 pm
Hey all,
Sorry I haven't posted. Just been lazy. Had my ortho appt last Thurs. Uneventful. Expander still in. My lower incisors are crowded and she wants to shave the sides of them down. She put some spacers between them to make room for the drill or wheel or whatever she'll use. I go in tomorrow to have the spacers removed and the teeth reduced.
On a lighter note, I'm going to some Hallowe'en parties this weekend. There will be lots of people who have never seen my braces. I asked my ortho if she could give me some head gear to wear to the parties and she said she would. So that's all happening tomorrow.
Ward
Sorry I haven't posted. Just been lazy. Had my ortho appt last Thurs. Uneventful. Expander still in. My lower incisors are crowded and she wants to shave the sides of them down. She put some spacers between them to make room for the drill or wheel or whatever she'll use. I go in tomorrow to have the spacers removed and the teeth reduced.
On a lighter note, I'm going to some Hallowe'en parties this weekend. There will be lots of people who have never seen my braces. I asked my ortho if she could give me some head gear to wear to the parties and she said she would. So that's all happening tomorrow.
Ward
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wardenclyffe
- Posts: 45
- Joined: Tue May 29, 2007 9:34 pm
So I got a couple of my lower teeth shaved down to a manageable size and shape today. Also, I'm scheduled to have my epander removed on Nov. 1st! I don't think I'll get a TPA right away because they want my upper arch to collapse a little bit, but I'll get one eventually.
I also got my joke headgear and it looks awesome.
Ward
I also got my joke headgear and it looks awesome.
Ward
Hi everyone! Just wanted to see how you are all doing?
I spoke with my Ortho, at my daughters appt. the other day and he decided that he is going to place my lower braces on the same day as my expander is removed and the TPA put in. I have a 2 hour appt. I'm guessing my jaw will be pretty sore by then.
My lips are still bothering me. Very chapped and they burn alot. I saw a dermatologist last night and he recommended taht I put hydrocortisone ointment on them 4x a day for 4 days and 2x a day for 2 days. Then he only wants me using vaseline other times. Hopefully this will do the trick. Has anyone else had this problem?
Lisa, what is your next surgery going to be?
Ward, how did that headgear work out?
Sauerkraut, how are you doing? Have you left for England yet?
jrp31, how's the recovery & expanding going?
Well, Happy Halloween everyone!!
Take care!
Michelle
http://www.myorthojourney.blogspot.com/
I spoke with my Ortho, at my daughters appt. the other day and he decided that he is going to place my lower braces on the same day as my expander is removed and the TPA put in. I have a 2 hour appt. I'm guessing my jaw will be pretty sore by then.
My lips are still bothering me. Very chapped and they burn alot. I saw a dermatologist last night and he recommended taht I put hydrocortisone ointment on them 4x a day for 4 days and 2x a day for 2 days. Then he only wants me using vaseline other times. Hopefully this will do the trick. Has anyone else had this problem?
Lisa, what is your next surgery going to be?
Ward, how did that headgear work out?
Sauerkraut, how are you doing? Have you left for England yet?
jrp31, how's the recovery & expanding going?
Well, Happy Halloween everyone!!
Take care!
Michelle
http://www.myorthojourney.blogspot.com/
Hey Everybody...
I have read every single page and am inspired by all of you! I trust your opinions, so thought I would run something by you. This is the "tentative" (what a scary word!) plan for me:
Braces (top and bottom) & Expander put on
SARPE & extraction of 4 wisdom teeth: 4 - 6 months later
expansion time: 3 weeks - 3 months
Expander removed after approx. 1 year (might be able to have it replaced with some sort of wire)
Total time in braces - approx. 2 years.
Does this sound about right? My ortho assistant told me we wouldn't be turning the expander until after surgery, so why does it need to go in so far in advance? Do you think they would push it back? If I remember right, Brandy only had hers in for 3 days before surgery...
Did anyone else have braces before SARPE?
I am at the very start of this journey (I haven't even had the consult with my surgeon yet!) but I need some reassurance that this is a normal plan.
Thanks!
I have read every single page and am inspired by all of you! I trust your opinions, so thought I would run something by you. This is the "tentative" (what a scary word!) plan for me:
Braces (top and bottom) & Expander put on
SARPE & extraction of 4 wisdom teeth: 4 - 6 months later
expansion time: 3 weeks - 3 months
Expander removed after approx. 1 year (might be able to have it replaced with some sort of wire)
Total time in braces - approx. 2 years.
Does this sound about right? My ortho assistant told me we wouldn't be turning the expander until after surgery, so why does it need to go in so far in advance? Do you think they would push it back? If I remember right, Brandy only had hers in for 3 days before surgery...
Did anyone else have braces before SARPE?
I am at the very start of this journey (I haven't even had the consult with my surgeon yet!) but I need some reassurance that this is a normal plan.
Thanks!