SARPE Surgery

Message

#766 Post by **crazybeautiful** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 1:22 pm

Thanks. I'll see what it feels like when I expand tonight. Up to this morning I haven't had any pain either so perhaps it is just a one off. However, I have an appointment with my ortho tomorrow so if in the 2 turns I make before then the pain is the same, I'll have a word. Hopefully it won't be...

#767 Post by **jrp31** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 2:22 pm

I was wondering if anyone can answer why is it that we get the super sensitive teeth after sarpe? Thanks Joy

#768 Post by **crazybeautiful** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 9:59 am

Phew, relieved that the pain was not caused by expansion, rather, I've sourced it as being on the left side of my gum line (you know what I mean) where it is healing from the stitches. I think it just started hurting at the same time as I turned the expander, and topped with the slight discomfort I feel anyway, it felt like my hole mouth was in serious pain.

However, the problem of pain still remains. I dunno why it's only my left side that is hurting. It comes and goes throughout the day- and woke me up twice last night- and I was crying the second time (frustration more than anything I think

). It's a throbbing pain that seems constant, though lessens in intensity some times then greatens in others (like last night)

Any way to alleviate this? I've had two salt water rinses today (never borthered with these rinses previously, but I can't stand the pain) which kinda works for a short period, but not really long enough. I shall continue with them though

And I keep biting both my cheeks so the inside of my mouth is sore, and I'm sick of getting food stuck in my expander, and of not being able to fully bite down on anything...today I am just annoyed!

#769 Post by **wardenclyffe** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 1:46 am

crazybeautiful,

Welcome to the wonderful world of palatal expansion. Nothing that you are experiencing is unusal. It sucks. It will get better, but it won't stop sucking completely. Soup and applesauce. I'm not a big pill popper, but an aspirin is worth trying.

Annoyance is a common symptom; just don't let it take control of you.

Ward

#770 Post by **crazybeautiful** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 9:26 am

I'm over my annoyance now, and am coping- paracetamol has helped also!

So yesterday was supposed to be my last day of expansion, and today was when my ortho would fix the expander so it wouldn't go back on itself and lost some expansion (does that make sense? I don't know the technical term, if there is one). Anyway, I felt that I didn't have enough expansion, and my ortho agreed, so I'm doing another week of expansion (4 weeks in all, turning twice a day)- or until the expander gets to its end, in which case there's not much to be done. She syringed my mouth with Corsodyl too, to get all the crap out that gets stuck (worst part of this by far), and that felt nice- and they gave me a syringe to do it myself if I so feel the need, which I surely will

#771 Post by **jrp31** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 3:17 pm

I use these tiny little brushes to sweep the roof of the expander and to get in the areas that are hard (Travel Spirex Brush ) you can get them anywhere that will make you feel cleaner in the mouth at least. I have bought mine at the drug store and the grocery store. joy

#772 Post by **crazybeautiful** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 5:29 am

Yeah, I use those interdental brushes too, but my expander has a load of plastic on it (as opposed to say, the one Brandy had- pictures on her blog) and covers the whole roof of my mouth, so even those brushes can't get the little remnants of food like the syringe can.

#773 Post by **wardenclyffe** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 4:15 pm

When I recommend applesauce, it's not just because it's easy to eat. I found that it helped clean out my expander. No sugar added is the kind I used. I happen to prefer it to the sweetened applesauce, and it's better for the teeth. I'd force the applesauce up and over the expander and it would sort of clean it out. Not a perfect solution, by any means, but a step in the right direction.

Ward

#774 Post by **bohy1b** » Tue Dec 25, 2007 7:30 am

Hi guys, new to the forum and thought my story might help out those who are thinking about doing this surgery and are nervous about it. I am 25 and had the following operations done exactly 2 weeks ago to the day:

- sapre surgery
- removal of 2 wisdom teeth
- septoplasty
- turbinate reduction surgery

I had virtually no pain in hospital and little swelling, barely used my morphine and when i did it was only cause i was bored and wanted to get some sleep.

Started swelling after 48 hours. Not too severe. And some naseua on day 3.

I was pretty misreable for the first 5 days, but i think a lot of that had to do with not being able to breeth through my nose and having those annoying and sometime painful splints in there because of the septoplasty. The whole thing also meant that i had to breath through my mouth which meant a very dry mouth and not very kind on the wounds in there.

I had the splints removed a week ago and started turning. No pain, just some pressure. (the pressure was there for the first 4-5 days of turning and now i dont really feel anything).

Virtually no swelling after 10 days, and no pain. Still can't eat whatever I want though.

Worst part about the surgery was the amount of weight i lost. 4kg, mostly muscle. Not happy cause i am already under weight, gonna be tough putting it back on.

I am becoming slightly concerned that my surgeon may have forgotten to actually do the sapre surgery. I have been turning this thing for a week now and there is no gap (should be 1.5mm by now).

Does anyone know how long it will take before a gap appears (ofcourse i am not complaining about the gap thing as long as widening is happening)?

Also for anyone having problems with their expander, i got an expander which uses the superscew. See the sight below:
http://www.superscrewsuperspring.com/

After reading everyone's experience with their expander, I would recommend mine. It is very very easy to turn. Barely interferes with my speaking (s and k are still a little poor). Does not hurt my tonge and interferes a little with eating. You should look into it and maybe ask your orthodontist to use this if it is suitable for you.

Cheers, and if anyone knows about the gap thing let me know.

#775 Post by **crazybeautiful** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 6:18 am

I think if your surgeon had forgotten to do SARPE, you wouldn't be able to turn the expander at all

My gap appeared straight away, however, by the end the gap did not grow bigger even though I was still turning (ie, I needed around a cm expansion, but my gap is not that big). I think if you don't need much expansion the gap will not begin to show straight away as the change to your jaw structure is not as great and therefore the gap will not be as prominent.

I bet now you'll tell me you need about a 12mm expansion and blow my theory away

#776 Post by **shani** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 6:38 am

my gap post sarpe was very slow to start, but then all of a sudden it was as if it just started flying open and the gap would become noticeable larger by the day, so i wouldnt worry to much

#777 Post by **bohy1b** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 8:21 am

You are right, I am only getting a 6mm expansion. I guess i should be happy that i am not getting much of a gap. I just hope that I am not going through all this for only a minimal change in my mouth and jaw.

I had teeth pulled out (unnecessarily) when i got braces when i was younger. This expansion was suppose to to an extent compensate for that.

Thanks for your replies, I am less worried now.

#778 Post by **crazybeautiful** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 9:24 am

Though 6mm might seem small compared to say, mine (which in turn is not as big as what some people get), it will still make a huge difference to your bite and function and will be so worth it in the end. I was confused at first because I looked at my gap and was like 'Hey, shouldn't it be like a cm?' and I thought it was tiny (it is NOT

) and that I was not expanding enough. But look at the expander itself and you see how wide your palate is becoming.

The superscrew expander looks like it would be more comfortable- I wonder if it is too expensive/not in high circulation to be used a lot? But it is turned with a wrench? Very industrial

The actual turning wasn't hard (for my mum, that is. I couldn't do it

) and my 'tool' locked in so it turned really easily and safely. The food is very annoying though, as is the speech impediment- I can do s's fine- but a k or a q is terrible- and k's crop up an awful lot in speech! I physically cannot pronounce the letter 'Q' anymore

#779 Post by **chipmunkcheeks** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 9:48 pm

hey all,

i know i havent been on in awhile, so i figured i owed an update. How are you doing warden and others??

I am finally getting my braces on top, 6 months post op. (Did anyone else have to wait that long???) The gap will be closed all the way!!! I am getting my expander removed, er, switched, to a TPA at the end of January, and at the same time brackets and an archwire placed.

The plan is also to have me ready for Lefort I, BSSO, and genio at the very beginning of July.

Let me know if any of you are on the same track and we can keep in touch. Sorry I havent been on. After I healed from the SARPE, it was pretty much boring stuff, just lower adjustments and waiting to hear that i can finally neaten up my top teeth.

Happy New Year!

Lisa

#780 Post by **bohy1b** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 11:54 pm

Two weeks and no gap. When should i start to worry?
My luck is that both my ortho and surgeon are on holidays.

Metal Mouth Message Board

SARPE Surgery

long time no talk