Brace Yourself

[bubbajade]

It's finally here--the day I have been waiting for (and dreading) most of my life--my first official day of braces! When I went to my ortho this morning for a check-up on my Hyrax (palette expander), he said we could put the top braces on TODAY! I still can''t believe it--after all the consultations and reading others stories on this website I cautiously hoped I might be crazy lucky and get my braces no sooner than three, maybe 4-6 weeks. I had even been asking my co-workers and supporters all week to remember me early this morning and think--Braces, Braces, Braces.... Wow, was that some powerful manifestation-- thanks everyone!

Words can't describe my excitement--tinged only slightly with a hint of trepidation (after all, today is only the beginning.) I am 27 years old and today I am 15 days post op SARPE (6.75 mm gap), my Hyrax (palette expander) has been in for 17 days, and as of this morning top Damon Clears are ON and bottom metal ones coming in one month! Upper and lower orthognathic planned in 8 -12 months, if all proceeds well--yikes! But I know it will be totally worth it, and am already excited for that day too.

I still have the Hyrax, so it's a little crowded in there with the braces too, but after wearing one from ages 13-15 with no results and all the discomfort, it's really not that bad. The only thing I'm surprised about is that with the gap and now the addition of the braces I suddenly have a little problem with drooling if I'm not paying attention! Eating is going to be difficult for a little while longer, but I'm hopeful I'll be able to return to bulkier foods and stronger chewing once this pesky expander is adios!

When I was contemplating SARPE for the past year and all there was to come after, I could not fathom how I would make it through all involved in my treatment with the uber necessary "positive" attitude my surgeon and ortho told me I would need to maintain. I'm fairly certain I can credit much of my current confidence and excitement to this website, and am incredibly grateful. Many thanks to all of those who contribute so openly and honestly, for helping to provide a more informed and less fearful experience for others, and for sharing a lot of encouragement-I am truly honored to join your ranks!

[Lia77]

Hey! Well done on getting this far already My brother will be getting SARPE at the end of this year and he is quite nervous. How did it all go?

It must feel great to have the braces on Good luck!

[bubbajade]

Thank you!! It does feel great to have the braces on and I am so excited!

My SARPE wasn't at all as bad as I thought it might be--and only 16 days post-op I'm feeling super! The first 3-4 days were pretty difficult, but the pain was manageable. As long as I kept to my pain med schedule and stayed comfortable (translation: minimal activity, stayed in bed propped up on pillows, ginger ale, blended soup and ample amounts of applesauce at my disposal) I was ok. I looked like a boxer chipmunk with heinous bruising (I'm fair skinned), overall the swelling and bruising was actually similar to what I experienced with having my wisdom teeth last year (all 4 impacted!) but without the deep ache.

My surgeon (awesome surgeon, has done hundreds of SARPEs) turned my Hyrax to 3mm during the surgery, and I started turning the Hyrax key after 4 days. I felt a lot of pressure in my cheeks and upper arch there wasn't as much pain as I expected. The post surgery swelling diminished surprisingly quickly, by day 5 I was looking almost normal. I went back to work exactly one week after my surgery and I added Spirutein powder to my morning milkshakes, the protein really helped my energy level stay up during the day.

I still have a some swelling under/behind my nose, but my incision is almost completely healed. I also have a little parathesia to the left of my nose, but I think it will go away soon, the feeling comes back more everyday.

The truth is I am a BIG wimp about pain (especially pain!), discomfort, numbness, difficulty breathing or eating, orthodontic appliances and feeling icky in general--and I did fine.

Hope this helps and that your brother's surgery goes well!