I've had my quad helix in since June so I'll see if I can answer some of your questions.
1. I don't remember exactly how long it took to put the expander in, but it was quick--less than 15 min. They will basically remove your spacers, ensure the appliance fits correctly and then glue it into place
2. The quad helix did not rip up my tounge at all. It did (and still does) leave an indentation on my tounge in the shape of the quad helix, but that doesn't hurt. I think my tounge was a bit sore the first day or two, but it wasn't anything like those darn spacers
3. Yes, the brackets on your molars might cause sores on the insides of your cheeks--I used wax for 1 week and then it wasn't a problem anymore. I had a rougher time with my braces brackets--the quad helix brackets weren't bad
4. I did have a lisp for a bit--I talked out loud to my cat alot to get used to speaking, and my coworkers were suprised my speech was so normal the day after I got the quad helix. It did take me about three weeks before I could say the word "forty"---it always came out as foh-dee
5. It probably took me a month before I forgot it was up there on the roof of my mouth
6. I didn't have a drooling problem. I noticed I was producing more saliva, but not to the point that I drooled. I did tend to spit more when I talked, but that still happens today
Bottom line: don't worry! I found getting the quad helix first made getting the actual braces not seem so scary--getting the quad helix and the braces applied doesn't hurt at all---it's later on in the day or the next morning when you start to feel sore.
Good luck on the 11th!
