Progress?? 3 Weeks Post Expnaion

I am one day away from being five weeks post-op, and Monday was three weeks post expansion. I am not seeing that bad boy getting any smaller. Please let me know if I am wrong on this conclusion! But I have to say I don't mind it too much. I'm sure it could be worse.

I went to the OD, he put a stronger wire on top and bottom. He said something about a 16, and a less flexible wire? In four weeks I will go in for the evil power chains. So I am hoping I can be gap free by mid September. It was kinda funny...I was talking w/ my doc and asking about my timeline and such. He then made a comment on how adults are different from children b/c if they don't feel pain they feel like they aren't making progress. I told him he was so right!! I want pain every day for the arm and leg I just gave up for thiswhole journey.

Besides the normal chaos of life I am doing fairly well. My energy levels are back to normal for the most part. I am still holding back a lot in the gym...but that is mostly due to me trying not to loose any more weight. I have gained about a pound since the surgery. So I am happy with that I guess. I am very ready to be able to eat again though. I just ate dinner and rediscovered the difference in pain from surgery and from adjustments. So I will be back on spagettios and ice cream for the rest of the week.

The RPE is being it usual hellish self. I will never adjust to it..and I will never speak normally with it in my mouth. I really want to keep in when it finally gets taken out...I have a few more months to decide what I am going to do to the torturous device. Hopefully I will have more progress next week!



21 Aug 5 Aug


Side view Getting Up Close and Personal!

Can We Move Any Slower

So here we are...two weeks post expansion ( almost four weeks post-op). I don't feel like the gap has closed at all! I guess it doesn't help when I get the whole "Oh my Gosh, what happend to you?" question everyday. I have to admit...I probably sound pretty vain. The pain isn't that bad, my brusing was a breeze, but this dang gap is killing me!! I swear my confidence level has went from about a 7 before braces to about a 1.5. But hey my arch has gone from small to 6+ mm. So at least my numbers are getting bigger somewhere! :)

My swelling in my upper lip is still noticeable (to me only probably) I don't know if it is swelling or numbness... probably both. My energy levels are getting better. I can't say that eating is getting any easier. I am still on a very soft food diet, and I don't see that getting better any time soon. I am still eating soups, a lot of pastas, ice cream, stuff like that. But...I did have one wonderful meal last weekend. PIZZA!! Yes I can eat the toppings and the top of the crust. Talk about yummy. I don't eat fast food...but pizza is my one treat. I can't wait to be able to eat a whole piece again.

Well to sum up last week I had 90% of my sutures taken out on Tuesday (two weeks and six days post op) I also had an x-ray of the lovely empty space in my upper palate. I will go see Dr. S tomorrow. He will take out the remaining sutures, and hopefully tell me I am done with him for a while.

Other than that life is starting to get back to normal. I did a full week of work last week, and am beginning to somewhat get back into my work out routine. I worked out about 4x last week, and am slowly regaining my strength and endurance. I did about 15 miles on the bike this morning and really could feel how much I have really lost. Hopefully the doc will release me to start running again. I'm sure that will be the biggest challenge. Nothing like feeling your jaw bounce around when you are walking/running. Hopefully that will go away soon also.

Now that I mentioned going away soon....Boy-Howdy I can't wait to have this RPE out!! I hate it! My tougue feels like mini-landmines exploded in it all day. I can't talk, and I drool all over the place. And to top it all off, I can't drink wine or beer. This thing is by far the worst thing a ortho can do to a person. I am a changed woman I tell you...I will never again be unappreciative of a raw veggies, a nice cold beer, or my fav....a nice glass of wine.

Okay...now for the part that people really care about. My pics!!


5August 7 Aug ( 3weeks pot-op)





14 Aug(2weeks post-espansion)

2 Weeks Post-Op

Well it is hard to believe that it has already been two weeks since my surgery. But then again it is also hard to believe that there is over 6mm between my two front teeth!! Today I woke up and felt like my face had a little more swelling than usual. I walked around, (sat around) had some coffee, and before I knew it my swelling seemed to go back down. I think maybe sleeping increases swelling b/c of the angle of my face.

Today I really pushed myself to try to get back into my normal blow and go schedule. I had my coffee, ran to the chiropractor for an adjustment, and hit the road running. I cleaned my entire garage(rearranged, swept, cleaned the grill(GROSS!!) ect), then I trimmed up the bushes in the yard, planted a flower bush(that I recived as a get well for my surgery :) ) and to top it off I cleaned up the whole house. I'm such an overahiever!! I didn't end up sitting down until 830 tonight. I have to admit...due to my activity I broke down and took a dose of liquid motrin. Hey whatever it takes to get the job done. Today was my "It's been two weeks ..now get out there and GO!"

I'm definetely getting more confident that my surgery is healing up nicely. I do get a weird sensation in my upper jaw whenever I walk fast. It is almost like I can feel that my jaw is loose and moving slightly. What is scary is that it probably is.

I have one more day off before I have to go back to work. I am really nervous about it. I have developed a much needed relaxed life style the past two weeks...and I know work will get me back to my OCD/perfectionist/over-achiever self. But I guess it is inevitable. To top it off I just recieved an email from the big boss at the office. They are realeasing promotions next week. They are promoting at 37% which is so small. This is my first time up for a big promotion ( Staff Sergeant), so that has my nerves going too. I'm so glad I have my little diary to vent my nerves off to. And for any unfortunate person that actually reads this post...I apologize! I am getting it all out...I feel a little bit better. At least I feel like someone/something out there cares.

I guess I will quit ranting and brush my teeth. I am totally thinking the minty fresh clean will help calm me for bed. That and reading for an hour. One more day to sleep in. I will enjoy it! I hope to have more pics (of a closing GAP!! come on everyone cheer for the gap to close!) Good Night. Happy Two Weeks To Me!

12 Days Post-Op~* Im Done *~

It is official I am done expanding!! Even though I have had the worst day (non-braces related) since surgery...I am still ecstatic to say that I am done with expansion. I saw the OD today, he took out the awful wire that was split in two on my uppers (talking about poking me!), and he replaced my upper and lower wire. So hopefully I will be saying good-bye to the large gap soon!
I just walked in the door...and realized I was starving. I attempted to eat a nutri-grain bar. I have been able to eat such things(not necessarily eat but mush with my gums and parts of teeth that slightly touch) but it hurt to smash food this time. I think I am getting more feeling in my upper jaw. That was the first time that my teeth and well jaw bone were sore like that. So that is probably good in a way....but bad meaning more liquid ick!! Back to the Magic Bullet for dinner I guess.
Well I have only one photo for today...this is my thank God I am done expanding pic. Also notice that my swelling continues to decrease daily. Hope eveyone is doing well in Ortho land...you to Mom. Hopefuly I will be adding photos of a closing gap soon. :)

Incisions

This is eleven days post-op.

11 Days Post-Op

Sunday- Today as been a really good day. I am officially off pain killers, even the motrin, and experiencing no pain. I have expanded twice today (.5 mm) and again no pain. I did experience I slight change in the location of the pressure after expanding. Rather than a tight feeling at the front of my palate, it seemed to move to the back. As of my last visit with the doc I should only have two more turns. Not that I mind expansion...I actually look forward to it. It is the most amazing and exciting thing to see my bite make all these changes. It almost makes the sting of the cost of braces worth it. :)

My Mom requested a few more photos, so I will continue my photo journal. I decided to do more angles and some before and after photos! Although I am starting to notice less movement the last day or so when I expand. So you will have to let me know if you agree w/ me on that one.



Before Right Now Right Left (slightly more swelling on left)


Before Today

Ortho Consult Today (5.75 mm) Today View 2


I would love to hear anyones comments on my progress. In my opinion, it still seems like I am not expanding as much as I should. But I am possilby just obsessing about it (which is very possilbe.) I have more photos but I will post them on a new one.

Day Six Expansion (10 Days Post Op)

I spoke with my OS yesturday and he and my Ortho agree that I need more expansion. So I will continue to expand until Monday morning @ 3x/day. Here are more pictures!!


Friday AM 5 mm Friday PM 5.75 mm Friday PM



Sat AM 6mm Sat AM Face (Swelling and Brusing almost unnoticable)

Expansion Progress II

Day Three Day Three 3mm Day Four Morning 3 1/4 mm


Day Five 4 1/4mm Day Five Face Day Five Bite

Expansion Progress

Pre-Expansion First Expansion Day One 1mm


Day Two (Twin and I) Bite Day Two 2mm

My Recovery

Well I didn't post much on how my recovery went, so for the benefit of future SARPE patients....here is what it has been like for me!

I had my surger last Wednesday, which included the SARPE and removal of all four wisdom teeth. Immediatly after surgery my face was enormous. I wasn't really expecting that, I guess I thought it would take time to develop swelling and brusises. But it definetely didn't! The pain wasn't that bad...of course when you are on I.V. pain killers it never is. I stayed over night in the hospital ( this is only b/c I am military and I have the option..free of charge) I checked out around 9am the next morning. I felt pretty good leaving the hospital, and then way over did it thinking I was more recovered than I actually was. Word of advise--- The day after surgery you should SLEEP the whole day. By around 7pm I was in tears and sat in a distant stare unalbe to even express how I felt. Thank God my sister was there to pump me up with Loritab! Soon there after I went to bed.

Day three of surgery was very uneventful. I figured out the key to sucess while recovering from major surgery...sleep! So I did that for almost the entire day. My swelling went down remarkably by day three. I think that was a result of rest, ice, and constant elevation @ 45 degrees. One thing that started on day three was nose bleeds. I had someone come to my house and buy my car...the activity of walking outside and trying to talk caused a nose bleed. The funny part.... the sixteen year old girl buying my car saw my swollen and bruised face, and told her mom that her appointment next month to have her wisdom teeth was to be canceled. I assured her that my disfigurement was from SARPE rather than wisdom teeth. The look on her face while looking at me was unforgetable! At least I can laugh about that part. :)

Day four...again I slept most of the day. Swelling continued to go down.

Day five--- I bougth a new car!! And got a nose bleed while talking to the salesman. They say when a girl isn't feeling well she should shop right! :) Here is a pic of my new car...and my swollen face.


Day Six--- Sunday (day of rest) once agian I took it easy. I was very anxious on Sunday b/c I was going to start expanding on Monday. I completely winged myself off of the pain killers at this point. (24 hours w/out) I was beginning to feel more like myself, but not quite back to par. At this point I began lowering me elevation when I slept...much more comfortable.

Day Seven-- First Day of Expansion!! Monday I woke up and drank a protein shake, brusehd my teeth, and my sister and I sat down to try to figure out how to crank my jaw apart. It took a good 10 minutes to figure it out. I was so nervous that I become very light headed, I would advise lying down for the first one. It DOES NOT HURT, but regardless until you know for yourself it's easier to take laying down.

From this point on I will post pictures of my expansion. Like the saying a picture says a thousand words (and I know that is what everyone wants to see anyway).

To sum up the week so far... I am feeling much better. I don't have to take naps and am able to walk around and be more productive. My days are going by faster now...so I know that means I am healing well. My doctor has me expanding 4x a day (1/4 mm per turn) I will only turn for five days. Enjoy the pics!

SARPE--Day Four(Re-Cap)

I am four day post op. I have to admit today is the first day that I have been able to do things more on my own. I think part of that is b/c I finally have weened myself off the pain killers. Since I wasn't able to log on and write about my experience I am going to back track. So please endure my long windness ( I haven't been talking much the past four days :) )

Surgery Day-
I woke up very excited! My twin sister and I took my little puppy Merick for a walk at around 5am. As usual I was running late, I was supposed to walk out the door at 0545..but like two girls my sister and I didn't make it out until 0610. Oh well...surgery will go on. I finally checked into the hospital. I took a few pics before. It's sad ...but I had to fix my hair and wear a cute outfit.

I was rolled into surgery about 0810. The surgery lasted about 2 1/2 hours, however I wasn't moved out of recovery until about four hours later. Apparently I had super high blood pressure. I was 150/110. The worst part of that is my sister was waiting the entire 4 hours, and had heard nothing. She just so happens to be a recovery nurse. So to say the least she was flipping out! Obviously I can't tell you how surgery went..but I can show pictures! I asked my doctor to take photos during surgery. So please be warned...what follows are actual surgery photos!




As anyone knows, after you wake up from surgery. The rest of the day is pretty much a gonner. All I really remember from that day is about crying when I was finally allowed to see my sister and that my face felt like it has two softballs in each cheek(which I was hoping to be packing) which turned out to be all my very own swelling and tissue!

So to re-cap. Day one...I don't remember much, put I have wonderful photos to aide me in never forgetting. From this day forward...progress!

SARPE--Day One

Thursday Morning 24hrs Post-Op

Wedneday-- Out of Recovery (Major swelling on Left cheek)


Twin and I before surgery


Actual Surgery!!

Getting a Little Nervous

It is Saturday morning (actually noon, but I am still in my PJ's so morning) I have spent about two hours looking on the internet at others stories and pictures from Ortho and SARPE. I am nervous, yet completely thrilled. In four days I will be rolled into the OR!! I am not really nervous about the surgery, thanks to everyone's blog's and journals. But I am so nervous about how my teeth will react to the expansion. Will I have a big gap, or small? Will my teeth move back quickly? How long before I have this God forsaken RPE taken out of my mouth??? I am kinda of wondering why I am spending this morning on the computer....I will have a good week of nothing to do but sit and well sit. It is nice out too....I should be out ridding my bike or running. But then again I will loose to much weight from surgery as it is. :)


This will probably be my only entry pre-op..if anyone even cares to follow my recovery I am going to do my darndest to post pics of all my movement! I know that has been a huge help for me. So hopefully next week this same time (I can't belive I am finally doing this!!) I will have a new, well a new something!

My new Life w/ Braces and RPE

I know all to well the curiousity that comes with having ortho work done. So I wanted to have have photos to track my progress. I have been in braces for over a month and today is my one month with a RPE. So these are my
before photos.