Pendulum First 3 Days

I got my pendulum in on Tuesday, July 27th. While the actual procedure itself went fine, the aftermath is amazingly difficult to deal with.

The Procedure:

I went in, sat down, and they took out the spacers and placed metal molar bands on my upper molars, except the last two on either side. Bands are metal and actually encircle the molars and are glued on.

Then they placed the pad on the top of my mouth and attached the wires and springs. At some point I got to rinse the glue taste out and I remember thinking "DEAR GOD WHAT HAVE I DONE!??!?!"

Here's a picture of someone elses pendulum once installed: http://www.kidbraces.com/appliances.htm#pendulum

They said I'd need to get used to the appliance, but I had already done my homework, and the general concensus of these pendulums is that they are medieval torture devices. So far, I agree wholeheartedly!

The aftermath:

It's hard to swallow without your tongue on the top of your mouth. And since there's something semi-permanently stuck up there right now, it makes it hard. My tongue is super swollen and you can easily tell where the holes from the appliance have cut away the first layer of skin.

My first attempt at eating was soup. It went fairly well but took me forever. Second attempt was rum and diet coke and let's face it - that went fairly well and made me sleepy so it was easier to relax.

I have a hard time saying need/greed, and for some reason "Terry is doing vouchers". Certain sound combinations cause me to gag when my tongue hits the back portion of the appliance. I'm certain I'll become used to it, but from what I've read, it takes about two months.

Swallowing is second nature unless you have something the size of a small child stuck to the roof of your mouth. Suddenly, what should be natural causes one to gag and feel as if they were drowning in their own saliva. Yay for panic attacks regarding drowning. Cause I don't already have THAT nightmare regularly.

Yesterday (Wednesday) I talked a bunch at work (mistake number one) and was unable to catch my breath and swallow for a good 30 minutes. Leading to a severely upset and overwhelmed Bee!!

I went home for lunch and tried my second attempt at eating. This time was solid foods! Did canned corn beef hash and eggs. It was a mistake. I was able to eat it, slowly - but it was way to much tongue movement, and I was still unable to catch my breath. Each swallow took so long to set up and attempt that I was out of breath just trying not to inhale spit.

I stayed home the rest of the day and tried to practice breathing and swallowing. I found that by pushing my tongue fairly hard against the pendulum/where the roof of my mouth should be, swallowing comes more easily. However, this morning I have a side effect of this that will eventually require me to cut off my tongue.

Pressing my tongue against this satanic tool of torture has caused indents in my tongue from where the appliance is (see first paragraph in this area). You can literally see largish holes in my tongue where the skin has been rubbed away. The skin rubbed away is still hanging to the rest of my tongue and it's super gross.

I'm focusing very hard on breathing, swallowing, not talking, and being at least a little productive. The productivity comes and goes, but the breathing and swallowing requires constant attention!

I tried putting wax on the pendulum hole that is most offending my poor tongue but now there's just wax between the roof of my mouth and this thing. Anbesol helped a little bit, and I'm trying to stay hydrated so the rest of my mouth doesn't get chewed up.

I'll have soup for lunch today, and will try some warm salt water rinses. Someone recommended some diluted peroxide which I'll try later. For now though, it's just a constant struggle to stay upbeat and happy.

If ONE MORE person says "This will all be worth it when your teeth are straight" it won't be pretty. :(

Adult in Braces = Beware!

I've been really lucky since May 26th, the day I was first braced. Hard to imagine that being true, of course - but sometime it's takes the misery of others to prove how easy we have it.

Got braced May 26th. Was (and still am) unable to chew properly, but that's a whole 'nother story!

July 13th went in for spacers. Had almost ZERO problems with them! How awesome is that?! They made me sore, and I only forgot not to floss between those teeth once.

July 20th went in for a mold of my top teeth. Easily the most intense and horrible dental experience I've ever had. I've never been more horrified or affected by something.

Since I've been braced I have only not flossed twice. Pat and I decided once a month is an acceptable "I don't want to floss tonight" limit. It's been two months - I've used both. What am I gonna save it up for? Not like I can go on travel without there being severe issues with having fun and eating!

I have discovered that alcohol and/or not drinking a metric ton of water is painful. Dehydration is one of my biggest fears. Within moments of waking up the brackets have rubbed my cheeks sore.

I tried chewing food I (apparently) shouldn't have and ended up breaking two brackets. One on chicken nuggets (Wendy's June 20th - Rancho Cucamonga for my birthday) and one that next weekend on tater tots. Because the ortho was out of town and my appointment was in a few weeks they decided to wait.

They still haven't re-done them yet. With all the work I had done this week, the ortho decided to wait. I've got a lot going on in my mouth right now.

In the mean time I eat rice, panang curry with shredded chicken, slimfast shakes, biscuits fresh out of the oven with honey and butter! microwavable veggie packs with zucchini and carrots.

I eat soups of all kinds (Split pea, cream of mushroom, cream of potato with lots of crackers soaked in it), and english muffins cut in to mushable sized pieces.

I asked my technician about build ups/bite turbos and she really recommended against them, though she maintained it was my decision. She said if I could be adult about not chewing on what I shouldn't - she'd stay away from them, if she was me.

Since she's in braces as well, I took her word for it and went 100% for the "I'm an adult, I don't have to chew to have a good time". Apparently though, half the fun of eating comes from chewing.

Home Today

A lot to share since I got the braces, but haven't been sure how to share it, so there will be a series of posts updating progress and issues.

Firstly, a huge thanks to the people at Arch Wired Metal Mouth forums. Always good to think that everyone's treatment is different, and we all react differently to adjustments, medications, and the issues that our braces bring up.

Secondly - I have such an amazing husband. He has handled my response to braces, the heat here in hell...I mean Ridgecrest, and the emotional issues that come with everything with such grace, patience, and love - that I am truly overwhelmed by his caring.

What is to follow will be, to the best of my ability, a run down of what I have experienced since May 26th - My first day in braces.