Re: hyrax expander and starvation!! for Kristie -- Metal Mouth Forum

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Subject: Re: hyrax expander and starvation!! for Kristie

Author:
Melissa

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Date Posted: 14:15:51 07/16/04 Fri
In reply to: Kristie 's message, "Re: hyrax expander and starvation!! for Kristie" on 13:29:53 07/16/04 Fri

Kristie-
I have to say that before 6/29/04 I had never been in the hospital and other than having wisdom teeth out I had never had surgery. I was so scared. I was all over the internet looking for info and I found a really great website, it helped so much. I very nearly backed out and I begged my husband to call the hospital and tell them that I was not coming. I had to be at the hospital at 6:30 in the morning for a 7:30 surgery. The anesthesiologist came in and started my IV and then gave me something to relax. They took me into the operating room and knocked me out. The next thing that I remember was I was waking up. I have to say that talking was a little hard but the nurse was able to understand me. I had some pain and the nurse started me on a morphine drip. Once the pain was under control they moved me to my own room. After I started getting more awake I realized that it was my throat that hurt and not the roof of my mouth and the inscisions. I had NO PAIN from the actual surgery. I had a really rough time with the tube they crammed down my nose though. I still have a sore in my nose that is trying to heal. My throat was so sore for the first week after the surgery that it was hard to take antibiotics and my decongestant. Most of the people that I talk to say the same thing. My upper jaw was so loose after the procedure. If I touched my tongue to my teeth my entire jaw would move, it felt really gross. By the third day my jaw felt like it had "re-attatched" itself. It's amazing how the body works. I can not stress enough that I had NO PAIN! The swellig was uncomfortable and I couldn't wait to recognize myself in the mirror again. Other small things people should no...don't bend over for at least a week...blood comes shooting out of your nose...brushing your teeth is hard only because of the swelling. I actually still have no feeling in my upper gumline. Oh and when you have surgery they put a big suture where your nose connects to the inside of your mouth. they do this so that your nose doesn't spread as you expand the palate. As far as the gap is concerned...that is by far the worst part. My ortho is wanting to achieve a 9mm gap...that is HUGE!!! When I went Tuesday for a check-up I was at 2.5mm. Luckily, I don't have to work so I consider myself very fortunate. I only have to leave the house if I want to. From what the ortho says I am to turn the key once a day for 30 days and then I have to have the expander in for three months after we stop turning. The teeth will start closing on their own once you stop turning but not fast enough. The ortho has promised to pull the teeth back together as fast as he can once the expander comes out.

The actual procedure I had is called a modified Le Forte I. I had ceramic uppers and metal lowers placed along with the expander all in one appointment. Trust me I know how scary all of this sounds. I thought people were crazy when they told me they had no pain and the surgery wasn't bad. I just knew they were lying to me. The funny thing is now I sound crazy. There is no pain and I was able to eat a McD's cheeseburger (slowly and in tiny bites) a week afterwards.

I hope this info helps. If you do consider the surgery let me know and I will give you my phone number and I'll tell you exactly what they do and more about my experience. I have no regrets!

Melissa

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