I have a date!!

I actually have a date!!

Ok...not that kind of date (ho-hum!) but a date for the RPE (Rapid Palate Expander) surgery.

May 21st, 7:30am.

Dr. Quaroni was very good and quick this morning. He checked the appliance and said that it and my teeth look very good and clean. Then he asked if I had any questions, which, I did, like what the home care be like and if I have to wait a certain number of days/weeks before traveling (not like I'm heading for the ocean or anything, but, you never know!), but he said he wouldn't answer those until our final visit before the operation. *sigh* Fair enough. He patted me on the shoulder and left. His nurse and the surgical coordinator came into the room and asked if he was done and after I said, "yes," his nurse said, "Dang, he's like a ninja sometimes! He's in with a patient one second and then I barely turn my head and he's gone - just like a ninja!" Imagine that, my oral surgeon is a NINJA!!

 

I left the office thinking "Holy crap, I have a date. Holy crap, I'm going to have surgery..."

I'm still thinking it and now really feeling antsy. It's hard to wrap my head around how fast this is going and how much more REAL it is becoming. I'll settle down, but for now, I need to keep praying - I know in my heart this is what I'm supposed to be doing -  I just didn't know "God's time" would be so quick! I guess God is a "ninja" too :)

Pause in the action...

What a week this has been...the bombing at the Boston Marathon and then the factory explosion in the town of West, Texas - we've all, in some way, have experienced a bit of "darkness."

Last night I was very fortunate to be part of and event called "Walk/Run for Boston." A local running group, Gilbert's Gazelles, organized this event to gather runners in Austin (along with their friends and families) to gather for a vigil to honor those 180 men and women from Austin who ran in the Boston Marathon but mostly to remember everyone who was affected by the bombing, especially the three who sadly lost their lives to the merciless doings of two young men. Hundreds of people of all shapes, sizes, and running abilities gathered in the Stephen F. Austin High School parking lot for a moment of silence, to listen to a few word from Gilbert, observe 26.2 seconds of silence (26.2 = number of miles in a marathon) and then to hear "Amazing Grace" performed on the bagpipe. Afterwards - all of us joined in the unison prayer of running and enjoying each other's company, all while carrying various forms of light with us. Sometimes it's these "unintentional" and "non-traditional" prayers that are the best to offer. Just being "present" often speaks louder than words can ever express.

A few members from the running team I'm on, Team FX, came together for this event as well. Our primary goal is to spread awareness about child abuse and to "Create a world without child abuse...one step at a time," but our goal last night was to support a greater community. It is so humbling to be part of a group of people who genuinely care for this world and are willing to give up, even small amounts of time, to share light with others. One of our own team members ran the Boston Marathon, safely coming home to us, so that made the evening that much more special.

I have to post this because this is so much bigger than a new set of teeth. Yes, the "mouth project" will go on, but it's important to check ourselves now and again and take the time to acknowledge that there are things and people that need us more than we need ourselves.

 

 

4/17/13 - The "Appliance"

Expander is IN!

Thankfully, it was painless and a little comical! Stephanie was terrific. She showed me the appliance and how to turn it with the key. She had me turn it a few times, which was very helpful since I "get" to do it myself. When she was putting it in to be sure it fit properly, she said "you'll probably feel some new sensations and you'll probably think 'what the heck is she doing to me' and that's perfectly normal."  While she was putting it in I started laughing, not because it felt very different but because of the amount of drool I was producing (which, thankfully, is normal!)! Dr. Mai came and did some finishing touches. After I have the surgery and when Dr. Q gives the 'ok' I will turn it twice a day for two weeks (gag!). I see Dr. Q next Thursday so hopefully I can schedule the operation then.

I'm definitely talking "funny" so choir should be interesting tonight! Good thing I have a group that has a good sense of humor! Both Dr. Mai and Stephanie said to practice talking, do it slowly and in time my speech will improve - it differs from person to person, so we'll see how much improvement I make!

Here it is:

4/16/13 - Almost...

Tomorrow I get the expander put in. I'm anxious...and ready...ready, mostly to get these spacers/separators out - they drive me crazy!

4/14/13 - I...HATE...SPACERS!!

Ever had something caught in between your teeth that you just couldn't get out? That's the feeling with these teeny-tiny annoyances between my molars! They were ok for a little while, but now, they're driving me nuts! But in the back of my mind I hear Dr. Mai saying that "they could fall out with your normal eating activities and even with brushing" and then I quit my whining and continue to count the days until I get..."the appliance"

4/11/13 - It's getting real, folks....

Today things started getting a bit "real."

Went to Dr. Mai to be fitted for the brackets that will hold the expander in place in my mouth. It was like fitting a ring - trying on various sizes until you find the one that won't slip off. It was easy (for the assistant), thankfully, but when Stephanie, the assistant, went to prepare the impression "goo" (watermelon flavor, yum!) it was a totally different feeling to have the brackets in my mouth. I could feel whatever part it was touching the insides of my cheeks and that was the "it's real" feeling..."This is what it's going to feel like...kind of..." Stephanie came back, did the impression, took the brackets off and put another set of spacers in my mouth (these held the space that was already made) and I was on my way. Next Wednesday will be totally different since that's when I get "the appliance"

Dun, dun, duuuuuuunnnn!

4/9/13 - 2nd Visit with the Oral Surgeon

Saw Dr. Quaroni today (oral surgeon) to talk about the procedure for the palate expander.  
 
*Side note about him - when you first meet him, he's very soft spoken and gives the impression that "I'm the greatest thing to happen to the maxillofacial world," but he's absolutely opposite of that! His demeanor is very calming and he takes great care to get to know his patients! 

He was great - he discussed pros/cons/concerns on how and where the procedure would be done, which of course, while he was talking I wanted to gag and pass out (I'm not the greatest with most medical procedures!), but I listened very intently and asked what I needed to. In short, the surgery entails him making three incisions in my mouth. Two will be on the top part of my gums and the third will be down the center of my palate (OMG!). The incisions will allow the palate expander to actually "expand" each time the key is turned. The key turned by...ME (OMG!), twice a day for at least two weeks. Dr. Quaroni will do the first two turns during the surgery when I'm out like a light!
So, although it's less expensive to have the surgery done in his office, there are far too many risks in doing it there. Although he's done it in his office, he prefers that his patients have his utmost care since this is an extremely sensitive part of the body, so having it in the hospital would ensure better care and outcome. Also, he's hopeful that I would only need the expander and not any other operation.

A few things to expect with the surgery:

1. I will be on a liquid diet at least 2 weeks after surgery until Dr. Q gives the ok to move into a soft-foods diet (soft foods = baby food)
Hey, why not? I could afford to lose a few pounds!

2. Since we're expanding the upper jaw, I'm going to have a larger-than-life gap develop between my two front teeth. It will close on its own, but there WILL be a gap.
So I'll look a little funny, what's new?

3. I'll experience some pressure when the key is turned - like a bad sinus headache, but only lasting about 5-10 minutes.
Uh...this is Austin so sinus issues are normal!

4. I won't be able to sing for several months
This stinks! Maybe it's a "sign" that I should practice playing (organ) more

5. I won't be able to run  or do strenuous exercise for several months
ARGH!

6. There's a possibility of some changes to my facial features
Hmm...

I couldn't help but leave his office that day thinking "Holy crap!!"

Most of these are temporary...I have to remind myself of that. And I have to remind myself that although the first few months will most likely be the roughest, the outcome will be good and worth every minute.

4/8/13 - Trading Spa-cers

Today the metal spacers were traded in for the normal, blue, rubber ones (the pic is just an example).

 

 

Dr. Mai sent me home with some extras just in case one falls out. IN CASE ONE FALLS OUT??? *panic* I'm supposed to be able to floss them in if needed - she also said I could call in and go for help. I'll just be EXTRA careful until Thursday when I go back to be fitted for brackets and have an impression done

4/4/13 - It Begins...

**I had already met with Dr. Mai and Dr. Quaroni the month before to talk about details - this is skipping ahead in time to the most current events**

Today (Thursday) I went to see Dr. Mai (orthodontist) to talk about what the process would be to start this project. She was very good - she had all my pictures, x-rays, etc...up on the computer to explain everything. Regardless on the route I/we decided on, it was inevitable that I would have to have the RPE surgery - a.k.a. Surgically Assisted Rapid Palate Expander. Children, because their bones are still developing don't need the surgery, but adults do because everything is already fused in to place by the time we're in our 20's. I knew that part had to happen, so after she and I talked some more, she asked if I wanted time to think about it and I said, "no, let's do this!" and lo and behold, she had an opening in her schedule THAT DAY at THAT MOMENT so she could put the separators in. Separators are used to help create space between the teeth so that brackets can fit easily around the teeth. Since my teeth are so compacted, she had to use metals ones to start with (these have springs that can be placed between the teeth easier):

These will get the movement between the teeth started. On Monday I'll have the rubber ones put in (the rubber ones work faster than metal ones).

Here we go!

No one is born "perfect." We all have our outward flaws - some have big noses, some have teeny-tiny ears, skin issues, hair problems, etc...Me? Well, I don't have a perfect smile. I've lived with it for 35 years, so of course, I'm used to it, but I'm not happy with it. The dislike started in high school once my "flaw" started becoming more noticeable. I would smile, but not naturally and I would be very guarded in opening my mouth too much (unless I was around my family and closest friends). This "flaw" you ask? I call it...THE FANG!

Noticeably, you can see (on your left side) that the one canine is higher up than it should be. This is due to having an upper jaw that is too narrow to fit all my teeth correctly! All the other teeth were apparently fighting for places to grow, so this poor little fella had no place to go but "up" if you will! After consulting with my wonderful orthodontist, Dr. Mai Ferrera and the oral surgeon Dr. Andrea Quaroni (I'll talk more about them later), the solution to helping better my smile and overall dental health is to widen my upper jaw, not only to fix dear Fang, but so that my bit can be "normal" and so my teeth can fit in their places properly. You'll see below that Fang has even stepped into the limelight and is practically in front of another tooth:

It ain't pretty, but it will be! There's also the other issue in that my mouth (or my face, it's hard to tell!) is not aligned, so the "centers" don't meet like they should (you can determine this yourself by looking at the first picture!).

I've lived with this for 35 years, but now, for some reason, I feel it's the time to do something about it. With God's help and support from friends I know the outcome will be pleasant, albeit a little painful and a good test of patience, I'm sure!

I'm going to post pictures along the way to show the progress - no fear, I won't post anything that will make your stomach churn! Heck, if I can't even look, then why should you??

I'm not sure who will read this, but maybe, just maybe someone will be able to relate to it and hopefully I can help that person along the way in their own journey.

So...here we go! First "before" pic: