Kim's 'Finally Braced' Story- NEW UPDATE 11/14 W/ PICS

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#46 Post by **KJNELLAMORE** » Thu Nov 23, 2006 12:22 am

Today, I bring you upside down updates. For some reason, it seems easier to see progress on my lowers when I flip the images. I don't see too much progress, but I am still waiting for my first adjustment. There is even more space in between my lowers now though, and I desperately need to have the wire on the back left snipped AGAIN (think this is the third time). My right front lower seems to be quite a bit closer to *fitting* now than the other.

I'm just over 2 months now.

So, this is today, right-side-up:

Here's today upside down:

And here is 9-27 upside down:

And just a frontal view.. kinda off.

And frontal from 9/20

#47 Post by **KJNELLAMORE** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 11:20 pm

Finally... M-O-V-E-M-E-N-T!

I went in today for spacers (AGAIN), and my first lower adjustment. I think this movement occurred sometime before it though, but after yesterday.. because they weren't like this until today!

Brace Day:

11/23:

And today, 11/29:

Brace Day:

11/23:

And today, 11/29:

and since I LOVE upside-down comparisons...

11/23

11/29

So, woo hoo!! Crazy! I am kind of wondering what exactly they will do to my bottoms for 24 months. I know that 99% of my work is on my uppers and that not much is really *wrong* with my lowers. So I wonder what will go on there once the other front one moves in and they are straightened out a bit. It's so strange to have one of my front lowers 'in line'.. I can't stop rubbing behind it with my tongue!

My adjustment sucked. I don't think she changed the wire, but maybe she tightened it? I felt her putting ligatures on, and then she took them off and then it felt like she was ripping my teeth out. NO IDEA what she was doing, but I wanted to scream. I literally felt like my teeth were going to come out. So maybe that was tightening? Anyhow, now I have baby blue with a figure 8 configuration... I think she originally put them on normally, then took them off and did 8's. Wonder why! My mouth is KILLING me... I can't bite down at all.

I am still tentatively supposed to have my uppers and RPE placed next Wednesday, and I really don't want to.

I have grown to love my lowers because you can't see them and I hardly even remember that they are there.. but I am incredibly self-conscious about having my uppers on. I also just took a new job w/ a great company (I am a web designer), and although I work remotely in another state from an office by myself, I have to spend a lot of time on the phone, and worry about having a lisp. I know all about the Rainbow Passage, and plan to start repeating it 500 times a day, if it will work!!

What color ligature is the least obvious but the most non-staining?

#48 Post by **Brandyleigh35** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 12:11 pm

Hey Kim,
Isn't it great when you can finally see movement? I understand you worries about the appliance and upper braces, but please remember. You are being concerned about people who don't even know you. Who the heck cares what they think. You are doing this for you.....when its done, you will feel so much better about yourself and be smiling from ear to ear! You are still young, and 2 years is such an inconsequential amount of time in your life to get the smile you deserve.

There is a saying....."the ones who matter in your life won't care, and the the once that care....don't matter" remember that as you continue on this journey!

I can't wait to see you with the appliance! Just stick with us oral supporters and forget about the rest!

Brandy

#49 Post by **Marzipan** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 4:16 pm

Check out that movement!!!! Congrats! Isn't it wonderful to see progress? :D

#50 Post by **KJNELLAMORE** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 3:11 pm

Well, tomorrow is the day. I have a cleaning at 10:30, and then I will be going to my ortho. at 1:15 for my RPE/Upper Braces. Woo Hoo. Not.

I reallyyyy don't want to go, and I am really tempted to cancel.

I know, I know, that's silly and childish. I am just really self-conscious about speaking with a lisp, having braces that people can actually *see*, etc... and I just can not seem to get over it! I know that there are worse things in life.. and I know that 2 years is nothing in the grand scheme of things... this just kind of sucks right now.

#51 Post by **Jillianleab** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 3:29 pm

Anxiety is normal, but trust me, it is totally worth it. And I'm saying that without even being done yet! It seems as though people with expanders get used to talking with them pretty soon, so don't stress yourself about that. As far as having braces people can see, I've figured out that no one cares, lol! You're doing the right thing, go for it!!!!

#52 Post by **bluette** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 3:50 pm

i just read your whole blog.. wow.. awesome change from the begining to your adjustment. Ill be cheering for you tomorrow. I get all my braces on Thursday... and trust me.. freaked out! Write as soon as you can so we can all see how it went.. pick an awesome color for your ligs!

#53 Post by **Brandyleigh35** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 11:01 pm

ok Kim,
Don't wuss out on me here! You have been preparing for this day for months now. Please tell me you are not one of those people that just likes to complain but never do anything about it. This is the first day of the rest of your life.......Don't let a little bit of anxiety about all of this and what others will think, put a stop to a decision that will have wonderful lasting benefits for you for the rest of your life. It really is not near as big of a deal as you are making it out to be. I mean you are still young....I'm 42 and have survived it all. You can do this, and trust me....most people are way to concerned about themselves to be spending time obsessing about your teeth issues. Truth be told, quite frankly, most people will not give two hoots about what is going on in your mouth, nor will they even notice your braces. I had a co-worker whom I have been seeing everyday now for almost 5 months, just notice that I had braces the other day, and mine are bright silver.

Quit trying to talk yourself out of this or make up excuses not to go. As the commercial says "JUST DO IT" You will not regret it, you will however, regret NOT doing it. Good luck! and I will be checking this site for a full report and new pics of your appliance tomorrow!

Brandy

#54 Post by **SUGARANGEL** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 11:51 am

I agree with brandyleigh35. Kim??? JUST DO IT!!!!! At the end, When you have your braces debanded and you will see the biiiiig time different and beautiful. YOU WILL THANKS BRACES and YOU WILL BE SOOO GLAD U WENT to get braces.... Good luck today. Post some more pictures of your new top braces..

#55 Post by **KJNELLAMORE** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 2:12 pm

Well, I did it.

I had a cleaning this morning, then went and had a big, crunchy lunch

and went to the ortho.

Honestly, the RPE isn't THAT bad. Don't get me wrong, it sucks.. but it could be worse.. I mean, I could not even HAVE teeth, right?

If I open my lips wider than normal and speak slowly, I almost sound normal (note: ALMOST).. but otherwise, I sound like a complete idiot!!

I reallyyy hope that goes away soon!!

Let's see.. so the RPE is in and I am supposed to turn it 1x/day for 1 week, then go back in. Apparently, he thinks that I may only need to turn it for one week at 1x a day and that might be IT! That'd be amazing! But, there is also the chance that I may need to expand more than that, of course. Either way, I am still stuck with this thing for 6 months. Blah. I asked about perhaps having a TPA when I am done expanding, because others have mentioned that it's less intrusive up there, but apparently they don't want to do that. Okay-then. I am praying that the expander does its job well! She turned in once, and I will start turning tomorrow... if I can remember how!

He placed my upper brackets, but no wire- he said that it would interfere with the expansion, which makes sense. So, if I am done expanding next week, I will get the wire then- and if there is a space, then I will also get a powerchain to pull it together.

I'm not really in any pain, and I think that my five-hundreth round of spacers did their job, alas. But, I can't stop salivating! It's awful.. and really gross! Of course, this is all really crappy timing. I need to go to my new office this week, as my VOIP phone was just set up and I need to record my outgoing message. Uhm ya.. maybe I can have my two year old do it?

I am also supposed to have a conference call in a bit here... that should be fun.. NOT! I warned the person that I am speaking with that I will be talking very funny. Ugh.. I am very self-conscious right now!

On another note the brackets don't look as bad (yet) as I thought they would. I was worried about having this kamakazi look going on.. maybe they just don't look strange yet because the wire isn't in. We shall see. I reserve the right to complain as much as I would like

... right Brandy?

Pictures coming in a bit.

#56 Post by **KJNELLAMORE** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 2:13 pm

Here ya go!

P.S. Drooling like a dog = check!

#57 Post by **Brandyleigh35** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 2:28 pm

YEA!!! KIM,
I'm so proud of you! See I told you it wasn't that bad. You will be drooling like a dog for a few day though, maybe even a week or two. Your mouth thinks that RPE is food as it will take awhile for it to figure things out. You will be amazed at how quickly you will adjust to the talking thing too!

Complain away girl At least you are headed in the right direction now! Soon you will have a gorgeous smile to replace all this aggravation!

Woo hoo!

Brandy

#58 Post by **KJNELLAMORE** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 2:56 pm

Brandyleigh35 wrote:YEA!!! KIM,
I'm so proud of you! See I told you it wasn't that bad. You will be drooling like a dog for a few day though, maybe even a week or two. Your mouth thinks that RPE is food as it will take awhile for it to figure things out. You will be amazed at how quickly you will adjust to the talking thing too!

Complain away girl At least you are headed in the right direction now! Soon you will have a gorgeous smile to replace all this aggravation!

Woo hoo!

Brandy

Thank you for being so encouraging, Brandy!

I bet you're jealous of this plasticy type stuff on my RPE, huh? No band-aids for me

.. haha. But, my new habit is pressing my tongue against the center part (only area NOT covered!), of course!

#59 Post by **Jillianleab** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 3:18 pm

Congrats on making the right decision!

I'm sure you will get used to the expander in no time, and be ready for a top wire next week. Did your ortho say why he put the brackets on but no wire? Is it just so your mouth can get used to the hardware before they start even more tugging? I understand not putting a wire in incase it messes with expansion, but why the brackets? Just wondering.....

Oh, and by the way, you take AMAZING pics!

#60 Post by **KJNELLAMORE** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 3:40 pm

No idea why.. I guess so that my next appointment is shorter.