Yesterday marks my 1 month post SARPE surgery, I also had my follow up app with my OD regarding my progress.
My OD had originally told me that he'd like me to turn the key 30 times and then we'd have an appointment to see how things went. I've been counting down till the day I reached my 30th turn of the key! I was so excited to finally see him, but much to my disappointment, he said he'd like me to turn the key another 10 times. On a positive note, he said that he is really happy with my progress and I've come a long way. I can definitely feel a difference in my bite! I can't wait to see how my upper palette feels after the RPE device gets taken out. We also scheduled in when the braces will come on, we are looking at 30th of March! I'm so excited that I've got another date to look forward too.
The whole process so far hasn't been too bad for me. I have great support from my close family and friends, I think this is the most important because I've been on such an emotional roller coaster ride. Some days I feel great, waking up and feeling awesome about my progress and then there are other days where its a lot tougher. I'm still very conscious about my gap, I still can't "rock" it, and I'm avoiding a lot of events that have come up. However at the same time, I feel lucky that my gap, at 30 turns is this big. I've read blogs where at 30 turns their gap is twice (or more) the size of mine.
Physically I'm fine, I haven't had any pain at all and I think that is the most shocking to me. How can this whole process be painless? I mean, the surgery was pretty big? The only thing that bothers me is eating. My upper jaw is still quite numb, but I have noticed the feeling coming back slowly. They also feel weak, so I haven't been biting into anything yet, I've just been cutting things up small to chew but in no way can I enjoy what I eat.
I was expecting my braces to be on in Feb or early Mar, so it was quite disappointing to hear it won't be coming on until end of March. I asked my ortho why I was only turning once a day compared to other people on blogs I've read turn it at least twice, he said it all depends on their scheduling and that he'd prefer me to turn once a day so its easier on my body - this was strange to me, and I wished I asked him to speed up the expandsion process from the start when I started turning. I'd rather this gap disappear sooner rather than later.
I will post up some photos a little later tonight.
My OD had originally told me that he'd like me to turn the key 30 times and then we'd have an appointment to see how things went. I've been counting down till the day I reached my 30th turn of the key! I was so excited to finally see him, but much to my disappointment, he said he'd like me to turn the key another 10 times. On a positive note, he said that he is really happy with my progress and I've come a long way. I can definitely feel a difference in my bite! I can't wait to see how my upper palette feels after the RPE device gets taken out. We also scheduled in when the braces will come on, we are looking at 30th of March! I'm so excited that I've got another date to look forward too.
The whole process so far hasn't been too bad for me. I have great support from my close family and friends, I think this is the most important because I've been on such an emotional roller coaster ride. Some days I feel great, waking up and feeling awesome about my progress and then there are other days where its a lot tougher. I'm still very conscious about my gap, I still can't "rock" it, and I'm avoiding a lot of events that have come up. However at the same time, I feel lucky that my gap, at 30 turns is this big. I've read blogs where at 30 turns their gap is twice (or more) the size of mine.
Physically I'm fine, I haven't had any pain at all and I think that is the most shocking to me. How can this whole process be painless? I mean, the surgery was pretty big? The only thing that bothers me is eating. My upper jaw is still quite numb, but I have noticed the feeling coming back slowly. They also feel weak, so I haven't been biting into anything yet, I've just been cutting things up small to chew but in no way can I enjoy what I eat.
I was expecting my braces to be on in Feb or early Mar, so it was quite disappointing to hear it won't be coming on until end of March. I asked my ortho why I was only turning once a day compared to other people on blogs I've read turn it at least twice, he said it all depends on their scheduling and that he'd prefer me to turn once a day so its easier on my body - this was strange to me, and I wished I asked him to speed up the expandsion process from the start when I started turning. I'd rather this gap disappear sooner rather than later.
I will post up some photos a little later tonight.
