Re: questions about banding -- lower jaw setback- -

[Guest guest]

HI --

I am jealous that you can fit anything that isn't liquified into your

mouth. Today is my first day back at work (as a medical librarian in

a hospital) full-time. So far, so good. Yesterday, actually Garrett

(our 11 1/2 month old), ate more solid food than me (1/2 a tofu

hotdog, some grapes and cherries, cheerios and a slice of american

cheese). I

Garrett is also a crazy boy. He isn't crawling yet, he's just

creeping, but he is pulling himself up when he can and prefers

standing to sitting. He is definitely in the separation anxiety

phase and would be happy for me to hold him all day long.

My two week appointment where I got the bands put on was really

depressing. He took off the wires and put about 20-25 rubber bands

on my teeth. If you can imagine a female " hannibal lechter " . I was

traumatized for a day or so but now I'm just dealing with it. I have

weekly appointments with the OS so I am cautiously optimistic that

one of these appointments he will maybe put on a few less bands or

the bands will loosen up a little. I know why he wants them on (to

guide my bite into place and reduce post surgical braces time) but it

still is depressing to read about others who get their bands off and

can eat something other than liquids!

I hope you can talk better when you return to teaching. The rest of

the staff here in the library have been great by letting me avoid

working at the circulation desk and giving orientations and tours to

our new residents, nursing students and medical students.

How much longer are you banded for? My OS says 6 weeks for me....

Helen

> > > > --

> > > >

> > > > Well, I had my appointment with my OS today and it was very

> > > > depressing. He took off the wires but rubber banded my teeth

> > > > together with about 20 rubber bands. I do look

like " hannibal

> > > > lechter " . I am very depressed right now. He told me that he

> > > needed

> > > > to do this to help with positioning my teeth (he said it

would

> > > > reduce my post op orthodontics work down from about 2 years

to

> 5-

> > 6

> > > > months). Sounds good but right now, I'd almost say, you know

> > what,

> > > > I'll take the 2 years othodontics rather than 4 more weeks of

> > > > nothing but a liquid diet and looking like some kind of

freak.

> > I

> > > am

> > > > so upset right now. Not only do I look worse than I did with

> > the

> > > > actual wires, but I can't talk as well either and all my

teeth

> > > > hurt. Bands are supposed to be progress over wires? I

don't

> > get

> > > > it. The final blow was when he said that I might not be

banded

> > > shut

> > > > for just 4 more weeks (which would make 6 weeks total) but I

> > could

> > > > be banded shut for longer (depending on how my bite looks in

4

> > > weeks

> > > > when he removes the bands and puts only 2 on as " guides " .

> Right

> > > now

> > > > actually, I am just typing here and crying about the whole

> > > > situation. I am feeling sorry for myself and really doubting

> > > myself

> > > > about this whole procedure anyway.

> > > >

> > > > Sadly,

> > > >

> > > > Helen