To Tom: a tool for taking bands on and off

August 27, 2004

Hi Tom,

I had trouble getting my bands on and off too. I asked my surgeon if

he'd lend me the tool he uses, but he said no. :<

A good friend of mine sent me one - you can find them in the tool

dept of a hardware store, or get one at a medical supply store. It's

called a hemostat.

Failing that, you could ask your surgeon or ortho for one of the

little plastic tools they give in the bags of elastics, but I didn't

find that as easy to use.

I remember the first time I took my elastics off to eat, it took me

over a half and hour, and many tears because of snapping myself, to

get just one back on.

It's also a good idea to mark the positioning of your bands on the

back of the elastics package (mine had a little diagram of teeth),

especially for people who have a complicated array of them.

Fish & chips was my first restaurant meal out at two weeks post-op. I

was allowed soft no-chew. It was wonderful, soaked in malt vinegar

and tartar sauce and ketchup, washed down with some Irish ale (my

first time being able to drink from a glass instead of a sippy cup or

a syringe too).

Hope that helps!

> > > > > > I have had pains in my neck big time before from work and

> the

> > > > > desk/pc

> > > > > > thing---this isn't that and it's not starting at my

hands,

> > but

> > > > > > somewhere in my neck/shoulder/back...the dang yet blessed

> > > > reclyner

> > > > > is

> > > > > > to blame I am 99.9% sure...bec I always wake up in pain

> and

> > > can't

> > > > > get

> > > > > > comfie to sleep there anymore either...tongiht I am

> breaking

> > > the

> > > > > mold

> > > > > > and telling my OS...sure I will sleep up at 90 degrees if

> you

> > > > want

> > > > > me

> > > > > > to, but I am moving bk to my bed for some serious

> > > rest..........

> > > > > > plus my poor-wonderful+loving fiance, has been sleeping

> all

> > > > > crunched

> > > > > > on our counh for 2 wks now and he already has neck/bk

> > > > probs...he's

> > > > > > been in a lot of pain too and been so quiet about it as I

> am

> > > his

> > > > > > first concern...but I think some bed sleep would be a

good

> > > thing

> > > > > for

> > > > > > both of us...and if not then back to the chair I go!

> > > > > >

> > > > > > thanks again, JO

August 27, 2004

Hi Tom,

I had trouble getting my bands on and off too. I asked my surgeon if

he'd lend me the tool he uses, but he said no. :<

A good friend of mine sent me one - you can find them in the tool

dept of a hardware store, or get one at a medical supply store. It's

called a hemostat.

Failing that, you could ask your surgeon or ortho for one of the

little plastic tools they give in the bags of elastics, but I didn't

find that as easy to use.

I remember the first time I took my elastics off to eat, it took me

over a half and hour, and many tears because of snapping myself, to

get just one back on.

It's also a good idea to mark the positioning of your bands on the

back of the elastics package (mine had a little diagram of teeth),

especially for people who have a complicated array of them.

Fish & chips was my first restaurant meal out at two weeks post-op. I

was allowed soft no-chew. It was wonderful, soaked in malt vinegar

and tartar sauce and ketchup, washed down with some Irish ale (my

first time being able to drink from a glass instead of a sippy cup or

a syringe too).

Hope that helps!

> > > > > > I have had pains in my neck big time before from work and

> the

> > > > > desk/pc

> > > > > > thing---this isn't that and it's not starting at my

hands,

> > but

> > > > > > somewhere in my neck/shoulder/back...the dang yet blessed

> > > > reclyner

> > > > > is

> > > > > > to blame I am 99.9% sure...bec I always wake up in pain

> and

> > > can't

> > > > > get

> > > > > > comfie to sleep there anymore either...tongiht I am

> breaking

> > > the

> > > > > mold

> > > > > > and telling my OS...sure I will sleep up at 90 degrees if

> you

> > > > want

> > > > > me

> > > > > > to, but I am moving bk to my bed for some serious

> > > rest..........

> > > > > > plus my poor-wonderful+loving fiance, has been sleeping

> all

> > > > > crunched

> > > > > > on our counh for 2 wks now and he already has neck/bk

> > > > probs...he's

> > > > > > been in a lot of pain too and been so quiet about it as I

> am

> > > his

> > > > > > first concern...but I think some bed sleep would be a

good

> > > thing

> > > > > for

> > > > > > both of us...and if not then back to the chair I go!

> > > > > >

> > > > > > thanks again, JO

August 27, 2004

Thanks . Yes my OS provided me with the little plastic tool

which is useful in placing the first tooth. After that it's fingers

all the way. Not graceful but the least frustrating. I use the tool

to take them off but the back one is just so much fun I usually end

up brushing to get it off. I did it for the second time this morning

and it took a lot less time. Mine is pretty uncomplicated hooking

on top then bottom the back top for a triangle on both sides. If I

can just barely get my tongue through between the two triangles I've

done it right. My OS said my Ortho may change it somewhat. Good

idea about the marking of where the bands go on the teeth. When I

see my ortho in about a week I will ask him for such a diagram if he

changes it. A hemostat huh? Thanks!

I had pancakes (about 1 and a half) and an over easy egg this

morning. It's so good to be able to eat real food again! Two weeks

of the soft stuff then we'll see what happens next.

Tom

> > > > > > > I have had pains in my neck big time before from work

and

> > the

> > > > > > desk/pc

> > > > > > > thing---this isn't that and it's not starting at my

> hands,

> > > but

> > > > > > > somewhere in my neck/shoulder/back...the dang yet

blessed

> > > > > reclyner

> > > > > > is

> > > > > > > to blame I am 99.9% sure...bec I always wake up in

pain

> > and

> > > > can't

> > > > > > get

> > > > > > > comfie to sleep there anymore either...tongiht I am

> > breaking

> > > > the

> > > > > > mold

> > > > > > > and telling my OS...sure I will sleep up at 90 degrees

if

> > you

> > > > > want

> > > > > > me

> > > > > > > to, but I am moving bk to my bed for some serious

> > > > rest..........

> > > > > > > plus my poor-wonderful+loving fiance, has been

sleeping

> > all

> > > > > > crunched

> > > > > > > on our counh for 2 wks now and he already has neck/bk

> > > > > probs...he's

> > > > > > > been in a lot of pain too and been so quiet about it

as I

> > am

> > > > his

> > > > > > > first concern...but I think some bed sleep would be a

> good

> > > > thing

> > > > > > for

> > > > > > > both of us...and if not then back to the chair I go!

> > > > > > >

> > > > > > > thanks again, JO

August 27, 2004