Metal Mouth
Even though the last post was dated 4/15/06, it was written a couple of weeks before just waiting for me to get my blog set up. So, even though the date on this new entry is one day after the last one, a couple of weeks have actually passed.
As of last Thursday, I can officially be called "metal mouth". Pretty much hate them at this point. My teeth are so sore that I can't chew and the insides of my lips and cheeks are raw. In the overall scheme of things, this is merely an inconvenience though. On the pain scale, this is a distant third to the UPPP recovery and the elbow fracture - actually I don't think it is even on the same scale. I go back to the orthodontist on Tuesday to replace the molar spacers with thicker molar spacers - yea. The molar bands will be placed the week after that. I will be glad when I get adjusted to them. Right now soft food is the order of the day.
Now about the metal vs. invisalign braces. First of all, the orthodontist recommended the metal braces because they will get the job done quicker. The invisalign braces are more expensive plus they won't accomplish the same outcome. Go figure, the less expensive (a relative term) option is also the best option. The out of pocket cost of the braces is $5800. Ouch.
In going through this journey, I have to remember that this is a long drawn out process that will hopefully end with my apnea resolved, hypertension and cardiac arrhythmias resolved or controlled, more energy from restful sleep, a better profile, and straight teeth. The latter two a nice secondary outcome of the process.
The other change since getting braces is that I can't wear my CPAP at night. The mask pushes on my upper lip and pinches my lip between the braces and the lower rim of the mask. It is nice to be able to go to bed without the CPAP but I am especially tired the next day. Maybe I will be able to get back on the CPAP soon. Never thought I'd be saying that!
As of last Thursday, I can officially be called "metal mouth". Pretty much hate them at this point. My teeth are so sore that I can't chew and the insides of my lips and cheeks are raw. In the overall scheme of things, this is merely an inconvenience though. On the pain scale, this is a distant third to the UPPP recovery and the elbow fracture - actually I don't think it is even on the same scale. I go back to the orthodontist on Tuesday to replace the molar spacers with thicker molar spacers - yea. The molar bands will be placed the week after that. I will be glad when I get adjusted to them. Right now soft food is the order of the day.
Now about the metal vs. invisalign braces. First of all, the orthodontist recommended the metal braces because they will get the job done quicker. The invisalign braces are more expensive plus they won't accomplish the same outcome. Go figure, the less expensive (a relative term) option is also the best option. The out of pocket cost of the braces is $5800. Ouch.
In going through this journey, I have to remember that this is a long drawn out process that will hopefully end with my apnea resolved, hypertension and cardiac arrhythmias resolved or controlled, more energy from restful sleep, a better profile, and straight teeth. The latter two a nice secondary outcome of the process.
The other change since getting braces is that I can't wear my CPAP at night. The mask pushes on my upper lip and pinches my lip between the braces and the lower rim of the mask. It is nice to be able to go to bed without the CPAP but I am especially tired the next day. Maybe I will be able to get back on the CPAP soon. Never thought I'd be saying that!
posted by Anne | 5:03 PM
7 Comments:
The blog looks great. I'll be interested to see how all this turns out. Keep posting. It will probably help to keep your thoughts straight.
Dear Sleepless in the Smokies,
It sounds like you and I are on a very similar journey. I am envious that you are looking at surgery in just a few months. The doctor that I am using is telling me I will be in braces for a year or so before I am ready for my MMA. Trying to be patient, but it is tough when you are tired and cranky.
Take it easy for the next week or so while you are getting used to the new hardware. Wax is your friend.
Keep me posted on you progress please!
Hello again,
I have had my braces on now for about a week. A lot of soreness, but nothing compared to the UPPP and the nasal surgeries I have had in the past. See if your orthodontist can speed up your treatment. He told me 2mm per month is as aggressive as he can move my teeth. I had braces 23 years ago as a teenager. People that have not suffered with sleep apnea have no idea what we go through every day. We're just desperately looking for relief so we can move on with our lives. In today's healthcare system, we must be our own medical advocates and we must be very assertive in order to move the treatment team forward. It has taken me 10 years to get to this point, and I am very excited that relief is in sight with the MMA. I had to ask my doctor to do a lateral X Ray to see if I had pharyngeal narrowing. I definitely did! Wow, I should be a doctor...This is how I finally got referred to a maxillofacial surgeon. 3 CPAP failures, multiple surgeries, exhaustion, depression, anxiety, chest pain, daytime sleepiness, etc. just because my healthcare professionals wanted to put a "bandaid" on my symptoms. I know this surgery will turn my life around and will also give you a new life. Talk to you soon...
So - I haven't talked to anyone who has had braces as a teen and as an adult. How does it compare?
I have the In-Ovation R braces. They are supposed to move things along swiftly and I only have to see the orthodontist every 10 weeks. I never had braces as a teen and they think that they are moving things along as quickly as possible. My orthodontist "gets it". He understands that I need to finish treatment quickly because my health is suffering.
I did get to see the lateral face and neck x-ray - it was very impressive! It is no wonder that I stop breathing in my sleep! Tiny little airway!
I very much agree that you have to be your own health advocate. I am fortunate to live in a city with wonderful healthcare available. I don't feel at all that I have to compromise my healthcare by staying with local doctors. I really would hate to have to travel to Stanford or somewhere else. My challenge right now is getting everything together to file insurance for reimbursement for my braces. Is your insurance paying for yours? Just curious.
Anne
I am having to pay out of pocket for my braces at this time ($5,600), however, I will see if Blue Cross will cover it since it is part of my treatment for the MMA. I am still in the appeals process for them to cover my surgery. They denied it the first time. I had an absolutely awful night last night. When I woke up I felt that I had a New Year's Eve hangover, and I don't even drink! Some mornings are worse than others. If I roll over on my back during the night, that's when I feel absolutely terrible. I can barely function during the day. Luckily, I was able to take a two hour nap this afternoon, and I feel wonderful. Some nights my wife will nudge me and tell me to roll over on my side, but unfortunately, last night I must of stayed on my back a great deal. Maybe since I had braces when I was a teenager, the orthodontist doesn't have to do as much work. Still 3 to 6 months is a long time to continue suffering. I am supposed to see my orthodontist every 3 weeks. Good luck. I enjoy talking with you because you're situation sounds very similar to mine.
I have been tired for twenty-five years. I am a forty-five father of two small children, and I hear from my wife that I snore like a freight train. I too thought it was normal because I work so much and spend a lot of time in the gym. I was going to have a small procedure done for the snoring and pay $2k out of pocket, but my surgeon said if I jump through a few "hoops", he may be able to call it mild apnea and get insurance to pick up the cost. Well, after the sleep study and the scope, the joke was on me. I have moderate to severe apnea. I go in on Tuesday 6/19 for the UUUP.
Is seven days an unreasonable expectation for feeling good enough to work?
Hope everything works out okay for you!
Barry! Wait! Have you spent time reading about different folk's experience with the UPPP on the Sleepnet Non CPAP public forum? In my opinion, I think the UPPP is becoming an obsolete procedure. Although I had no lasting problems like so many others, the recovery for this surgery was a BITCH! It was terrible throat pain that ramped up and got really bad on the third day - when I was getting really tired of hurting. To give you and idea - I had NO noticeable pain from my nasal septoplasty and turbinectomy done at the same time. None. And to top it all off, my apnea episodes were almost doubled with the next sleep study! I just an of the opinion that the MMA is probably a better option for most folks.
Please check into this before you proceed! I know that this is short notice, but to your doctor it is just a cancelled/postponed surgery - for you it is a permanent change to your mouth and post nasal structure! Just make sure you are making a well informed decision before you proceed.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do. Keep me posted!
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