Oh sh1t! I just broke my first elastic. Which is perfectly normal except nobody has shown us how to put them on. Fortunately, Dr Keller's office gave us some bands, a tool and a diagram of my current arrangement on my last visit. (We added the headlamp and the second tweezers.)
So at least we had the stuff. Jamie gets to figure the rest out. Lucky guy!
It wasn't easy (I have one hook that is really close to my gum and even the experienced people have troubles with it) or pretty (Jamie has an impressive cuss-vocabulary) and it was, of course, a back elastic making his first time out even more challenging. He did it! I'm so proud of him! I know he was really not looking forward to having to do the elastics and was afraid that he would quit because it hurt me. But he rose to the occasion beautifully! *Hugs hubby*
I had read on blogs of people doing these elastics by themselves but I certainly don't see how. Firstly, I can't see the back of my own mouth. Secondly, I have to hold my cheek out of the way and it required two tools to do the job. Not being Zaphod Beeblebrox**, I'm not sure how that would work. Thankfully, I don't have to. I have a loving and supportive husband who's willing to stick his fingers in my mouth if needs be.
So, crisis dealt with, husband praised. And the worst part is some jaw muscle soreness. All in all, I'll call that a success!
*Effed Up Nonsense
**Three-armed character from Douglas Adams's "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy"
I also see Dr Keller. The rubberband tricks you will get uses to. On a good night I wear four. On bad weeks it can be up to 6. It's time consuming in the beginning, but you will get the hang of it. Congrats on your progress. It's been a long road for me also. Full year in a splint and 4 1/2 years in braces. Good luck in your journey. Keller is the best.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment Trista. Always glad to hear from another jaw patient. I have gotten better with the elastics but I'm not fond of them still. I agree, Dr Keller rocks!
DeleteI also see Dr Keller. The rubberband tricks you will get uses to. On a good night I wear four. On bad weeks it can be up to 6. It's time consuming in the beginning, but you will get the hang of it. Congrats on your progress. It's been a long road for me also. Full year in a splint and 4 1/2 years in braces. Good luck in your journey. Keller is the best.
ReplyDelete