FIRST DAY IN BRACES: WIRES INSTALLED! (pain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

"So how are your braces?" asks the friendly receptionist at the orthodontist's office yesterday.
I smile widely (and awkwardly, as I now believe ALL my smiles are awkward facsimiles of the one I used to have)
"I hate them!" I exclaim brightly!
She smiles, "Yeah, all our adult patients say that! It seems they hate them worse than the kids do!"
MMmmm hmmm. Thats because children don't know any better! And in some circles it seems that braces are actually "cool".

So...yes.
I had the wires installed yesterday in my In-Ovation R metal brackets. During the installation of the wires and for about 2 hours afterward, the sensation was nothing more than an itchy sort of pressure. Not pain at all. I began to convince myself that it probably wouldnt hurt!  (same delusions I was suffering from when I decided to get braces in the first place!)

That was yesterday at 3 o'clock in the afternoon... and by 9pm the pain was there, for sure. I wouldnt say it is excruciating pain, not for me anyway. Nothing to make me cry. However the pain is wince-inducing! I presently cannot allow my teeth to touch...at ALL. I cannnot chew. (THIS is really beginning to bother me since I just had my first real meal after the extractions, yesterday!). The orthodontist did let me know that the pain would probably stick around after each wire change but sheesh! This is just...a lot.

I guess in the end it will be worth it.
Note for the newly braced: Get wax. Get lip guards for the friction FROM the brackets/wire. Get some tylenol. Try not to utilize NSAIDS at this time (like Motrin and Advil and Aleve. The NSAIDS reportedly slow teeth movement. Though if thats all you can take, then for all that is good and great...knock yourself out!) Get the appropriate flossers and most definately always have lip balm on hand.

Am off to make some porridge now...

EATING AFTER PREMOLAR EXTRACTIONS?

MIKE-SELL'S PUFFCORN DELITES..... I have lightly sucked on these since day 2 after the extractions. It is not nutrient rich, oh no. But I have gotten soooo tired of the baby-foodish diet that I needed to feel like I was having a "treat".

May 20 ( 4 days after)

The Post Extraction Diet:

Pureed Butternut Squash:
1 Squash. Boiled (or baked). Skin removed. Dab of butter. 1 tbsp brown sugar. Salt to taste. Mash with fork (or kitchen utensil of choice) and ....eat. (Or more like, lick off spoon).

Porridge

8 cups water. Bring to a boil. Add 2 cups cornmeal, 1 cup Cream of wheat. 1/2 can of coconut milk. About 1/2 cup of sugar. 1 tbsp butter. Salt to taste. 1 cup coconut milk. 1/2 cup condensed milk (if you want it super creamy). Stir in cornmeal a little at a time ANd  keep stirring. (it clumps otherwise) Add other ingredients and keep stirring. Let cook n low heat for about 30 mins). Serve warm/room temp because of achy sockets....

Avocado MilkShake

1 Small Avocado. Blended in with 2 cups Almond (or other milk substitute of choice) milk. 1 dash of nutmeg or cinammon. Sugar to taste. 1tsp vanilla.

The first day after, the sockets were sore. Not painful really, and I was still surprised by the low amount of pain but eating would definately be a challenge as getting anything IN the sockets would most likely HURT!!!  I had already made a large pot of porridge (caribbean islanders and many europeans know about Porridge, but for those who dont...well, it sorta looks like what I envisioned prison food to resemble. But I like it...and its been a major source of sustenance for days now. I also ate tuna with mayo, mashed up. I also ate sardines with mayo (mashed up) but the resulting bad breath was not worth it. I am soooooooooo ready for solid food now though...

EXTRACTIONS OF THE SECOND PREMOLARS: And the Breastfeeding Mom.

I just had all four of my second premolars extracted for orthodontic purposes. Am getting my teeth straightened to perfection, as you now know, so this was part of the process. The second premolars are smaller than the first molar (see diagram) and they are also a bit further back and therefore dont show when you smile. I have a very wide smile though so maybe if someone is paying really close attention they would indeed be able to see the angry red holes. Speaking of which...

It wasnt as bad as I thought it would be.  My appointment was today at 2pm. Its 4:31pm right now, and I home and I am not in pain...yet, I guess.

The process started with the needles.A large impossing needle that, for its size, may have been shot gun in its previous life. I closed my eyes then. And in it went. The injection was painful to me. Nothing excrutiating but it felt like the bee sting I sustained when I was 7, but deeper. I groaned out loud. One shot on the anterior side and another shot on the posterior side...so 8 shots in total. Well, it SHOULD have been eight. But as luck would have it, my lower left premolar would not numb up. So the injection process had to be repeated an additional 4 times. Yes... that was indeed fun.

The oral surgeon then let me know it was time to start. He tested each tooth one by one... To cut a long story short, all but one tooth needed extra shots. And the troublesome lower left one was the one that needed an additional four shots. Then the rocking back and forth with the tool began. And then the yank to pull the tooth out from its safe home. After 3 teeth were removed, I started to cry. I had so much pent up anxiety prior to the procedure, and chose that moment (involuntarily) to let loose. I thought about my freshly done haircut (me, taking the scissors to my waist length hair). I thought about getting those uncomfortable brackets on my teeth. I thought about giving birth for the first time a scant 5 months ago... Was my life flashing before my eyes? Well...not really.

As the troublesome tooth would not numb up, I had to take a bathroom break. I looked in the mirror and tried not to feel alarmed. Man! What a difference sensation makes! My face looked so odd to me, just because I could not feel my lips!

The entire thing was done in about 45 minutes. I guess it would have been shorter if the stubborn tooth would have been more cooperative.

Breast Feeding and Extractions:
I was of course up from with the doctor about the fact that I am breastfeeding. The local anesthetic does not generally pass through the blood and if it does, it would be a minimal amount, I was assured. I was also prescribed a course of Amoxicillin. It is the same antibiotic you are given if you are ever to have the unfortunate bout of mastitis as a new mom. So all safe there. I was instructed to take 800mg of Ibuprofen every 6 hrs as pain persists and beyond since the anti-inflammatory properties are beneficial to a speedier healing.

The Bleeding!
Ok...this is the gross part. I cant quite bring myself to look at the holes, yet. I have taken glimpses but ugh...its a mess. I am not even scared of blood! I just dont want to see the oozing pit! I am changing my gauze pads as instructed. And I need to. I dunno WHAT they were saying about me not bleeding much. Unless I am a latent bleeder somehow? I am indeed bleeding! Its weirding me out. I have my ice packs from my Simplisse for Dr. Browns breast pump on my face now. I hope it helps.

My Concerns?
Well...as I wont be able to eat as well... I am concerned about a drop in my milk supply. I am concerned about any infection that may set in. I am thus far too soon out of the procedure to tell for sure but am also concerned about the severity of the pain.  I will post updates later...

Add your comments or questions below if you too are breastfeeding and have to have extractions done!

THANKS FOR READING!

DAY TWO IN BRACES: "What They DONT Tell You!"

KFC Mashed Potato n Gravy.

"HELLO BABYFOOD!"

Well...not really.
As I mentioned in my first post about getting braces (see top tab of page), I do not yet have any wires on the braces at the moment (therefore no tightening/straightening going on yet). BUT...I had NO IDEA how uncomfortable the sensation of braces would be!

At the consult, we discussed types of braces to put on. The normal "traditional" brackets that require elastic bands, did intrigue me a bit. However, being honest with myself I figured I wouldnt be putting any coloured bands on my teeth at the ripe old age of 31. The orthodontist pointed out the clear ceramic brackets, but they were much larger than expected and I was sure they would make my already full lips simply protrude even more! And as I said before, the reported "stain factor" of this more aesthetically pleasing bracket choice did not interest me at all.  So I was left with the 3rd option...In-Ovation R brackets. They are also called speed braces in some circles. They are smaller....ok...correction, they take up less square footage on each tooth. However, now that they are ON my teeth, I am beginning to wonder if the traditional brackets (that require elastic bands) wouldnt be a better choice as those were most definately FLATTER!  The In-Ovation R braces have little doors that open and close to insert wires. But they also have the little "door handle" that protrudes! And those little handles are presently the bane of my existence!

Its May 13, 2013 today. And I got the braces on May 10.
What no one said to me was that there is an addtional, heretofore unmentioned "discomfort" of having your inner cheeks and inner lips abraded constantly! It takes some REAL getting used to! At first I thought I would certainly have sores. The ortho told me to forsake the mouthwash for a bit and simply swish and swirl some very salty water around in my mouth for a couple of days. Not sure if that has prevented the sores---well, I didnt GET sores (yet?) but it is surely SORE! There is a swollen welt present along the inner cheeks and along my lips where the brackets maintain their ingratiating contact. My inner cheeks and lips have gotten so puffy that the braces stick to my lips when I speak and eat. I expect it to tear into it any moment now but it hasnt (Thank God!). Infact, yesterday I started experiencing an interesting numb sensation, NO ONE MENTIONED THIS TO ME BEFORE. I guess all that rubbing finally started to make the area numb. I also wore the wax to bed on the night of the 11th and on the 12th and that seemed to help but TIP:  Here's wwhat they dont tell you: "lay off the wax during the day. Allow your cheeks and gums to get toughened up!" (which means yes, if sores start, let them be. Allow them to heal at night but its like a cut. The scar will form. And it is that scarring that will help protect your gums/cheeks/lips in the long run.

Things That Have Helped?
-Get the Waterpik!
I have the Waterpik Waterflosser, Cordless.  But I would certainly recoomend the bigger, plugged in variety since the version I have has to be refilled around 4 times to get a thorough cleansing done. If you arent fussy like me then it wont be a problem but I can see how it could be annoying for some people.

-I also have an Oral B Vitality, electric toothbrush.
It took some getting used to at first. Am pretty sure I wont be able to use it for a bit after I get the extractions done but, I like how thorough a job it does at cleaning!

-Smooth Floss is a must!
You will not want the ones that are rope like. Nothing that snags or hitches anywhere will please you. (I have the Oral B Satin Floss for now.....but when the wire goes on I will have an update and new floss techniques!)

Eating has been interesting.
 I have these bumpers on my rear teeth. The ortho used the composite material to elevated my bite somewhat as I was biting down on the brackets themselves. This has now left me with a lovely open bite and a very unnatural chewing surface area and a weird sensation and taste while I attempt to eat. I basically have started to wonder what I have gotten myself into, and yes am sure I am not the only one to wonder that at the outset. I am still...HATING braces. But...slowly am getting used to it! Now...for the extractions tomorrow afternoon!.....Eeeeeeeek!

Until Next Time!

By The Way: One of the best braces journeys on video I have seen is the one from BRACES4AQUARIUSCHIC on Youtube.com.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IU1rkS_pFp8

PREGGO SOUP: "Not a Blog About Soup----but Baby!" Pt 1

I imagine this may not be novel at all; in fact many a life changer must have started this very way, the same way it did that evening.
"We're out of condoms,..." my husband started to say, as I listened to him slap around the items in the drawer of the bedside table. His ring clanked alongside the sewing kit and the metal cookie jar that housed his penny wrapper.
"Oh yeah? Mmmm..." I replied, glancing over blearily at the 2012 Kitten Calendar mounted on our bedroom wall.

I must stop to insert at this point that I suffer from astigmatism in both my eyes.
It isn’t bad; in fact I barely wear my glasses at all. But every so often when I am reading a lot (as I tend to do when I land a good set of books, where I gobble them up voraciously in a space of days, thus straining my eyes) I don’t see as clearly as I should. So right now, I can partially blame my bad(ish) eyesight. Or, the more romanticized scapegoat can be the fact that I was already lost in the moment. But, it all boils down to this: that glance I gave the calendar in that slice of time wasn’t even worth a grain of sand to a Saharan camel.
"It’s um, its fine! I am nowhere close to ovulation!” I finished. (Yeah, romantic, I know)
 My husband still isn’t convinced, “So, it’s ok? Its safe now?”
 See, my husband trusts me implicitly! As he should! After all, I am the girl that knows practically everything there is to know about my own menstrual cycle. Indeed, if you ask a few of my friends, I happen to know the details of their cycles too! I mean, I am no M.D. (yet, anyway---you never know) but I know my innards, I really do! (See all my other previous blog posts here about conception, ovulation, etcetera).
“Yeah, it’s safe.” I conclude airily, and another button is loose.

 I wouldn’t change a thing if I had to go back and re-live those moments. You see, I re-lived it all tons of times in my head! I was especially recollective on April 1st, 2012---the day my period was due. All Fools Day just so happened to be one year mark of the day my husband proposed to me. Yes, 17 days shy of our 7 month wedding anniversary too. I was on the phone with my best friend then, around 8:15 in the morning (her usual call time), and she was expressing concern over her own monthly cycle as her's was due as well. It hadn’t occurred to me then that my period wouldn’t be showing up at all for April.  Then 5 days later…with Aunt Flo still AWOL, I took a First Response digital pregnancy test. Needless to say, it was positive!

 Yes guys, that is what I have been doing all these months, the reason behind my blogging hiatus: gestating inside me now and transforming my previously flat abs into the shapeshifter it is now (a squarish circle right now as the baby stretches). Add to this my acquired pregnancy-brain (it is real people!). But no more…here goes, please join me in the journey…as I await the birth of mine and my husband’s first child. Share with me the things you too have learned along your journey as well! As I will do the same for the next 65 days (or whenever she chooses to make her appearance. Yes, we are having a girl.

_______________________________________________________________________________________
 **FIRST RESPONSE® and the FIRST RESPONSE® logo are trademarks of Church  Dwight Co., Inc.**

AMAZON'S: Bestsellers in Baby

“The Best Supplement for FASTER Hair Growth? " ANDREW LESSMAN’S Hair Skin Nails.

It had been two weeks since I last washed my hair---and today I finally mustered up the courage to do it. I am shaking my head at publicly admitting this bit, but it’s the truth. Six months have passed since my last relaxer, and my cornrows are looking rather bedraggled beneath my wig.  My husband has now begun to ask me when he will next see my hair…my real hair (see photo of me on my wedding day---with my real hair---no weave/tracks/pieces or whatever you may call them). I have to preface this post by saying that I believe we owe the texture, length capabilities and natural colors of our hair, to genetics. Certain aspects of our hair’s structure is simply genetic, but there are things that we can do to help maintain its length and improve its health---just like our systems at large! I have to admit, I am not the best go-to person for hair care tips, but ladies…I can tell you a thing or two about hair growth. There isn’t really a science to this---or maybe there is, but in addition to the gifts that your particular gene pool may boast, there are a few products out there that are time tested and proven, worthy of their merit for aiding in the growth and maintenance of more beautiful, stronger, and faster growing hair!
So here is my official two cents on a few of them…


Let me start off by saying that my hair is relaxed. It has been relaxed now for 17 years (read my blog’s tag line for my age). I don’t really subscribe to that “good hair”, saying. Good hair is healthy hair! Each and every single type and texture can be good hair…if it is healthy! I also do not put much weight in those hair typing charts (mostly because I don’t really understand the purpose of them) but I believe I have normal, healthy and beautiful hair [4a-type classified…unofficially]. Giving credence to the genetic link behind my story, I have had long hair my entire life (read: mid-back length by age 3, bra-strap length up till and beyond my first relaxer.) I have attained waist length hair time and time again, but I also have a rather frenzied love affair with the Scissors. Plus, as mentioned before, I have lost length due to major neglect but alas…it always comes right back.

There are numerous products on the market that make grand promises that include growing your hair, strengthening your hair, improving its “texture”, etcetera etcetera. I am here to share my time tested (2 YEARS IN THE MAKING) review on a few products. And the first of the lot in my Hair Giants series is:

ANDREW LESSMAN’S : Hair Skin Nails Supplement.

One night back in 2010, weary from work, I let the TV rest a bit longer than it should have, on HSN. (I try not to let this happen as unnecessary purchases may ensue.). This particular night they had a TSV (Today’s Special Value) from Andrew Lessman (Hair Skin and Nails formula with EGCG and Bioflavonoids) and well…I wanted it.

I called my boyfriend (now husband) and we both decided to get ourselves a bottle. I don’t/didn’t have an issue with hair growth but my skin was (and still is!) in an absolute state of distress, and my nails were worse for wear. J wanted to try it as well, as he had been experiencing thinning hair and major nail breakage. We decided to purchase the largest value size for myself (600 capsules) and J decided to get a 90 day supply. My mother (who was in her early 50’s at the time) also decided to try it out, and she ordered the 250 capsule size.

So…what happened?

1 Month in:

HAIR: By this point, I hadn’t really noticed much change. I had been taking 2 capsules per day, as suggested on the bottle. In addition, I had continued to take my regular multivitamins (Equate multivitamin for women from Walmart, my fish oil supplement from Vitacost.com, a Chlorella supplement and a fiber supplement.

NAILS: Though I noticed a marked increase in the growth rate of my previously gnarly nails, much to my dismay, they began to become much harder---to the point of being brittle. My nails were no longer as “pliable” as they had been before, and oddly, they began to crack in odd places.

SKIN: I wasn’t surprised that my skin had made no noticeable changes at all…

6 Month Mark:

By this point, I was very pleased as I could note a much more accelerated growth rate of my hair! My hair had also become thicker. The downside however, was the marked increased in coarseness of my hair. I had never had particularly hard to manage nor coarse hair before. So I can only assume that this vitamin played a role in changing the overall texture and manageability of my hair. My skin had also gone through a startlingly embarrassing cycle of increased breakouts (blackheads and cystic acne….all over!).

After a bit of research, I decided that I was not tolerant of the levels of biotin in the hair vitamin at all. Like many others before me, it was singularly responsible for the acne breakouts and I chose to decrease my dose to one tablet per day. At the one year mark, I also chose to purchase Andrew Lessman’s : Essential One Multivitamin and Mineral Supplement (which also featured an additional 500 mcg of biotin) and added that to my daily regimen.

So What Happened Two Years Later…to date?

My husband didn’t reorder the Hair Vitamins, despite having wonderfully accelerated growth of his previously stubby fingernails. He also did not see an improvement in his skin, but noticed that the hair that he had on his had had also begun to grow much faster! (He didn’t care for that fact as it caused more frequent haircuts, and it didn’t cause an area of thinning on his scalp to change much). He did however purchase the Multivitamin and still uses that to this day.

My mother also achieved an accelerated rate of growth in her over processed (permanent dye damaged) hair. Her hair also became much thicker! She too reported that her hair texture became coarser, though she happened to appreciate that particular side-effect.

As for me, and at that dose (1 tablet per day) used in conjunction with the multi vitamins, and a balanced diet, I retained a healthy hair growth rate that seems to exceed the average of ½ inch per month. The skin on my body has been softer as a result of this vitamin regimen. My nails remained strong until mid 2011, when my hand washing got a bit out of hand at work (leading to regular broken bits)---they still grow rather fast though! My skin is still intolerant of high levels of biotin. I sometimes skip the Hair vitamins for several days (and this practice also seems to reduce/eliminate the coarseness that I had previously experienced).  By finding the right dose for you, I would say that this vitamin is a great choice! Amongst other vitamins and minerals, it features hair health champions like: Silicon, MSM, Gelatin, and the afore mentioned Biotin. Do note however, that the Andrew Lessman hair/skin/nails vitamins seem to go through reformulation often.

He tends to do upgrades, but each seems better than the last.  Though it was a bit pricey ($89 for my 600 capsule buy) mine happened to have lasted a long time! Especially since I did not maintain the suggested 2/day dosing, and ultimately would skip several days at a time after a year had passed. Do make sure to purchase while this item is on sale though...as is stands, it is priced lower on Andrew Lessman's direct website at procapslabs.com.

As this may be rather expensive for some people, stay tuned for the next blog post about other Hair Growth Supplements & Products that may suit your needs as well!

WHERE TO BUY:

- Hsn.com

- Amazon.com: Women's Multi

http://www.amazon.com/Equate-Womens-Daily-Multivitamin-Tablets/dp/B00134L9DE/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1331856437&sr=1-1

- Hair Vitamins

http://www.procapslabs.com/Products/SearchResults.aspx?input=hair

Multivitamins and Hair Skin Nails Vitamins from Andrew Lessman

http://health-fitness.hsn.com/andrew-lessman-essential-1-360-capsules_p-6340950_xp.aspx?cmsstr=120652&webm_id=10056244&web_id=&sz=3&sf=HF&dept=HF0035&cat=HF0085&o=&ocm=seis

- Vitacost.com (offers 300 capsules for less than $9!)

http://www.vitacost.com/Vitacost-Fish-Oil

"The Bouquet Toss."

***THANKS FOR READING***

AFTER THE FINAL ROSE: He Chose COURTNEY---the Blindfolds fell off, Now what?

Photo Courtesy of ABC

Ok...I am done gasping in non-shock.
I was sincerely hoping that this would turn out differently! I am such a sucker! Despite everything I was hoping that ABC had somehow managed to dupe us all---and that he was really waking UP at the last minute--- and that yes, Ben had indeed chosen Lindzi (or even better yet! Ben places a call to Courtney B, as he leans dramatically over some random, windy ledge there in Switzerland and says he never meant to let her go and that it was her all along that he's loved and that his heart was finally speaking louder than his ADDLE BRAINED PECKER and....ok...I truly digress).
So we may as well face it: ABC is doing this purely for entertainment purposes right now. You are more likely to "find love" if cast on the next season of MTV's: The Real World or better yet, first round of auditions during American Idol or X-Factor...if you are lucky! (I actually still have hopes that my first message to ABC's producers will actually get through to them, because I do think they seriously need to switch it up!)

And everybody out there that has complained about the Bachelor not even being worthy of watching? Well, it sure was! Weren't you entertained tonight? Come on...be honest! I have to admit that 1/2 hour in, I actually even started liking Courtney (eternal optimist here, hoping that yes...she is totally a wonderful girl and everyone else was wrong!). I mean, people! I expect anything at this point! They could be married by next week and pregnant already! Who knows?? That girl has certainly got a way about her! But man oh man, when it all came crashing down, and Ben's eyes finally saw the light, it still left me feeling bad for him,  and for her...because really, they are "just ordinary people". (Cue Mr. Legend...). Lets just hope they know which way to go...since at this point, as of 3/12/2012, they are "together".

If nothing else, you turned the TV off feeling blessed to be YOU, feeling better about your own life! I know I did! Yes...I am disappointed in yet another season's ending. Yes, I wanted a shocking Fairy Tale ending (despite the loudly buzzing rumour mill, the tabloid stories and the obviously worst kept secret in the industry of him having picked Courtney!), but instead I got some shockingly black finale dresses! Seriously...aside from my flimsy wishes for this dude, who died?! And yes, I even ---sort of--- told myself to to tune out right after Casey B's vote-off! But yes...just like everyone else who stayed to the end to watch the show's finale tonight, it was still wildly entertaining! And I will be back for more next season.

Yup, I am a sucker for this show!
And ABC...if you are listening (which I know you are not! LOL) time for a remix please.
Also...please do a return of a dashing foreigner then...or at least, a handsome man with a kind heartAnd a clear head! And real true, honest intentions! Then again, those sorts of men are probably down at the grocery store, happily tossing steak and a choice bunch of kale into their trollies.  Or probably he is a click away on Match.com and this type of man would most certainly want nothing to do with the likes of the Bachelor so...yeah.  Just another gripe from another fan...who is still hoping for Change.

PS: Congrats to JP and Ashley! They have set a date! Ok...a timeline! Lets hope they make it! Cheers!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/23/ashley-hebert-wedding_n_1168071.html
**THANKS FOR READING! If you like what you have read so far, please subscribe to my blog (or any of your other favorite blogs) through www.BlogLovin.com. Next in my series of posts? Hair Growth Products! Tested for two years!**