#i got spacers the week after that happened and braces the week after that

[hellenhighwater]

You cut your toe in half when you were 14? Did your parents... do anything about that? Or about any of the other wild things you apparently got up to? Or are they just as chaotic as you?

Look, if some parents are “helicopter parents,” then mine were aircraft carrier parents. They were there for support if we needed it, and we knew we could go to them for help and supplies, but mostly they stayed out of range and let us fight our own battles. 

Even when we chose to get in fights with inanimate pointy objects in dark rooms. 

I told them what had happened, and they were like, “Hell, that’s really dumb. Boys, stay out of Hellen’s room or we’ll let her go in your rooms.” And obviously that was threat enough. 

To be honest, my parents had the dubious blessing of very sturdy children with ridiculous pain tolerances. It seems to be genetic (and it comes with an equally robust liver, which is a nice but inconveniently expensive thing to have when you hit drinking age.) My younger brother once broke his arm sledding and just...didn’t bring it up for three days. Not because he was worried about getting in trouble--my parents tended to regard stupidly-acquired injuries as their own punishment, and they’ve never been the sort to get mad about things--but because he just didn’t think it was that big of a deal.

My own pain threshold was set at age eleven, when a really shitty dentist pulled four of my teeth without properly anesthetizing me first. My face went numb two hours after the teeth came out.  There are times when late is better than never, and that was NOT ONE OF THOSE TIMES. Anything less than that experience fell into the category of No Biggie, and it should be noted that even then I did not cry.

Also, relatedly, dentists are my mortal foe. All dentists. Horrible bone stealing bastards.

I swear I had a point...

Oh! Yes. My parents are just as chaotic as I am, but with the chill that comes with age. They fully support the idea that anything that doesn’t kill you makes you stronger--or at least stranger, which is just as good--and so far I’ve been pretty hard to kill. 

My dad has always said that there are those who dance to the beat of a different drum...and then there’s Hellen, who tangoes to the oompah of a different bagpipe. 

It’s mostly not an insult. 

#storytime with hell #tw dentists #the WORST #i got spacers the week after that happened and braces the week after that #it SUCKETHED #Anonymous

[tea-and-spoons]

What happens when... I develop a new food allergy?

Whether this is your first food allergy, or the most recent in a long list, it can still be a rough adjustment and overwhelming amount of change.  But as someone who has gone through this more than twenty times, I promise you it’s not the end of the world.

The majority of this post is related to severe, anaphylactic food allergies, but I’m of course always going to advocate for being careful, and some of this will apply to milder allergies too.  This advice also works if you were just diagnosed with celiac disease, or another condition that makes you sensitive to cross contamination.  I’m going to let your doctor handle the medical side of this, but I’m hoping this post will cover all the other things you need to know!

I made some pretty thorough lists of things to check, replace, or clean to make sure you’re safe from allergens- I’ll put those at the end of this post.  It is a lot- recruit a non-allergic friend to help if you can!

But before I get into the lists, here are some other things I’ve learned about getting a new food allergy.

-Update your doctors, including your dentist.  And also update any emergency info you have around, like your medical ID in your phone.

-Research other names for your allergen and what it might be found in.  Food labelling can be very sneaky, which is Not Cool, but you get really good at reading ingredient labels once you know what to look for.  I would stay away from googling too many other allergy related things though, it’s an easy way to get into a panic.

-Talk to the people you live with.  Hopefully they’re good about it, but they might take a while to understand, or might even be angry and resistant, which honestly is beyond me.  If this is your situation, I am so so sorry.  You deserve to feel safe in your own home, no matter what.  If you can set some ground rules and get people on board even a little bit, that will help, and hopefully everyone will come around eventually.

-You should also talk to your partner, or anyone you might be kissing (or who might be kissing you, even on the cheek.  Hi grandma.)  Their foods, medications, reusable water bottles, and toothbrush are all possible ways you could get sick.  So even if they haven’t eaten allergens in hours, it could still be on their toothbrush and that can be enough to cause a reaction.  This research article (Maloney JM, et al. Peanut allergen exposure through saliva: assessment and interventions to reduce exposure. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2006; 118: 719-724.) found that waiting at least an hour and having something allergen free to eat was the best way to de-poison-ify for someone you want to kiss.  I’ve also heard from other allergists that 3-4 hours is the right number.  So I would ask your allergist what they recommend for you.

(note:  I would like to keep this blog safe and friendly for spoonies of all ages, but if you are in need of more information about dating and allergies, feel free to message me and I’ll send you some links!)

-One thing that surprised me with some of my food allergies was the cravings.  Sometimes I never want to even hear the word “pineapple” again, but especially if it was something like eggs that are more a hidden ingredient, I struggled with cravings for foods I couldn’t have anymore, like French toast.  And I’m not even someone who likes food that much!  So I’m here to tell you that the cravings are normal, and will subside in a few weeks.  It also helps to just not be around things you can’t eat for a bit.  And to look for replacement recipes for your favorites- there’s so much out there, it’s really impressive.

-The other common (emotional) reaction is anxiety.  Anaphylactic food allergies can be life threatening, of course you’re scared!  It is 100% normal to be worried and afraid and anxious and terrified, especially after an allergic reaction.  That response happens to help keep you safe!  But it’s also exhausting, and can get out of control.  My best advice here is to follow the concrete steps you need to be safe, and then tell yourself that you’ve done everything you can, you know what you’re doing, and even if something goes wrong, you know you are prepared.  You can be prepared and careful AND not have to be scared all the time.  There is zero shame in seeing a therapist about this too, they can really help.  (My advice here is borrowed from my lovely therapist!)

And here are the lists I mentioned earlier!  I hope this helps you feel safer and more prepared.  Severe food allergies are a big change, but you got this!

Things to replace:

-Toothbrush (and maybe toothpaste too)

-Any food that is still safe but might be cross contaminated (like flour, sugar, spices, things that go on toast… basically any open containers)

-Kitchen sponges and rags and anything else that gets used to hand wash dishes

-Chapstick and lipstick

-Stim toys that go in your mouth

-Cast iron kitchen equipment

-Cutting boards

-Reeds (if you play a reed instrument)

-Ice cubes, if you have a tray in your freezer that people reach into

Things to clean:

-Kitchen itself, including all appliances and countertops

-Anywhere else food is kept or eaten (such as pantry, dining room, couch, in your purse, desk, locker)

-All cooking supplies (plates, pans, silverware, crockpot, basically everything)

-Potholders and oven mitts

-Pillowcases

-Dish towels

-Doorknobs

-Handles

-Light switches

-Remotes

-Cloth napkins

-Reusable water bottles

-Kitchen drawers that might have gotten crumbs or residue in them

-Retainer or mouthguard

-Lunchbox

-Toys and fidgets

-Purse/backpack

-Writing utensils

-Car steering wheel, controls, and handles (especially if you’re the driver)

-Inhaler, spacer, nebulizer, CPAP mask, and other related equipment

-Oral thermometer

-Face masks

-Phone, computer keyboards, touch screens

-Hand or wrist braces

-Video game controllers

-Any musical instruments you play, but especially if it’s a wind instrument.  Plus the case, and any cleaning equipment.

-Whatever your toothbrush is stored in

Things to check the labels on:

-All your food (what you have at home, and anything new you buy)

-Toothpaste

-Floss

-Shampoo and other hair products

-Hand soap and dish soap

-Deodorant

-Makeup and chapstick

-Medications

-Lotions

-Sunblock

-Pet food (if their food turns out to contain your new allergen, you might want to clean or replace their toys as well.  And a bath for the pet themselves!)

If I missed anything on my lists, please feel free to add on in the replies!  If you need someone to talk to or have questions, you’re welcome to message me.  And I promise this gets easier 💙

#food allergy #food allergies #anaphylaxis #epipen #mast cell activation disorder #mast cell activation syndrome #MCAD #MCAS #celiac disease #celiac #teaandspoons #chronic illness advice #disability #rare disease

[medicalhealthnewsflash]

Are you looking for information about Affordable Orthodontist Sicklerville?

Is it important for you to get the right details about Damon Braces Sicklerville?

  Do you want to get info about Braces Experts Sicklerville? If you are looking to find the best Sicklerville NJ Affordable Orthodontist – you are off to a good start…

  Here’s how my appointment went when I got my braces installed.

I got called back into a large room and was directed to one of the work stations that an orthodontists assistant was. I was asked to sit in a chair that they had there. They asked me if I was ready to get my braces put on. I said I was ready. They removed my spacers and started prepping my teeth by using the same kind of electric toothbrush that your dentist uses and the same kind of pumice-y toothpaste that your dentist uses (I kinda like the taste of it. It was sorta minty).

  Then they rinsed my mouth out. They then installed my metal bands on my back molars. I had to bite down on a stick to get them to seat properly. They then installed my cheek retractors (in my opinion the worst part of the whole thing because its in there and your mouth is stretched out and very uncomfortable). They then used a section tube thingy and sucked all the liquid off of my teeth. They then put this foul smelling and tasting liquid on my teeth and let it sit there for maybe a minute while it did its work. Then they rinsed it off and dried my teeth again. Then they used a liquid to prime my teeth for the glue they were going to use. They let that sit and repeated the rinsing and drying again. Then they put in a piece of plastic that I was able to bite down on. Its function was to hold my tongue back so that it wouldn’t interfere with them putting on my brackets.

  The orthodontist came over and she put each bracket on my teeth. It just feels like someone placing something on your teeth. After she adjusted everything, the assistant held a light to each tooth for about 20 seconds or so while the glue cured. After the glue cured, they removed the piece of plastic I was biting down on and my cheek retractors. All I remember was there being something odd and alien on my teeth. They explained they werent quite done. They brought a tray over and said that I got to choose the colors I wanted on my braces I picked blue and grey (Yes, I picked the colors of the Los Angeles Dodgers for my braces… so what). They slipped the wire into the brackets and started putting the colors on alternating in between. That is when I started feeling pressure on my teeth. When they were done, they handed me a mirror and asked me what I thought of my new braces. I said they felt wierd.

  They then walked me over with my mom and showed us how to care for my braces and had to go through a whole care routine before I could leave to show I could do it. I think I was there for 2 hours. Afterward, we went to mcdonald’s and ate It was the first time I cleaned my teeth and it took forever to clean my teeth (now I’m used to it and takes no longer than before I got braces).

  I know you didn’t ask this but I’ll include it. I didn’t go to get my braces until 10 in the morning. My teeth really didn’t bother me until after 6 at night. It was the worst for about 3 days. Then the pain eased I started eating normally about a week after getting them put on I’m not saying this to put you off…but to prepare you for the possibility it could happen.

  I’m to have my braces for 24 months. I’m 7 months into my treatment. I’ve seen so many changes in my appearance. I’m glad my mom made me do it. I love my braces now and am glad to have them. Yes, they’re a pain and annoying as hell. … but so worth it.

(Source Quora)

  Common Questions About Affordable Orthodontist

Question: 

How many appointments do you get after braces?

  Answer:

Traditional Braces

The first appointment for adhering the braces will take about 2 hours, but subsequent appointments usually take between 15-20 minutes. Patients with traditional braces should expect scheduled visits every four to eight weeks.

  Question:

  How do dentist appointments work with braces?

Answer:

When working around the brackets of your braces, your hygienist will remove the plaque that has hardened around the hardware. Once the teeth are clean, they will floss between your chompers. They will use a looped tool to get the floss through the space between the teeth and the wire of your braces.

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[rebelmeg]

Another survey, you know how I feel about those...

1. You woke up naked next to the last person you texted, what would you say?   “Morning, sunshine.”

2. What’s going on between you and the last person you kissed?  It’s our 11th wedding anniversary today!

3. If your boyfriend or girlfriend was into drugs, would you care?  Yes, because drugs are one of the fastest ways to mess yourself up, and they never really ever let go.

4. Is your last name longer than six letters?  Yep.

5. Was your last kiss drunk or sober?  I’ve never been drunk, all of my kisses have been sober.

6. Have you ever wanted to have someone but you messed it up?  I don’t think having a crush on someone and then moving away when I was 14 really counts...

7. What does your last received text say? *Sobs*  I know!

8. How many times have you kissed the last person you kissed?  Oh, too many to count, been kissing him for 13 years...

9. Where was your last kiss at?  Either on the couch or on the bed.

10. When is the last time you saw your sister?  I saw both of them yesterday!

11. What do you drink in the morning?  Water and Dr. Pepper

12. Where did you sleep last night?  In my bed.

13. Do you think relationships are hard?  They shouldn’t be that hard.  I think being an adult makes life hard, and that stress can easily transfer to relationships.  If a relationship is hard, and it’s not just normal responsible adult stress making it hard, maybe there’s something wrong.

14. If you could go back and change something in the past 5 months, would you?  Oh, I’m sure I would.  Not sure what, I’d have to think about it, but there’s always something I think I could have done better or different.

15. You’re locked in a room with the last person you kissed, any problems?  Absolutely not, he’s my favorite person.

16. Would you rather it be sunny or rainy?  Rainy all the way!

17. Do you know anyone with the same middle name as you?  Um... not off the top of my head, no.

18. Are you wearing jeans, sweatpants, or pajama pants?  Khaki shorts with cotton lace on the hem to make them a little bit longer.

19. Do you think you will be in a relationship 3 years from now?  Yep.

20. Does anyone like you?  I think so, yeah.

21. Have you ever kissed someone with a name that starts with an S?  Nope.  There was a D, a B, and a T, and a P ever since then.

22. Is the last person you kissed gay? Nope.

23. Is there a person you CANNOT stand?  Oh, there’s a few...

24. Have you ever considered getting a tattoo?  I save tattoo designs that I like, but I won’t ever actually get a tattoo.  But I do love the art, sometimes I’ll use it as inspiration for other things.  I painted an awesome phoenix on a shirt that was inspired by a tattoo design.

25. In the past week have you cried?  No, not this week.

26. What breed was the last dog you saw?  Saw my mom’s mini American Eskimo yesterday.

27. Do you dry off in the shower or out of the shower?  Both, I usually do top half in the shower, lower half out of the shower, then hair.

28. Have you ever kissed a football player?  Nope, but I had a crush on one once.

29. Do you think you’re old?  Nah, got awhile yet for that.

30. Do you like text messaging?  I like the ease of communication, but I hate typing out long messages.

31. What type of day are you having?  Eh.  Could have slept longer than I did.  Have to do both jobs today, that’s never fun.  But it’s payday, so there’s that.  Paying bills, woot.

32. Have you ever thought about getting your nose pierced?  Nope, I just have my ears pierced.

33. Do you prefer warm or cold weather? COLD ALL THE WAY, I’M A POLAR BEAR!

34. Is there a person of the opposite sex who means a lot to you?  There’s my hubby, and then all my male family members.

35. Would you prefer a relationship or a fling?  Relationship.

36. Are you a simple or complicated person?  I dunno, depends.  Which probably translates to complicated, but like... I have pretty simple basic needs, but the way I like to do things can be complicated.

37. What song are you listening to?  Hold music... yes, I’m on Tumblr while working... no, I don’t apologize for it.

38. When you say you’re sorry do you mean it?  I try really hard not to.  I like my apologies to be sincere.

39. Is there a girl that knows everything or almost everything about you?  I have a bestie that knows a lot, and also my sister, sister in law, and mom.

40. What made you start liking the person you like now?  I started dating my hubby because he was so cute and awkward and very funny.  He still is, he makes me laugh every day.

41. When did you last receive a text message?  Couple hours ago.

42. What is wrong with you right now?  I’m tired, I am the Grand Empress of Time Mismanagement, I have too much to do, I love food too much and hate exercise way too much, my sleeping schedule is way off, my self-control is on vacation somewhere, and I lost my motivation seeds.  I’m also a wee bit peckish.

43. How well do you know the last female you texted?  That’s my sister, so pretty well.

44. Does anyone disgust you?  Disgusting people do.

45. Would you date someone right now if they asked?  Nope, I’m taken.

46. Are you in a good mood right now?  I’m in an okay mood.

47. Who was the last person you talked to in person?  My hubby.

48. What color shirt are you wearing? Bright sky blue.

49. Has someone recently told you something you didn’t want to hear? Hubby told me it was time to wake up.  I whined at him.

50. Anyone you’re giving up on?  I did last year, then awhile after that they sucker punched me right in my heart, and I really don’t know what’s up with that anymore...  They scrambled to fix it right away, I needed time to recover, and haven’t heard anything since, so... yeah.

51. Do you hate the person you fell hardest for? Nope, I love him.

52. Have you ever thought about giving up on someone but couldn’t? Not yet.

53. Do you like rain?  I absolutely LOVE rain!

54. Do you care if your boyfriend/girlfriend drinks?  Yep, there’s no way drinking leads to good things.  We don’t drink.

55. Have you ever liked somebody and never told them?  Probably when I was a teenager.

56. Do you like to cuddle?  I do, yes.

57. Are you shy?  Not really, no.

58. Do you get along with girls?  Yep, I do.

59. Have you dated the person you texted last?  Yep, we dated for two years.

60. What do you carry with you at all times?  My phone.

61. If you were paid 1 million dollars to spend the night in a supposed haunted house, would you?  Sure, why not?  I don’t really believe in that kind of stuff, so it wouldn’t bother me.

62. Do you think you can last in a relationship for five months?  I’ve lasted in one for 13 years, so yeah, I can.

63. Think back to October, were you in a relationship?  Mmhmm.

64. The person you like kisses you on the forehead, do you find this cute?  Yes I do.

65. Did anything “cute” happen in the last week?  Lots of stuff, I’ve got a hubby and two cute girls.

66. How old are the last three people you kissed?  30, 9 and a half, and 3.

67. Would you rather pay to get your nails done or do them yourself?  I always do them myself, I love nail polish and I’m very picky about my nail shape.

68. Which do you like better- Zebra print or leopard print?  I don’t really like either, but probably zebra.

69. Do you have any stickers on your car?  We have a bunch.  Star Wards, Harry Potter, Avengers, Firefly, Batman...

70. Would you rather listen to Luke Bryan or Lil Wayne?  Luke Bryan!  I love country music.

71. Blackberry, Android, or iPhone?  Android.   

72. When’s the last time you had pizza from Pizza Hut?   Hmm, been awhile, I’m not sure.  Several months, probably.

73. Do you like diet soda?   Ick, no, I can’t handle the aftertaste.

74. What color are the walls in your room?  Off-white, very boring, I’d prefer something way more colorful.

75. Are you 16 or older?   Older

76. Do you watch Pretty Little Liars?   Nope.

77. Do you have a job?   Other than being a mom, I have two.

78. What are your initials?  MEB

79. Did you ever have braces?  No, but I had a spacer when I was a kid.

80. Are you from the south?  Nope, West.

81. What does your last status on Facebook say?  It’s a “happy anniversary to me” message.

82. Do you still talk to the first person you ever kissed?  Occasionally, we were friends in high school and we’re Facebook friends.  He’s a super weird dude.

83. Are you closer to your mom or your dad?  Uh, maybe mom, but I’ve been pretty close to my dad in recent years.

84. Have you ever done cheerleading or gymnastics?  Nope, but I did ballet and tap when I was a kid.

85. What’s the last movie you saw in theaters?  We saw Wonder Woman and Spiderman: Homecoming on the same day a couple weeks ago!

86. Do you smoke?  Nope, never have.

87. Would you rather wear heels or flip flops?   I adore high heels, but they hurt to wear, so I wear flip flops more often.

88. Is your phone touch screen?  Yep.

89. Do you normally wear your hair straight or curly?   It’s naturally curly/wavy, so my ponytail is usually that way.

90. Have you ever snuck out of your house?  Yep.

91. Would you rather swim in a river, lake, or pool?  Pool, it’s more clean.

92. Have you ever made out in a car?  Several cars, yes, in and on top of.

93. …Had sex in a car?  Several cars, yes, in and on top of.

94. Are you single or in a relationship?  Happily in a relationship.

95. What were you doing last night at midnight?  Watching Iron Man.

96. When’s the last time you saw fireworks?  We did them on the third of this month, my family came down and we set some off.

97. Do you like the camera on your phone?  Ugh, no, it sucks!  I keep my old phone on hand because the camera is so much better.

98. Have you ever had a friend with benefits?  Nope.

99. Have you ever passed out from drinking?   I’ve never had alcohol.

100. Are you friends with people on Facebook that you actually hate?  Nope, I don’t do that kind of nonsense.

101. Have you ever had a pregnancy scare?  Yep.

102. Name your favorite Kesha song:  Die Young

103. Do you have any tan lines right now?   Yep, farmers tan on the neck/chest and arms.

104. Would you ever wear cowboy boots with shorts?   I don’t think I could get away with it, but some people can.

[stuber45188020]

Five Frugal Things | And the bear says hello

This bear that Sonia made has nothing to do with today’s post.

But he’s really cute, and I thought he might improve your day.

1. We got a family discount on orthodontics.

Is there a lot about orthodontics that is frugal? Not really!

But Lisey is going to the same orthodontist that Zoe is, which means we got the $300 discount for subsequent family members.

And since we knew orthodontics were going to happen this year, we made sure to select the appropriate dental plan during open enrollment last year.

So, we’re doing our best to be smart about something that’s unavoidably expensive. 

2. I used points for a free milkshake.

Zoe got her spacers out and her braces on this week, so she’s in the rough period of adjusting to the braces.

I know she’ll get used to eating with the braces, and I know the pain will get better too, but for now it’s pretty rough.

She did her best to eat some dinner the first night, but it was hard.

So, we went out to pick her up a Chick-Fil-A milkshake after dinner, and I redeemed my points through the app for a freebie.

3. I helped Zoe buy a $30 skateboard.

She has a secondhand longboard, but she’s been wanting to learn how to do tricks, and you need a skateboard for that.

New was out of her budget, but she found a good deal on a used one on Facebook marketplace, so I took her out to pick it up yesterday.

4. I bought marked-down milk.

This will come in very handy because I plan to make some pudding for miss Zoe.

(ALLLLL the soft foods right now!)

5. I made muffins with my huge carrots.

Hungry Harvest sent me some ginormous carrots last time, so I shredded some up to make some carrot cake muffins.

I used this recipe, sans the cream cheese frosting because keeping them unfrosted allows me to maintain that they are indeed muffins, not cupcakes.

Ergo, they are a snack, not dessert. 

Your turn! Share your five frugal things in the comments.

The post Five Frugal Things | And the bear says hello appeared first on The Frugal Girl.

[strikhedonista]

Rinse and spit

I’ve spent the past 6 weeks in dental hell.  And it’s not ending anytime soon.

Labor Day weekend we were getting ready to go to the beach when I noticed Xander’s right cheek was all swollen.  “Do you have a toothache?”  After a moment, he said sheepishly, “Kinda.”  I sighed.  “Okay, we can’t do anything about it right now.  I’ll call and make you a dentist appointment on Tuesday.”  A little while later, I said, “Here, let me see it.”  He pulls open his cheek, and I look in to see half his molar is gone.  “Why didn’t you SAY anything?”  He shrugs.  Kids!  What is worse is a few days later, after I scheduled the appointment but before the appointment itself, I asked the question I should have asked in the first place.  “When did this happen?”  “I don’t know.  Around graduation?”  Kid, that was THREE MONTHS AGO.  I don’t know if he just didn’t realize that pain wasn’t normal or if he was scared to tell me.  Either way, he and all the kids got the lecture that if they’re hurting, they tell me and I worry about things like how we’re going to pay for it.

That lesson didn’t sink in so good, but we’re getting ahead of ourselves.

So we went to Xander’s appointment, which to my shame was many years past due.  The first appointment was just a cleaning and x-rays, but he was pretty nervous as he couldn’t remember having been to the dentist before.  Everything went well, but there was no saving the molar, so that would have to come out, and he had 5 cavities that needed filling.  So I scheduled weekly appointments and got the name of an oral surgeon, which I also scheduled.  Every week for the past month I have been at the dentist with that kid.  He did great.  Didn’t have any problems at the oral surgeon, which surprised me, especially since I couldn’t stay in the room with him.  But then that kid always surprises me.  All his cavities have been filled, and his wisdom teeth come out on Monday.  After that he’ll heal for a month before we go back to the dentist to get a spacer in where his broken tooth was.  Unfortunately we have to wait a couple of years before getting an implant or bridge until his jaw finishes growing.

In the meantime, though, I’ve become very aware of my kids’ teeth.  I’ve been nagging them all about improving their dental hygiene (my parents were pretty lax about it when I was a kid, and that’s carried over into my parenting), and we got the water pik the dentist insisted on, and both Crow and Xander have taken to that pretty well.  So when I glanced at Crow the other day and noticed a black spot on her front tooth, I went uh-oh.  Sure enough, they have a big cavity right on the side of their incisor.  So, back to the dentist we went.

Their cleaning and x-rays were today.  The dentist said she could tell Crow was starting to use the water pik, so yay for that investment.  But they still have 8-9 full blown cavities, and half a dozen more “baby” ones.  Those we’re treating with prescription toothpaste, but the others need a whole lot of appointments, especially that front one.  It is millimeters away from needing a root canal, which none of us want.  So I have all THOSE appointments made, and will be at the dentist most of October and November as well.

I am so grateful I have what passes for decent dental insurance in this country and a health savings account to pay for all of this.  I know it’s largely my own damn fault, but when you live on the financial edge, going to the dentist is terrifying.  Crow needs braces, and has for a while, which I’ve known and just had no way of even considering before now.  But the fear of being told it had to be done and figuring out how I was going to pay for it kept me from getting even the basic care done for them.  That kind of financial insecurity is so hard to explain to someone who hasn’t experienced it, and the shame spiral that goes with it is impossible to escape.

Morgan goes to the dentist on Monday, the same day Xander gets his wisdom teeth out.  Fortunately Morgan’s teeth are rocks like mine are, so I’m not too worried for him.

  Rinse and spit was originally published on Strikhedonista

[brace-yourself-blog]

What a Wired Week

(14th August, 2017)

(It’s late and I haven’t proof read this because I’m tired so sorry if it doesn’t make much sense lmao) 

It’s been one week since I got my braces fitted.  I was originally going to make a post on the same day that I got them, but I was feeling pretty uncomfortable, quite ache-y and fairly sorry for myself in general.  I did, however, make some notes throughout the week about how I was feeling, both physically and emotionally, so I’ll put all of that into words for y’all!

Before the appointment I had such a weird cocktail of emotions fizzing away in my mind. I was so excited!! I’ve been waiting 5 years for this and it was finally happening??  CRIPES. This is it!! No turning back!! ..... this is it.... no turning back now... if you wanna change your mind this is it... is this a mistake? No, no it’s not, this is awesome!... but what if this is a terrible idea.........  

I was mainly excited though.

The whole appointment with my orthodontist was really straightforward and easy.  I had a couple of questions for him which I’ll get to in a bit, and he answered them all for me and was as easygoing, informative and supportive as he was when I saw him a couple of months ago for my last appointment before the brace fitting.  He put a suction tube into my mouth to keep everything dry while he worked and the first thing he did was to polish my teeth.  This was absolutely fine and only took a couple of minutes. He did rinse it all down with water afterwards though which tasted really strange for some reason?  Maybe the polish?  

He then put a little dab of the brace cement on each tooth (which looked blue when it was on the applicator?? But it dried clear so don’t panic) and then used tweezers and a little pokey poke metal stick thing to place a bracket on each tooth and ensure they were all in the correct position.  At this point he let me take a break because this had all taken probably fifteen minutes?  There was one point where he placed a bracket on and went “oop” before moving it and my immediate internal reaction was “WHAT THE FUCK!?!? WHAT DID YOU DOOOO???”  It was fine though... I think...  I got to choose what colour elastics I wanted next. These loop around each individual bracket, over the wire to keep the wire in place against the teeth.  I chose turquoise ones (apparently the darker ones get stained less by foods like curry and coffee, and I’m a bit of a coffee slut so that was an obvious choice) to supposedly match my hair (which is green-ish) but then I realised how faded my hair is and how pointless that is soooo... oh well.  

Fitting the wire to the brackets probably took another 10-15 minutes, then he clipped the ends of the wire off and it was all done!

I could immediately feel it all pulling at my teeth.  I’d taken some painkillers before I went in so I wasn’t in pain (yet) but the pressure felt really strange.  And the braces felt HUGE in my mouth?? I’m still not used to the feeling of them, I know I’m pulling my lips over them strangely when I talk and smile and I look a bit weird when I smile with my mouth shut because the top brace sticks between my lips a little?? So weird.

I asked my orthodontist a few questions after the fitting:

1.       If one of the brackets pops off or the wire breaks what do I do?

·         Call immediately to book an emergency appointment to get it fixed (probably the next day)

2.       Will there be any external scarring after my surgery?

·         The surgeon doing my operation does everything from inside the mouth. But he may have to make a tiny incision along the jaw line in order to place one of the screws correctly (basically create an access hole).  This will only need one stitch and the scar will be practically invisible due to the size and position.

 When I got home I had soup and nibbled on some bread (which really heckin hurt???) but I was in such a great mood.  The excitement and novelty of it all lasted for a few hours but by the end of the day I was all dosed up on ibuprofen and paracetamol and my teeth were still hurting. I was feeling extremely sorry for myself.  That night I had a proper panic while trying to sleep.  I started thinking about how this was probably a bad idea, it won’t be worth the final result, it hurts it hurts I can’t eat anything I hate this make it end I want these braces off NOW.  In the end I managed to sleep and the next morning I felt so much better. The aching had subdued immensely and I was in a much better frame of mind.  Biting even super lightly on the softest food was still increadibly painful and it still hurts a fair bit now, but I’m able to bite soft bread.  The first night I had chilli con carne for tea – was able to basically inhale the entire thing without chewing at all (delightful!).

So far I’m super proud of myself (hooray) because I’ve cleaned my teeth at least three times each day – brushing, using the tiny little spoolie brush and then using fluoride mouthwash (so strong?!?!!) because I’ve been told that if my dental hygiene slacks at all then my orthodontist will take the braces off and stop my treatment.  Apparently I have really good dental hygiene though??  So I’ll probably be fine (but it doesn’t stop my paranoia – I really don’t want gum disease ugh gross).

The aching basically calmed down throughout the week and now I’m not taking any painkillers for it.  I can chew oh so gently (oh so gently) with my left molars but the right ones still hurt soooo much hhhhh.  The front teeth still hurt to bite crunchy or hard or larger things but I’m dealing with it.  And I haven’t felt as emotionally bad since those couple of hours at the end of the first day, although I get frustrated when eating starts to hurt too much.

IT MIGHT ALL CHANGE TOMORROW THOUGH AHAHAHAH hhhhhhh....

I have a second appointment tomorrow (15th August) and I think that’s for him to put something on my very back teeth?  Like... spacers?  There are little blue rubber bands between the very back ones on my bottom jaw at the moment and I’m pretty sure they’re getting the teeth a little apart for the metal things... or something...  There’s gonna be another post from me soon about all of that!

#orthodontics #corrective jaw surgery #Maxillofacial Surgery #braces #personal

[itsworn]

Speedway Motors Week to Wicked 1952 Chevy Pickup: The Chassis

Here’s a hypothetical situation, one that some of you will probably relate to (hopefully not all in a negative way): You finally put the last weld, tightened the last nut and bolt, and threw those brand spanking new wheels and tires that have been wrapped up the last couple-few years it’s taken you to complete the chassis for your prized Advance Design pickup. It’s got everything you wanted to make your work truck a modern daily driver: IFS, disc brakes, power steering, V-8 power, all that good stuff. You invite your friends over for some cold ones to join in celebrating as you fire the old girl up for the first time. But … before you even have a chance to crank the starter over, one of your friends asks you, “Have you seen that chassis Speedway Motors has for these here trucks that’s 100 percent bolt-together? I imagine not, ’cause you probably wouldn’t have wasted all that time and money fixing yours if you had…”

For some, the joy comes from the time spent in the garage, more so than the time spent behind the wheel. For those who prefer seat time and would rather leave the heavy labor to those above-mentioned, this is the ticket when it comes to ’47-’53 Chevy 3100 chassis—from the perimeter ’rails to the whole package, just like what you’ll find under Speedway Motors Week to Wicked ’52 three-window that we just recently sent out the Tech Center roll-up door.

Now, I will admit, when I first heard we were putting the truck on a bolt-up chassis, I was a bit skeptical. Sure, there are big rigs that utilize similar platforms, but there are different variables involved (and don’t many of the heavier ones use air springs between frame and cab?!). However, despite Speedway engineers’ confidence behind the concept and design, they anticipated skepticism as such, and for those Doubting Thomas types like myself, offer the following: If it’ll make you feel better, nothing’s stopping you from welding the crossmember seams once everything’s bolted together and adjusted … nothing, that is, except the inability to weld proficiently. And there’s a good selling point as well—the nut-and-bolt assembly isn’t a structural issue (unless you’re building a Grave Digger or something of the extreme-use nature), making this the perfect chassis for the non-fabricator Chevy/GMC owner who wants to build his own.

And long story short, that’s just what we did to kick off the five-day thrash turning Speedway Motors’ cream puff 3100 into CT’s second Week to Wicked success story. We may have had quite a few hands involved in the process (not including those holding the video cameras, lighting rigs, candy bars, and so on), but we also had a ridiculously short amount of time in which to finish each portion of the build. It just goes to show, however, that you and a friend or two (would make a perfect father and son project) could easily bust this out in short order—or, take your time and detail every nook and cranny. Either way, if you’ve got a ’47-’53 half-ton and don’t feel like fussing with updating the original frame, fuss no more and give Speedway a holler.

Speedway Motors’ cream puff—an owner-restored ’52 Chevy … about to get torn apart, sparing the stock chassis from being modified (read: labor/fabrication intensive) in favor of rolling a brand-new, already updated chassis underneath (read: no cutting, no welding, just plenty of basic wrench turning).

If you happen to catch the Speedway Motors Week to Wicked as it unfolded live back in January, you saw just how quickly the cab and sheetmetal were separated from the 3100’s chassis. Even without a lift and just a few friends lending a hand, the teardown process is easy—make sure and note/measure the core support, cab, and bed mount heights prior to removal for future reference.

Here’s the new base platform for the Chevy, ready to be bolted together: OE dimension/shape 7-gauge laser-cut and fixture-welded framerails, new radiator support brace, front/rear boxing plates, IFS crossmember, adjustable transmission crossmember, four-link and coilover crossmembers, and a rear fuel tank brace. (Actual IFS components sold separately; this setup will use Speedway’s tubular-arm adjustable coilover option.)

Christian initially assembled the frame using a pair of portable steel work tables. Speedway’s instructions recommend starting from the radiator support and working your way back, as that will allow you to adjust and set the center and rear framerail widths to stock spec—Christian went in reverse order, which we’ll explain in the next step.

Loosely bolted together, the frame was transferred to the lift, where it was then set level, squared and adjusted accordingly, and then bolted up tight. (Having the factory specs handy is highly recommended—they’re easily obtainable online, as are reprints of the original assembly manuals.)

This portion Christian did work from the front to the back, starting with the installation of the IFS—specifically, Speedway’s clever threaded coilover height adjusters, which provide for more fine-tuning than just cranking up/down on the coil springs.

The standard (non-dropped) spindle setup uses a GM 11-inch disc brake and power rack-and-pinion steering.

Moving on back, the triangulated four-link frame brackets were installed in their preset locations.

The chromoly link bars were loosely assembled and left hanging…while Christian tended to the supplied 9-inch rearend housing, which required assembly of the third member and axles.

Meanwhile, the frame-mount brake pedal assembly was located and mounted. Word of caution here: to avoid any potential brake pedal interference with the engine and/or firewall, this can definitely wait until the drivetrain is in its final position and the cab reinstalled.

As soon as Christian had the Speedway limited-slip differential and 31-spline axle assembly together, the 9-inch was hung from the patiently waiting four-link with the adjustable coilovers. The e-brake equipped disc brake kit was installed at this point as well.

Next, the rear brake line kit was assembled onto the rearend, followed by the initial adjustment of the four-link. (If you’re wondering why the brake rotors/calipers aren’t on as previously shown—our “roller” wheels did not clear, so the brakes were removed until the truck’s Rocket Racing five-spokes returned from the tire shop.)

And there you have it, the Speedway chassis assembled and ready to roll in no time flat. But we’re not done—there’s still the business of installing cab/running board mounts, as well as fitting all that sheetmetal.

Original running board brackets were sourced and installed on the new frame using the stock chassis for location reference. (Here’s an area where having those aforementioned factory specs will come in handy.)

The new chassis was ready to meet its cab mate for the first time in preparation of locating and installing the forward cab mounts, which as with the running board brackets are repurposed originals with new rubber.

Referring to those notes you were supposed to take when taking all the sheetmetal off in the first place will help get everything close to where it needs to be on the new chassis. It won’t all fall into place and line up perfectly from the get-go, especially when using new bed mounts, which may vary in size compared to your old ones.

The final portion of sheetmetal installation can be a bit more tedious. Once the cab, bed, and rear fenders were all mounted and the drivetrain in place, the entire front clip was set onto the frame. Wood blocks between the stock core support and the Speedway radiator support brace allowed the clip to be aligned with the cab in order to bolt the fenders on, which ultimately determined the spacer height for the core support.

After a solid week’s worth of wrench turning around a maze of video camera operators, the Week to Wicked build team turned the old straight-axled hauler into a comfy cruiser, due in no small part to using Speedway’s bolt-together chassis. Something to keep in mind if you’ve got a ’47-’53 GM 1⁄2-ton—but no time (or desire) to fuss with what lies beneath.

The post Speedway Motors Week to Wicked 1952 Chevy Pickup: The Chassis appeared first on Hot Rod Network.

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