Saturday 31 March 2012

Me not Healthy: Always Tired (Part 6)

I think enough has happened that would allow me to give an update to this particular arc. Last time I left the specialist needing to get the specialized mouth guard called a Thornton Adjustable Positioner (TAP) 3.

For those of you who forgot or didn't read the last post, here's how it works. Basically my problem is that my jaw falls onto my throat when I sleep, causing me to choke, wake up and ruin my sleep. The mouth guard prevents this by having a hook on the top piece that locks into a slot in the bottom piece. This prevents my jaw from really moving and crushing things. Also to kill two birds with one stone, it also prevents me from grinding my teeth at night because my teeth can't even touch each other now.

It comes with a key so you can adjust the position, hence the name.

But as anyone who has gotten any form of oral appliance should know, first, they need to take a mold of your teeth.

It's not bad, it's um, unpleasant? I'm really not sure how else to describe it. Basically, the technician takes a tray of goo and crams as much of her hands into your mouth as possible so she can fit said tray into your mouth. Then the two of you sort of sit there in awkward silence as the goo begins to set. You're probably going to breath through your nose so you don't swallow excess junk by accident. Repeat twice and you're good to go.

Unless you move. If you move even the slightest bit during the procedure the mold is no good and they have to repeat it. You're also probably going to have goo all over your face making it look like you vomited goo.

All that work to get this ugly thing.

After the two weeks it takes them to make the mouth guard from the molds I finally get to try them.

And I barely use them.

Seriously, if I'm not going to get at least 5 hours of sleep that night I don't even bother wearing it. It's such a pain to place and remove from my mouth.

It's like I'm purposely not sleeping. I have things that are keeping me up at night.

So yeah, hard to say if this thing is really helping at the moment.

I'll sleep when I'm dead.

But I can share some details based on the nights I have used the appliance. Firstly, it's not a good idea to cough when the mouth guard is locked in place. Believe it or not, your jaw actually moves significantly when you cough and now that it's locked in place you just end up performing a half-hearted cough that doesn't clear your throat and hurts your mouth.

Second, I'm not sure if anyone else reads through my comments but what Nurse Myra said is true (also I can't link to your blog or view your profile as of this post, Blogger error?). The mouth guard does trap a significant amount of saliva during your sleep. I mean, I guess you'll never wake up with a dry mouth again, but it's also REALLY gross taking it out in the morning when you drool all over your chin and there's a puddle in the sink.

So attractive.

Hopefully this is the cure to my sleep apnea. But unless I start using it more consistently I highly doubt that. I'm seriously running out of options, if this isn't a solution, what else could be? I am not going for corrective jaw surgery. Recovery takes way too long.

I really hope this works out.

58 comments:

  1. Great post as usual man!

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  2. Sound serious. To cheer you up a little, I can't keep my salvia when I'm sleeping too. One time I fell asleep in a train and became an entertainment for people sitting nearby, my girlfriend didn't mind to wake me up, she thought it was funny.

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  3. I'm glad to hear some progress is finally being made in this Damien, that's great news buddy.

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  4. I hope this works out too. It sounds like it's not really though. I doubt I could get a mold of my jaw taken like that. I'm likely to move too much, and I'm not really fond of people sticking their hands in my mouth, or breathing through my nose.

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  5. Dude just take it like a man and use the thing. You went through a lot of trouble to get it, and it's one of, if not the only solution you got at hand right now. Sleep is vital, though I shouldn't really be telling you that. So use it and see how it works out. Try to live with the awkwardness of the thing, it'll become second nature soon enough.

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  6. That sounds like a wonderful experience :/
    Hope it's all worth it though!

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  7. I hope it works out too. It's frightening reading about all of those health problems that you don't always hear about. I'm sorry you have to go through this and I wish you many comfy nights sleep!

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  8. Oh my... sounds terribly unpleasant!

    Obviously there's reasons why this wouldn't work - otherwise you wouldn't have gone in for the mouth guard - but it seems like sleeping on your side would prevent your jaw from falling back into your throat?

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  9. doesnt look or sound like any bit of fun at all. how long is recovery for jaw surgery anyway?

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  10. Sooner or later, you will have to go for surgery.

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  11. I used to wear them and when I finally got used to them, it really helped. But, it does take getting used to.

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  12. Wow, I've never heard of that sort of jaw problem - that sucks (to put it mildly)! I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you to start getting some decent sleep :)

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  13. And I thought sleeping with braces was annoying. Hang in there, man!

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  14. Geez the drool and the goo just sounds plain eww. But if it works then I suppose it is worth it, you just have to get into more of a routine for a week or so to see if it works.

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  15. What a paain. I almost gagged at the spit picture..

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  16. I'll hope for the best for you man

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  17. Yuck, I hope you get used to it. Do your jaw still go back when you sleep on your sides?

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  18. waaaaaah! yeah, unpleasant =p

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  19. the alginate molds are tough. It'll feel like a liquid is slowly dripping down your throat, but the alginate will set before it gets there. The key is to think happy thoughts and breathe through your nose. Good luck with the TAP

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  20. Ugh, this sounds and looks like some kind of torture. I suffer from some type of sleep apnoea where I sort of stop breathing when I fall asleep. Luckily enough I always manage to wake myself up in a state of sheer panic, although I don't take any kind of medical treatment for it...maybe it's time that I did. I don't sleep very well at the best of times and it only affects me when I am not in a deep sleep.
    Pretty scary stuff.

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  21. Good to know there is a solution to your problem!

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  22. I have never heard of a mouth guard like that. It sounds medieval--yikes. And the goo for taking the mold is pretty gross, I agree.

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  23. My sister suffers from sleep apnoae and has to wear an oxygen mask otherwise... there is no otherwise!

    I hope you do get your 5 hours rest at least. I hope there are other options rather than surgery or this most uncomfortable of options - the mouth guard truly sounds horrendous!

    Good luck! Take care
    x

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  24. sounds like a real pain but if it gets you some good quality sleep it must be worth it.

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  25. I wish you the best my friend

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  26. That sounds like a huge PITA.

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  27. It doesn't sound that bad. It sounds like something that you grow to get used to. Also, if you do manage to use it for long enough, would it correct some jaw issues? Is it possible? Did you even ask the doc?

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  28. I am so worried about you my friend! The intestinal issue...now this? If it makes you feel better, I have to wear a mouth guard because I have gumline recession.

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  29. I think that contraption could cause insomnia in itself...hope you can adjust to wearing it with some time.

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  30. Oh, I am praying for you! This sounds darned uncomfortable, which is enough to deprive you of sleep, too. :(

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  31. :( Man that sucks.

    I really hope you find something that works!

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  32. This reminds me of when I had to wear invisiline braces. I think if it cures your apnea, it's worth it, right?

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  33. I remember when I have braces, I am hardly can't sleep.

    Hope you're doing okey, now!

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  34. The mold thing sure sounds yuckie! I hope this new contraption helps you out though -- best of luck!

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  35. I use a mouth guard but it's nothing like this one. I'm so used to it now, I notice it when I don't use it (my teeth feel weird the next morning). When I first started wearing it, I had weird dreams. I once dreamed I was trying to eat a giant gummy bear. lol

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  36. Wow, this sounds really brutal, and that device does not look pleasant to use. Terrible sleep, or drooling every night like a braindead Labrador? Decisions, decisions...

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  37. So sorry to hear that you don't like the contraption. I'm not a fan of my retainers either... hence why I barely wear them. :(

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  38. Me no healthy either. Cigarettes and constantly inactive. :)

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  39. I hope it works out too!

    http://memedoctor.blogspot.com/
    https://twitter.com/#!/MemeDoctor

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  40. hope you can get over it bro

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  41. I hear bullets are a cheap and effective solution to most troubles.

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  42. Wait, what? So you basicly gonna lock your mouth? This is the first time I ever heard that such a device exists.

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  43. Sweet Jesus kiddo. I hate to fathom a guess as to what might be next. Try drinking some protein shakes with peanut butter added in. That might help you put on some weight. I've got my fingers crossed for you.

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  44. Wow, sucks with the "key". Maybe somehow forcefully correct your sleeping posture so the jaw doesn't fall on the throat?

    How about, learn to sleep walk or an upside down hammock! =P

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  45. I sleep atleast 8 hours a day and never wake up inbetween. I'm always tired. Atleast you got a solution.

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  46. oh, my, that was a very picturesque description of morning activities in the bathroom :))

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  47. I hope that works.

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  48. My ex-boyfriend wore one of these. It only helped him if he laid on his side. And it only worked right after he adjusted it, or he'd still snore like a bear. Hope yours works out better for you.

    I have a really expensive guard for my tmj that I've worn exactly twice. That thing makes me feel like my airways are constricted. I'd rather have migraines.

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  49. My uncle got this and it didn't really work for him

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  50. Haha, eww. But yeah, I hope this works. Good luck.

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  51. Hope this one works, seems like the sort of thing that is really annoying to deal with, shame there is no bandaid quick fix.

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  52. Not one thing about that sounds good, unless it's really helping you sleep. Only time will tell on that one.

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