Re: Lugs = Surgical hooks?

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I got the same sort of posts attached to my archwire (in between the

brackets) 3 weeks before my surgery. They weren't as bad as I

thought, except that they do trap more food, as I'm sure you've

discovered. At 8 weeks post-op, they came off when my archwires were

changed to lighter ones.

One of them slid around, and I had to go back for the ortho to

tighten it (with pliers, of course).

The good news is that you probably won't get any more hooks/lugs pre-

op. The bad news is you might wake up with more post-op (the surgeon

might - as mine did - decide that they aren't in the right place for

what he wants, and he'll add some of those dreaded twisted wire

hooks). I had two of them, as I recall, and once I started to get

feeling back in my upper lip, they really irritated me, along with

the elastics. One of them came loose at six weeks post-op and I was

allowed to give up the elastics. The other came off at 8 weeks when I

returned to my ortho. I was ready to wrangle it off myself, but was

afraid I might only do half a job and make it more intolerable than

it was. Your mouth is just more sensitive to this stuff post-op,

unfortunately.

Happy countdown!

> Hey gang.

>

> So, I was at the ortho for my last appointment before surgery (March

> 24), and she installed something she called " lugs " . I'm wondering if

> they are the same thing as the " hooks " everyone speaks of.

>

> These " lugs " are little posts (quite similar to the ones that have

> always been attached to some of my brackets) which she " squeezed on "

> with some pliers (SP?).

>

> I've heard many people say that the hooks are really a pain in the

> mouth, if you know what I mean, and I'm wondering if that's what

I've

> got now, or if there's more pre-op fun to look forward to.

>

> Thanks for whatever advice you have.

>

> K.

>

> Getting " excited-er " every day...

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the info, gals.

I was fairly convinced that these things were hooks, but since they

weren't bothering me TOO much, I thought perhaps the worst was yet to

come, hook-wise. I guess if my surgeon needs more of them, it may be.

Sounds like the " twisty wire " ones the surgeons favor are less pleasant.

Irish! - My ortho said my lugs would be in about 6 weeks - as long as

my bands are in. I imagine it's the same for you - when the bands go,

the lugs can go. I've got my fingers crossed for you, hoping it's soon.

Talk to y'all again soon.

K.

> > Hey gang.

> >

> > So, I was at the ortho for my last appointment before surgery (March

> > 24), and she installed something she called " lugs " . I'm wondering if

> > they are the same thing as the " hooks " everyone speaks of.

> >

> > These " lugs " are little posts (quite similar to the ones that have

> > always been attached to some of my brackets) which she " squeezed on "

> > with some pliers (SP?).

> >

> > I've heard many people say that the hooks are really a pain in the

> > mouth, if you know what I mean, and I'm wondering if that's what

> I've

> > got now, or if there's more pre-op fun to look forward to.

> >

> > Thanks for whatever advice you have.

> >

> > K.

> >

> > Getting " excited-er " every day...

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Glad to hear they aren't so bad. I never had elastics around my

brackets, they've always been metal. So hopefully not too much of a

transition there.

I'm having lots of pre-op activities going on. I've got dentist,

ortho, regular dr. and surgeon appts. scheduled. Oh yeah, and a

haircut too!

I only wish I could say I'm getting excited. Increasingly nervous is

more like it! Last night I had a dream that my surgeon and

anesthesiologist were mad scientists and they drugged me against my

will. The whole time I was yelling, make sure you're giving me the

right dosage! OK, so I'm a little nervous about anesthesia.

Everyone says as surgery gets closer, you get calmer. I'm waiting

for that to happen.

Talk to you soon!

Alison

[Guest guest]

Really? They tie new steel ties on at every adjustment? Wow, that

sounds like a hassle. Now I feel stupid about complaining about them.

I hope the anaesthesia dreams stop for you soon. I've been remarkably

calm about this the whole time. I'm a little worried that it will all

hit at the last minute. I guess we'll see.

Later.

K.

> Hi ,

>

> Glad to hear they aren't so bad. I never had elastics around my

> brackets, they've always been metal. So hopefully not too much of a

> transition there.

>

> I'm having lots of pre-op activities going on. I've got dentist,

> ortho, regular dr. and surgeon appts. scheduled. Oh yeah, and a

> haircut too!

>

> I only wish I could say I'm getting excited. Increasingly nervous is

> more like it! Last night I had a dream that my surgeon and

> anesthesiologist were mad scientists and they drugged me against my

> will. The whole time I was yelling, make sure you're giving me the

> right dosage! OK, so I'm a little nervous about anesthesia.

> Everyone says as surgery gets closer, you get calmer. I'm waiting

> for that to happen.

>

> Talk to you soon!

>

> Alison

[Guest guest]

It really is a pain, very time consuming to get those put in. And

they always poke my bottom lip. I'm starting to feel a little calmer

now. Been talking to a lot of people about it and filing for short

term disability at work.

> Really? They tie new steel ties on at every adjustment? Wow, that

> sounds like a hassle. Now I feel stupid about complaining about

them.

>

> I hope the anaesthesia dreams stop for you soon. I've been

remarkably

> calm about this the whole time. I'm a little worried that it will

all

> hit at the last minute. I guess we'll see.

>

> Later.

>

> K.

>

[Guest guest]

I had to kind of laugh at myself while they were putting the steel

ties in last week. I was sitting there in the chair, tilted WAY back,

with all these long wire ends sticking out of my mouth.

There was a really young patient there just getting her braces on, and

I'm sure she was terrified by the sight of me with these things

sticking out of my mouth. I tried to smile at her (you know, to

encourage her, and show her it wasn't as bad as it looked) but with

all those wires poking out and my lips squishing against them, I think

I made it worse. Sigh...

See.. I haven't even had my surgery yet, and I'm already scaring

children! Wait till the bruises appear.

K.

> > Really? They tie new steel ties on at every adjustment? Wow, that

> > sounds like a hassle. Now I feel stupid about complaining about

> them.

> >

> > I hope the anaesthesia dreams stop for you soon. I've been

> remarkably

> > calm about this the whole time. I'm a little worried that it will

> all

> > hit at the last minute. I guess we'll see.

> >

> > Later.

> >

> > K.

> >

[Guest guest]

Can you apply for short term disability ahead of time? I thought you

had to wait until you stopped working. I still need to get my surgeon

to fill out his part of the forms.

K.

> > Really? They tie new steel ties on at every adjustment? Wow, that

> > sounds like a hassle. Now I feel stupid about complaining about

> them.

> >

> > I hope the anaesthesia dreams stop for you soon. I've been

> remarkably

> > calm about this the whole time. I'm a little worried that it will

> all

> > hit at the last minute. I guess we'll see.

> >

> > Later.

> >

> > K.

> >

[Guest guest]

I also had metal for the most part, anyhow. It wasn't really a

hassle. Once or twice they were lassoing an archwire onto a wayward

tooth and had to force things, and then the tie let them get it

tighter and it really, really throbbed. But for the most part, I was

ok with them. I did find that the powerchains cushioned them (I may

be the only person who really liked power chains, but I did) And

occasioinally, if something really bothered me, they'd put an o-ring

over the steel, just for cushioning. It helps, if you keep on getting

bothered by it. Otherwise, wax, wax and more wax -- or silicon, if

you can find it. The skill of the tech also makes a difference. A

good one knows how to tuck those little pigtail ends under the

archwire so they aren't so scrapey.

Cammie

> > Hi ,

> >

> > Glad to hear they aren't so bad. I never had elastics around my

> > brackets, they've always been metal. So hopefully not too much

of a

> > transition there.

> >

> > I'm having lots of pre-op activities going on. I've got dentist,

> > ortho, regular dr. and surgeon appts. scheduled. Oh yeah, and a

> > haircut too!

> >

> > I only wish I could say I'm getting excited. Increasingly

nervous is

> > more like it! Last night I had a dream that my surgeon and

> > anesthesiologist were mad scientists and they drugged me against

my

> > will. The whole time I was yelling, make sure you're giving me

the

> > right dosage! OK, so I'm a little nervous about anesthesia.

> > Everyone says as surgery gets closer, you get calmer. I'm

waiting

> > for that to happen.

> >

> > Talk to you soon!

> >

> > Alison