Don't Worry About Tomorrow

Edited with permission from CC. 

    As you've probably read in my recent post, I had a health scare (see my other post). I had an allergic reaction that resulted in causing some digestive issues as well. But the growth I went through as a result of this has changed my complete outlook on life.
    I have learned to appreciate the small victories... like my orthodontist and Invisalign tried to work with me. They sent me new trays that were supposed to be hypoallergenic. Unfortunately I reacted to those as well. My husband and I don't know if it is because my teeth are sensitive so maybe the constant pressure on my teeth caused heart palpitations or if I was allergic to these too. But that was so great that they tried to provide an alternative. 
    I learned to appreciate my family even more. My husband was sooo supportive and helpful. At the worst part of it, he stayed up the majority of the night with me to help calm me and to try to get my heart rate down. I truly enjoy every moment with my daughter. I enjoy her smile, her laughs, her goofiness, even her stubbornness.

    I learned that God is big, and no matter what He knows what He is doing. That there is a reason for everything, and one day I will look back at this situation and know what that reason is. But today I'm thankful that he led me and ultimately prevented something worse. That He has a master plan for my life, for every second of my life. And that there is no point of worrying about tomorrow, for tomorrow will take care of itself (Matthew 6:25-34).
  
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An Allergic Reaction to Braces

Picture taken from CC.   

    First, I need to start off by saying that I am in no way speaking against braces or specifically the company Invisalign. I just want to share my story in case you ever have a similar reaction.
    I had an allergic reaction to Invisalign braces, and the attachments that are bonded to your teeth. It started when I started the braces at the beginning of December. I was constantly exhausted, and had many headaches. But I figured it was my body adjusting to my teeth moving.
    Several weeks later, and trays later, I was even more exhausted. I blamed this on Christmas (we did host 2 and have 1 more to attend).
    The beginning of January I had the attachments placed on my teeth. Attachments are little tooth like extensions the Orthodontist places on teeth to make the braces tighter. 2 Days after getting the attachments on extreme nausea started. I began to pray. Asking for wisdom and healing. I had no clue what was going on. I figured I had the flu. My throat was also swollen. My daughter was sick with a runny nose at the same time, so I figured I was fighting off what she had. I took natural allergy medicine (Aller-Max) as well, because it was a scratchy throat, which typically was a pollen allergy reaction I have.
    For the next week, I had extreme nausea and headaches. A week after getting the attachments on, I suddenly had severe abdominal cramping in my left side and upper stomach. I couldn't move for hours. Which I have to add is super great when you have a toddler, ha. After about 4 hours of this pain, it subsided and I felt relatively normal. Throughout that week I had nausea and headaches throughout the day, and was finding that I was short of breath from doing simple tasks.
    Five days later, I was eating a snack while my daughter napped and I suddenly felt short of breath and was having heavy heart palpitations. But after 45 minutes or so, that subsided. That day I prayed for answers. I couldn't understand why I was exhausted all of the time, nauseated and I knew that I was not pregnant. The next day, heavy heart palpitations started where they scared the crap out of me. I had no idea what was going on and I was short of breath. After an hour of it still going on, I called my husband and asked him to come home. Once he was home, we went to the urgent care clinic.
    They were not helpful at all. My husband had mentioned they wouldn't be, there is only one urgent care clinic we've gone to where the doctors are actually helpful, calm and don't over-prescribe. This urgent care doctor tried to scare me with life and death scenarios even though she couldn't figure it out. She wanted me to go to the ER, and I refuse to do that unless it's a true emergency.
    Over the next few days, it just got worse and worse. The heart palpitations got to the point where it was last practically all day. I thought it was just anxiety attacks, but couldn't figure out what set it off. I prayed and prayed, I looked up every scripture on fear and prayed it over and over. Every time I took out the braces, I could actually fall asleep and the palpitations would subside. But I was stubborn. I couldn't believe I could be allergic to that!
    Then Sunday night, 3 days after the start of the palpitations, my mom called me and said she sent me several articles on people who have reported the exact same symptoms with Invisalign. I immediately took Aller-max (the natural allergy remedy), and left out the braces. For the first time in days, I had NO heart palpitations! I started taking natural supplements to clean out my system. Such as, Natural Vitality's Natural Calm plus Calcium (it's a magnesium/calcium supplement x2 a day), L-Arginine and L-Citruline complex (x2 a day), L-Citruline, Omega 3 Fish Oils (which help with inflammation), a fiber supplement, and a Digestive Enzyme. The next night, I did have some light palpitations before bed, but it was so much better.
    Because it was Monday, I had called my orthodontist to set up an appointment and was able to get an appointment the next day. When we went into the orthodontist, there were some mix ups and initially the dental assistants attempted to convince me that I wasn't allergic to the braces or attachments. But I know my body, and I know God showed me clearly. When the Orthodontist came over, after hearing my symptoms he immediately said "you are right. You definitely had an allergic reaction." They took off the attachments and gave me the chemical sheet for the attachments. The attachments health warnings actually say many of the symptoms I had had. I found out at that appointment that Invisalign is washed is certain chemicals and is made up of a mixture of plastics which has been known to cause an allergic reaction in a handful of patients (me being one of them). Thankfully there is an alternative they have which is currently being shipped here for me to try.
    So why did I write this article? Because if you are having any of these symptoms and have braces, I want you to know that you are not crazy and see if taking out the braces and getting your attachments off helps. It did wonders for me. My body is still recovering 5 days after the attachments came off and a week since I took out the braces. Allergies, especially chemical related allergies, take some time to leave the body.
    Also, I prayed constantly. I was having such fear filled thoughts! Thoughts of death, but God reminded me of Hebrews 2:14-15
    "Therefore since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives."
    I constantly was praying against fear, because fear was all I could hear. At that moment God's voice was still and small. I had to rebuild my faith, and only listen to faith filled words. I hope this encourages you today!

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My Journey with Invisalign - Week 5 (Attachments)

Fifth Tray (Week 5) and Putting on Attachments:
   I started my fifth tray last week. Unfortunately because of the holidays my Orthodontist miscalculated and I had to keep my fourth week tray in for 2 and a half weeks. That would be my main annoyance. I'm not incredibly happy that they keep forgetting to tell me stuff.
    With my fifth tray came the attachments to my teeth (sometimes known as buttons). Basically attachments are little tooth colored beads the Ortho puts on your teeth that make the braces a bit tighter in order to help your teeth move more. The process of putting on the attachments was relatively easy and painless!
     
    If you look below, here is Week 2:

    Compared to Week 5:

You can kind of notice the attachments on my teeth now. They are the little bulges from the braces.

Some things I learned this week: 

• The attachments definitely make the fit tighter which has meant some pretty bad when they were first put on. I just would take ibuprofen though and it would pretty much kick the majority of the pain. 
• I learned that if I took off my braces slower, and one side at a time it would cause less pain.
• Just as in the beginning of braces I just had to get readjusted, with getting the attachments on I had to readjust again. 

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    Please know I am no way sponsoring Invisalign or any products on my blog *unless specified.* I just like to share my personal experiences in hopes of helping others.

My Journey with Invisalign - Week 3 & 4

Third & Fourth Trays (Week 3&4):
   I started my fourth tray last night. I already notice a difference! I have less of an overbite, and my teeth are definitely getting straighter!
    If you look below, here is Week 2:

    Compared to Week 4:

Some things I learned this week: 

• White spots seem to form on the braces, even though I clean them after every meal/snack with a little Dawn dish soap and a tooth brush. I noticed cleaning them and then letting them air dry while I eat helps prevent these white spots from forming on my braces.
• The lisp is practically gone, unless I really think about it... then it comes back.
• My teeth unfortunately are staining, but with the trays in you really can't tell. I'm looking forward to my 6 month cleaning coming up in February to get those stains off. I don't know why my teeth are staining more with the braces, considering I take them out to eat/drink and I brush my teeth every time before putting them back in. But I do drink 2 cups of coffee a day and I have 1 glass of wine at night. I'll ask my Orthodontist at my attachment appointment in a few weeks!

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    Please know I am no way sponsoring Invisalign or any products on my blog *unless specified.* I just like to share my personal experiences in hopes of helping others.

My Journey with Invisalign - Week 2

Second Tray (Week 2):
   I started my second tray last night. It definitely was tighter, but that's because it's moving my teeth in another direction. I think my teeth had quickly gotten used to the other tray. The first tray stopped hurting probably the second night. This tray really stopped hurting this morning.
   Friends had told me to change out my trays before bed, so that most of the adjustment happens while I'm sleeping. I am so glad I did this... even though it really doesn't hurt that bad. I did wake up with a headache this morning though. But Ibuprofen and coffee pretty much kicked that this morning. 
    Weirdly, I was excited to change trays... and I don't mind the light pain of my teeth hurting. Do you know why? Because I'm so happy that my teeth are getting straightened. I already notice I have less of an overbite and I'm only on week two!!

This is a picture of my teeth, second week, with the tray in.

Some things I learned last week: 

• My Orthodontist is rated at the Super Elite Level by Invisalign. What does this mean? It means he has treated over 1,000 patients with Invisalign and he knows what he's doing. I have to say this is a real plus, because that means that his patients don't suffer from someone's lack of knowledge and experience, but actually benefit.  
• I love changing out trays weekly, as opposed to every other week. This makes the adjustment slight every tray, so less pain for me!
• I did start out having a pretty bad lisp, but thankfully it's practically gone now and it's only been a week! I did practice my talking a lot though to try to work out my S's and Z's.
• The initial trays last week did cut my tongue and my bottom lip in the very beginning. But it was a super easy fix. I just put wax on the sharper sections of the braces every time I put them back in. No more problems! Honestly I haven't had to use the wax since the first 3 days... my mouth got used to it.
•  Leaving the trays in 22 hours or more really isn't that difficult. I timed out breakfast, lunch and dinner for 30 minutes each and two 15 minute snacks. Most of the time I am under the time for breakfast and I miss my afternoon snack. So it all works out in case I go over time for dinner. I also still get my caffeine, because I have a cup of coffee during breakfast and then one during my first snack. 

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    Please know I am no way sponsoring Invisalign or any products on my blog *unless specified.* I just like to share my personal experiences in hopes of helping others.

My Journey with Invisalign - Week 1

    I am the only one in my family whose teeth all of a sudden got slightly crooked when I was a teenager. At the time, my family couldn't afford braces. The funny thing is I am almost 30 years old and I just got Invisalign braces yesterday. My husband and I decided that there were more benefits to getting them now then not. For example, because my jaw had been misaligned it has caused jaw discomfort and headaches. The braces will fix that. Another major plus is having straight teeth for the first time in 20+ years! 
    So I decided since all I've found are very negative posts about Invisalign that I was going to start blogging about my journey as a 30 something mother.

First Tray (Week 1):
   So far, so good. I had some pain the first night because I didn't know how to use the wax. But I decided to put wax on at night on any sharp area on the braces. My mouth was great the next day. I continue to put wax on every time I finish cleaning the braces though and that way my tongue and cheeks do not get cut.
    The 2nd day, I did wake up with my teeth feeling sensitive (because they are starting to shift). But I took ibuprofen and the pain/ache went away! 

Benefits of Invisalign versus other.
   There are so many cool things about these braces versus other braces:

• With my orthodontist, I change out trays every week so there is less of an adjustment/change for my teeth from week to week. Which results in less pain.
• I have to wear the trays for 22 hours a day. Which means I get to take them out 2 hours every day (for meals and snacks). I love it because I get a break here and there. 
• I can still eat popcorn and peanut butter (when the trays are out), with regular braces that wouldn't be possible.
• I still get to drink caffeine (when the trays are out).
• They are not as obvious as braces. You can still see them, but they are clear! 

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    Please know I am no way sponsoring Invisalign or any products on my blog *unless specified.* I just like to share my personal experiences in hopes of helping others.