u/audrikr

Hey all,

I guess looking for a bit of encouragement. My MARPE install is *finally* next week. I’ve had to do 6+ months of appointments to prepare due to some put off dental work and periodontal issues, as well as insurance calls to get it covered. Been working at this for the better part of a year.

But it‘s all becoming extremely real and I won’t lie, I’m nervous. I feel like I’m crazy for taking on a journey that might ultimately change my face (for the worse). I’ve consulted with an airway ortho and sleep apnea surgeon, and if someone else had my anatomy (32 immw/17 piriform) I would 100% advise them to do this from afar.

But it’s kind of crazy. I’m in my 30’s. I’ve had my face my whole life, and I’m about to go on a two year journey to change it. I’m improved on BiPAP but I’m still quite sleep-sick. I’m actually up early from a massive apnea right now. On the odd days I get a truly good night of sleep I feel SO much better.

Can someone just tell me I’m not crazy for this. It’s so easy to give advice, and I like to think I’ve helped many people on these UARS forums and elsewhere. But it’s a bit intimidating when it’s your own face and life, unfortunately.

Title. I grabbed one because I tend to roll on my back towards the morning. They're a product literally designed to keep you on your side, front and back supporting. Only cost $30-$50 to try, much cheaper than a lot of the fancy branded side-sleeping solutions, way more effective than a tennis ball. Can't compare to backpack method as I haven't tried that myself.

For a while I thought this was in my head - I'm friendly with my tech lead and on friendly terms with my team. I'm on a team of seniors, I'm the mid-rank title. Couple years at this place. Only woman on the team (only woman on the WIDER team also, 20-some people)

I think I've come to the realization that nobody else in our standups is required to give as much detail in their updates. I keep very detailed stories for tasks so nothing gets lost - at standups I am grilled on details about these stories, on dates, on updates. When I push a tested update or change, I let my team know the change has moved through (just in case), and I get more questions and pushback. The guys on my team give a couple sentences and that's done.

I understand this makes it look like I have issues delivering, but the problem is I'm not a "problem" employee. I haven't caused outages, I haven't broken prod, I don't have a track record of poor changes or code failures. But I still get asked twice as many questions as my male colleagues, and for no justification I can find. It makes me doubt myself, and at this point I'm also just frustrated. I feel like I think two or three times harder about anything I ever say because of this.

Please tell me this isn't just me.

Hey y'all,

So I've posted here about feeling better, and also about getting expansion soon. Unfortunately on the road to expansion, I've needed to get a gum graft to thicken my gum line prep for SFOT (bone graft lower) and MARPE. Gum graft means no PAP for at least two weeks, maybe even a month.

I'm day 10 now, so 10 days without PAP, and due to the sensitivity of the site, can't breathe through my mouth, can't use PAP FFM because it puts pressure on the graft. Thought you guys might be interested in the forced experiment.

Here's my strategy so far (I'm desperately accepting suggestions):

• Sleeping upright on the couch with a wedge pillow (and LOTS more pillows to keep me there)
• Afrin for congestion, alternating nostrils every night (not looking forward to the rebound congestion, but we do what we can)
• Flonase + Azelastine
• Soft cervical collar to combat the chin-tucking.

Things I've noticed:

• The day I slept laying more down (by accident) I felt like I was hit by a truck.
• I'm waking up earlier (??). With PAP I can sleep from 10 til 9 and feel like. Okay, sometimes good. I'm going to bed about 10-11 and up at 6:30/7 AM. Really wild difference. I do not feel great, but I've had a few days that are as fine as PAP days. I'm not sure and frankly very curious if this is due to sleeping on the couch and getting so much sunlight at sunrise - my room is a cave.
• I'm WAY more stressed. My heart is def going faster when I wake up.
• I'm way more moody overall - I just feel more depressed and stressed and reactive. (This is not helped that eating is still a little difficult)
• My appetite is fucked. I'm not hungry, I'm suddenly super hungry, it's just like I'm regulating everything poorly.

My Dr. told me I could try a nasal mask day 10, which I did this AM - but I just cannot use one. I can't keep my jaw closed, even with chinstrap. When I relax, my jaw opens, and air going past the graft == bad times. I think I have so little space, closed mouth compresses my airway more.

With the above though, it's like I'm craving my poor bipap again in the same way as craving water. Trying the nasal mask and being unable to sleep with it was like being in a desert and finding a puddle lol. Almost, and not quite.

Anyway, send good vibes, I know it's all good for the long term, but this is hard.

Edit: I updated so it wasn't such a text block.

Hey guys,

i’m wigging out instead of sleeping. Got grafted on Tuesday, one of my front lowers. First day sucked, rest have been okay. Finished antibiotics course yesterday, using the prescribed mouthwash as directed, not brushing near either but gentle brushing on the non affected sides. Following liquid/soft foods diet, no seeds. I think this means day 5 depending on how you count?

Palate site was FINE this whole time, normal temp, but today started feeling weird - like the stitches are pressing my sinuses? And this evening it turned *warm* along the stitch line. Maybe not quite hot. But noticeably warm, enough I’m using my stent again. Now I feel maybe the graft site is warmer than it was. I’m calling the doc tomorrow AM - I’m infection-prone - but has anyone gone through this? Any possible chance this is normal day-5 phase behavior??

Supposedly no fever, but I personally run 97 degrees and my therm says 98.7, so a bit warm. No pain increase, through palate is a bit more sensitive alongside the warmth - maybe *tiny* difference there.