Bottom brackets and the fun begins

Holy cow, the bottom brackets caused a complete and utter backtrack in progress. I feel absolutely, positively disgusting. I hate them. I thought the bottom would be easier, but no. They are so much more painful, so obvious, they cause my lower lip to protrude in a disgusting way, and I have a speech impediment. And both sets of teeth look so disgustingly crooked that I don't think it would have mattered if I picked clear brackets or metal ones. I have so much pain while eating because the brackets constantly scrape my inner lower lip. I hate them. I really hope this ends up being worth it because right now my self-image is in the crapper. I feel like a geeky high school kid again. And the extractions happen on December 18th. I can only imagine how I'll feel being exactly as I am now but with missing teeth like a yee-ho. I'm sick just thinking about it. I really hope I didn't make the wrong decision, especially about these extractions. I hope it's all worth it in the end because now it's too late to change my mind. To think life is so short and I worried about crooked teeth and now who knows what could happen? Also, what happens if I get this new job? What am I gonna start with gross gappy mouth? Ughhhhhh bad day...bad day =/

I hope I have a brighter, happier post next time I post...

Long Delayed Interview Post

So I had my interview last Wednesday and I think it went quite well. When I got in there I didn't even think about my braces. I think I'm too used to them now. I barely realize they are there and I'm about as self-conscious about them as my crooked teeth in general so it wasn't so bad. I concentrated on answering the questions to the best of my ability and show how able for the job I was. One of the women said she was very impressed with me, and for the first time ever every person I interviewed with responded to my thank you letters after the interview. I never usually get responses so not only was this hopeful, it also solidified my desire to work there because it's the kind of environment I want to be in with the kind of mannerly and professional people I want to work with. Plus the benefits are good for me and they have a great work/life balance which I greatly appreciate. I'm hoping to hear an answer back soon and hopefully it will be good news.

My best advice for an interview with braces would be advice for any interview. Remain confident, don't be shy, and make sure to showcast your abilities and your interest in the company. That's the best you can do. Be polite, ask questions, and always send a thank you. They'll love you and overlook any "flaw" you see in yourself, including being an adult with braces.

Tomorrow I get my bottom brackets and I'll then post about them. I'll probably start posting pics when I see some sort of progress. And I sure hope my mouth doesn't hurt too much since Thanksgiving is this Thursday. I hope you all have a happy holiday! :)

Updates!

Hello All! Unfortunately I don't really have any mouth updates except that random teeth will hurt..randomly. I don't see any movement or anything as of yet, but it's gonna be a long journey so what else is new? I have the appointment for my spacers next Tuesday and then the week after that the bottom brackets are on.

So what is this update I speak of? I have a job interview next Wednesday!!! I'm so excited and it came so out of the blue. I had applied to a job over a month ago, got called to do a video interview (which is horribly awkward and I totally phailed at) and got the "I'm sorry to inform you that you didn't get the job" letter a week or so after. But surprisingly enough I got a call from an unknown number yesterday, and apparently it was the same place calling back because the person they originally picked didn't work out. How often does that really happen?? Now I'm sure I'm not the only person they are looking at, but I am excited I got a call back and I was told I was called back because I had seemed to be a really strong candidate. (really? even with that horrible webcam interview???) Well shocked as I am, I am also super excited. Trying to remain positive but also not get my hopes up too high. I don't know how well I'm doing at that because I was so excited all day at the thought of leaving my current job behind forever, and pave the way for a real career in higher ed that I've been wanting for so long. But there are still issues...I'm nervous interviewing with my braces first of all, and second of all, while I have most of the requirements, I do not have one...it's a "preferred" requirement, so I'm hoping maybe they'll let it slide if I excel in all other areas. I'm going to study up as much as I can because I am so excited and hopeful that I may get this job. I will also post all information when it's done and let you know any tips I figure out on interviewing with braces on. See you guys!

Tick Tock

Well now I have taken a really long time to post another update. I'm definitely going to promise that I'll post as much as possible in a given month, but so far I have nothing really to report. I'm getting used to the braces for sure, but now I'm becoming anxious about the bottom brackets. They will be traditional metal, so what if that's when I start looking noticeable or looking stupid? And I'm also growing impatient with the lack of progress...I mean it's been what, two, three weeks already?? (I know, I'm being ridiculous). I also know that I won't see much progress until my four teeth are removed, which is both horrifying and exciting. I really want to see a vast improvement, but I know with missing teeth it will definitely be a "it has to get worse before it gets better" situation, and I really, REALLY hate those. But I think once a full year has passed I will probably make the most upbeat and excited post because I know there will definitely be progress by then, and I'm so excited to see how far I've come by then. I'd also like to have another job by then so I hope somewhere along the way I'll make an "interviewing with braces" post and hopefully again only good results will come. I'm trying hard to be as upbeat as possible, and I'm just glad I have so many supportive people by my side.

I'm also getting way better with food and so as long as it's not a food that can stain my ligs, I can eat whatever I want. I still have an anxiety attack when eating red sauce though, and I don't think I've had a cup of coffee since Sunday, but I refuse to drink it without a straw and make my mouth all stained. I'm going to be as mature about this as possible, because I know when it's all over, I'm going to eat a big, hard, hero sandwich (maybe with a dark sauce or dressing), a large cup of coffee, and twix for dessert. I'll celebrate like crazy, and that makes it so much more worth it. It WILL be worth it in the end, no matter how hard the journey...I just have to keep telling myself that! :)

I can't believe I missed so many days! (okay 2)

I have no update on the progress of my mouth and I'm starting to think I imagined the tooth moving. However I do still feel pressure on my teeth and how much progress can you expect in less than 2 weeks anyway?

On Tuesday I celebrated the birthday of a good friend Gabby with some other friends. No one commented on my braces, except Gabby who is also an adult with braces. It was nice talking to someone who understood it. And the night was super fun, I didn't even feel self-conscious (about the braces, I ALWAYS feel self-conscious about my mouth)

Yesterday I had a relaxing time at home and same with tonight. But today was the first time my manager and my boss noticed them. My manager was totally nice about it, and I already loved her so it was fine. She said she even wanted braces because she has an open bite that bothers her. Other than that though her teeth are fine, so I don't know if she wants to spend the money, but good for her if she does. My main boss just asked me "what's with the braces?" I just told him I needed them and let it pass. So overall nothing too bad and I'm feeling more and more comfortable. I already felt self-conscious about my mouth, so really, what's different now?

This weekend I'm going shopping with my best friend and then meeting our other friend for dinner, and another friend on Sunday for coffee, so it should be a really fun weekend. I'm excited and in a way better mood. Hooray!

I still feel like my ligs are stained though, so I'm avoiding coffee and dark soups, and I read somewhere to try a paste of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda, so I may just do that!

A think a tooth is moving!!!

I think one of my teeth is moving. The annoying snaggletooth that I hate so much seems to have shifted, or there's a larger space between the two teeth that are pushing it out and I love it! I could be imagining it, but at least I have only progress to look forward to now, rather than just staring at my naked and unmoving teeth with disgust. I had a nice day at work today, but it's sort of sad that aside from my closest friends, the people I'm most comfortable with are my coworkers, rather than my other friends. I thought it would be the opposite. I guess I have nicer coworkers than I thought :)

I really can't wait to get my bottom braces now. I just want both sets all tied up so progress can happen everywhere. I'm also freaking out because I really think I stained my ligs. Now I'm avoiding coffee at all costs unless I have a straw (I bought some at the grocery store today) and no more dark soups. Maybe if I learn from this mistake, the next time I get new ones I'll do a better job. They don't look awful, but they do look sort of discoloured. ahhhhhh! So not good because if I have to interview in these things I'm going to have to make them as squeaky clean as humanly possible. Ughhhhhhh...I need to try harder, but now I'm tired lol. Goodnight all!

Mental Attitude Set Back

Today I had a major set back with my emotional well being involved with these braces and my mouth in general. I don't know if it has to do with feeling like a freak yesterday at the party, but I'm so ashamed of my mouth. I felt so disgusting all day. My brother said one side of my face looked swollen, and it did, but at the bottom, and I'm afraid that it means another root canal for a bottom tooth and that will delay progress and I've just started! I don't want any delay, I want it to be over, sooner rather than later. And I feel like my clear ligs are getting stained even though I'm trying to be as careful as possible. And a piece of gum over one of my teeth is red and I don't know why. So my mouth feels like a trash bin and I just hate the way I look. I know I need to break out of this and think positively, but it was so damn hard today. And on top of that I miss my mom. But I'm making it my mission to break out of it though. I need to stop obsessing about what I can't change right now. That means I'm going to get a hair cut, start getting my nails done again, be more responsible with putting on makeup, start working out again, eating right, and just letting myself relax. Even if I have to wait to improve my mouth, there are other things I can focus on until then. Other parts of my appearance and helloo how about my job search again? And I need to start reading again. Not people's stupid rants, but articles and books. I need to expand my mind and refocus. It's time to do this. I have to.

On a side note, dad's birthday went fine, I don't think he noticed my braces and neither did my aunt surprisingly. Or they just didn't say anything, but that's pretty unlikely with the two of them, and I can eat shrimp oreganato, pizza bread, Parmesan cheese, and pumpkin pie. Score for more tasty foods that don't bother my mouth! Let's see how tomorrow goes and the beginning of my mission to divert this negativity!!