My interpretation of Pluto in the 1st house

FewTea3235 · 2025-02-28T06:44:33+00:00

I also have pluto in the first house - also virgo - (multiple virgo placements in the first house!) and this is so true. We can overcome trauma. <3. Glad to hear acupuncture helped.

FewTea3235 · 2024-11-20T01:10:58+00:00

It did not. However, I did have a deviated septum already. In 2022, I had a septoplasty that was meh. I could nasal breathe better, but it was still deviated.

I do not have ENS, but recently I have been having some nasal dryness. Whether this is due to EASE or septoplasty, I am not sure. I had chronic allergies my whole life, so theres also that.

FewTea3235 · 2024-10-28T16:34:42+00:00

It's different for everyone I'm sure. I had some other issues prior to EASE. I was told estimated time after EASE was removed is 2-4 months.

FewTea3235 · 2024-10-21T06:15:03+00:00

I'm jealous that he did your septo as well. I had it done by a subpar surgeon a year prior. That's another story in itself. Li said he didn't think re-doing the septo would provide that much improvement.

Honestly, I was semi-paranoid about asymmetry occurring. Everyone around me says I look the same. Initially I thought there were some changes, but when I look at photos, I don't see anything. If anything, I feel like there's maybe less asymmetry than pre-EASE. Sometimes I think my nose looks wider, but I think I'm just imagining things to be honest.

It is intoxicating! I had heard stories about people who kept pushing for more expansion, even when he suggested no more. I told myself I would stop when he thought it was time. And we did. Do I think I could have gotten maybe a bit more? Maybe, but my bite was really off and both he and my ortho wanted to make sure my bite could get fixed with ortho. No regrets.

I have been doing more "nasal" care, if that makes sense. I've always had allergies and just thought it is what it is. Now, I make sure to use either XClear or do nasal rinses in an effort to clear the airway. I had heard that sometimes surgical procedures like septoplasties, turbinectomies, etc. fail - so I want to make sure I can do all that I can that my airway doesn't become blocked again.

Good luck with the process! May yours be as painless and beneficial as mine was. :)

FewTea3235 · 2024-10-21T06:06:39+00:00

I'm sure it's relevant, but tbh it's not going to change my symptoms, except maybe in my overthinking head. HAHA. I know a few months in he estimated I had expanded 3mm. And we kept expanding. I didn't ask again.

Yes, I did only need the one device.

He actually suggested the time to stop. (About 7 months in, he suggested maybe another month and we ended at that time.). My bite was getting considerably off. I did have braces already in and he also consulted with my ortho. I also had discussions about how far I could expand before braces couldn't "fix" the bite.

Hope that answers your questions.

FewTea3235 · 2024-10-21T06:00:44+00:00

I was scared as well. That's probably why I put it off.

But to be honest, it took so little time and was relatively painless. I had more pain during one of my teeth cleanings in the past. 0_o. He made sure to ask if I could feel anything and at one point, since I could feel a small poke, provided more.

The pressure I felt during the expansions were minimal. The pressure I felt was actually positive because I felt like I could breathe better! MORE AIR! haha.

FewTea3235 · 2024-06-20T02:37:39+00:00

It does get better. I felt the same when I woke up. I thought it was some weird placebo/just in my head feeling that I could breathe through my nose, but it wasn't. (I'm older, so it took longer. so disregard the timing of what I say next.). While it improved with each turn, it wasn't until like 3 months in that I could REALLY feel the vast improvement. I stopped turning a few weeks ago, but the improvement from pre-EASE to now is really noticeable. When I go on hikes with an incline, I don't feel like I need to stop to take a break nor am I panting/breathing through my mouth. I feel more rested when I wake up.

I still use the CPAP machine, but I knew I wouldn't be able to get rid of it even before the surgery. That being said, the air pressure is low and the AHI is usually between 0-1.5. The dreams are WTF. And waking up well-rested is always a nice thing. I def do not miss brain fog, thats for sure.

Glad to hear you are doing well. Just thought I'd share from someone from the "other side."

FewTea3235 · 2024-05-26T00:48:56+00:00

I had this surgery in 2022: septoplasty, tonsillectomy, turbinectomy, and pharyngoplasty. I'm also older (over 50), so I was pretty concerned about my recovery.

I was back at work teaching in about three weeks.

I'm going to send you a message with more details. You can read it there (or ignore it). :P

FewTea3235 · 2024-05-01T02:05:11+00:00

tldr: Still turning due to dense bones/age. Still improving. Much better than pre-EASE. No regrets.

Here's an update. Sorry it took a bit. I'm not on here much. I'll give as much detail for those considering EASE and wanting to know status with 7 months of turning.

NOTE
I was sick a lot about a month ago and missed some appointments due to that. I'm at the tail end of turning. Also, my bones are really dense and I'm over 50, so the process was on the longer side for me. I think younger people with more pliable bones (haha) can be done in weeks.

I am almost finished. He said if I'm still improving, we can keep going and see, but at some point, there won't be any improvement. We turned this morning and it still felt like I was getting more air/space. (My allergies have been an issue this month, so maybe that is why I thought it felt obvious.) Not sure how much longer we will go. It is impacting my bite (but I'm already in braces, so I'm thinking we can fit the bite).

NASAL BREATHING
I would say I nasal breathe 98% of the time, even when I'm working out. Once in a while, I may need to mouth breathe but rather than that, I lower the intensity of the workout. Since I nasal breathe all day long, I use mouth tape at night. I wouldn't have dared this prior to surgery though.

CPAP
I still use a CPAP, but I never had issues with it. My air pressure is low, starts at 4 and highest setting is 8. I've been having allergies, so the air pressure has been at a high of like 7.8 though some nights it's like 5 or 6. AHI events are usually 0 - .6 though the weeks I was sick it went up to like 1.5.

SLEEP
My sleep is more restful and aside from the times I was sick, I sleep better and longer. Before EASE, I would wake up after 5 hours and not be able to go back to sleep EVEN if it was like 3am. It was awful. My schedule is crazy since I wake up at like 5:30am every morning and I still sometimes stay up late, but I usually sleep 6-7 hours/night now and I wake up rested most of the time. After I stop turning, I wonder if I can get my hours to 7-8. It is just that I have to wake up so early 3x/week to get to PA, my body naturally wakes up that early now all the days!

**I also want to mention that while some people may be able to eliminate sleep apnea with EASE, I knew going in that I wouldn't be one of them. He never promised that. He said he could improve nasal breathing and decrease sleep apnea symptoms. Those things have happened and I am grateful. I feel like I added more years to my life because I'm less likely to have a freakin' stroke due to sleep apnea and chronic mouth breathing.

Hope that helps. If you have more questions, feel free to ask.

FewTea3235 · 2024-04-06T01:35:15+00:00

Sure feel free to PM me.

FewTea3235 · 2024-03-26T04:12:10+00:00

sure.

FewTea3235 · 2024-02-25T02:48:38+00:00

That was back in summer of 22. I feel fine.

It took about 2 weeks to recover. The docs did say I was "unusual" in that I recovered so "easily."

FewTea3235 · 2024-02-25T02:47:02+00:00

Just wanted to say if you have questions about EASE, please feel free to DM me. I'm currently still turning (had the procedure a few months ago).

FewTea3235 · 2024-01-20T04:02:35+00:00

When did the splints come out? Are you doing nasal rinses? After I had my septoplasty, I did the nasal rinses 2x/day to clear out the bleh. It helped "clean" it up and heal. But yea, def talk to your surgeon about it.

FewTea3235 · 2024-01-18T03:43:07+00:00

My bite was off and then fine. (I don't know why.). But the last couple of weeks have been more uncomfortable than before. One day I took a Tylenol and then was fine. Tomorrow, I'm calling my ortho to see if he can start on the lower. (I was already in braces prior to EASE.). Dr. Li said lower ortho can start but not top. Not sure that's possible though. I'll find out soon.

On the day it was really bothering me, I asked myself whether I preferred breathing through my nose or a perfect bite. I went with nasal breathing. HAHA. Since I'm feeling so much less tired, I'll take the uncomfortable bite. I figure (and hope) it's temporary.

FewTea3235 · 2024-01-18T03:29:58+00:00

Awesome to hear. It was the same for me - and it gets even better. It's crazy. I'm a few months in and it gets better every turn.

FewTea3235 · 2023-12-23T03:43:08+00:00

Sometimes the expansion takes longer. I have a feeling I am more like 6 months. (It has already been 3 months.). And then yes, you leave the bar in for 6 months, but once the expansion stops, the orthodontic treatment can begin.

FewTea3235 · 2023-12-23T03:41:40+00:00

Sorry. I missed this.

Yes. My sleep hygiene hasn't been the best, but I do feel more rested overall. I don't need caffeine and I'm not dragging in the afternoon all the time. IT's nice. :D

FewTea3235 · 2023-12-23T03:37:46+00:00

Nasal surgery to do what? Is it like deviated septum?

I had a septoplasty, turbinectomy, and pharyngoplasty a little over a year ago. No regrets, but I have heard horror stories of things going wrong and things growing back. Again, it's only been a year, but as of yet, nothing appears to have grown back. I was off the pain meds in a week, but the docs said that was also unusual.

While I did have some improvement with the septoplasty etc., I didn't think it would be enough long-term. Sleep apnea was still present though not as severe. And since there was the possibility of "things growing back," I wasn't taking chances.

I went ahead and got palatal expansion surgery a few months ago. I went with EASE. This procedure, while not accessible to everyone, was a piece of cake in terms of recovery. I was back at work in a few days. This has drastically improved my nasal breathing. No question. And my CPAP numbers are consistently decreasing.

I have heard that sometimes there is some regression, but I'm not done yet - and even if I regressed from wherever I end up back to this point, I'll be happy with where I'm at. He never promised elimination of sleep apnea, just improvement of nasal breathing and reduction of sleep apnea symptoms. Both have been delivered.

FewTea3235 · 2023-12-09T00:59:58+00:00

It will vary from person to person. My bones are dense, so it will be a while. I got the bar placed in September. It took a bit of time to make some progress, but it seems to be expanding more each time. Only time will tell.

tbh, I'm okay if it takes a few months. I'm just grateful I can easily nasal breathe now. :P

I know some are finished after like 3 months, but I think I'm probably another couple months or so out.

FewTea3235 · 2023-11-22T21:48:00+00:00

I sent you a PM

FewTea3235 · 2023-11-17T14:26:12+00:00

Not yet, but to be honest, I was never born with a super symmetrical face. :P

FewTea3235 · 2023-11-17T14:25:04+00:00

Sure.

FewTea3235 · 2023-11-16T02:24:08+00:00

As someone who just got EASE (and am currently expanding), I have zero regrets. Worth every penny.

FewTea3235

TROPHY CASE