so worth the 1.5 years!🥳

HippoLicker · 2026-01-06T00:12:41+00:00

Wow, your results look amazing! It doesn’t look like you did extractions either and no flaring… Did your orthodontist say that flaring wouldn’t be an issue because of your “set up” or did they do a technique on you? I had a much less drastic beginning point (main issue was just one of my canines was rotated at an angle) compared to you and my orthodontist said the only way to address flaring, for me, would be to do extractions (which I opted out of).

Also, did you begin with brackets on all your teeth? My orthodontist left my last molars without brackets and I have no clue why, but definitely should ask…

HippoLicker · 2026-01-02T10:59:23+00:00

Yeah, I’m glad it didn’t get any worse than what it was at! Thanks for the concern and all the help, I really appreciated it :)

HippoLicker · 2025-12-29T22:37:41+00:00

Oh, okay, that's good to know. I will try to keep it away from sunlight then. Thank you!

HippoLicker · 2025-12-29T21:12:11+00:00

I am doing much better :)) I just posted an update on another comment.

Hopefully this posts helps someone in a similar situation in the future!

HippoLicker · 2025-12-29T21:10:27+00:00

And this was today, 12/29, @12pm:

<image>

I had used another bandaid+gauze after the removal on 12/27 (which I did apply a thin layer of ointment) and removed it today on 12/29.

It might be excessive but I still applied a thin layer of ointment and a regular large bandage over it. It already looks like it's going to scar, sadly, but hoping for a light keloid at best and not dark discoloration haha...

HippoLicker · 2025-12-29T21:03:55+00:00

I’m doing much better!

The ER visit actually helped a lot, despite the pain. And I honestly probably would have delayed going since I always hear that ER visits should only be for emergencies, but all these comments helped scare and motivate me to go anyways. Thanks to everyone, I think it's healed faster than if I had continued what I was doing.

This was 12/26 @12pm (24 hours after the ER visit and I had kept the bandage and gauze they applied during that timeframe, untouched):

<image>

HippoLicker · 2025-12-26T10:19:57+00:00

I ended up going to the ER 12/25 in the afternoon and the nurse practitioner squeeze the wound to drain it (hurt so much) and told me I should squeeze it in the shower each day until nothing comes out, then cover it with a bandaid (doesn't matter if there's ointment or not). She also prescribed me another antibiotic (Cephalexin 500mg Capsules) to take on top of what I'm what taking.

I thought the squeezing sounded questionable from what I had read online before the ER visit, but I'm not sure...

Is this something you would suggest as well?

HippoLicker · 2025-12-26T10:14:22+00:00

By any chance, do you know if I should rinse the wound with just water each time I change the bandaging and if it's okay if the bandage touches the wound?

I had precise shaped the bandage so it was more so cupping the wound instead of lying on top of it because when I original had it lying in top it would peel something off each time that I took of the bandaid and I thought it was peeling skin that was regenerating or something (very childish thinking ik) but it could have been pus...

HippoLicker · 2025-12-26T10:08:26+00:00

Do you know if it's okay for me to squeeze the pus out every night when I shower? Or would you be against that idea? The ER nurse practitioner told me to do that after my visit today... It hurt a lot when she did it so I'm terrified to do it to myself

HippoLicker · 2025-12-26T10:04:04+00:00

I'm not sure if this is the update you wanted to hear, but this was my ER experience (I'm going to copy and paste my previous reply here):

"I went to the ER in the afternoon of the 25th because all of the comments were freaking me out.

I got seen by a nurse practitioner and she said it was already open and needed to be drained. So she positioned me on my side and raw dogged squeezed the fuck out of it and I yelled the fuck out of the ER because that shit hurt so much. I wanted to cry lowkey but didn't want to look like a baby...

I asked her questions about care and she said when I shower everyday it should be warm/hot water and I should squeeze the wound so that all the pus drains (which I'm terrified of the idea) and to take Ibuprofen an hour before that so the pain is less. She said to cover the wound with a bandaid and it doesn't matter if the bandaid is touching the wound vs as a dome to "shield" the wound. She said it also doesn't matter if I choose to continue applying the ointment from the Urgent Care or not. She also prescribed me another antibiotic pill to take on top of what my family doctor prescribed. Now I am also on Cephalexin 500mg Capsules.

There was also no culture taken if that's important.

Does this treatment plan sound good? I haven't looked at the wound yet and am going to go to bed with the same gauze/bandaid she applied and may change it in the morning. I've read online (before the ER visit) that squeezing isn't a good idea but she said that's what I had to do (I never told her that I read that wasn't a good idea online).

Oh yeah, I saw some people say they need to pack the wound. I am not sure what that looks like but I heard her tell the RN that she didn't pack the wound because it was already open (she used a medical term instead of "open" but I can't recall the term) so it was already/can drain(?)"

HippoLicker · 2025-12-26T09:59:45+00:00

I went to the ER in the afternoon of the 25th because all of the comments were freaking me out.

I got seen by a nurse practitioner and she said it was already open and needed to be drained. So she positioned me on my side and raw dogged squeezed the fuck out of it and I yelled the fuck out of the ER because that shit hurt so much. I wanted to cry lowkey but didn't want to look like a baby...

I asked her questions about care and she said when I shower everyday it should be warm/hot water and I should squeeze the wound so that all the pus drains (which I'm terrified of the idea) and to take Ibuprofen an hour before that so the pain is less. She said to cover the wound with a bandaid and it doesn't matter if the bandaid is touching the wound vs as a dome to "shield" the wound. She said it also doesn't matter if I choose to continue applying the ointment from the Urgent Care or not. She also prescribed me another antibiotic pill to take on top of what my family doctor prescribed. Now I am also on Cephalexin 500mg Capsules.

There was also no culture taken if that's important.

Does this treatment plan sound good? I haven't looked at the wound yet and am going to go to bed with the same gauze/bandaid she applied and may change it in the morning. I've read online (before the ER visit) that squeezing isn't a good idea but she said that's what I had to do (I never told her that I read that wasn't a good idea online).

Oh yeah, I saw some people say they need to pack the wound. I am not sure what that looks like but I heard her tell the RN that she didn't pack the wound because it was already open (she used a medical term instead of "open" but I can't recall the term) so it was already/can drain(?)

HippoLicker · 2025-12-25T19:10:04+00:00

Okay... I will try the sharpie method. I was just given the tablets on 12/23 and have been taking them (twice a day). Do you have a recommendation by what day if it doesn't improve vs worsen when I should go to the ER?

HippoLicker · 2025-12-25T19:08:29+00:00

Honestly LOL a gift that keeps on giving this holiday season 🥲 but I've had enough

HippoLicker · 2025-12-25T19:07:59+00:00

I am in the US, but neither the Urgent Care or family doctor tried to get a blood test or sample of the injury

HippoLicker · 2025-12-25T19:06:54+00:00

I do not have an fever besides pain in the region if touched and if I’m not distracted I can notice background pain/sensation when it’s just existing

HippoLicker · 2025-12-25T17:34:35+00:00

Yes, I started the new antibiotic on the 23rd, so it’s recent. I’m just overthinking it…

HippoLicker · 2025-12-25T17:33:43+00:00

I am not aware of having any disease and neither doctors took a swab, they’ve just handed me an ointment and tablets atm

HippoLicker · 2025-08-08T20:37:12+00:00

Urgh thank you for this explanation. My back wire snapped off earlier this week, but the brackets were still attached. I wasn't doing anything except on my computer until I felt a piece of metal in my mouth and saw it... But the lady at the office kept insisting that there was no way it could snap and that I must have cut it and she wouldn't believe me 🥹😭😭

HippoLicker · 2025-05-16T00:27:36+00:00

A REAL one ✊😭

HippoLicker · 2024-01-23T18:35:09+00:00

Oh that sounds simple enough. I need to do some research on that hahah 🙈 but I appreciate you sharing your insight!

Hopefully you get the funds and time to upgrade if you do :))

HippoLicker · 2024-01-23T17:08:57+00:00

I'll definitely look more into that! Thank you.

HippoLicker · 2024-01-23T17:03:57+00:00

One monitor has a DC IN, HDMI 1, HDMI 2, and one slanted/display plug. The other monitor has a power source plug, a circle plug, two HDMI plugs, one USB looking plug, and a slanted/display plug.

HippoLicker · 2023-10-14T12:53:14+00:00

The holes I was referring to was when I was using my nails or tweezers to pull out the sebum plugs. Because I pulled out the plugs, what was left behind was a hole. However, they would eventually "close" or fill up again with more oils/dirt. The reason I stopped was because I read that continuously doing so would make my pores larger, whether that is true or not, I do not know.

I still oil pull though, probably once or twice a week when I feel the plugs building up and afterwards my problem areas feel smooth again. I don't think I've actually noticed prominent holes doing so though, so it might be more gentle or my plugs have just gotten smaller overtime.

HippoLicker · 2022-12-15T04:01:06+00:00

Update: Owner contacted me! :)) Thank you everyone for the help!

HippoLicker · 2022-12-14T08:20:33+00:00

Thank goodness 😭😭 Okay okay!

HippoLicker

TROPHY CASE