At first I had to learn to swallow again, not hard but different specially minding the tongue swallowing with it in the correct position just behind the tongue crib not against it and not past it using the lips.
As far as eating is concerned my first meals were literally baby, those purees made from powder and milk, delicious btw, easy to swallow. Then some potato puree with chopped hot dogs, then chicken and rice and slowly built up to eat anything. The only thing that is hard to eat is long pasta and such. The only thing is that I have to take a lot smaller bites and it takes 3 times longer to eat, other than that, no issues now whatsoever.
Next thing is the tongue, at first my tongue developed small sores where it touched the crib. These lasted a few days but the more it got used to it they appeared less and less, nothing really major, a little oral spray with lidocaine and I was ok for a few hours.
The biggest issue so far has been speaking I have issues mostly with S,P, D,R, TH and words consonants together. However as it got more used to it my speech has greatly improved, specially if I speak slowly. People now say it is barely noticeable except Por a few words now and then. I think I notice it more than others.
The next big milestone for me was in a social environment a couple of weeks ago was my first social gathering since the pandemic started, we were really locked up in Panama, as well as my first outing with a tongue crib and more so even if it was very small I only knew 2 people there so I was nervous, but nobody mentioned it at first, later I answered a few questions but that was it, not the big issue I had in my mind.
Now I can say I am used to it, but by no means I don't notice it which it's purpose it has to be noticed so I can retrain my tongue, the crib alone it just to block the tongue and a reminder for me to place it where it should be and little by little I do it more and more, recently I noticed that without me doing anything it is in its correct position. But when I sleep it still presses against the crib but les and less. The first days my tongue would wake up embedded in the tongue crib I had to pull it out, even more I have deformed the crib with all the pressure it was even worse than what the ortho thought it was, I had get it readjusted because it started touching a bottom tooth bit since then it appears to be settled no more deformation.
Also I started speech therapy, online via zoom, to help with my speech since I will have it for a long long time and to help with the habit. I had tried it before but it alone didn't work, the combination of speech therapy and crib is working wonders.
All and all I think it was the best decision, it is not nearly as bad as I thought it would be, I am happy with it even if I have a love hate relationship with it.
My next check up is mid November and then we will probably set a date for braces.
I didn't start right away with them first because I don't want any extractions, second since I had a little gum retraction, which is what made finally take the leap, she wanted it to heal, also she said she wanted to allow nature to take its course and correct as much as possible just with the crib stopping my tongue from pushing, it has greatly improved. My canines now touch which they haven't in years and the space between upper and lower teeth when I smile is almost unnoticeable.
I hope this helps somebody who has the same doubts and fears I had before getting it, since there is very little information about this on adults.
Anybody feel free to contact me, if you dm in can give you a direct way to contact me and I can help you anyway I can.