Last one about not feeling well...

I'm back in Austin, only been home for 3 hrs - dizziness, echoing is back, jaw is hurting, but then I didn't take a muscle relaxant until later. No headache so far. Ears ringing like crazy. I'm so disappointed. I wasn't dizzy AT ALL in Utah. When I'm feeling this bad, so hard to try and stay positive and do everything that the book said. Maybe tomorrow, after a good night's sleep...I did get up at 5am and the plane flights always have affected the ringing.

More about mouth, jaw...

Dr Peppard gave me a phone number for a woman who also had all the problems I have had, plus a few. She is an OR nurse for Dr Gallagher. I called and left a message a few days ago, I had meant to call again in the evening but would always get busy and forget. She called me back today and we had a nice chat. She had migraine headaches, jaw pain, vertigo so severe she had to lie down, tinnitus, etc. She did the splint therapy, but also had to have oral surgery on the disc and cartilage of the TMJ. Thankfully, the MRI showed that my disc is still working fine. She also had to pay for all of it, her insurance wouldn't pay for any - same as mine, altho I will call and argue with them about it. It actually helped me to talk with someone, just so I could feel validated. It's so hard to explain just how debilitating it is.

On a happy note she said she was 100% happy that she had all of this, her symptons have decreased, making life enjoyable again, also made it possible for her to return to work. If I have to have everything done she did, it will be about $20,000. An incredible amount of money to put into it, but as Bruce (my dentist) said, do you want to spend the next 30 years dealing with this, or fix it? I want to fix it. I have no guarantees, but she said everyone who has done the splint therapy and surgery have had decrease of symptons, if not completely abated.

Sandra (woman I talked with) was helpful and said to call her anytime if I have questions to ask. She has complete confidence in the 2 docs, said they really know what they are doing. She is going to get me the names of some good internists, since I think the one in Cedar Park I went to is a doofus.

Forgot, she also has gone to a chiro, found one she really likes, trusts, and he has a plan for her. I can attest to how important it is to find someone who has a plan. So I will get his name, and perhaps Rick and I can go there.

Tinnitus

I leave on Sat. I contacted Dr Peppard's office (occlusion specialist) to find out the time line for beginning the splint therapy. The 4 weeks I'm home will be enough time to make the impressions, have another consultation, and begin.

I quit taking the muscle relaxants because he said to take them for 2 weeks. Almost immediately, I feel my jaws tighten up, hurt, a little dizziness return, but not the headaches. It is all related to my bite that is screwed up and my jaws not being able to find a comfortable home.

So as Bruce said (next door neighbor and dentist), unless I want to spend the next 30 years of my life dealing with this I need to fix it now. And so I shall. At least I trust the expertise of these docs. I hope my trust is not misplaced.

Something...

My goal is to post something at least once a week (since I'm using this as my journal, not exactly ideal but better than nothing) and I can see I'm falling behind.

I leave on Sat and I'm starting to feel sad. I'm really enjoying my time with my 3 little ggrrls, Paige and Kincade, and my 2 sons (haven't really seen much of them, I did pick Chris up from the airport last night, back from Seattle and a visit with Alonya.

Stella loves school - here is Macy and Stella with Paige, ready to walk to the bus stop. Baby Hattie was asleep in her crib. She is such a good little baby!! Eats great, sleeps great, hardly ever fussy until she is tired or hungry. Paige has decided it is a trick from HF because she has decided Hattie is the last, so He sends a perfect little one as if to say, See how easy she is, you can do another!

 

 

Rick's first time of seeing Hattie G

I'm sure I have a pic of this, but the ggrrls are playing kid games on my iPad. I'll have to post it later. Rick came in late on Fri, stayed with Chris overnight, and drove to Paige's early on Sat. It was so nice to see him, I missed him so much. We do love and appreciate it other - our marriage keeps getting better and better.

Stella's first day of Kindergarten

Stella's first day of school was a week ago today. She was and is excited to go. She loves riding the bus, her teacher, learning, and all the new friends to make.