shifting

Things aren't really looking so hot for my bite, currently. On Friday I had my first migraine since surgery, and I noticed my bite felt really off. It's been feeling a bit off since I got my braces off, but that's because my bite is settling (and that's a good thing, I'm told).

Well, on Friday afternoon I noticed my bottom front teeth were bumping into my top built-in retainer. It kept happening and kept happening and my jaw was starting to get the shooting, awful pains from right after jaw surgery so I called Dr. Molen's office today and they got me in - Dr. Rick thinks my bite is just settling into a natural position. He thinks the headache and jaw pain were caused by my front teeth bumping the retainer (and therefore not being able to close naturally).

He tried to sand down my retainer so it wouldn't bump anymore, but ended up just taking it out. I go in next Wednesday and he'll re-check everything and I think I'll get new retainers, since now mine are a tiny bit loose since the built-in is gone.

Tomorrow I see Dr. Lee for my final pictures and x-rays, hopefully she'll have some insight on my small range of motion and all this stupid jaw pain.

Overall, though, I'm still glad I had the surgery. I ate corn on the cob tonight for the first time and I was able to eat it neatly and cleanly, 2 rows at a time. Only 1 migraine in a year is just fine with me - and that migraine went away once I took a pain pill and slept through the night - it didn't make me puke until I had to go to the ER or anything.

so get this...

I was in the ER again last night around 11:30pm. The waiting room was empty but we waited for almost an hour before I got called into triage. You wouldn't believe the stupid guy I got to deal with. He asked about my migraines. He asked all the normal questions (is it a "normal" migraine, how long have you had it, what have you taken today, etc). We then got to the fact that it was my 3rd visit in 4 days and he was shocked. Okay, that's fine. Be shocked. But then he started asking questions about my jaw and the jaw surgery - and how exactly did I know the migraines were jaw related and not an aneurism or something?

I explained that when my jaw hurts, I get migraines. When I do things like play the clarinet and eat and chew and talk, it gets aggravated and turns into migraines. He asked if I had done any of those things today - I replied that yes, I had in fact played my clarinet, eaten, and talked today... to which he responded... "you need to take care of yourself. You can't do things like play the clarinet - after all, would you feel sorry for a lung cancer patient that smoked a pack of cigarettes before asking us to "fix her up?""

Umm.. excuse me, jerkface!?! And the worst part? It wasn't even my clarinet playing OR eating that gave me the migraine - it was the drive home in the dark with all of the headlights facing at me.

I'm still ticked beyond belief.

I love the ER, and the ER loves me

The migraines took an unexpected turn for the worse this week. I was at school throwing up on Wednesday on field day (yuck), so right after I went home we went to the ER. Spent 6 hours and could only get my pain down to a 3 or 4 (out of 10). The "big guns" narcotics just aren't working for me - in fact, they seem to be making everything worse.

On Thursday I had the massive migraine all day while bowling and skating with the 8th graders at my school - came home, napped, thought I was feeling better, and then Nick accidently moved my arm that was pressing into my face. Seriously, that's all it takes anymore - I almost puked immediately, I couldn't move, finally fell asleep with my hands pressed to my jaw in complete agony.

This morning, woke up, thought about going to the ER but I don't have any more sick days and since the husband is home but not working we're a little short on cash - but it did me no good. I got to school and the pain was so bad I couldn't form complete sentences so another teacher drove me home and Nick drove me straight to the ER where we spent only 4 hours. With lots of narcotics that don't make it better.

My hand (from the IV on Wednesday) has a giant bruise. My arm is a GIANT bruise because the poor nurse today was new and I have hard veins to find anyway... she had to root around in there a lot to find the vein. OW!

I don't know what I'm going to do, or how I'm going to survive the next two and a half weeks. I went to my regular doctor this afternoon and she just kind of said "well, good luck! Jaw surgery is in 2 and a half weeks!"

Great. Lord, help me. I don't know if I can do this.

by the numbers

Days until surgery: 40! (tomorrow will be 39!!!)
Days until my half marathon: 37
Days until the husband is home: 25 (ish).
Days until school is out: 18 (actual school days, not including weekends)
Number of migraines in the last two weeks: 8
Miles in my race last weekend: 7.5
Days until my next orthodontist appointment: 5
Performances/Concerts/Field Trips in the past two weeks: 5

I have to say, I am quite jealous of all of the swollen lips, puffed up faces, sawed-apart jawbones, and perfect bites of the past few weeks. I am SO happy for everyone, especially Kate and Aimee and Aimee (ananda devika)... it seems like we all started orthoblogging around the same time, and now they're all "fixed"! But tomorrow that countdown clock rolls on into the 30s, which I can't complain about. I'll follow you guys to the 'other side' soon enough!

I still haven't called my benefits coordinator about what exactly is covered. I'll do it next week. Somehow it's fallen off of the radar with all of the relief still goin' on. :)

officially approved!

May 12, 2009

Dear Mrs. Sheppard:

The Board of Trustees of TSP heard your appeal requesting coverage for orthognathic surgery at their May 7, 2009 meeting.

The board has approved the appeal and I will contact Regence Blue Shield to let them know that the trust will pay for that coverage.

Sincerely,
MP

Still need to call about what exactly is covered, but I think that will be on next Monday. I'm violently vomiting everything I eat, but don't have time to make it to the ER - I performed in a concert on Monday (with my left eye closed because it was too blurry to see out of), conducted a concert last night, had band contest all day today, conducting a concert tomorrow night, and have orchestra concert on Friday. If this is still happening on Friday you can bet your butt I'll be in the ER after school.

Unless my head just explodes on my shoulders before them. Seems like it's about to happen - I'm amazed that one little head (big head?) can hold this much PAIN.

another ER visit

What a terrible day. It all started out around 1am puking from a migraine - my splint had fallen out somehow during the night. I tried going back to sleep with a painkiller, puked again, then finally was able to sleep, thinking that once I could get to sleep my migraine would improve. Instead, I woke up and it was worse - so bad that I could barely look at the computer to call in sick, let alone type lesson plans for the day.

After trying to take something for the pain again I started to puke again and I knew it was time for the ER - but I had no clue how to get there without Nick. So I called my mom in Shelton (about an hour drive) at work, and she left work early (7 hours early) and drove up and took me to the ER where I spent a few hours with an IV and shots of painkillers. A 5 hour nap later and I felt pretty good, but what a terrible day. The migraine is still around - never got it below a 2 or 3 out of 10 pain wise, but that's pretty much as good as it gets anymore.

Whoa.

I am not an orthodontist

A few things on this fine freezing evening.

Fondue was AWESOME! I could eat almost everything (and did). What a nice anniversary (I still can't believe we've been married for 5 years...)

I got my nasty green bands changed for the conference this weekend... and then promptly had the opportunity to eat palak paneer again (the dastardly green spinich/cheese indian dish that did me in to begin with). Well, instead of getting the rubber bands green OR skipping one of my favorite dishes, I just took the rubber bands off. It hurt. I had my doubts that the rubber bands were actually doing something, as I don't have gaps up there... but within 10 minutes of having them out I was scrambling to put them back in. I have to remember, I am not an orthodontist.

I have a back tooth that is quickly tipping on it's side. I have been telling myself to not worry about it (after all, I'm not an orthodontist) and to stop being that patient... but who am I kidding? I AM that patient. I'm calling on Monday when I get back from conference. I'd rather be annoying and lame than have my surgery postponed because of one rotated molar.

All the new metal and rubber inside of my face is intensely annoying. My front teeth have somehow shifted, causing me to spend an entire rehearsal thinking my clarinet was crooked and possibly put together wrong. My gaps are closing with a quickness, but causing me to have the bite from HELL. I have migraines most days. I can no longer eat a meal without brushing directly afterwards (the little metal criss-crosses are A+ grade food traps.

I am ready for surgery, already...

migraine part 1,000,938,822

I'm beginning to believe that every time I have an orthodontist adjustment, I should just prepare lesson plans for the next day so I don't have to worry about it the morning of. That's right, I'm home with a migraine AGAIN.


The only bright side is that I have an amazing husband who brought home two giant bags of indian food (all slow-cooked and delicious and mushy and doesn't need to be chewed). So I just had an amazing meal that I didn't have to chew once.

I am ready to be done.

half marathon + surgery?

I'm not sure what's happening... but I got a doozy of a migraine on Sunday and it hasn't left, missed yet another day of work on Monday. Today I spent the day wearing earplugs which resulted in mildly offended middle schoolers. (Not fun. Not fun).

My jaw is also intensely tired... but I haven't been working it out, I swear! I have stuck to my rigid chew-as-little-as-possible regimen, eating oatmeal and soup and smoothies instead of "real" food. It is spasming left and right, and I can not find a comfortable resting position to save my life.

On another note, I've been considering running a half marathon for a while now and my friend wants to do the Seattle Rock and Roll Half Marathon with me... however, it's June 27th. School is already going to be delayed getting out by at least two days (we've had a bit of snow this December in Western WA) which places us out of school on the 19th. If I had my perfect date, I would choose June 29th for a surgery date.... but I'm wondering about putting my body through the stress of a half marathon only to have major surgery two days later. What do you guys think?

doctor visit

I had an intake appointment yesterday and had a long conversation about my jaw pain and headaches with my new primary care physician. She has decided to prescribe me the same muscle relaxants for the next 7 months until my jaw surgery. She is worried about my body adjusting to the medication and addiction, but we both decided that those risks were smaller than dealing with the long, intense migraines of the past few months. I guess I'll deal with the addiction bit once I get past the surgery....

I have REALLY noticed a difference now that I'm on muscle relaxants and doing acupuncture... I have less jaw pain than before, especially while playing my clarinet. I have only had three migraines in the two weeks since getting started on them, and each of those migraines lasted less than a day. I am able to get through my 5th period class without being in considerable pain (it is my last period of the day, and usually the most painful).

Good news.

more mirgaine fun!

I ended up in the Urgent Care on Thursday because the migraine had surpassed all migraines before it. It actually ran out of room to inflict pain on my [normal] left side, and began aching and pulling on the right. I couldn't hold food down, I couldn't see straight, I was sleeping for the entire day (we're talking, I'd wake up, moan, turn, cry a little bit, and finally fall asleep because the pain was so bad I couldn't see myself getting out of bed).

At the urgent care, they gave me an anti-nausea shot in the hip and a hardcore painkiller shot in the hip, along with some prescriptions to try for the jaw (a muscle relaxant for at night, a painkiller for the day, and a super-pain-killer for days like the last few). Hopefully something works!

I missed 3 days of school. Unheard of.

Acupuncture today with a crazy needle configuration on my left side (the ouchy migraine jaw pain side).... I again feel less tension already. Hopefully tomorrow I'll be pain free for a while!

He says that a week between visits is optimal. I'm seeing him again next Friday. Hopefully no record-breaking migraines before then.

acupuncture and adjustment

Acupuncture was this past Friday. I had needles. In my FACE (and neck, shoulders, hands, and feet). It was a bit scary. The acupuncturist was very good - he made me feel very relaxed, asked me a lot of questions, told me he thought acupuncture would help (and he can also fix my I'm-suddenly-getting-old-or-something weird stuff going on like my hip being weird). The needles stung a little bit going in on my face, but nothing more than a pinch and a sting and it was over. He left Nick and I in a nice warm room to hang out for maybe 20-25 minutes with the needles in (good picture time). I didn't feel any immediate relief, which was a bummer because I was coming off of a doozy of a migraine, but the next day I woke up to no pain. Not even a little. In fact, I didn't really notice anything was different until I went to yawn and I winced and grabbed for my jaw joints like I usually do and realized it didn't hurt. It didn't last long, maybe an hour, but I now have confidence that it can work. He says that the relief will be more immediate and more long lasting as treatment progresses.

Then the next day I got the worst migraine I've had in a long time. Hopefully not connected... I still have it now and I'm contemplating missing school tomorrow it hurts so bad.

Adjustment was today. They x-rayed my teeth and took off a maybe 7-8 brackets on my lowers and 1 on my uppers for replacement. She put the same wire back in and I was originally disappointed (no pain no gain!) but immediately I felt the results.... and 8 hours later my teeth are singing Wagner. Whoo-eee! I was sad, he made a comment on my teeth getting a little discolored. I drink coffee. I LOVE coffee. I'm not sure how I'm going to give coffee up, but he's right. My teeth aren't as lovely as they once were. Any ideas?

Oh, and progress pictures. The gums keep swelling (the splints make it worse, I think), the overbite keeps growing, and the gaps keep closing. On and on.

acupuncture

I'm biting the bullet (not really, it would probably hurt my jaw too much). I've been complaining about this stupid jaw pain for weeks now. Despite massive amounts of tylenol and ibuprofen, massages from my talented husband, eating only soup and very soft foods, AND my amazing splint, nothing is changing for the good.

I was talking to two friends a few weeks back, and they discouraged me from getting surgery, saying that acupuncture fixed all of Mishka's TMJ problems. They even recommended a clinic here in Tacoma. I've been putting off making an appointment, though, mostly due to fear of the unknown.

But today I had another puking migraine at school today and am being forced to skip my band rehearsal tonight. I have shooting pains that are making my eyes water through my left jaw joints. Enough is enough.

My appointment is Monday at 4:30.

jaw pain

The pain from my jaw has been continuing to worsen over time. I'm keeping daily track of it in a notebook (hoping to build evidence for the appeal process). In the last 30 days, I have only had two days where the pain has been a 3 or less (on a scale of 1-10). I've had 18 days where the pain has been a 6 or more. We're talking, some days I can't chew food. I can't open my mouth (or close it once it's finally open). I've had 12 migraines.

At some point, if this continues, it won't bother me at all to be on a no-chew diet. I'm getting closer and closer every day.

This sucks.

Oh! But good news! In an update from my school district (insurance provider), they have decided to cut the UHC plan completely and to offer a less-expensive, more basic plan from the "good" insurance company that I have to go with to possibly cover my surgery/surgeon. I don't know how much it will cost yet (in fact, they're re-evaluating all costs before open enrollment starts next month), but it gives me a shimmer of hope. Hurray!

okay, freak out now.

None of the available insurance plans cover orthognathic surgery except for in extreme cases. I can go through a lengthy appeal process with my school district, but even then I'm not sure what my chances are about getting it approved.

So.... a lot of random crying going on. I think I'll just have to have my orthodontist put me back together again, fix my bite as much as possible, and remove the braces - I can't afford this surgery without insurance, and I can't afford to have my bite get any worse. I have shooting pains in my jaws all the time now, and I'm getting migraines every other day or so.

And it's considered "cosmetic." What a bunch of shit.

adjustment today

As I said in my post yesterday, I had a lot of questions going into this appointment. But my orthodontist is so great - he read my mind before I could even ask them!

I will be surgery ready in.... are you ready???? APRIL! However, I can't take time off of school, so surgery will have to wait until June. But what a relief! He also explained what will happen in my next few appointments - the next appointment is a long one, repositioning brackets and getting my first set of stainless steel wires. After that, the focus will be on closing my lower gaps and achieving as much width in my lower arches as possible. He says that while they are working on my upper jaw, it's not as big a priority because it's going to be widened in surgery.

School gets out on June 16th with the 17th-20th being possible snow makeup days. I will probably shoot for the last week in June to give me time to prepare. My mom has a ton of vacaction time, luckily, so she'll be able to come up and take care of me the first week or two (my husband leaves for National Guard training in January, and will be gone for a year to two years in California... with no way to take time off). Thank goodness she'll be able to help - otherwise, things would be scary.

He also gave me a few splints, hoping to curb some of the severe migraines I've been getting lately from my jaw. They're pretty neat - I'll post pictures when I get a chance, and let you know how they work out.

Oh, and the gums? Looking fine. Whatever.