pain! Pain!! PAIN!!!

I woke up Wednesday March 21, 2012 with extreme jaw pain.  I knew my mouth must have hung to one side during the night.  I mean it must have been glued down as I turned.  I have had this before and figured it would go away!  It didn't!  I said in my head you big sissy!  Give it a day or two.  By Saturday I was still in pain and I called the walk in clinic.  They didn't do much but tell me most likely TMJ so eat soft things.  DUH I figured that much out.  That following Thursday I was calling the Dentist for an appt to see if I had another issue like an abscess, all my teeth on the right side of my mouth needing root canals, jaw cancer.  After all what might cause me to keep having this pain for more than a week.  I called the Dr that I was referred to that deals with TMJ-  Closed for a week!  Booooo!! 

I visited my dentist that Thursday morning and he took x-rays, poked and prodded the teeth on my right side.  I don't do the dentist very well as my gag reflex seems to be outside my mouth. (In fact when I went to the walk in clinic the Dr said here let me show you how to do internal mouth massage.  I said ya I can't do that I have a bad gag reflex.  She said oh you'll be fine.  I put my finger in my mouth and immediately started to gag.  She stood back and said, ya you can't do this!) After taking gagging x-rays the Dentist came in and said, Ya I see nothing!  I'm in the dark but you need to go see Dr. Woodruff.  I thought dang I was so looking for a way out of this pain.  I said no root canal, abscess?    He said nope!  So he told me to take 600 Mil of Ibuprofen 3 x's a day.

This leaps me forward to today- Tuesday April 3rd.  I woke up with hardly any pain and that was after I forgot to take my pills before I went to bed.  I feel swollen and a very very mild ache.  What a great day!  Yesterday I had to go to Jury Duty.  I'm pretty sure telling them I was in pain all the time from the TMJ they decided my service wasn't needed. 

I have pain most of the day with my knee but these past 2 weeks have been horrible.  I have thought many times about people in the world who deal with constant pain.  I can get relief on some occasions and that helps.  I can see why people do drastic things in their lives to try to get relief.  All's I can say is I am sorry they have to deal with that in their life. 

It has caused me to ponder  upon the scripture ...all these things will give them experience... and that when we experience things in our lives those experiences help us feel compassion for others who have to deal with X daily.  Yesterday morning as I was getting ready to leave for work I said a prayer and asked Heavenly Father that if He could make it so I could get some parking spaces up close to the buildings I needed to be in that I would sure like that.  Could he also stay the pain in my knee and jaw so I could function for the day.  I told him it would mean a lot to me if he granted these blessings today. 

I drove to my first work spot and found a parking place right in front of the school.  I was able to proctor testing students by walking up and down the rows without much pain.  My jaw pain wasn't to bad yet.  I called to find out that I had jury duty (I thought I should have prayed they wouldn't need me but oh well) and then called the TMJ Dr. to make an appt.  She told me she had an opening tomorrow and could I make that.  I told her YES YES YES!  Then remembered I was headed to jury duty so I had to turn it down.  She promised me she would put me at the top of the cancellation list but the next open appt was a month away.  I walked to my car and drove down to the courthouse.  I drove to the parking deck and looked as each spot was taken but one close to the front on the other side.  I said out loud "THANK YOU Heavenly Father!  I know this is from you!" 

Yesterday I was the recipient of many tender mercies and blessings.  I know I have been touched by the divine hand of my Father in Heaven once again stand humbled at His love and kindness.