HI Everyone

I had suffered from migranes for 6 years. I had them everyday all the time. It got to the point where doctors and hospitals were getting tired of seeing me come into their office. I had 5 tell me to get out because they thought that I was drug seeking and an addict because I am on 40mg of Morphine and 300mg Demoral a day. I had MRI CT, Lumbar Puncture, sleep study and even had sacreal Therapy all tests came back normal which added to the doctors beliefe of drug seeking. I found out actually by accident at the dentist that my jaw was off center. Told the doctor about this and they sent me to get X-Ray's and to see a dental specilest. I am due to go in for jaw surgury in March and found all this out Jan 8th/03. Since then, as long as I don't chew, I have no headaches...Wanted to say thank you to everyone who I have talked to and for them telling me to not give up and to keep searching for the right doctor. ( I was almost ready to give up)

Sorry about the headaches but why did it take so long to consider the dental aspect of this? Dental problems are often the cause of headaches and should always be considered a routine thing to get checked when you have persistant headaches. It is just unfortunate that none of the doctors bothered to ask if you had ever seen the dentist to see if this might be part of the problem.

Hi mlgable.

The reason why it took sooooo long is because I asked about 6 (that I can remember) doctors if my jaw having been broken 11 years ago (that never healed properly) could be causeing the migranes. They all said that the migranes would have likley started soon after it healed and that it wasn't possinle since it's only been about 6 years I've been getting the migranes. So doctors just started pushing meds on me. They thought that I was lying about the migrane medication like the anti-depresents, toradol, imitrex, Zomeg, Zoloft, not working,and that I wanted medication to get high, now we found out that the reason I didn't respond to them is because they are not typical migranes, a nerve of something is being pressed (difficult to explain) when my jaw moves. After I get my surgury, then I have to do the drug withdrawl thing. Cure one thing and start another. I should have preesed about the jaw, but after diff docs said no it can't be, you start to think that maybe there right and it is all in your head. (no pun). I have to see the dental surgon tomorrow so I will know more then ( I hope)
Kierra

Hi,

I am so sorry you suffer from TMJ, I have TMJ and have suffer for over 6 years with my symptoms. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/frown.gif

I know how you feel about going doctor to doctor and them thinking your addicted to drugs (when your not) It took me years of going doctor hopping to find out what was the cause of all my pain. Your on some powerful stuff, does it help at all, I know when I have had that in the hospital it didnt do a thing for my headaches. What type of doctor are you seeing for your migranes? And has your doctor been helpful? I need to find a good doctor, I am so sick of wasting money going to quacks that cant help me!

You should really check out the TMJ board and see what others say about Surgery. Most of the people on the board suffer worse now then they did before surgery. Doctors tend to rush surgery because they dont know what to do about TMJ, there are so many doctors/specialest/dentist that claim "they" know alot about TMJ but they really dont! I hope you take the time to make a post on the board. I suffer so bad everyday and wouldnt want you to live with this pain for the rest of you life!

Good Luck & Take Care,

Starr



[This message has been edited by thisstarr (edited 02-13-2003).]

Hi starr

Thanks for the advice about the other board, i'll check it out. The dentists and surgens have told me that surgury is the only option (jaw off center by alot) what do you do for pain? im tired of all the pain med and the withdrawls are starting to bother me
Any advice would be great....Thank you
Kierra

Hi Kierra,

It has been really tough on me, I dont have any health insurance so I havent been on medication everyday like I need to.

There are so many other options besides surgery, have you tried wearing a splint first to correct your jaw. Surgery is not your ONLY chocie, they want you to think that, there are so many risk with the surgery.
Below is a post I went searching for, it is from the TMJ board about what can happen with TMJ surgery. Her name is sue and just take the time to read the post it explains the risk of tmj surgery. She not the only one that has had problems with surgery, I just dont want you to have to join the million of us who suffer everyday...
hope you read it,
Take Care,
Starr


BELOW THIS POST IS FROM THE TMJD BOARD:

There are so many here in such terrible pain and looking for help, I just want to stress to you to be absolutely certain before you undergo any invasive procedure. There was little information available when I had surgical procedures, I was told I would be cured or in better condition, everytime. That has not been the case. My experience comes from:
1977 Wisdom teeth surgically extracted (they thought this was the problem) TMJS diagnosed after surgery.

1977-1992 Orthodontics & splints

6/88 Orthognathic (bilateral sagittal split-jaws broke) Pulled left condyle loose.

9/88 Orthognathic (bilateral sagittal split-jaws broke) Mouth wired together to prevent bones from moving.

1990 Extensive bone grafts due to low grade infection since surgery in 1988. (Incredible bone loss, my teeth were falling out.)

1991 First MRI showed only shreds of soft tissue hanging out of joint.

1992 Arthroplasty or Open joint to replace disc with ear cartilage. (They said NO SPLINT NEEDED EVER AGAIN)

1997 Arthroplasty to take out shredded ear cartilage.
No replacement. They said nothing was working for replacement.

Dumped in "Pain Management" due to unbearable pain from bone on bone condition, extensive nerve damage, scar tissue and severe muscle problems. Also, necrosis (dead bone) in the joint area causes incredible pain.
Necrosis due to multiple surgeries.

2001 Nasal surgery due to hypertrophic turbinates, caused by nerve damage from TMJD surgeries.

I have ear, eye, nasal, neck, back, and every other problem or symtom you have seen on any list. I also have irreversible nerve damage that can never be repaired.

5/02 I was turned down for complete joint replacements. I have too much damage from previous surgeries.

I have been in a Posterior Repositioning Splint for 3 weeks and am seeing a lot of improvement.
If your splint is not helping, you may not have the kind you need. I have such a mess in my TMJ's, it's hard to believe at this point that a splint could help, but it is. Again take the least invasive treatment you can.

I asked my Dentist last week if any surgery for TMJD was appropriate at this time. He said about the only thing that absolutely had to be taken care of surgically, was totally destroyed, displaced disc with no replacement material. This leaves you in a mess, but you have to get the damaged displaced cartilage out and there is not anything it can be replaced with that will hold up. You can live without disc. I'm sure a lot of Dentists/Doctors would disagree, but in my case and many others his opinion is accurate.

In case you are considering surgery and have not done any research or gotten far enough along in the system to be given information, here goes: (I never saw any of this or signed this type of release)

This is a Standard TMJ Pre-surgical handout found in any Surgeon's office and can be found on many public view websites.

SURGERY- is proposed to eliminate pain, popping, clicking, limited movement, etc.
HOWEVER- you must understand that you do not have a normal joint and you will never have a normal joint after surgery.
IF- you have surgery on one side, due to alterations you may have to have surgery in the future on the other side to achieve harmony in function.
YOUR DOCTOR- can not guarantee that you will stop having pain & hearing noise. Some degree of pain & noise may remain and in some cases become worse-this means more treatments and surgeries in the future.
OPEN-JOINT (arthronomy) usually requires 3-8 hours on each side.
SWELLING & bruising will most likely go away in several weeks, but could take up to 3 months or longer.
DECREASED mouth opening & inability to chew is normal for several weeks. You may be wired together due to unexpected breakage of bones.
BREATHING & nasal congestion, nosebleeds, sorethroat are not uncommon.
NAUSEA can be a real problem after these surgeries, call Nurse immediately.
PAIN & NUMBNESS- you may have altered sensations & numbness. Normal sensation should return by 6 months. There will be pain after any type of surgery on the TMJ's and you will be given medication.
DIET-eat whatever you can drink.
POST-SURGICAL depression is not uncommon.
BLEEDING- usually you will not need a transfusion, but due to the time involved in some of these surgeries, it is possible.
INFECTION-is possible.
SURGICAL DRAINS- will be left in place for about 24 hours.
ALTERED SPEECH- it will take you a while to be able to talk well, you have to practice. Keep a pad & pencil, be patient.
ORTHODONTICS or Splints will be required before, during and a while after you surgery.
PHYSICAL THERAPY- regaining adequate mouth movement after surgery will be difficult. Restoring almost normal jaw movement is dependent on you cooperation.
RETURN to work- you will be encouraged to return to work as soon as you feel well.
FUTURE TREATMENTS- These include medications, physical therapy, splint therapy, restorative denistry, orthodontics, jaw repositoning, future joint surgery, including grafts, implants, removal of grafts & total joint reconstruction.
IF MUSCLE SPASMS OR MYOFACIAL PAIN EXISTS IN YOUR CASE, THESE MUSCLE DISORDERS CAN NOT BE REPAIRED BY SURGERY.

I would like to make a couple of comments due to experience.
SWELLING- my head looked like a bowling ball for about 3 months after open joint surgery.
BONES do get broken & moved during these surgeries.
NASEAU-is a major problem. If you're wired, they hand you a pair of wire cutters as soon as you wake up.
PAIN & NUMBNESS- I have been numb from the nose down for 15 years. Your surgeon will give you pain medicine maybe 2 weeks. Pray that he will refer you to "Pain Management" especially if you have any kind of disc work done. Some surgeons won't. They think you can live with it.
ORTHO & SPLINTS- I was told for 10 years I did not need this. (prior research says I needed to be in a splint during these surgeries)
PHYSICAL THERAPY- has always helped me, I've had a great PT.
RETURN TO WORK- I have not worked since 1991 because my face started to draw, I had long periods of not being able to talk and I had to take pain medication on & off. I was the Administrative Secretary for the Vice-President of a multi-state bank. It was a great job.

All of you that are not getting relief from splints, physical therapy, and other non-invasive treatments, please keep trying. There are still Surgeons out there that will do these surgeries and they know you are most likely to end up in splints, using physical therapy and pain management, "ANYWAY"

They do cover there own back ends. Here is a standard release form for TMJ Surgery. I think Elaine posted it, but it's so incredible, I thought it was worth a second look. This form can be found anywhere on the net and in all Surgical offices.

I understand that my condition of limited function, pain and joint noise, may be due to several causes including injury, articular displacement, developemental defect, degenerative joint disease, inflammation, arthritis, or infection. I realize that some of these conditions may continue in spite of the proposed procedure and that there may be no improvement and even worsening and that additional treatment may be necessary.
These are the complications and side effects (but not limited to):
1. Objectionable scarring, possibly requiring later revision.
2. Swelling, bruising, bleeding, blood clot formation, and wound infection.
3.Adverse or allergic reaction to medicine. Some serious.
4. Foreign body reaction.
5. Malocclussion ( change in bite after surgery)
6. Adhesions within the joint space which may cause further dysfunction and decreased range of motion and chewing difficuly.
7. Facial muscle weakness, usually temporary, can be permanent.
8. Sensory nerve damage. (Usually Trigeminal Nerves)
9. Ear problems, ringing, hearing loss, equilibrium problems.
10. Freye's Syndrome (facial sweating while eating due to nerve fiber damage)

I understand that additional treatment may be necessary including physical therapy, splint therapy, reconstructive denistry, orthodontics,jaw repositioning, joint replacements. bone grafts, removal of grafts, etc.

I understand this is a complex surgery and there can be no guarantee of complete resolution of my problems and there may be increased symtoms.

I authorize my Doctor to change the procedure during surgery as he sees fit according to his professional judgement.

I understand that there can be problems with anesthesia.

I have not been given any warranty or guarantee as to the result of the proposed procedure.

This is a brief description of the form, look it up.

Any of you that have gotten this far, please try everything you can before you possibly become a surgical TMJD (mistake) statistic.

Good luck to everyone,
Cymy Sue

Hi Starr

Thank you for posting that, now that I have read it, I don't want to try that option. Yes I did do the splint therapy for 6 months and physio, sacral therapy, accupuncture. Staying on pain meds seems alot easier, but that is no way to live my life.
Thank you
Kierra

To the pain meds working... The meds work, but I have to take them together, so im on three narcotics at the same time. The doctor has told me to increase them a little since my body is getting use to it but I don't want to do that. Regular OTC medication doesn't work at all, Oxycete and T3's don't help at all, I think that I will do some searching. At least cost isn't too much of a problem with me because my doctor visits are covered under Provincial health care and my meds are covered, and what isn't coverd Criminal Injury is covering.
Thank you for your input...I will think hard before I anything that serious
Kierra

Hi Kierra,

I am so glad your going to think it over. What type of doctor are you seeing that said you need surgery? On the other board I notice you said you were not seeing an OS, I was just a little concern that this doctor ever knows the first thing of TMJ & wanted to do surgery on you..

Take Care,

Starr

Hey Star

I had ment to say that the OS didn't think that I was in as much pain as I said I was. I am seeing an OS, and a Prothodontist, plus my regular doctor. I think I should proof read my typing before I submit..lol.
Kierra

Hi Kierra,

That ok..lol..I always have to correct mine. What is a Prothodontist? I have never heard of it. So your OS is the one that said you need surgery right? Do all your doctors agree with eachother about surgery?


Take care,

Starr

Hey Starr http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif

A Prothodontist (sp) is a dentist specializing in cosmetic dentistry basically. The doctors that I have seen ( and actually look at me..) and the dental specilist all agree that I need to have surgury. I'm scared now because of the horror stories that I have heard, but if I don't do it, will they cut my medication? ( which I can see him doing...lol)
I have cancelled my surgury appointment for March and im going to do a little more research on here.

How are you doing?

Kierra

Hi everyone...

I was right, there cutting my medication...I don't want surgury so it can't be that bad... http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/mad.gif

Hope everyone is doing well

Kierra

Hi Kierra,

Is your doctor giong to ween you off your med's slowy? If not he NEEDS to. You have been on that medication for so long, your body is so use to it, if you stop cold turkey you will have withdrawels, maybe you can bring your bottles to another doctor and he can give them to you.

It is tough dealing with TMJ, I dont have health insurance so I have only been taking OTC crap that does not work. Sometimes I wonder how much longer can I make it with this pain, I cant handle it!

Glad to hear from you....

Starr

Hi Starr

I can't really go to another doc..I did that before when they thought that I was drug seeking and I had to deal with "The College of Physicians and Surgens." I guess here in Canada. You have to get narcotic px from 1 doctor or a letter get's sent out to the other doc's you see notifying them that you went to see another doctor and what for and what you were given, and that just makes them think even more that I am "seeking". He want's me to stop cold turkey, parents and husband are going to talk to him. I am trying to ween myself off of the morphine and Demoral, but the pain is alway's there and it's scary. Now I just take meds when the withdrawl starts, not when I need to for pain.
Don't know what else to do, I may have to go to the hospital and see If they can help me.
Maybe I should just complain about my doc?....

Anyway's how are you doing Starr?
How long have you had TMJ?
Have you found anything that helps with pain?
Keep in touch and thank you for talking to me, I feel better after I read and vent and talk, it has helped alot.
Thank you so much

Kierra http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/dizzy.gif

Hi Kierra,

That really sucks you just cant go to another doctor and explain you dont want surgery untill you have checked out other options.

I would love to have what you have for your pain, a day without pain would be the happest day of my life! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

Doctors are really strict out here on what they give people, I was shocked when you told me what your doctor put you on for your pain. I am so ammuned(sp)to everything NOTHING works for me. I pop OTC crap like candy everyday,I dont have regular med's to be on, and I cant seem to find a doctor to give me anything for pain, anti-depress,nothing for pain mangement. sometime I feel like I am going to exploded. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/dizzy.gif I feel like giving up sometimes, I have gone to so many doctors and cant find anyone to help me.

I have suffered from headaches since I was 15, I am 23 now. When I got all four of my wistom teeth out when I was 17 that was the start of my TMJ. All my teeth were impacted and I had a quackhead dentist that didnt know what the hell he was doing, I missed 8 weeks of school and almost didnt graduate. I looked like a freaken retarded chickmuck..lol...it was bad...

I got in a car accident in 2000 and that put my TMJ in force. I suffer so bad. I have a consent headache that wont go away, I get pain attacks where all of a sudden my head will hurt so bad it brings me to my knee in pain and tears crying so bad, I hate it so much. I have so many problems from my TMJ. Pain behind my eyes, pain in my jaw,cheek,ears,neck,back, trouble sleeping,nasusa,etc. The list could on on forever, but I dont want to bore you with all my problems. Just wanted to share my story with you. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

I have tried two type of splints for my TMJ and both didnt work. The NTI made me worse,(my jaw pain didnt get bad untill I wore this stupid thing) I still wear one that gos on my bottom of my teeth at night, but I dont think it is helping.

Thanks for talking with me to, It's ok to vent I vent alot on here, it seems to help

Take Care,

Starr

[This message has been edited by thisstarr (edited 02-17-2003).]

Hi Star http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif

Sorry that I haven't been on for awhile. Had a real bad attack on Fri that I ended up in the Emergancy ward. They had to give me DHE IV,whatever it was it worked. Been doing pretty well in getting of the morphine and Demoral...the withdrawl isn't that bad. I have noticed here that they have no problem giving out very strong painkillers but once they get you on them (and they work) they like to take you off them and suffer. Im sorry to hear that you can't get stronger pain meds, I don't know what I would do without PX meds. Do you have tylonol #1 there? You don't need a px for them and they have a small amount of codine in them. You have to ask the pharmasist.
Im going to cut this short cause Im feeling a little ill now, I hope that you find a something that helps you soon and I hope that you feel better soon.
Take care
Kierra

Hi Everyone http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

Just thought that I would update you and let you know that I am going to give the split theray a try again. My doctor is giving me meds and will not be cutting me off completly, thank god...
Hope everyone is well and having at least 1 pain free day
Take care everyone
Kierra
http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif

HI Kierra,

I am so glad to hear your not being cut off your med's I was really worried about you on that, I didnt want you to have to be put in the hospital....

I hope the splint will work for you...

take care,

Starr

Hi Everyone,

I have a question, how to you get a doctor to help you with your headaches from your TMJ without them thinking your a "drug seeker". I cant seem to get the doctor to listen to me about how much pain I am in...

Thanks,

Starr

Hi Starr and Keria...I am from the TMJD board as well I have had my TMJD for 12 years. I was booked for surgery (arthroscopy) on the 19th of Feb but after reading all the knowledgeable posts at the TMJ board I cancelled it and decided to do more research into another treatment I dont know what yet though. Keria...I cant believe your doc wanted to cut your meds just because you didnt want surgery. Doesnt he understand that you are afraid as I am that once the jaw bone is invaded that scar tissue forms among other things and we could possibly be worse off than we are now. My family doc treats my pain symptoms he has been my Doc for 22 years and the last 2 years are the first I have been on narcotic therapy for the pain. I was on NSAIDS for 10 years and they eventually ate my stomach lining landing me on Losec and alot of Tums. I am on a waiting list for a PM doc and I am just lucky my family doc knows me well and knows when I say I am in pain I am. I hate these docs that dont understand this. My doc did get concerned with the Tylenol in Percocet and put me on Oxycontin 20 mg twice a day with the percocet for breakthrough and Dilaudid at bedtime. I do have Ativan for the occasional bout of anxiety but I hardly ever take it. I have been thinking of going back on splint therapy though it didnt work before maybe they have one out now that might. My headaches are at least managable now with the Meds but I dont want to take this much forever so maybe the splint will let me reduce my meds some. I hope everything works out for you both and Keira I hope your doc treats your pain as it should be treated. Take care.
Autumn.

Hi starr - if you can figure out how to get a doctor just to LISTEN to you, let me know how to do it. It seems, no rather it "is" that they for sure think they know EVERYTHING about EVERYTHING.

I mean, my 'ol man is a doctor, and we can't tell him anything! He knows all for sure! Also, I have B.S. and Masters in a very scientific field, and I know more about TMD than half of these damn doctors will ever know (excuse my grammar and spelling, but when I'm not at work, spell-check just doesn't matter that much!)

Hey, I'm on my 4th glass of vino and my headache feels slightly better for the moment (except behind my damn eye balls!)

Gotta run, little cat is playing "hit and run" at big cat, getting kind of loud here.

Stay cool,
mbr

[This message has been edited by mbr22 (edited 03-05-2003).]

Hi MBR,

You are so fuuny, you had me laughing from reading your post. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

I dont think we will ever get rid of this pain behind our freaken eye balls, http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/dizzy.gif no matter what I do it doesnt seem to go away,sometimes they hurt so bad I just want to rip them out!!!! I just wish all we had to do was get new eye balls and the pain would go away..lol..if only it was the easy....but no....we are stuck with this crappy pain behind our eyes...if we ever get cured we must tag team up and write a dam book about it!

Thanks for the laugh...

Starr

bad kitty....bad kitty........

I am a fellow sufferor. I have experienced extreme migraines since a new bridge was put in last year. I have seen 4 different dentists, and had numerous adjustments to my biteguard (splint) and 3 new biteguards. This has absolutely changed my personality.

The dentists are saying that I should not remove the bridge, but that is my next step.

Any thoughts?

Hi again everyone

Things are going pretty well now, that I have doctors on my side. The reason why I am writting on this board is I was givin a new perscription and I was wondering if anyone has taken it this way before. I was on Demoral pills and morphine injections, now the doctor had givin me the liquid form of morphine. Is the liquid stronger than the pill form or stronger than the injection form....Im scared to take it cause im not sure about the strength. Thank you in advance
Take care
Kierra

Hi Kierra,

I have actually had the liquid form of morphine before and it didnt do a thing for me! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/eek.gif I think I have taken so much medication that I am ammumme to everything! I think it depends how you react to medication? Did the injections work for you at all? I hope it works for you let me know!

Good Luck!

Starr

Hi thisstar,
It's been awhile since I've talked to you. How are you doing and feeling, hope your getting pain free days
About the morphine, the injections work well but the Demoral works alot faster and better. The liquid morphine im not sure if it is helping or not, the doc gave it to me cause I got strep throat and whooping cause at the same time ( this sucks) but I don't think it is helping that much. I guess im going to have to go back and see him earlier than Friday
Anyway's, thanks for your post and I hope to read your posts again
Take care everyone
Kierra

Hi Kierra,

Things havent been to good for me lately. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/frown.gif I am just really sad and angery. I cant find a doctor to listen to me and help me with my pain.

I saw a Oral surgen today, hoping he can try some type of treatment on me and all he wants to do it though me under the knife! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/eek.gif I am tired of doctor hopping, I have gone to so many doctors, I just dont have any engery left in me. Im 23 and feel like I am 80!
Sometimes I wish I had something else wrong me, something easier that everyone knew the cure to. Knowone can see how much pain we are in because the pain is inside our bodies. They dont know how we feel and what we are experencing, every second of everyday, we may look find on the outside, but on the inside we are not. Maybe thats why we have such problems with doctors, they have a hard time believing us because we look ok. Say if we had a broken leg or arm people would be more caring & understanding. It upsets me that doctors and dentist dont know jack about TMJ, heck most of us that suffer from it know more then the stupid doctor we have seen.

Doctors are suppose to help us, not let us suffer in pain. I had one of the MD I saw tell me TMJ does not cause headaches,or back or neck pain. Ha, was a dummy, I brough printed pages from website and he still did not believe TMJ cause headaches, its people like this that makes me want to run them over with my car! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

enough about me! How are you doing? I hope better, so are you doing splint theapy to help you?

Hope to hear from you,
Starr

Hi Starr

Sorry that I have not replied in a long time. I hate to admit it but I hit rock bottom last week. My sister and husband took me to the hospital again and they said that I had lost too much weight to fast that it was putting stress on my heart???? They put me on a feeding tube and then I was released on Fri afternoon. If I was that bad they wouldn't have just giving me a week on the tube. Before all this started (im 28 now) I was a happy active 17 yr old with hopes and dreams but when you start to feel like your 80 as you said, you just don't want to fight the fight anymore.
I will be getting fitted for my splint this month, had to go to the University (much much cheaper by almost $1500)
Im sorry that this is rambling, Im not really sure what Im doing or how im feeling, everything that has happened has happened so fast that it's hard to take in everything.
As for pain meds, my doc cut me way down, as I think I mentiond before I was on 150mg Demoral every 4 hours now they think they shouldn't be treating TMJ with Narcotics....so I am on that 150 a day. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/round.gif At least the hospital game me some meds, so I should have enough. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/tired.gif
But other than that, I guess im feeling ok, I just have to remember that It will be fixed, I won't have bad bad migranes much longer. I can handle anything but migranes now, go figure... http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/biggrin.gif
Sorry to bore you with all that I have type, Im not sure if I needed to let it all out or what, or maybe I just had to remind myself that I will get better?
Thank you , and let me know how everything is going with you starr
Take care everyone
Kierra

Hi,

Lately for the past couple days I have been surfing around for headaches and I came across this website. See lately for the past month I have been having headahes on the side of my head and when it comes it comes suddenly and sharp however, it only last for a few seconds. I have also been feeling weak and tired (not 24/7 but most of the time) and I have 2-3 nosebleeds a day. I went to the doctors today and they drew blood from me and set me to the hospital for a CT. I wont find out the results till tomorrow. Has anyone expierenced close to these symtoms (not the nosebleeds but the headaches weakness and tiredness. If anyone has any idea what this could possibly be let me know. Thanks.

------------------
Michelle

Hi,

Lately for the past couple days I have been surfing around for headaches and I came across this website. See lately for the past month I have been having headahes on the side of my head and when it comes it comes suddenly and sharp however, it only last for a few seconds. I have also been feeling weak and tired (not 24/7 but most of the time) and I have 2-3 nosebleeds a day. I went to the doctors today and they drew blood from me and set me to the hospital for a CT. I wont find out the results till tomorrow. Has anyone expierenced close to these symtoms (not the nosebleeds but the headaches weakness and tiredness. If anyone has any idea what this could possibly be let me know. Thanks.

------------------
Michelle

Hi Kierra,

Sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you as well. I hope your doing much better now, so sorry you were in the hospital, how did you lose so much weight, was it from not eating? I hope your doing much better. Now I am worried about you!

I have been there before, hitting rock bottom sucks so bad! I finally got a doctor to give me medication, but no matter what I take nothing works, I have an appointment with a new TMJ guy on the 28th so I am praying he will help me, it is so hard to keep up hope when we always get let down. I hope the splint works for you, let me know, your not rambling..lol...thats what I am here for silly!
it is good to here from you, hope you get this!

Michelle: It could be so many things sweetie, I have headaches all the times, and I get the sharp pain on the sides of my head too, and I always feel tired and I am only 23. You may have to do a lot of research on the computer, that what I did to find out what my problem was, when it comes to doctors, they dont know a thing!
I wish you luck!

Starr

Kierra hope your still around?

[This message has been edited by thisstarr (edited 04-26-2003).]

Hi Star http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif

Im still here, I lost so much weight cause I wasn't eating, went 4 weeks without food but it didn't seem that long.. At least I lost the weight that I wanted to lose...lol. Im doing a little better now, now that my doc has givin me my pain meds so Im back to what I was taking before. Sorry that I have to cut this short but I will write again
Take care Star

Kierra

Hey Girl,

So good to hear from you, what were you eating or should I say drinking to live on for 4 weeks, I have been just drinking smoothes a lot and soup, but are so sick of them, my husband was making me eat yesterday and I was crying my eyes out,they just dont understand it is the jaw joint it self and thats why it is so hard to chew!

I tried acupuncture and it made me feel worse, I feel like I am going to die, so glad your on your pain med's finally found a doctor to give me medication ORAMORPH SR 15 MG like ms contion and Valum 10mg, I really need it stronger and I have been taking more then I am suppose to but it is the only thing that has even touched my pain! I go may 9th I hope he does not take it away from me!

So good to hear from you, I have had friends tell me "your so lucky you have jaw probmes and cant eat what a easier way to lose weight" HA only if they new!

Miss you, so glad your ok!

Starr

HI Star http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif

Sorry that I had to cut that last post short. I lived off of fruit juice and water. I can't even think of soup without getting ill, and the mashed potatoes are soon to follow.
I have had the same comments from friends about the weight lost, but now they say that I am too skinny (5'3 98lbs). although with the pain meds I am able to eat a little bit so I am starting to gain the weight back... http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/frown.gif(
I am soooo glad to hear that you finnaly got some stronger pain meds, do they help you???
Well I have to get going but I am glad to hear from you and hope that you feel some relief soon. Hope to hear from you again
Kierra

Hi Kierra, http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif

That must of been really hard on you,not being able to eat, I can halry to that as iti is.

I havent lost weight nearly like you.I am 5'2 and at 120 now but I was 140 so I did lose some weight but not as bad as you, I am so sorry sweetie! Didnt you have hunger pains like crazy? I did and still do really bad!

When my jaw hurts so bad all I drink( I make my own) smoothies. The soup I by are by campalls and they are callled soup at hand so basically you drink it not eat it! it is all mush up to drink look in to them!
The thought of food makes me sick also,I have to force myself sometime becasue of my med's

I go see my doctor on the 9th of may for my MRI results of my TMJ's and hopefully he wiil refill my prescrptions...they work much better then anything else!

glad to hear from you,
Starr

Sorry this is short got to get in bed in expreme
pain http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/frown.gif http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/frown.gifwill write tomorrow!

Hi Star

About the hunger pains...I had them for a week but then they stopped, doctors said that my stomach shrunk to 3/4 of the size it should have been, they used so many technical terms that it was hard to understand them.
If you have been on OTC meds for longer than 4 years and they have tylonol in them, get your liver checked. I found out that I destroyed part of my liver or all of it (not sure) with all the Tylonol I was taking, and have to go for another test (not sure how to spell it) to see how damaged it is and now there telling me I may need a liver transplant, as if I don't have enough to worry about, but hey, I knew that I was taking to many for too long.. 6 years of tylonol everyday up to last year, tooooo muchhh.
To your other post, I also did the acupunture thing, she is the one who told me I had TMJ, went to every other doctor (nero surgen, nero-optomologist, physciatrist, ear doctor ((sp) and they all say it's in you head...no pun intented. It worked for the first few sessions where I would go in with a migrane and left without one, but that was short lived...lol
Im so glad that you got your meds, I was thinking about you and your pain and hoping that you would find reliefe soon..no-one deserves to go thorugh all the pain assocatied with TMJ...my husband said to me the other day that he wishes he could take my pain for one day, if he or anyone else new how much pain we were in they would be in for a shock. Anyway's im rambling on here and I don't want to bore people with stuff that I have already said.
Hope to hear from you soon Star and hope all is well with you.
Take care

Kierra

Hi Kierra, http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif

I am so glad you wrote back, yeah I did the tylonoal thing for years I was poppinng them like candy,going though bottle after bottle, I should be dead on how much I took, I thank the lord he saved me!

At one point I was taking like 20 ES tylonal a day,or even more I was out of control I just couldn't handle my pain and didnt know how much longer I could make it, this board saved my life do much, to know I wasnt alone! B/C I really thought I was and it helps to have people care with the same problems...

I am just glad I have health insurance and are on some pain med's to help I didnt know how much longer I could take it! I was going crazy, and sometimes I still get that way when the pain is really bad!

I am so glad you didnt get to sick and hurt from not eating anything but only drinking stuff, I cant believe your below 100pounds, http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/eek.gif I have never been that skinny, I try to eat, it hurts so bad, I cry so hard, I may have to be on a liquid diet for a few weeks to give my jaw a rest! It always makes it hurt worse, and I get facial spasm too!

I am just trying to drink smoothies and soft foods and you need to try too.I can tell you how to make your own smoothies with out having to go to the shops to get one, it's fun and cheapper http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/biggrin.gif I like making my own!!!

I go get my MRI results on may 9th I am dying to know what they say about my dis in my mouth and why I am in so much pain! I will let you know! Are you still on the same med's you were before or different? I wish we could exchange e-mail address on here but we are not allow to, that sucks http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/frown.gif

take care girl,

Starr

YOU HAVE TO GO TO PAGE TWO NOW TO READ THE POST!!!!!!

[This message has been edited by thisstarr (edited 05-02-2003).]

Hi Star

Is there anyway that we could get email addresses?. Hope that your MRI shows what is wrong and that you can continue with the pain meds. I am still on the Demoral 300-400 mg a day (but with that much I am at risk for sesures) and 40 mg of Morphine. The doctor also gave me Oxycocet but I don't want to take it because of the Tylonol...he didn't know about the liver results untill after he gave them to me. I amight try to go a few day's on the Fentnal Patch but I must wait untill the pain is barable cause it takes about 12 hours for the patch to start working. He has also put me on Imovane for sleeping and Starnoc (Zaleplon) but those are addictive too.
I'll wait till I get my splint ajusted cause I know i'l be in more pain after that is done... http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/frown.gif
Can you post some recipies on smoothies, I don't want to eat anything, cause as you know the pain is sooo much worse after you eat, I've had mashed potaoter for 3 day's straight and getting really tired of them like the soup...Anyway's I must get going here, have to go to the doctors
Hope to hear from you again, take care of yourself
Kierra

[This message has been edited by Kierra (edited 04-30-2003).]

[This message has been edited by Kierra (edited 04-30-2003).]

[This message has been edited by Kierra (edited 05-11-2003).]

Hey Kierra, http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

I would love to tell you how to make smoothies, http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/biggrin.gif it beats eating nothing, and you can add vitiams or protion to it or what ever you want to it, just make sure you put it in first before anything else!
I do, I take turns with the stuff in my cabbent..lol.. if you want its up to you!
you will love making them once you learn how, it is not to hard to make, First off you need a blender...lol...

Go buy frozon: Strawberrys, black cherries, peaches, blueberrys,balckberries. whatever you think you will like! It took me a while to find the combo I like!sometime I will cut up a green apple in tiny pieces or a kiki to give it a different tastes ot even squeee lemon!

Then as in juice to mix it with buy V8 Splash! They came out with a new one that I love just for smoothies, http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif it is called V8 splash Smoothie peach mango and they also have strawberry bannana. I use one other kind also that is regualar V8 Splash berry blend to switch it up a bit!. I try to make them different so I dont get board with them!

Let me warn you,it may not come out right the first time, it takes time! You are going to have to work with it, fill the juice up high, It will take a few trys to get it right, and then blend it and put it in the frezzer for 5 mins after you blend it if may be a little waterly, and drink it!

REGULAR Bannannas, to put it in, or Oranges, sometime I will cut a green apple in tiny pieces to give it a different tastes,
I use the peach mango v8 splash and regular bannanas, frozon strawberrys and cherries and you can put a hint on lemon or kimi or apple, just cut it up small, you will love them and they feel you up too!!!
let me know how it go's

Starr

HEY GIRL,

I WAS JUST WONDERING, WHEN YOUR HAD YOU MRI ON YOUR TMJ DID IT SAY IT WAS NORMAL? OR DID YOU HAVE PROBLEMS SHOW UP? JUST WONDERING?

STARR http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by thisstarr (edited 05-02-2003).]

Hey Starr

The MRI came back normal I think but I can't really remember that far back...I have to cut this very short as I am going into town today..I will talk to you later
Kierra

Hi Kierra,

My did too, I got a letter in the mail! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/frown.gif I know I have TMJ I have seen so many tmj doctor that have told me I hace it and I have all the symptoms too.

I go see my MD on Thursday and I am so scared he is going to take me off my med's because he wont believe I am in pain from my tmj & headaches http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/frown.gif

I was told by over 10 dentist I had TMJ, I wonder is is normal for them to come up normal and still have TMJ! I heard it was, how did you find out for sure you had it?

I am so sad and dont know what to do? If I loose my med's I'll go crazy!!!!!
I'll write later I have to take my mom to the dentist http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/eek.gif

Starr

[This message has been edited by thisstarr (edited 05-03-2003).]

Hi Star http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif

If you tell your doctor that a number of dentist have told you that you have tmj then he/she shouldn't take you off your meds. They belived me cause they can here my joint popping out of place, (i can actually pop it in and out when I want to) sounds gross but at least it gets them to believe me. My MRI and CT scans came out normal. With me, I can't open my mouth straight up and down, I open it to the side and down, but right now I can only open it about 1/4 of the normale range.
I hope that your MD doesn't cut your meds, I don't see why he should. Get a letter from as many people as you can who have told you that you have TMJ maybe that will help. (that's what I did in the end)
Hope everything goes well with you, and your appointment, and hope to hear from you again
Take care
Kierra

Hi KIerra,

I will do that, I think I will go get a note from the last guy that said my limited opening was so bad and my tmj, I couldnt even be put to sleep to get the rest of my teeth fix,cavits..etc.. and I will bring it with me to the doctors appointment so he will believe me, my husband said he will go with me so hopefully he will listen!

thanks for being here!

Starr

I tried the writing you and it didnt work? It got sent back? oh, well

Starr http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/frown.gif

Hey Star http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif

Well I hope that everything goes well for you at your doc's appointment don't know why you would get it sent back. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/frown.gif Oh-well talking on here is good as well. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/gabby.gif I have to get going here cause I have another doctors appointment so I will post agin when I get back.
Hope to talk to you soon http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/yawn.gif http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif
Kierra

I forgot to ask what pain meds did your doctor perscribe and do they work for you. Im going to be looking into different ones cause the Demoral isn't really helping that much anymore and I don't want to up the dose anymore...hope to talk to you soon
Kierra

[This message has been edited by Kierra (edited 05-05-2003).]

[This message has been edited by Kierra (edited 05-05-2003).]

[This message has been edited by Kierra (edited 05-11-2003).]

Hey Star http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif

Loved the smoothies, im trying different things but so far mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm..Thanks for the recipe.. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif
Hope everything is ok with you, haven't heard from you for a little bit, everything ok?. When do you go back to the doctor? Well I hope to talk to you soon and hope that the pain meds are still working for you.
My doctor has increased my Demoral to 400mg a day so 8 pills a day and 40 mg of morphine. I'll take that much for a few day's then I won't take any untill un bearable, cause I heard that going over 300mg of Demorl can increase the chanves of seizures. have you heard that. Anyway's I must get going here as I am having to get ready to go back to the TMJ clinic in Vancouver and get my splint adjusted. Hope to talk to you soon
Kierra http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/gabby.gif

[This message has been edited by Kierra (edited 05-07-2003).]

Hi Kierra, http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

Glad you like the smoothies, take some time learing how to make them, but once you have it down it is kind of fun to make! You can buy those thing to make your own poplices and use the juice to have you own pop's, just a thought! I love them! I have been so bad eating bad sweet, http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/nono.gif I have to get back to my smoothies instead of icecream! I have been bad, bad, bad,

I go see my doctor tomorrow,(thurs) my husband is going along, I hope all go's well! I will let you know!
I just hope he keeps me on my med's so bad!

Your on powerful stuff they would not give that out to you in the California, they are tight on giving out medications here,I hope my doctors leaves me on the morphoine & Valium,"That I had to spends thousands of dollars on and 30 different doctors to get it" It is the only thing that touches my pain a little bit! but it is only 15 mg, yours is way stronger, lucky! Wish the doctors out here were more caring about your pain, like they are where you are!

take care,
I will let you know what happens, thanks for caring!

Starr http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/angel.gif



[This message has been edited by thisstarr (edited 05-08-2003).]

Hi Star... http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif

Shame on you for the sweets...send me some http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

Hope that your doctors appointment went well for you and that you are still on the meds. I have the same amount of morphine as you but I take 4 pills a day and 8-9 of Demoral a day. there 10 mg each of morphine and 50mg each of the Demoral.
I tried the popscical thing, but I didn't let it sit long enough in the frezzer and It went all over me..lol.. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/redface.gif I can laugh about it now
I had to fight for my perscriptions, I was going in for Demoral shots (I was literally black and blue on both hips) 3x a week, then was yelled at from the doctor saying I was abusing the system, and then that letter was sent around to all the doctors that I saw, I just told them that I was tired of it all, I felt like a pin coushion and just give me the pill form so I didn't have to keep comming back to see them. I still have to go in sometimes but it is around 1 or 2 a month and my bruises have gone away and my hips are almost healed (4 months to heal wow http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/redface.gif )
Before that the strongest meds that I was able to get was Tylonol 3 and 4, but I was going through 30 in 3 day's so that's how my liver is damaged. 6 years, of pain meds every single day. I did go off the demoral and morphine for a few day's and I didn't have withdrawl so I hope im ok with that or im in trouble...lol
Well now that I have bored you to tears and totaly forgot all that I wanted to say....Hope that you appointment went well and that I am thinking about you
Take care and let me know what happens. If you don't mind me asking (don't have to answer) how much are the meds down there, do you have insurance that helps pay for meds?
Talk to you later http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif
Kierra




[This message has been edited by Kierra (edited 05-08-2003).]

[This message has been edited by Kierra (edited 05-10-2003).]

Hi Kierra, http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/frown.gif

They messed up my appoinment time, I wanted to kill them!,I am so upset becasue I wanted my husband to go with me and be with me at my appointment!

Now I have to go alone Friday (tomorrow) and I havent had my meds in days so the pain has beeen really bad
http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/frown.gif but go tomorrow, so I will let you know what happens

I pay for my med's most of the time a flate rate with my HMO $10.00. I am on my husbands insurance from his work, but he is going to be changing jobs, so he said I can keep the insurance though something called Corba for a while! I hope! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif or I will be off med's completlely, and I cant have that, I will go http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/dizzy.gif

I have Kaiser for my insurance have you ever heard of them? are you med's a lot of money out there$$$$? I hope no, probably cheaper, you have insurance dont you?

Do you work at all, I do part time and it is so hard to work and be in pain!

Thanks for caring, sorry they were using you as a pain cuscion, http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/frown.gif that must od hurt like heck, I remember years ago I was seeing this nero when I lived in Texas I didnt know back then it was TMJ causingmy headaches, the doctors thought I was crazy!
I would always get shots in my hips twice a week and was burse up everywhere!

So now you have it in pill form,no more shots are you just seeing a MD my doctor, or a certin type of doctor that give you this type of medication? my doctor is a interal medicane doctor.

I think if I had the demoral on top of the morphoine it would help so much, and be in less pain but knowone know how bad we suffer with our pain,and what we go though, someday I just cry becasue I cant bear the pain and deal with it!

The doctors just dont understand how hard it is to deal with TMJ, we suffer so bad with pain, and they can go about there day while we are in pain it is so unfair, are pain is the worst to deal with.

To have a headache all the time on top of TMJ pain is the worst! People just dont know how hard it is to go day by day with this type of pain! I cant think right, I forget things,I am so tired all, I miss place stuff alot, my husband tells me thing ans swears up and down he told me and I dont remember at all! I get sick to my stomach a lot, I get Nasusa ans trowup when the pain is intense, I hate it!

Are you still making the smoothies? Are you a pro yet? I will write tomorrow http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/biggrin.gif thanks for being a friend!


Take Care,
hugs to you, and to pain free days?

Starr

the messanger I use is MSN though hotmail! I dont use yhaoo at all, do you have MSN messanger?




[This message has been edited by thisstarr (edited 05-08-2003).]

Hi Star

Im sorry to hear about the mix up with your appointment, wish that I could go with you.

I haven't been able to work for about 2 years. Here in B.C we have care cards that you show when you go to a clinic, hospital, or wherever and then doc fee is paid through that and you pay your med cost..then there is pharmacare or blue cross that helps with medication again it's based on your earnings for the year before so your meds could be coverd 100% or 10%..just depends on what you earned.For the care card it you made under $7,500 the premiums are paid and over ranges from $17.00 - $40.00 a month. I may be a bit off. I am on Social Assistance so my premiums are covered and same with my meds (all but 2).

The medication I think is expensive but that's just me... for 100 demoral it's about $25.00 - $30.00...Morphine is $33.00 for the same amount, the patch is EXPENSIVE about $56.00 for 10. Tylonol 3 for 100 is about $12.00...This is all with no coverage on meds.

I was getting tired at this one doc cause he couldn't understand how much I hurt so I told him to stick his privates in a vice grip and turn...he got the point...lol

I am still making the smoothies but I haven't masterd it yet, working hard on it though...I can't believe that I had lost so much weight..5'2 and 89lbs
I am so sick of mashed potatoes, and rice..ewwwwwww.

Im not sure if you have them in the US, but I get very sick (upset tummy) almost daily and I was givin Prochlorazine 10 mg (stempitel (sp) )and it works very very well.

I keep forgeting what i want to say, this is going to be long...lol can you tell http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif I have both pill form and injectable form of Demoral, ( they got tired of seeing me so they taught me and hubby how to inject myself so that I don't have to call them out at 3 in the morning, but I usually go into the hospital to get them to do it...I HATE NEEDLES http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/frown.gif

Ok this has to be my longest post ever..sheshhhh. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/gabby.gif

I hope that all went well and wish you a pain free day.
I will alway's be here as I read yours to help me through my day. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

I was wrong about the patch for 5 patches it is $76.50
Take care

Kierra



[This message has been edited by Kierra (edited 05-11-2003).]

Hi guys,

I also suffer from TMJ...I've seen you guys post on the TMJ board. The disc in my jaw is completely out of place, and my joint is contantly inflammed and my whole face is swollen.
2 days ago I started having really bad headaches and I took ultracet, which an ortho prescribed for pain. And I woke up yesterday dying from the pain. It felt like my head was going to explode. I have this burning sensation in my jaw, which I never felt before. I have had TMJ for 6 years already and I'm only 21. I spent yesterday completely in pain and didn't know what to do. I have also been having nosebleeds on and off for the past fdew days, and I have been vomiting as well. I went to see an internal medicine doctor today and she took blood tests and she sent me to have an MRI on my brain. I'm totally freaked out. My headaches are a little better today but still really bad. My stomach has been hurting me for a long time and today the doctor said I probably have an ulcer already. I take all these pain killers like candy. I don't have an appetite anymore at all. I eat about one meal a day, if that. I am a college student and I keep taking these meds so that I can study. Now, it is finals week and I am in bed in horrible pain. I went to a TMJ doc sho's going to do a bite plate, but I am feeling so hopeless.
I can't take this anymore. It feels like every day just gets worse and worse, and there are more and more problems and these doctors don't have a clue what they're doing.

I didn't mean to post in the middle of your convo, but you both seem to have a lot of the same things I have. So, tell me, is there any hope we're going to get better?

-Stacie

Hi Stacie http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif

Now that you have found out the cause of your pain you can get started on treating it..I've had TMJ for about 13 years and just found that is the problem 6 months ago...going from doctor to doctor, being accused of being a drug seeking junkie I almost gave up...I PROMISE that it will get better but you need to find a medication or a combo of meds then you will be able to function not 100% but enough hopefully to do things that you like this board also helps me make it through my day ( sounds corny I know but it's true) ...I have a hard time getting out of bed some day's but I take my demoral and morphine and when they kick in I can get out of bed and try to face the day...
I hope that things work out for you, keep posting here and let us know how you are doing...What other meds are you on? Are you on something for the possible ulcer? Im sorry that I didn't post more but Im very very tired, I will post again in the morning and hope to hear from you again

Take care,
Kierra http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif

PS: Are you on a soft food only diet? If you are look at the post that Star wrote...Really good smoothies

Hi Stacie, http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif

Welcome to the board, you didnt interup(sp) anything! Kierra & I have just been talking back in forth for a while now, being here for eachother! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif it helps a lot! you can join the party! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/jester.gif

I am 23 and have been dealing with TMJ for over 6 years so I can totally understand your pain. I know my disc are out of place, every time I open my mouth my jaw jerks to the left and it is painful but my MRI camr out Normal? I hate my insurance company, and the guy was mean and yellingat me for moving! I think they read it wrong I want another one done, I know I have a disk problem!

I have never heard of the medication you took for your headache but it seem like it didnt help you? I would go back to your doctor and say you need something stronger for the pain, and expain how this is effecting you life! Have you seen any type of doctor/dentist that knows about TMJ at all? I see the same type of doctor as you, he is my main doctor I see to get my med's I go see a new TMJ dentist on MOnday (my 30 one)..lol..I lost count, I have been to so many! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/frown.gif

I get stomach pain alot, but I was taking for years OTC stuff like candy and probably have ulcers or liver damage, If your not hungery I made a post on how to make a good smoothie at the top of this page, they taste really good and at least your getting something in you, you need something or your die!

I have never had nose bleeds, thats a little scary but I get nasusa and vomit a lot becasue my pain gets so dam bad to the point I cant take it anymore! What are you on now?

I really feel for you, http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/frown.gif

Kierra & I will be here for you as much as you need us! I need to try to get some sleep to, I am in a lot of pain right now, I cant stand the headaches and the jaw pain everything is so hard to deal with everyday and we are the only one who can understand!

Keep in touch with us http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

Starr

[This message has been edited by thisstarr (edited 05-10-2003).]

Hi Star & Stacie

Im sorry about my last post, I had just came back from seeing the emergancy on-call doctor here and he gave me a shot, so I was a little out of it... http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/frown.gif

Have either of you heard this before, "taking more than 300mg of Demoral increases your chance of seizures???????. I saw the quack who wrote in my file that im a drug seeker. (Im now on a gulf Island and I see who is on) I told him that I was worried about getting the splint adjusted and asked if I could go on the patch for the 3 day's cause it is much stronger and he told me just to double up on my meds and that the patch is for cancer patients (reg doc said it would be fine?)...so i'll be taking 700mg Demoral a day not to mention the morphine? (I think he wants me gone...lol ) Is this a dangerous level????

I got it by the way Star, just to let you know..

How are you guy's feeling today? better than me I hope...lol...

Hey Star...did the doc keep you on your meds?
I hope your still on them http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif
Im so sorry I have to cut this short again, I can't think straight and have to get hubby to check this post to see if it makes sence http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/confused.gif

I promise that my next post will be better,

Take care Star,Stacie
and I will post later

Kierra http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/round.gif http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/tired.gif

Hi Starr & Kierra,

You guys are right that the only people who understand what we go through are us, the people who have the same thing. Even my family doesn't get it. I tell my mom I'm in too much pain and that I can't study and concentrate and she yells at me that I'm lazy and using my pain as an excuse. she yells at me that I shouldn't even be in college. She doesn't understand that the more she yells at me, the more pain I'm in.

Starr, you said that your MRI came out normal. I have had 16 MRI's, on my brain, my neck, my back, my jaw, and my knee. The reason I have had so many is that soooo many of the MRI's came out normal and I still suffer from pain. That is, the REPORT from the MRI came out normal. I have had a car accident, then a concussion which caused the TMJ, and a few weeks ago I fell down the stairs of the subway because they were slippery. When I had the car accident, I suffered form really bad neck pain and my whole neck was swollen and I couldn't move. but the MRI came out normal, and I kept going to doctors and they would scream at me "You're crazy. You need to go see a shrink. NOTHING IS WRONG WITH YOU!! the MRI is normal." but I couldn't move. SO I kept going from doctor to doctor and they kept sending me for more and more MRI's. Then I learned something...I started asking the MRI place for the films and I brought the actual films to the doctors. Then, the doctors would look at the film and say "you have a herniated disc" which explains the pain, yet the MRI was normal according to the radiologist. These radiologists don't know how to read MRI's...that's what I've learned. When I fell recently, I hurt my knee and am walking with a cane. I can't put a lot of pressure on my leg. it's so painful. again, I had an MRI done, again it came out normal. again I was told I was crazy. So I went to another doctor who sent me for another MRI, again it came out normal. So I brought the films to the doctors and 2 orthopedic surgeons looked at them and said "oh, you have a tear in your knee. you're going to need surgery." They showed me on the MRI the tear. you can clearly see it, yet the radiologists missed it!!

Now, with the TMJ. The 1st MRI I had showed that the disc was out of place on the right side. and my jaw would lock and I couldnt open my mouth. then , a few years later, the left side started bothering me and locking as well. so I had another MRI done. Then the next day, the MRI place called me and told me their machine was broken and I needed to come in again. So, I came the next day and they did it again. then they yelled at me that I was moving eventhough I was completely still. I'm sure you know the TMJ MRI's are REALLY painful because they stick something in your mouth to keep it open. and I was dying from the pain but I KNOW I wasn't moving. So, they did the MRI again. again, they yelled at me for moving. they did it again, again they yelled at me for moving even though I wasn't. at that point, the pain was so bad, that I gave up! They did 4 MRI's on me...and I couldn't find anything out.
The most recent TMJ doc I went to, who is going to make a bite plate, told me that MRI's are worthless. He told me that surgery would not help anyway, and the treatment is the same. He told me to do physical therapy (which I have been reluctant to do becasue last time I tried the PT hurt me more than before). But, he seems very nice. The bite plate costs $2000 though, and insurance doesn't cover it. so I don't know how I will pay for that.
I am pre-med and I want to be a doctor. BECAUSE I went to ~100 doctors (at least) who didn't know what they were doing, I want to be a doctor so that I can actually help me and not yell at them that they're crazy. what was ironic was that one of the docs who yelled at me I was nuts and nothing was wrong with me was the head of a pain clinic at a major hospital! How crazy is that?!?
Have you guys tried pain clinics? I am scared to take all these meds. Don't they make you sick Kierra? You seem to be taking a lot. I am very sensitive to all this stuff and I get really sick from them. I am now taking antacids for my stomach, and the doctor suggested having an ultrasound done to see what damage I have there. I can't keep living my life this way, in constant pain. I want to get married, I want to have kids, and I want to be a doctor. My family is telling me that I won't be able to handle all the stress and long hours of being a doctor, and I'm scared that they are right. How can I have a normal life when I'm constantly in pain? even when I take the meds, my pain is still there. all they do is knock me out.

ok, sorry for writing so much...when I get started on all of this, I can't stop. I need to vent. When I tell my "friends" about this, they tell me to stop complaining and that I'm annoying cuz I always complain. FYI: I'm not friends with those people anymore.

I'm going to go try and eat something. I have no appetite and even drinking a glass of milk last night was difficult. I guess the longer you don't eat, the harder it gets. My headaches are a little better today, and maybe I'll be able to study for the finals I have this week. I missed a final yesterday, and my school basically told me to go to hell, that they don't care, and will fail me. My mom's going to call and talk to them.
Yuck, I'm so sick of everything. All I want right now is one day without pain.I used to have those days every once in a while, but in the past few months I haven't even had a pain-free minute. I'm sure you can relate!

Take care of yourselves and feel better!! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

-Stacie

oops it posted twice http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by Stacie212 (edited 05-10-2003).]

Hi Stacie

I am sooo sorry to hear what you are going through with family and friends and college. I started crying when I read your post.
I had the same problem but I took my mom to the appointment with me and and got the dentist to explain in detail what the problem was, now she understands.
As to the medication, im not sure if the medacation is making me sick or if it because of the migrains, never really thought about that. I have also had alot of MRI's and CT scans and they all came out normal
also so I refuse to get more done.
I am just seeing a GP for my TMJ cause he is the only one so far that will give me my medication, the dentist can't perscribe anything stronger than Tylonol 3 and that's just like taking asprin for me ( was on T3's for 4 years, everyday )It also didn't help that board of College of Physicians and Surgons sent a letter to all the doctors that I saw and informed them that they thought that I was a drug addict looking for narcotics pain killers. That was an interesting phone conversation that I had with them...lol
You have to try and get something in your stomache even if it is something small...I didn't eat for about 4 weeks and ended up in the hospital with a feeding tube and that was not fun...but now im sick of mashed potatoes and soup..ewwwwwwww
I try to keep going back to your post cause Im forgetting what you had said and it keeps deleting my post, so I can't keep looking back http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/frown.gif so im sorry if I am forgetting things...
If you become a doctor, move up to Canada and I will be your first patient http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif Im nice and I won't yell if you don't yell at me http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif.
Don't doubt yourself about wether or not you can make it through school to become a doctor....Make sure that what you choose is your choise and not an influence decision, or you will regret it whatever the choise is.
I hope to hear from you again soon and I hope that you feel a little better that the day before..Hang in there and vent all you want, don't you feel better after venting..it beats yelling at the T.V or the computer screan, they can't respond back to you http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/tongue.gif
I forgot..you said that you were in a car accident, did you have a medical claim? Here in Canada we have Victims Compensation, when I was jumped at 17 and had my jaw broken the first time, I had a claim, they paid for my medical bills at that time, and because it is still an issue with pain and TMJ they re-opended my claim and are paying for the spcialist and appliances that I need? so far I've had over $10,000 worth of work done and they paid it. (maybe cause it was Victims Comp but if you did have a claim it would be worth looking into, but things are different there than here)

Star: How are you today? better than yesterday?, do you have any other recipies that you can post I've been drinking smoothies 3x a day for 4 day's now..don't want to get tired of them too soon. Hope that you doing ok...

Take care
Kierra

[This message has been edited by Kierra (edited 05-10-2003).]

[This message has been edited by Kierra (edited 05-10-2003).]

[This message has been edited by Kierra (edited 05-11-2003).]

Hey Kierra,

i'm sorry I made you cry!! I always cry when I read everyone's posts too. It amazes me the stuff we all go through, with no treatment.

I lost a lot of friends because they said they couldn't take my complaining..great friends huh?

My mom knows exactly what's wrong, and it drives her crazy, but I guess you just don't get how bad this thing is unless you deal with it yourself. You can sympathize, but you never really get it.

With the medication, it is really hard to tell what's causing you to be sick. A few days ago when i was feeling so sick, I threw up and the doctor himself said it's hard to tell what caused it - the meds or the migraines.

That sounds like a real mess with the docs thinking you were just looking for drugs. how did you finally deal with that?

I managed to eat something today and I do feel a lot better know. The TMJ pain is still there but the headaches aren't as bad and my stomach is also a little better. I know what you mean about getting so sick of eating the same thing everyday. Having to eat everything mashed. I'm lucky that I LOVE soup, but I also LOVE pizza which I can't eat http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/frown.gif I cheat sometimes and eat these things, but then the pain reminds me why I'm not allowed to eat these things!! I'm so sick of going out to eat and not being able to eat things because they're too hard. There are some days when even eating mashed things is painful. I should try out those smoothies! I had a phase when I was depressed and all I could eat was ice cream and I gained like 20 lbs, which I haven't been able to lose bec exercise hurts too much. even though, I hardly eat now, the weight is still there, and there's fat instead of muscle. I used to be in really really great shape.

(I put your post as a quote and that way I can see what you wrote and respond to it w/out having to keep going back)

Kierra, I would love to have you be my 1st patient! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif I don't understand these doctors with their screaming. When I had my brain MRI done yesterday, the secretary started yelling at me and my mom. I don't even know why, and my mom asked her why are you yelling at us? She started cursing us and saying she'd call the police. then when her boss came out to see what was wrong, she chanegd her tune and started being all nice and asking how I got hurt? and being all like "you poor thing" but before her boss came out, she was like "I don't like you people. I'm not going to let you have an MRI here. go to hell" THERE ARE SO MANY CRAZY PEOPLE OUT THERE!!

I am worried that all this pain will keep me from living a normal life. I think you guys both said that you're married? That gives me some hope!! I haven't had a serious relationship since high school, but it used to HURT to kiss my boyfriend. My jaw would lock, and I would start being like "oww oww hold on a second. my jaw" I kind of had a problem last year with alcohol. I got really depressed and the only time I forgot about my pain was after 10 shots of tequila (and I'm petite so that would mess me up). I used to go out and get drunk every weekend and end up making out with some stranger in a bar. I finally started feeling very guilty about all this, and my mother found out and freaked out, and I stopped doing that.I still feel guilty about doing that.Those same "friends" who said I was annoying started calling me a slut and accusing me of sleeping with random people, which I never did. I'm glad I'm not friends with these kind of people anymore!

About the accident I had, I got a crappy lawyer that didn't know what he was doing. The case went to trial and only in the trial did I find out that he didn't submit any doctor to say what was wrong with me. The other side saw this and basically laughed at my law and offered a tiny settlement, which didn't even cover the medical bills. My lawyer pushed me to sign it because he said if I go to trial, I won't get anything. He kept blaming me for his mistakes and saying I wasn't really hurt. He was such a jerk and really screwed me over. I still have really bad problems with my neck, and can hardly turn it.

God it sounds so horrible how you got hurt. who jumped you? what exactly happened? you say that your jaw broke when you where 17 for the first time. you mean it broke again? I have to go back to earlier posts and read what you said. it sounds horrible!!! i'm so sorry.

But since I settled in the case, there's nothing to reopen. it's final.


ok, I hope you guys are having a good day!!

Take care,

-Stacie

[This message has been edited by Stacie212 (edited 05-10-2003).]

Hi Stacie

With the letter problem..I finally yelled loud enough at 1 doc and let it all out and since then I have stayed with him..the others wouldn't even see me so I wrote a letter of complaint and sent it to the medical board and explaind in the letter what I was going through and why I was doing it, from doing that I had 1 doctor appoligize for what he had done the others just got pissed that I complaind about them.

When I had just turned 17 (the very day) I was walking with 2 of my friends and we ran into 5 other people, we turned to walk the other way as to try to avoid them but they caught us and I was kicked in the face with steal toed boots, had broken ribs,jaw, nose,cheek bones, ruptured spleen, bruised tail bone and a broken ankle.....Nice B'day preasent eh...
The second time my jaw was broken was when I was first married, he use to beat the crap out of me and I got out of the marraige a little late, but now im married to a wonderfull guy that I thought that I would never find.
I had a hard time in dating because of all the pain, nobody would be friends with me cause I would never be able to go out, I would have to stay home in the dark and no noise, or I would be in tears...now that's what I call no social life..lmao
I have to go to sleep cause my head is POUNDING again hope to hear from you again..

Star: How are you? Haven't heard from you today hope everything is ok with you...Im thinking about you

Talk to you 2 later

Kierra

Hi Kierra & Stacie, http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif

STACIE: I am going to go pickup the film on Wed from the hospital and keep it so when I do actually find a good TMJ dentist to help me I will give it to them so maybe it can be read right to see if I have problems!I am so sorry you are sufferring so bad like us, it is not fair to be in pain like this!

I saw a guy today (tmj dentist) my 30th one,I lost count! and it was a waste of money$$$$$ He said he could not help me because my TMJ is so bad! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/frown.gif to the point it is so chronic he cant do a thing for me!

I really hate having TMJ so much, it ruins our lifes!
My pain didnt get bad till I got in a car accident 3 years ago ever since then I have been in servere pain. I am only 23 and want my life back so much, I hate acted like I am ok when I am not, around family, friends, everyone! The people on this board, Kierra and you are the only ones who "really" understand what our pain feels like!
I know I have a disc problem because everytime I open my mouth, my jaw jerks to the left, maybe I can get another MRI done if my insurance will cover it! They said it was normal, but why would my jaw jerk to the left? http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/confused.gif They yelled at me for moving too also, and I wasnt moving all! All I did was swallow becasue I had dry mouth so bad, and the guy was getting pissed off bad at me! I know there is a problem with one of my disc but they said the MRI was normal, I hate my insurance company!!!

I think they yell at us and say we are crazy becasue they dont know what to do with us, we know more about TMJ then them and I think that upsets them alot! Doctors or even dentist dont like us telling them what is wrong with us, they seem to get mad.

So many Doctors/dentist and even people dont know how bad this affects our everyday lifes, they dont care we are just another clint to them!
My insurance does not cover pain clinics but I am going to look into it,I dont know what else to do! I need help with my TMJ problem so bad, I cant handle this pain everyday and I feel so bad for my hubby who has to hear me wine all the time! I am on strong medications but they dont help me like they should!
It is very hard to go day by day and have constant pain, I get pain behind my eyes so bad sometimes I just want to die and rip my eyes out! My jaw pain hurt me when I talk to much or even try to eat, or even kiss my husband, and I get facial spasms alot that make me want to die!
So I stick to my smoothies,99% of the time! Have you try to make them yet? You need to eat girl! I can repost how to make them and what to buy again for you and will after this post! You can add your own vitamins or whatever to it you want to it to help your body out if your not eating nothing, like calculm, etc.. They will come out good, it may take a few times to get it right, but blend it really good! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif! If your on meds and not eating it is going to tear you tummy up, try making a smoothies, it is better then nothing and your body wont start feeding off you organs witch is bad and you could die from it! Then you will have more problems on top of this!

You dont want to have to end up in the hospital like Kierra from eating http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/nono.gif

It should be at the top of the list on how to make them,and this way your getting something in your stomach! Your lucky you med's knock you out, my dont do a thing! It's going to be hard to be a doctor if your in this type of pain, I really feel for you! I am so sorry you suffer so bad like Kierra & I but we are all here for eachother and thats what counts! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif hopefully you can get past this and do what you want to do in life! How long have you suffer from TMJ?

KIERRA: You asked about the smoothies, I would just try mixing different types of fruits in it everytime from frozon to non-frozon, So it is different and does not taste the same! I also use the V8 Splash juice and make poplices out of them you know how you can buy your own things to make your own poplices try that and put the juice in them!! I know the smoothies may get old, but if you make them different everytime then it is a change, It sucks we cant eat real food, but if I come up with something else I will let you know!
I will list a few things you can buy at the store: my spelling may be off
1. Bannannas
2. Oranges
3 green apples (cut up really thin)
4. Kiwis
5.grapes
6.a squezze lemon in it, to sweeten it!
7. wipped cream (I use the fat free one)

Frozon stuff!
1. blueberrys
2. rasberrys
3 bosiebery
4. strawberrys
5 peaches
6. black cherries
7. wipped cream (I use fat free)

You can really put anything you want in, that will blend, but I would not use icecream, in it, but thats just me,I cant afford the extra weight, you need the weight so you can maybe bye some frozon yogurt and add a scoop of that in it, it will taste different and be a change for you!

Take care you guys,I am going to go lay down my head is killing me!

Take Care,

Starr http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/angel.gif

HOW TO MAKE A HOME MADE SMOOTHIES http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

Hi Stacie,
here is how to make your smoothies http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

I would love to tell you how to make smoothies, it beats eating nothing,and you need something in you stomach, especialy taking medication! You can add vitiams or protion or calclum..etc.. to it or what ever you want just make sure you put it in first before anything else at the bottom of the blender!
I do, I take turns with the stuff in my cabbent..lol.. if you want its up to you! they taste good! and you need to eat!!!!!
You will love making them once you learn how, it is not to hard to make, First off you need a blender...lol... http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

THE JUICE TO BUY IS V8 SPLASH, THEY HAVE ONE THAT SAID SMOOTHIES ON IT, I BELIEVE PEACH MANGO AND STRAWBERRY BANNANNA, AND THEY SELL BERRY BLEND V8 SPLASH IT WORKS GOOD TOO! YOU FEEL THE JUICE TO ALL MOST THE TOP OF THE FRUIT AND THEN YOU BLEND IT FOR A FEW MINUTES, PUT IT IN THE FREZZER FOR A FEW TO THICKEN UP AND TAKE IT OUT AND DRINK IT!

WHAT TO BUY! IF YOU LIKE ANY OF THESES
Go buy frozon:
Strawberrys
Black cherries
Peaches
blueberrys
Blackberries

NON- Frozon
1. Bannanas
2. Oranges
3. Lemon (just a squezze)
4 apples (cut up small)
5. whatever you can think of that will taste good!

whatever you think you will like you can buy, just as along as it will blend dont use ice!!! It took me a while to find the combo I like! Sometime I will cut up a green apple in tiny pieces or a kiki to give it a different tastes ot even squeee lemon in it!

Let me warn you,it may not come out right the first time, it takes time! You are going to have to work with it, fill the juice up high, It will take a few trys to get it right, and then blend it and put it in the frezzer for 5 mins after you blend it. It may be a little waterly if you dont put it in the frezzer, and drink it! enjoy!!!!

I usually use, Bannanas and oranges, sometime I will cut a green apple in tiny pieces to give it a different tastes!
I use the peach mango V8 splash smoothie and the strawberry bannana one too,most of the time! frozon strawberrys and cherries and you can put a hint on lemon or kimi just cut it up small, you will love them and they fill you up too!!! like food!
let me know how it go's

Take care,
Starr

Hey Star&Stacie

Just checking in to see if you two are ok. Haven't heard from you for awhile Stacie, are you OK?. Try the smoothies there great, I think I've become a pro but I only have me to judge...lol http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/biggrin.gif Well it looks like im going to Vancouver on Wed to go in for my other splint on the 16th (my b'day http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif ) so I will post again on Monday next week and let you know how it went. Does anyone know why they would want to give me 2 splints and a metal spacer on my bottom teeth along with the splint? I can't figure that one out...
Hope that you two are feeling a little relief and

Stacie you have to eat something even if it's liquified you still have to..I didn't eat for 4 weeks and I was put in the hospital with a feeding tube (that hurts). Plus after not eating for so long, and not wanting to , TMJ sufferes are at risk of developing an eating disorded..you don't want that on top of TMJ.

I am thinkin of you both and hoping for some pain free min in the day

Take care Star&Stacie

Kierra

Hi Kierra, http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif

I would make a post on the TMJ board and ask about the two mouth pieces they are going to give you and see what they have to say. They( likee sue or elaine,marline) will know a lot more then some of the people on the headache board! It seems not many of us on this board have both!
I have to go get ready for work http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/frown.gif I pray I make it though the day, Happy eary B-day http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/birthday.gif sorry you have to be there on your b-day, I'll write tonite to you, have a pain free day! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

Statice: Hope you are well we havent hear from you in a while? just wanted to make sure everything is ok and please try the smoothies to drink, you really need to have something, you dont want to be on a feeding tube http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/eek.gif

take care girls,

Starr http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/angel.gif

Hi girls!
Sorry for being MIA this past week. I had finals, and the damn university wants to fail me in some of my classes because I missed some finals, and I need to argue with the idiots at school about this.
My appetite has been better this week and I have managed to eat a little...i dropped a couple of pounds tho, but I needed to lose some weight anyway. I'm going to try those smoothies...thanks for the recipe. I'm really tired and am having bad headaches so I will write more later, but I just wanted to check in.
Take care!!
-Stacie http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

Hi Stacie

Glad to see you still here, How did your finals go?. Hope that you feel better soon
Take care
Kierra

Hey,
I didn't finish taking all my finals.
The school failed me in one class bec I missed the final when I was sick - bad headaches, diziness, and throwing up. they couldn't care less!
And my mother is on my case, constantly yelling at me. she doesn't get that her yelling only makes me feel worse - "you're lazy and worthless" does she really think that helps me?!? And she's even yelling at me for writing on this board right now.She's telling me that going to this board is making me feel more sick.
I am so sick of everything. I am sick of living this way. I am sick of feeling like my head is going to explode. I'm sick of the room spinning.I just feel like I have nothing to live for anymore.
take care girls!I hope you're feeling better than I am.
-Stacie

Hi Stacie, http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif

Well it is so good to hear from you, I was a little worried you were not comming back!

I am so sorry your mother is treating you the way she is, wish there was something we could do for you http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/frown.gif I feel so sad for you!

Can you print out some web pages on TMJ for her to read so she can read it and understand it or read it to her, if she wont give it the time of day.

You must be under a lot of srtess right now, http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/hammer.gif with school, finals, teacher, and your pain for starters, and your mother! I wish the very best for you, I wish we could help you get out of this mess.

Can you move in with someone else? Maybe if you took off for a few days, left web pages of TMJ and highlight the parts you have then maybe she will listen!
"I am not a doctor or want to be blamle for anything that I say to people or if they do what I say, I just want to let you know what I would do if I was in you shoes" I am just sayig that so I dont get in trouble.

I dont know your mother, you know her the best! To bad you just cant sit down with her and explain it to her.

My mother is so caring, and understanding I wish so much you can get her to believe you! Maybe you can have someone else talk to her...

You will be in my prays http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/angel.gif

Take Care,

Starr

Hi Stacie

Im sorry about what your going through with your school and home situations...Have you taken your mother with you to your doctors or dentists with you and get them to explain what is causing your pain???. I had to do that with my mom and husband and now they understand it better than I do..lol.
Im sory about the school failing you in the one course..is there any way that you can make up the final? (doctors note). I hope that things get a little better for you and I hope to hear from you soon
Take care of yourself first

Kierra

Hi girls!
My mom does understand TMJ perfectly. She's read up on it and has gone with me to see the docs. I think she gets that I'm in pain, but it's just hard for her to deal with and accept. It's easier for her to just think I'm lazy and accuse me of using my pain as an excuse to be lazy. She tries to help but she just doesn't know what to do. I think that unless someone is going through the same thing, you really dont "get it". I've lost a bunch of friends over this and I don't really have many left that I can talk to. If I tell some of them "I am in so much pain' they respond with "stop complaining. you already told me about it." or if I sigh to myslef and go owww they go "stop trying to get attention." I got to tell you guys, every day I'm more and more amazed byt these people out there. I got a splint made a few days ago, but so far it hurts more when I put it in http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/frown.gif The headaches have been REALLY bad today and I'm scared to take strong meds bec they really mess me up. i took advil but of course that's not doing anything. I'm upset because I was really hoping the splint would help, but I guess I need to give it some more time.
The school refuses to let me take the final. Even though I have doc's notes. They say they just don't care. It's horrible. i have to appeal their decision and I'm going to have to retake the whole course again. it's just SO unfair! I hope this comes back to them somehow and they know what it's like to be in pain and then have someone fail you. What goes around comes around, right? They are just doing it to be mean and I don't understand why. They said to me "well if you're so sick, then you shouldn't go to college at all." Isn't that against the law what they're doing? If someone is sick, you give them a makeup. That's why makeups exist. It just makes no sense to me.
Hope you girls are doing well!
-Stacie

Hi Stacie212

I am soooooo glad that your back, was getting a little worried about you (ok alot)
Im glad your mom understands the pain your in, sometimes when people don't know what to do when someone is in obvious pain is to accuse.(they don't mean it)
Why won't you take anything stronger than Advil? If it's because it messes you up, take on and lie down for a bit, with all my meds (morphine,demoral,percocete,Fentnal Patch) I was a walking zombie, but after a few day's my body adjusted to the meds and then I was as normal as I could be...lol
School: When I had to re-take my final. I went to the head of the University, not sure if I am spelling it right so don't laugh..lol I saw an Ombudsman who informed me that if I had proof of being too ill to take my final that I could re-take it (Bachlor Music)
I know how it feels with friends just leaving you, my Maid of Honour decided that I was faking and just up and left.My ex husband thought that I was lying and beat the crap out of me) Alot of my school friends didn't hang around anymore because noooo one can have headaches all the time..I started to believe my friends that I was causing the headache and that I really didn't have one, (I WAS FAKING) I wonder how they are????
O.k. Ill stop Im just glad that your back posting here, now we just have to get Star back
I hope that you feel a little better, if you have the stronger meds, try one, it may really help you. Well I must get going here, glad to see you back and hope to see you again
Talk to you later
Kierra

[This message has been edited by Kierra (edited 05-28-2003).]

Hi Kierra!!
How are you doing?
I have taken meds stronger than advil and they messed me up so much. I would walk around campus and walk and walk and then suddenly realize that I didn't know where I was or where I was going. And I would just sit down in the middle of campus and close my eyes for a few minutes. I was so disoriented. I was walking around like a zombie. They gave me valium once that KILLED me. It didnt help the pain at all. It just messed with my emotions. I was talking and laughing with a friend and then suddenly I started crying for no reason and couldn't stop for a few hours. I remember calling my mom and saying "i don't know why i'm crying. I'm not in a bad mood. I can't make it stop." Thenm while on valium I was walking in the street and I "saw" a parked car coming at me and I thought it was coming after me. I even jumped back out of fear and then I realized it was a parked car. The strong pain killers also hurt my stomach and make me naseous. So, that's why I'm scared to take stronger stuff anymore. I have been taking advil every 6 hours and it seems to be helping a little so I'm happy about that! I tried advil liguid gelcaps and they seem to work better and faster than the regular kind.
The muscle relaxants would also knock me out - even if I took a quarter of a pill, I would be out for 2 days. I have always been VERY sensitive to medication.
How do the different meds you take work together? Like, what does each one do? Have long have you had to take all these meds? I guess, like you said, your body adjusted to them. But god, I think even one of those would mess me up, let alone all of them together.

About school, I'm going to go talk to a head dean. I think we have an ombudsman but I don't even know who he is. But I got the name of someone who deals with students and these kind of problems. I have doctors' notes so I don't get how they can just think I'm faking it. My dean knew that I wasn't feeling well all semester. I had talked to her about it, so it wasn't like "oh I don't feel well and I don't have any proof" They're just being super mean.

I'm so sorry to hear about everything you have gone through. It's amazing that even when you think someone is your closest friend, they go and stab you in the back. I am very angry about the way your ex-husband treated you. It just makes me sick. A lot of men seem to think that just because they are physically stronger than women, that they have the right to use their strength to abuse us. And they always seem to find a way to blame the woman. My father was abusive toward my mother and toward me, so I know what living with someone like that is like. And I was happy when he finally got out of our lives. It's a good thing you got out of that relationship. I don't remember what you said in previous posts, but did you get married again?

people who have not gone through this themsleves don't get it. Even the nice ones don't. even your family doesn't get it. And it drives me crazy how when I keep the complaining to myself, people think "oh well you've been feeling well." No, I just didn't want to "annoy" you with my complaints.

I am so greatful that I found this board and that I have finally found people that do actually really and completely get it. I also started to believe my friends that this was somehow all my fault. My friends love giving me lectures about how I should do this and do that, and it drives me crazy. They tell me, you shouldn't take so many classes, you should take time off from school. But they don't get that that isn't what I want to hear. I want to live a normal life. I want to get myself involved in school and be like everyone else.

I have been having some good days, some bad days. It's hard. I hope to hear from you soon and I hope that you have been doing well! Where did Starr disappear to?

Take care!!

-Stacie

Welcome back Stacie http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif

It's good to see you back on this spread, Im not sure where Star went. Im sorry that this is going to be a long one, I'll try not to bore you. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif
With all my meds: Im going to have to tellyou a longish story just to give you a little history and to make sence about the meds. 11 years ago I had my jaw,cheek,nose,wrist,leg,collor bone and a few others broken when I was beaten up by some kids on haroin and crack (plus stabbed) I was a mess for a year after that with re-habilitation, surguries, and phisyo. The doctor I had then wouldn't give me anything stronger than Tylonol #3 and was on them for 3 years then. 5 years later I started getting migrans and the doctors that I saw wouldn't give me anything but T3's. That's when I started doctor hopping, to try and find out what was causing the migranes, One doc tried me on all channel blockers,bata blockers,OTC, everything you can think of. They started asking me to leave there office and not come back (was fired from being a patient from 1 doc). I finaly had to move to my parents place cause I couldn't hold down a job, so I thought that It was all in my head, I didn't respond to any migrane meds or OTC so maybe there was nothing wrong with me. I ended up 1 day in the hospital with a morphine drip and was still in pain and then they gave me demoral with it. That killed the migrane and was fine, but they kept me in the hospital for 3 day's to try and figure out what was causing them. I had Nero-opthomoligist(sp), Nero-surgon, Dietition(sp) and they couldn't figure it out. I went home with morphine and Demoral and I was good the meds killed the migrane. I was surfing the web and found this board and that's when we starting thinking that it may be TMJ. Now that they have figured this out, because I hae been on all the narcotic meds they don't work as well and it is not safe to up them that the doc here has giving me the fentnal patch, which doesn't help to much unless I take morphine or demoral with it and when Im waiting for the patch to kick in I take the percocete. It's been that way for about 6 months now, and I can function almost normaly....the only problem that im going to have is comming off all theses meds...but I was told that if you take them for pain and only pain then the chances for addiction are alot lower.
I did get re-married to a wounderfull guy, he seems to really know the pain im in and also my parents. They really understand when im hurting. I lost all my friends because of this.
How are you doing? Im not sure where you live but have you tried Tylonol#1 here they are behind the couter and you have to ask for them..they have a little codine in them and they may help you a little better.
Im so sorry that this is so long, and probably really boring to read. Hope that you have a pain free day and hope to see you back on this spread soon
Take care
Kierra

Hey Starr

Where are you, Hope that your ok and just to let you know that were worrying about you. Hope that your appointment went well and you got somthing to help you out a little better
Hope to see you back to the boards soon
Take care
Kierra

Hey Kierra!!

I'm so sorry to hear about everything you went through!! What a nightmare http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/frown.gif

There's something very weird about pain killers and TMJ. I can take strong pain killers or muscle relaxants and they will make me feel like a zombie but they won't get rid of my pain or my headaches. My doctor said that certain pain killers work for certain kinds of pain and even strong ones don't help sometimes. Well, the important thing is that you got a system of painkillers that make you able to function. How is demoral? I know they give that when you're in labor. Maybe that would help me. They gave me tylenol#3 a few years back and it did help. but these docs are crazy and bec it's a narcotic they refuse to give it. I asked a doctor once if I could have it bec that actually is one of the fews pills that helped me. codeine works well on me, and the doctor looked at me suspiciously and said that no way, she wasn't going to give a narcotic to someone in chronic pain. They just keep giving me all these NSAIDS which don't help and make my stomach hurt.
What is the fentnal patch? I've never heard of that.

It's great that you have your family to support you. Who needs friends anyway? Most of these "friends" aren't people you can trust anyway or people that will be there for you when you need them.
What is tylenol#1?

Please don't ever apologize about long posts. i'm the queen of long posts. I use this board to vent and I always feel guilty that my posts are so long, so please do post a lot!!

I'm in pain right now and really tired so I'm going to go to sleep.
Write back soon!

-Stacie

Hi Stacie http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif

I go to write a post and I forget what to write...lol.

The demoral works very well for me and the oxycocet works some of the time. The fentnal(sp) is a patch that I wear on my shoulder or back and it gives me 24 hours a day of medication for 3 day's, then I have to change it im on 25,and they come in 50 and 100, I"ve been on all three meds for 7 months now and can go out and enjoy myself most day's except when a whopper of a migrane hits me then im in bed for 3 days. 1 doctor here told me that the patch was ment for cancer patients who were not able to swallow because of chemo? Don't know if I believe him or not on that on. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/confused.gif
I tried to stop taking my oxycocet (percocet) and I had no problms in stopping it (8 days) maybe cause of all the other junk...lol http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/dance.gif
Tylonol #1 is tylonol but with 8mg of codeine (T3's have 30 mg codine) and in Canada you have to ask for them and have to tell them there is codeine in them of they won't sell them to you..lol