TMJ and happiness

I was told after a doctor’s visit for an excruciating ear ache, that I had TMJ. That was almost 20 years ago. I was referred to a TMJ specialist who told me to stop chewing gum and wear this bite guard as much as possible during the day and every night. I did. I did because the pain if I didn’t was intolerable. I also had a habit of clenching my jaw. The bite guard broke me of that habit during the day. Then my jaw started to feel a lot better. And, as most folks are want to do after the pain goes away, I wore the bite guard less and less. Then I stopped altogether.

Apparently it never goes away though. RATS!

A couple months ago I caught a cold. Just a regular old cold. Except that my ear was clogged and it wouldn’t go away. A month later I had an appointment with an ENT. He said…did you know that you have TMJ? Yes. Do you chew a lot of gum? OMG! Yes. Every day. All day! Well stop doing that – forever. What?!?! Noooooo! Agh! Do you have a bite guard? No. Call your dentist. Also, you have some arthritis in your joint. What! Anyway, it turns out that the reason my ear feels plugged up is because of the pressure of my swollen joint. Of course. Like I don’t have enough trouble with my ears. Grrrr.

I am an enthusiastic gum chewer too. As a matter of fact, giving up gum is proving to be harder than quitting smoking!

Crapola.

Now for the happiness...
Harry Connick Jr. tonight!!! Yippee!