As you may have noticed, I stopped posting about the Insanity program. The pain my jaw has become so bad that it is difficult to workout. However, I was thinking today that I am truly grateful for a lot of things. I have an amazing husband who helps me and supports me. He has helped me through this really trying year with my TMJ.
Over the past year my pain has gone up and down. It was starting to get better in August, and then it took a sharp turn for the worst. I decided to fast in September for help with my jaw and to have this over with. Two days later I went to my TMJ doctor who told me how my birth control could be hurting my jaw. One week later I went back for cortisone shots to help with the pain. During the ultra sound we found out that my cartilage was pretty much gone and my bones were rubbing against each other. A week after that I had a CAT scan that showed my jaw bone was jagged and breaking apart so he referred me to an Oral Surgeon.
After reviewing my CAT scan, the Oral Surgeon told me what type of surgery would be best for me. The down side, our insurance doesn’t cover TMJ surgery and it is going to cost us $12,000. After some more prayers and guidance for what to do, our amazing family members have pooled together enough money for us to start the surgery and then we can pay the rest off in a year. I’m scheduled to go into surgery on November 8th and it can’t come fast enough! Joseph asked me what I’m excited to eat once I the pain is gone (because right now I’m basically on a soft food diet). There really isn’t a food that I’m excited for (except for maybe pecan pie at Christmas), but I’m excited not to have this stabbing pain in my joint anymore. I’m excited to go to a funny movie and not have my face hurt from smiling and laughing too much. I’m excited to wear my head set at work without pain. I’m excited to have a long conversation without pain my jaw joint and my face feeling tired. I’m excited to bend down to pick something up and not have my jaw hurt. I am excited to go running and not have the impact hurt my jaw. I’m excited to wear my ear buds without the pressure from the bud hurt my joint. I’m excited to not have any more cortisone shots because it really hurts when the doctor has to push apart your bones to stick a needle in there. I’m excited that I’ll be able to go to Disney World and not have to worry about getting bumped the wrong way. I’m excited that I will be able to lay on my left side again without the pressure from my pillow hurt my face. I’m really excited to be happy without this pain.
Thank you to my amazing husband. Thank you to my wonderful family who is making this surgery possible. Thank you to my friends who have let me vent about the pain. Thank you to Heavenly Father for answering my prayers. When I fasted that day I was truly fasting with a broken heart and contrite spirit and I am so glad I did.
