Relief is nigh!
I haven't really updated my situation in a while, as there really wasn't much to say. My jaw x-rays came back as fine. I was sent for a CT Scan, as TMJ and dental issues were ruled out. The CT didn't show any fractures or issues with my sinuses, but I was sent to the ENT to make sure that there was nothing wrong there, since a majority of my pain was in my ear.
The ENT did her work, suggested TMJ again (because of my cracking, popping jaw), but saw it was ruled out, suggested that it could be Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN), but that a neurologist would need to make that determination. As I have though this since early on, I was not surprised at the possibility. So, she referred me to a Neurologist.
While I waited 4 months to see the neurologist, my doctor put me back on meloxicam (the 24-hr NSAID I don't like to take because it works too well: see here) because she was not happy with the amount of Tylenol, Ibuprofen, and cyclobenzaprine I had been taking to ward off the pain. It does help, but I still had to take Tylenol 3 times a day to deal with break through pain. Unfortunately, it didn't help me get back to building, as I take it at night so I can sleep through the night and be able to make it through RL work, but then it wears off in the evening, which is my SL time when RL allows. I've developed an addiction to the CSI shows during this hiatus from SL. Love me some crime shows.
Anyhoo... I finally saw the neurologist last Wednesday and it was confirmed that I have TN, most likely atypical, as the pain doesn't occur in attacks with relief in between, but is pretty much constant with times that are worse than usual. I'm FINALLY going to get an MRI with and without contrast to see why this is happening... although, I have yet to receive a call to schedule it. They've put me on Tegretol for the nerve pain. So far, it makes me feel a bit "off" and disconnected, a bit weird on the left side of my face, and sleepy, but I do seem to be getting used to it. I have even been able to concentrate on some light building. I'm hoping to wean off of the meloxicam too, but I think I'll need a little time for that, as the Tegretol is making my joints hurt right now. I can say that I am pretty much off the Tylenol now, for which I'm sure my liver is thankful. I do have a hunt gift in the store for the Evil Bunny Productions "Boo!" Bunny Hunt. All of the info for that should be up within the next 24 hours and I've already started working on a project for November. I am hoping to put some group gifts together, as it's been far too long, and then get back to store releases. The Fly Buy Fridays Sales ended, as my friend Vaygah has her own RL issues to deal with, but I will probably get back into Olly's SL Home Decor Weekend Sale and I have been receiving many invitations to participate in others. I'm going to keep my fingers crossed that things will keep getting better. No more setbacks!
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