Tuesday morning I went to see my regular doctor. I mentioned to her that a number of people had suggested that the problem might be a sinus infection, or possibly TMJ related. After me explaining to her about the location of the pain, as well as the frequency, and then her doing a number of tests, she came up with something that really threw me.
She said that she thinks I have SHINGLES presented without a rash! She told me there are three nerves in the face and the one that is causing me problems is my Cranial Nerve V 2. I had a really bad case of chickenpox when I was 3 - Shingles is a reoccurence of chickenpox - although it usually happens to much older people. lucky me.
She told me that because of the location of it, there could possibly be hearing loss, vision loss or even encephalitis! She gave me a list of ENT (Ear Nose and Throat) docs to make an appt with. I called one and explained what was going on and they told me that what I really needed was an Otolarynogoloist (sp?) or someone who deals with facial nerves.
So, I have an appointment with one on Monday. Until then I am taking these awesome pain meds that make me very loopy, but I much prefer being loopy to being in pain!
I have been trying to find info on Shingles without a rash on the net, but haven't had much luck. I'm also being very paranoid every time I have an itch or a pain anywhere - fearing that a rash might suddenly appear!
All I can say right now is Thank God for my health insurance plan! My coworkers too - they're all being so sweet and worried about me.
Like my mom said, my company may not pay much, but they treat a person right in the other ways that count.
I'm still trying to believe that this is really happening and not a story about someone else. I've always been fairly healthy with few issues (other than weight).
I now can definitely never afford to lose health coverage.
Update: Jaw Pain
April 12th, 2007 at 02:08 am
April 12th, 2007 at 02:37 am 1176345428
whatever you're appointments reveal, i hope they figure it out fast and that you start to feel better. enjoy as much soup, ice cream, and hot cocoa as possible!
April 12th, 2007 at 03:07 am 1176347254
April 12th, 2007 at 03:11 am 1176347462
Thankfully a soft food diet isn't necessary for me. Even before the pain meds, eating/chewing wasn't a problem. The pain would come and stay for 30 minutes+ then go for several hours. No rhyme or reason that I could figure out.
April 12th, 2007 at 03:38 am 1176349127
April 12th, 2007 at 05:21 pm 1176398490
this is a good resource to start with: http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/1044.html
i hope you are feeling beter soon!!
April 12th, 2007 at 05:58 pm 1176400714
April 12th, 2007 at 07:05 pm 1176404705
April 12th, 2007 at 10:36 pm 1176417400
I got a voicemail from my doctor's nurse saying that she had done some further reading and doesn't think it is shingles but may be trigeminal neuralgia and that I need to see a neurologist and that I will need an MRI. I tried calling them back to let them know that I had already scheduled an appointment with an Otolaryngologist, but they were already closed for the day. I guess I should have called her as soon as I made the appointment. I will be calling her in the morning.
I really don't want to cancel my appt for Monday because I really want to get this figured out. If it is trigeminal neuralgia then I may just find myself on pain meds the rest of my life. Ugh.
April 13th, 2007 at 03:33 pm 1176478420