Guest guest Posted December 21, 2004 Report Share Posted December 21, 2004 Dear Colleen, You are welcome for the tip about moist heat. Don't worry about it affecting your swelling. As I understand it, the treatment we receive ( i.e. ice and heat therapy) the first 3 days is what really affects your level of swelling. At this time, the heat won't cause more swelling now. Although, I've discovered that when I slip off my mountain of pillows that I sleep on, my face is more swollen when I wake up and it takes a couple of hours for the swelling to decrease. Oh well. As for more relaxation of the jaw muscles, try to find some quiet time for yourself during the day and let go with some nice deep breaths. Sometimes I get tense without realizing it and I tend to hold that stress in my jaw muscles, neck and shoulders. It's worth a try! Best of luck! P.S. How are you feeling today? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 21, 2004 Report Share Posted December 21, 2004 Dear Colleen, You are welcome for the tip about moist heat. Don't worry about it affecting your swelling. As I understand it, the treatment we receive ( i.e. ice and heat therapy) the first 3 days is what really affects your level of swelling. At this time, the heat won't cause more swelling now. Although, I've discovered that when I slip off my mountain of pillows that I sleep on, my face is more swollen when I wake up and it takes a couple of hours for the swelling to decrease. Oh well. As for more relaxation of the jaw muscles, try to find some quiet time for yourself during the day and let go with some nice deep breaths. Sometimes I get tense without realizing it and I tend to hold that stress in my jaw muscles, neck and shoulders. It's worth a try! Best of luck! P.S. How are you feeling today? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 21, 2004 Report Share Posted December 21, 2004 - Thanks for the moist heat info, I am definitely trying it tonight! Its funny you mention that waking up at the bottom of the pillow mountain increases the swelling because this morning I woke up all slumped at the bottom of my pillows with my chin hitting my chest -- no fun! I had a very hectic morning, doorbell ringing repeatedly, dogs going crazy, phone ringing, etc...BUT it kept me so busy that I didn't have much time to worry about the painful first few hours of waking up. So that was good. I have another question for you - I read in a different post that your migraines is one of the main reasons you had the surgery. Me too - I have had them for almost twenty years (since I was in elementary school) and was hoping to get rid of them with the surgery. Well, the second night after surgery I really felt like I was getting one, but I didn't want to take my medicine (Zomig) because I felt like that was admitting defeat, like maybe the surgery isn't going to impact them at all. I did end up taking it because I had already thrown up three times that night and couldn't risk any more trouble. Its a dissolving pill so luckily I just stuck it in my gums and it worked. I am hoping that was just an isolated incident and won't happen again, but who knows. Have you had any migraines at all since the surgery? or just this, new different type of TMJ headache? Just curious, thanks! - Colleen > > Dear Colleen, > You are welcome for the tip about moist heat. Don't worry about it > affecting your swelling. As I understand it, the treatment we > receive ( i.e. ice and heat therapy) the first 3 days is what really > affects your level of swelling. At this time, the heat won't cause > more swelling now. Although, I've discovered that when I slip off my > mountain of pillows that I sleep on, my face is more swollen when I > wake up and it takes a couple of hours for the swelling to decrease. > Oh well. As for more relaxation of the jaw muscles, try to find some > quiet time for yourself during the day and let go with some nice > deep breaths. Sometimes I get tense without realizing it and I tend > to hold that stress in my jaw muscles, neck and shoulders. It's > worth a try! > Best of luck! > > > P.S. How are you feeling today? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 21, 2004 Report Share Posted December 21, 2004 - Thanks for the moist heat info, I am definitely trying it tonight! Its funny you mention that waking up at the bottom of the pillow mountain increases the swelling because this morning I woke up all slumped at the bottom of my pillows with my chin hitting my chest -- no fun! I had a very hectic morning, doorbell ringing repeatedly, dogs going crazy, phone ringing, etc...BUT it kept me so busy that I didn't have much time to worry about the painful first few hours of waking up. So that was good. I have another question for you - I read in a different post that your migraines is one of the main reasons you had the surgery. Me too - I have had them for almost twenty years (since I was in elementary school) and was hoping to get rid of them with the surgery. Well, the second night after surgery I really felt like I was getting one, but I didn't want to take my medicine (Zomig) because I felt like that was admitting defeat, like maybe the surgery isn't going to impact them at all. I did end up taking it because I had already thrown up three times that night and couldn't risk any more trouble. Its a dissolving pill so luckily I just stuck it in my gums and it worked. I am hoping that was just an isolated incident and won't happen again, but who knows. Have you had any migraines at all since the surgery? or just this, new different type of TMJ headache? Just curious, thanks! - Colleen > > Dear Colleen, > You are welcome for the tip about moist heat. Don't worry about it > affecting your swelling. As I understand it, the treatment we > receive ( i.e. ice and heat therapy) the first 3 days is what really > affects your level of swelling. At this time, the heat won't cause > more swelling now. Although, I've discovered that when I slip off my > mountain of pillows that I sleep on, my face is more swollen when I > wake up and it takes a couple of hours for the swelling to decrease. > Oh well. As for more relaxation of the jaw muscles, try to find some > quiet time for yourself during the day and let go with some nice > deep breaths. Sometimes I get tense without realizing it and I tend > to hold that stress in my jaw muscles, neck and shoulders. It's > worth a try! > Best of luck! > > > P.S. How are you feeling today? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 22, 2004 Report Share Posted December 22, 2004 Colleen, How did the moist heat work for you? As I type, I've got mine wrapped around my face. Don't know how I could live without it. Sometimes it feels like I've got snakes living in my face (for all those people afraid of snakes, I apologize for that imagery) when my jaw muscles spasm. Ya know, I've read lots of comments about not being able to eat what we want when we want, lack of energy, swelling, pain ,etc. (and believe me, I've had all of those symptoms and bitched about them too) but I haven't seen anyone mention looking forward to being able to sleep on their side. That's MY goal/dream right now. I hate sleeping on a mountain of pillows and on my back. These nights, my lower body is twisted to the side, curled up while my upper body is on my back with a pillow tucked behind an ear to keep me from turning on my side. I would give anything to be able to crawl into bed with my favorite pillow, curl up on my side and go right to sleep. Ah, it's the little things in life! Sorry to hear that you had migraines also. I really hope this surgery cures that for you. No, I haven't had any migraines since the surgery. Just those annoying tension headaches. They go away when I unband my mouth or apply that moist heat that I love so much. The pain is in the same location as my migraines so I do feel panicky when I first feel one coming on. However, I don't have any of the other symptoms that qualify the headache as a migraine: aura, sensitivity to light and smells, nausea. Have you had any other headaches since the one in the hospital? Good luck with your recovery! Let me know how you are doing. > > > > Dear Colleen, > > You are welcome for the tip about moist heat. Don't worry about it > > affecting your swelling. As I understand it, the treatment we > > receive ( i.e. ice and heat therapy) the first 3 days is what > really > > affects your level of swelling. At this time, the heat won't cause > > more swelling now. Although, I've discovered that when I slip off > my > > mountain of pillows that I sleep on, my face is more swollen when > I > > wake up and it takes a couple of hours for the swelling to > decrease. > > Oh well. As for more relaxation of the jaw muscles, try to find > some > > quiet time for yourself during the day and let go with some nice > > deep breaths. Sometimes I get tense without realizing it and I > tend > > to hold that stress in my jaw muscles, neck and shoulders. It's > > worth a try! > > Best of luck! > > > > > > P.S. How are you feeling today? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 22, 2004 Report Share Posted December 22, 2004 Colleen, How did the moist heat work for you? As I type, I've got mine wrapped around my face. Don't know how I could live without it. Sometimes it feels like I've got snakes living in my face (for all those people afraid of snakes, I apologize for that imagery) when my jaw muscles spasm. Ya know, I've read lots of comments about not being able to eat what we want when we want, lack of energy, swelling, pain ,etc. (and believe me, I've had all of those symptoms and bitched about them too) but I haven't seen anyone mention looking forward to being able to sleep on their side. That's MY goal/dream right now. I hate sleeping on a mountain of pillows and on my back. These nights, my lower body is twisted to the side, curled up while my upper body is on my back with a pillow tucked behind an ear to keep me from turning on my side. I would give anything to be able to crawl into bed with my favorite pillow, curl up on my side and go right to sleep. Ah, it's the little things in life! Sorry to hear that you had migraines also. I really hope this surgery cures that for you. No, I haven't had any migraines since the surgery. Just those annoying tension headaches. They go away when I unband my mouth or apply that moist heat that I love so much. The pain is in the same location as my migraines so I do feel panicky when I first feel one coming on. However, I don't have any of the other symptoms that qualify the headache as a migraine: aura, sensitivity to light and smells, nausea. Have you had any other headaches since the one in the hospital? Good luck with your recovery! Let me know how you are doing. > > > > Dear Colleen, > > You are welcome for the tip about moist heat. Don't worry about it > > affecting your swelling. As I understand it, the treatment we > > receive ( i.e. ice and heat therapy) the first 3 days is what > really > > affects your level of swelling. At this time, the heat won't cause > > more swelling now. Although, I've discovered that when I slip off > my > > mountain of pillows that I sleep on, my face is more swollen when > I > > wake up and it takes a couple of hours for the swelling to > decrease. > > Oh well. As for more relaxation of the jaw muscles, try to find > some > > quiet time for yourself during the day and let go with some nice > > deep breaths. Sometimes I get tense without realizing it and I > tend > > to hold that stress in my jaw muscles, neck and shoulders. It's > > worth a try! > > Best of luck! > > > > > > P.S. How are you feeling today? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 23, 2004 Report Share Posted December 23, 2004 Hi , The moist heat was awesome!! My husband got me this pad that you heat and wet the cloth cover and it really felt great - I have used it every night since! I have only had the one migraine since surgery, but have had several other smaller headaches that I think are due to not eating and drinking enough. I am really trying to, but I am usually such a water drinker and its hard to drink as much. So I am trying to spend more time eating and drinking in the morning to avoid headaches in the afternoon. I'm with you that the mountain of pillows is no fun! I usually like to sleep on my stomach on one small pillow and that seems like a distant memory now. Well, thanks again for your message, have a wonderful Christmas!!! -Colleen > > > > > > Dear Colleen, > > > You are welcome for the tip about moist heat. Don't worry about > it > > > affecting your swelling. As I understand it, the treatment we > > > receive ( i.e. ice and heat therapy) the first 3 days is what > > really > > > affects your level of swelling. At this time, the heat won't > cause > > > more swelling now. Although, I've discovered that when I slip > off > > my > > > mountain of pillows that I sleep on, my face is more swollen > when > > I > > > wake up and it takes a couple of hours for the swelling to > > decrease. > > > Oh well. As for more relaxation of the jaw muscles, try to find > > some > > > quiet time for yourself during the day and let go with some nice > > > deep breaths. Sometimes I get tense without realizing it and I > > tend > > > to hold that stress in my jaw muscles, neck and shoulders. It's > > > worth a try! > > > Best of luck! > > > > > > > > > P.S. How are you feeling today? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 23, 2004 Report Share Posted December 23, 2004 Hi , The moist heat was awesome!! My husband got me this pad that you heat and wet the cloth cover and it really felt great - I have used it every night since! I have only had the one migraine since surgery, but have had several other smaller headaches that I think are due to not eating and drinking enough. I am really trying to, but I am usually such a water drinker and its hard to drink as much. So I am trying to spend more time eating and drinking in the morning to avoid headaches in the afternoon. I'm with you that the mountain of pillows is no fun! I usually like to sleep on my stomach on one small pillow and that seems like a distant memory now. Well, thanks again for your message, have a wonderful Christmas!!! -Colleen > > > > > > Dear Colleen, > > > You are welcome for the tip about moist heat. Don't worry about > it > > > affecting your swelling. As I understand it, the treatment we > > > receive ( i.e. ice and heat therapy) the first 3 days is what > > really > > > affects your level of swelling. At this time, the heat won't > cause > > > more swelling now. Although, I've discovered that when I slip > off > > my > > > mountain of pillows that I sleep on, my face is more swollen > when > > I > > > wake up and it takes a couple of hours for the swelling to > > decrease. > > > Oh well. As for more relaxation of the jaw muscles, try to find > > some > > > quiet time for yourself during the day and let go with some nice > > > deep breaths. Sometimes I get tense without realizing it and I > > tend > > > to hold that stress in my jaw muscles, neck and shoulders. It's > > > worth a try! > > > Best of luck! > > > > > > > > > P.S. How are you feeling today? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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