So stressed and tmj?

[jillyb]

Getting worse and worse. Dentist suspects tmj but I am not so sure as some of the symptoms seem weird. Am having wave after wave of panic attacks. Feel a bit giddy(which I forgot to tell the doctor). Went to GP and he has given me some diazepam, but only a few (I know they won't give many as they are so addictive). Been suffering since January, worrying about tooth/sinus/now suspected tmj. Had lots of major stresses recently, the latest being my ex who walked out on us 18 years ago and went abroad, returning with his wife to stay with my poor daughter (recently pregnant and scared as she ended up on life support with eclampsia last time). Ex has terminal cancer, no money, no where to live in the UK and now doesn't want to return to Taiwan, where he has been living. Feel desperately sad for him but so worried about my daughter as she has too much to cope with. He is a very difficult man and is putting on her so much, but how can you throw out your dying father? The situation is hideous. Even reading this I can see why I am so stressed out! I am scared though as I already suffer from HA and medical phobia and now I am getting to the point where I can't even walk up the road without feeling panicky. I feel useless as I am in such a state I can't cope with anything. In fact I am making things worse for my children as now they are worrying about me having a breakdown. I can't believe my symptoms are stress related. Sorry to rant but I am quite scared.

[Speranza]

You must be feeling terrible, but a few minutes here will probably help you see that lots of other people do have those symptoms and they are very likely to be stress-related... And as you say, just reading your post is enough to see why.

TMJ is a bizarre thing, it has thrown up quite a few symptoms for me in the past. I literally ground one of my back teeth out eventually! :ohmy:

It can cause all kinds of things, headaches, the dizziness, etc. It sounds as though you need to sit down and have a really good talk to the doctor or somebody - does your practice offer a counselling service?

If you are ever totally unable to cope and just really really need to talk, don't forget the Samaritans. They are brilliant at listening, they can't solve anything but they are really reassuring. I guess you might be up in the middle of the night all alone sometimes, that's when you can ring. Just a friendly voice can make an enormous difference. Many hugs to you. x :hugs:

[jillyb]

Thanks for your reply. The weird thing is that when I bite (and not even on that side) it feels as if my gum swells (which it doesn't) and then I get a dull pain that goes up and then which travels down the front of my neck. Now I am getting similar sensations in my other jaw! I know I am incredibly stressed and clenching a lot. Have recently had a bridge fitted following an extraction but dentist can't find any dental problems. Everyone is putting it down to anxiety but I can't believe anxiety can make me feel so crap. Am having group cbt and they are now arranging individual counselling. Am also paying for hypnotherapy. I am desperate to feel well again. I just want me back. Doc prescribed mertazipine (spelling?) but I am too scared to take it!!

[Speranza]

Anxiety can definitely make you feel that bad!

There is an exercise which really helps my TMJ. You open your mouth as wide as you can, then touch the roof of your mouth with your tongue and roll it back towards your throat, hold for a few seconds, wait and then do it again a few times. (No, you won't swallow your tongue!)

Sometimes the drugs aren't nearly as bad as the anxiety, is all I can say...

[countrygirl]

TMJ can cause all the symptoms you are mentioning. I know cos I have it and the symptoms can be soooo weird. I get very peculair ear symptoms like sharp pains in ear with no infection, strange noises like gale force wind blowing in ear or as if my eardrum is twitching, these are just a few. It can make your tongue hurt, make you dizzy, give you crawling sensations in your face and face/head pain and on and on and on!!

Our problem is that we get a pain or symptom and then we are straight into mass panic mode which just adds more symptoms. A cranial osteopath might be able to help with tmj or a specialist dentist.