For the past two weeks (when my pain started), I've been eating much less than I normally do, because it seems like eating/chewing triggers severe pain. Before my pain started, I would workout twice a day and had about a 1,800 calorie diet. However, due to this new and quite severe pain, I'm mortified that chewing anything will cause me to double over in pain. I get on and off pain, but when I eat it's like a waiting game, because I know the pain will come within 1-2 hours of me chewing. For the past three days, I've had nothing but smoothies. I would buy a large from Smoothie King and just drink it throughout the day (if that). Today, the left side of my face where my pain occurs has been sore and tight feeling, so I've been too scared to eat anything. I came home from work with intentions to eat, but ever since I've been home the pain started and has been way more frequent. It's actually never been this frequent and it's terrible. I'm new to the site and I'm not even sure if I have TN yet (I've written a blog to explain my situation), but aside from this pain I feel like I'm depriving myself of nutrients and it's scaring me! I don't even feel hungry because I'm scared to death to eat. It's horrible and I'm not sure what to do.
You should buy some of those Ensure drinks to make sure you're getting your nutrients.
Have you tried eating stuff like yogurt or scrambled eggs, where you don't really have to chew that much?
Greetings Lin,
Ensure is a great idea and it comes in different flavors. That is what my mom lived on after surgery in the hospital for a few days. When the pain in my jaw was really bad, for breakfast I take cream of wheat and make it really runny and put milk and sugar on it so I can drink it with minimal jaw movement.
Scott
Lin,
Aren't smoothies cold? Careful.
For now just buy a grinder, Lin.
I read somewhere that Ralph Nader recommended it for parents with babies- that it could save them a fortune as the price of baby food is utterly ridiculous.
My sister told me several times that that was THE best present she received for her baby. They are very inexpensive.
The pain i have gets so bad that to get up off the couch and get a yogurt out of the fridge is the major event of the century.
Hunger? What's that? When I was your age (I am guestimating) I thought all my problems would be resolved if I was skinny or if I'd lose some weight.
In my humble opinion, the only advantage is that none of your clothes are too small.
Chewing, especially brushing activates all sorts of dental pain that is basically not there until I start to eat or to brush.
Hope you feel better.
KT
It must be awful -- I remember brief stints of this --- my prescription for you is ....... Mashed potatoes and gravy! I hope you get relief soon!
Thanks everyone. I'm thinking I'll go with Ensure, as my main concern is nutrition. As for the grinder idea, I would love to get my hands on one of those, but my money is extremely tight these days (what with medicine and doctor visits). Also, the cream of wheat, scrambled eggs and mashed potato recommendation are great. I can't wait to get this all sorted out so I can feel less fearful of...everything!