Over the last 6 months, my left ear has felt stuffy. I've had it looked at, and it has always been clear. In the last few months, I noticed my left jaw popping in and out while I was chewing. I visited my dentist, and was told I needed to see a specialist. 3 hours, and $547 later, my consultation was complete. Boy did I learn a lot! I've been diagnosed with Self-Reducing Type 3 joint damage. In simple terms this means that my discs on both sides of my jaw pop in and out of place. Not only that, but I have permanently altered the normal shape of of my lower jaw bones.
So, you may be thinking...how did I end up with all of this? Well, apparently I have been grinding my teeth for many, many years. In fact, my diagnosis report states that my teeth have the wear of an 80 yr-old patient! How crazy is that? Unfortunately, the reason why I haven't sought treatment sooner is because I grind while I'm sleeping! I know all of this doesn't sound very satisfying, but it is for several reasons. First, I have answers. I now have confirmation that something really is wrong with my jaw. Second, I have faith in this doctor. I know he can't make me 100% better, but he believes he can make me as close to 100% as he is able due to the permanent damage.
Now, here is the real kicker of my Satisfying Sunday post...Phase 1 of treatment is going to take approximately 6 months of time, and comes with a hefty price tag of $2500. Mind you, the $2500 is not covered my insurance. Normally, I would be overly worrying about how I'm going to handle this unexpected hefty expense. But, I reached deep inside my heart on this, and I know everything is going to be okay. This treatment is not something I can put off any longer, and I know I'm going to feel SO much better when everything is done. How do I know everything is going to be okay? First, I learned early on the importance of an emergency fund. Second, Mr. Frugal told me we would be FINE, and now to worry. And third, I have a very generous mother who has agreed to help me out during this Phase. I'll keep you all posted on my progress. All in all, I'm satisfied with my decision to move forward with my treatment instead of sitting on the fence worrying about money. It's going to be an intense treatment, but I am sure it will be well worth it.
What is satisfying you in your life right now?
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You know, I love to bake. I mean, I really really love to bake. When winter comes, I'm almost always baking up some yummy treat in the kitchen. And I always love sharing with my colleagues, friends, and family. Today, Mr. Frugal requested a batch of my deep dish Peanut Butter Cookies. He hasn't been feeling well this weekend. Poor guy, but he appears to be feeling MUCH better today. You don't want to know how yesterday went. :( We think it was food poisoning.
Of course we 
I'm not a huge beer drinker. Let me rephrase that I'm not much of a drinker period. I do enjoy the occasional margarita, or glass of wine, and then of course the above beer. Octoberfest is my favorite fall alcoholic beverage of choice. The taste is satisfying my palette right now! If you're looking for a new beer to try - I definitely recommend this one. Mmmmm!
As you may know, I try to donate to my local Ronald McDonald House at least once per month. I visited them in early September, and thought I would probably need to make another stop during late September. Well, I procrastinated, and the items sat on my dining room table for weeks! Last Friday, I learned from a friend dear to my heart that she lost her job. So during my store runs, I picked up some items that I thought she could use, and asked her to stop by my house at her convenience during the week. She came by over the weekend, and it was so rewarding to give her all the items I collected. Her daughter just melts my heart too. She's 2, and is the cutest thing ever! I know it may have been very difficult for her to accept the help, but I am so glad she did. To those of you who coupon regularly, I hope you will consider donating some of your items to your local RMH, or food shelter. We can all do something to make a difference!
Over the last 6 months, my left ear has felt stuffy. I've had it looked at, and it has always been clear. In the last few months, I noticed my left jaw popping in and out while I was chewing. I visited my dentist, and was told I needed to see a specialist. 3 hours, and $547 later, my consultation was complete. Boy did I learn a lot! I've been diagnosed with Self-Reducing Type 3 joint damage. In simple terms this means that my discs on both sides of my jaw pop in and out of place. Not only that, but I have permanently altered the normal shape of of my lower jaw bones.
Satisfying Sunday is a new post.
