He Got Moves

So today I dragged myself into the walk-in clinic across from the hospital all because of a pain my jaw that's been lasting since last Saturday (that's 3 days). I thought I had slept wrong on Saturday morning and just kinked my jaw, though I've never heard of that. Sunday came around and it was worse. Monday came and it was a smidge better and today it still hurts to smile, talk much, eat, drink from a straw or cup, and to spit (the toothpaste out!). It feels like I have bitten my cheek although I can't remember doing so, and that's sort of the thing you usually do remember; the pain, the embarassment of biting your cheek, the anger that your teeth betrayed you and decided to taste your own flesh etc. I've also noticed, when pushing on it, a spot on the bottom of my jaw being tender and sore and so, after debating it, I decided to haul myself into the doctor's office.

I don't usually like going to see a doctor unless I'm really sick. I don't feel as though a sore jaw is "really sick" and I usually feel guilty about wasting the doctor's time. But, on the other hand, I felt that I waited a sufficient amount of time for it to clear up on its own and that now, with my trip looming in the very near future (4 days btw), I figured that I better get it checked in case it's something moderately serious.

Unfortunately, I didn't leave the house until my usual time so I was about 10 min late for work. I got to the doctor's office about 10 minutes before my start of shift and only waited for about 3 minutes before the doctor came in. After hopping up on the onion skin papered table, I was then subjected to some serious fondling. He was massaging my face and if I wasn't so uncomfortable it might have been relaxing. Then he brought out the popsicle stick (yes I know it's a tongue depressor - it's just so much more fun to say popsicle stick). This is when he truly shone. This doctor had moves, I tell you! I've never had anyone inspect my mouth with such interest for so long before. I must have sat there with my mouth wide open for a good 5 minutes while he was swaying about, shifting position, wiggling, snapping his head back and forth, working the popsicle stick and light simultaneously in what could only be described as a very strange, oddly satisfying interprative dance which I call "Seeking Doctor". After that he started poking my tongue, shining the light down my throat, the roof of my mouth and on both cheeks. I could tell he was getting frustrated so I finally showed him by shoving my finger into my mouth and poking the spot that hurts. Hallejuliah! (spelling wrong I know!), the next time he jabbed the popsicle stick in there I jumped. He found it! He was happy too (probably because up until then he might have been thinking I was faking it). He poked around some more then hit the spot again and again I jumped and moaned.

After that, he fingered my cheeks some more (on the outside) and then found the spot under my jaw that hurt too. He passed over it a few times with no effect on me, before finally it hurt again.

After all this he said that I have a "white spot" where it hurts inside my mouth, likely due to a viral infection. The soreness on my jaw underneath is probably due to a lymph node being swollen because of the infection. He then said that the problem should clear up in about 8-10 days and that the lymph node might take a few weeks to clear. I then mentioned I was going out of the country on Saturday and he said if it has not cleared by Friday, to come back and we'll see what can be done.

I should note also that this was my second time with this particular doctor. The first time was back in November when I had my runny nose which lasted for 9 months. I'm talking fully blocked and running like Niagra falls all the time. After telling him I tried three different kinds of nasal spray, he prescribed me a nasal spray. >.<

Now, if I can only follow through on what the Gyneocologist suggested and get that damn blood test for PCOS. >.<