Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth." Genesis 9:13

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Sensory Dysfunction-and more

I have finally found the PERFECT example of what sensory integration issues are like. People talk a lot about it feeling like being aware of the seams of your clothes. That's true, but I've found a new really big issue. Teeth.

In the past 2 years I've had a ton of dental work done. As I've mentioned before dental work is very hard for me and I simply didn't do it for a number of years. The one time I tried I bit the hygienist accidentally when she gagged me and she was kind of mean about it. (Understandably I guess). However I had too much vomiting over the years from meds, and it damaged my teeth. So last year I had veneers (I think that's the word) on several front teeth, and I also had several old fillings replaced. Since my dentist does cosmetic dentistry and I didn't really know what that even involved I was thrilled when he fixed my teeth. The day he did the front teeth he kept grinning and telling me it would be worth the discomfort of getting something like 6 teeth worked on at once. It was. It really, really was. I love it.

The thing is that there are a few places that I can feel the seams. I have had a tendency ever since the first ones were done to rub them with my tongue. I'm finally used to them, but I still am aware they are there.

On Monday I got a crown placed. While it is really great to bite without the pain that has been in that tooth for at least 18 months and which was getting worse and worse so that I never knew if anything I bit would hurt, the crown itself is somewhat driving me bonkers. I cannot keep my tongue away. It doesn't feel like a tooth; it is very smooth and just different. I'm aware of it.

And THAT is sensory dysfunction--awareness of a tooth.

(Although I should add for the sake of honesty that I also am very concerned about any oral movements after having EPS once. When that started I was too embarrassed to say anything at first and it wasn't until even people at work were asking me about why my tongue kept coming out of my mouth that I admitted there might be an issue with Geodon. Duh......If your tongue moves constantly, you're on an antipsychotic and you're not pretending to be a snake on purpose you need to talk to the psychiatrist ASAP).

As for the more.....Two days down. I'm a bit concerned because my regional boss left a message on my home phone to call her. I'm confused about this since the logical place to reach me during the day is at work. It's another thing my stress level could do without. It's unusual, to say the least, for this to happen.

Anyway, time to get the last night med, pack a suitcase so I can stay in the Big City tomorrow for my psychiatrist appointment Saturday, and get to bed. More as it unfolds....

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Best of luck. I found that the crown sensation gets less intense the longer it's in, for what it's worth.

Jean Grey said...

I had EPS side effects on Geodon. My psychiatrist at the time didn't want to believe it. (I started making up side effects that he would beleive so we wouldn't have to argue about stopping it). It's hard to find a good psychiatrist when you are in a bad way.

Just Me said...

B-
Thanks. I'm still learning to chew on the thing. I can't stop anticipating pain.

E-
That's funny that you made things up. My doctor didn't want to believe I was having EPS either. It was the 2nd AP I'd not done well on and she wanted it to work, I think. So I had oral movements for far longer than I would have preferred. I finally started being incontinent (wet my pants at work--thank God I had on dark scrubs and that incident has forevermore meant I wear navy pants to work) and the tongue got worse and voila! no more Geodon. Rare doesn't mean it doesn't happen.......