A Young Wife’s Tale

When my husband and I were engaged, my mother told me, “I don’t care whether or not you go for pre-marital counseling. Nothing can prepare you for marriage.” She was right, but not even my mother knew the challenges my husband and I would face in our marriage.

On July 8, we celebrated five years of marriage. Those five years have been dominated by health problems. It started off with my health. I had severe TMJ Disorder and a knee injury. Then in our second year of marriage, my husband, David, was diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis. Although he was being treated, he continued to get worse until our third year of marriage when he began experiencing flares that left him bedridden for days at a time.

I’m sorry I haven’t been blogging much lately. Things are going really well. And when things are going really well, there isn’t much for me to blog about.

David’s Psoriatic Arthritis is still in remission. He still has pain every day, but he’s able to do quite a bit. For instance, this weekend Bro #3 graduated from high school. We celebrated Friday and Saturday with family and attended the actual graduation ceremony. Sunday morning, David was still able to attend church services!

My jaw hurts. Worse than it has hurt in over a year. I had a filling replaced. It was only two years old. I guess clenching and grinding your teeth wears fillings out pretty fast.

I set up the appointment one week ago, on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. I had a little trouble with my voicemail over the holiday, but I didn’t worry about it, since it was a holiday. Today, I got my voicemail working again, and I had multiple messages from the dental office trying to confirm my appointment. The last message said that they were canceling my appointment since I hadn’t confirmed.

Why is the alarm clock on my side of the bed? Psoriatic arthritis doesn’t affect David’s hearing.

I hate New Jersey. We’ve been here seven months. I have tried, but I still hate it.

When I call to pay $75 towards a $103 doctor’s bill, billing associates shouldn’t ask me when more funds will be added to my HSA card because they “just don’t want me to be sent to collections.” Um, did you want me to pay you or not? You didn’t send me to collections for two months over the whole amount, but now because I’m paying you, you’re sending me to collections?

I am not a psycho just because I take clonazepam. Clonazepam, or klonopin if you get the name brand, is always listed as one of the medications crazy people are taking in movies and on television shows. Next time you’re watching Law & Order or a medical drama, and they’re dealing with a psycho killer, listen to the medications the psycho is taking. Clonazepam is always listed.

I take clonazepam for my TMJ Disorder. It was prescribed by my specialist, who has DDS not MD after his name. He told me it would help me get a deeper sleep and clench my jaw less. I take a small dose, and it helps a lot.