Dr. Ralph Garcia – Jesus is for the Wounded

Alright. It’s a few decades too soon in my life to be fussing over fake teeth in a restaurant but that is exactly where I have landed. Or an acrylic mouthpiece of sorts, that is. Then there’s the one with metal wires in it. Aaaargh! This is all kinda gross, especially with bits o’ lunch in thar!

It’s not your average bear that carries around a bottle of mouthwash in a gallon Ziploc freezer bag with 2 paper towels, a funny little brush and a clam-shell plastic box with air holes in it with a spare mouthpiece in tow. Gentle Reader, you knew I was not undergoing a normal treatment plan when I signed up for this next phase in my recovery from a serious illness. After all, who said that specialized dental appliances would stop almost 7 years of daily seizure attacks?

The answer: no one really. Persons with Tourettes Syndrome, dystonia, and tics have found relief in addition to persons with severe TMJ or Temporal Mandibular Disorders. Only one expert mentioned “atypical seizures” and another “movement disorders.” It was the Lord who led me to examine my own pattern of symptoms and triggers, led by an observation from an ENT in a recent exam, and extensive research that seemed to indicate that I, too, might benefit from this highly skilled approach within the dentistry profession. It made sense to me that a Craniomandibular Disorder Specialist would be able to relief pressure on my aching jaw. If it relieved pressure on cranial nerves in the surrounding tissues as well, then there would be a good chance that many of the episode triggers and the convulsive episodes themselves could go down. So I interviewed thirteen professionals in the USA then said, “sign me up!” My beloved agreed. Graciously, many wonderful folks helped make it happen.

And I am glad that it did happen. The convulsive episodes are now EIGHTY PERCENT IMPROVED!!! Yeah God! Praise the Lord! Holy cow! Cool beans! Plus every other exclamation of joy I have ever used on this here blog. Just Julie is going to get well! I can now lie down and get up from bed most of the time without 30 or more minutes of convulsive episodes. THIS IS HUGE! Bonus: my reactivity to noxious sensory stimuli is also down. My posture is better. I am able to eat a few more foods that I have been able to in many, many years without triggering a seizure. Other symptoms have come and gone yet even the nagging jaw pain is also reduced. I am looking forward to seeing what will happen over time as the improvements continue . . .

The battle is not yet won, however, as my devices will need adjustments and I’ll possibly need new dental appliances as time goes forward. This will require significant travel to my Doctor out of State, a leap of faith in the Lord’s provision, and a massive testing of my health status to travel by myself. Am I up to the challenge? Absolutely. We will plan carefully and proceed with caution. Looks like I am on a good path for recovery at last. I am humbled and grateful beyond what I can put into words. Thank you Jesus!

Here are a few pictures from the process from my first week on this new journey. I look a mess in most of them yet that is because I was very sick going into these appointments. I had six violent convulsive episodes just trying to do the 5 hours of evaluation and was quite depleted by the time it was over. Afterwards, my hubby and I were so trashed that we stood in the parking lot late that sunny afternoon and ate every snack and drop of water we had with us! It took days for me to recover yet somehow I knew that my life was about to change very soon. Three days later I had another very long appointment to receive my mouth splints. The changes began within a day and continue three weeks later! Stay tuned for more good news as this story develops.

Gentle Reader, if you are struggling with serious health issues, I encourage you that the Lord sees your suffering, grieves for you, and promises to be there for you for each and every breath, now and forever. Call upon His name. There is “hope beyond” what we can see. Consider trusting the person of Jesus Christ Who will see you through, carry you this day and always. I would have never made it this far without Him. I hope we can share in my joy together someday Gentle Reader. Our God is good! JJ

xray, dental, appliances, TMJ, TMD, specialized, dystonia, seizures, atypical, tics, Tourettes, Dr. Ralph Garcia, craniomandibular, disorder, treatment — Assistant Josh took about a dozen x-rays to start the evaluation process.

124 — Dr. Ralph Garcia takes a detailed history; the smell of acrylics from the lab requires wearing a mask.

134 — Bite evaluation by Dr. Ralph Garcia

207 — Assistant Julie takes photos with and without the new dental appliances.

141 — Multiple impressions are taken with soft polymers that triggered episodes when the material was cold. Trying to stay calm to get the proper fitting was challenging.

20180219_133358 — Waiting room in Dr. Ralph Garcia’s office! We definitely are not in Indiana!

Sunset Beach, Florida, Tampa Bay, wife, husband, couple, married, sunset, sunrise — A little shy first time out in public wearing the smaller of the two dental appliances so I could have a snack while watching the sun go down on Sunset Beach. So grateful that my Dentist’s office was in sunny Tampa, Florida!

Christian couple, husband, wife, marriage, God, centered, focused, pulling together, trials

In the stories entitled, The Next Big Thing and Pursuing the Next Big Thing, I described the rationale and planning for a new treatment of the serious illness that I have endured for six years. Steve and I are making our travel plans to see a Dental Practitioner out of State whom we are confidant can help me get well. There is much to do!

Dr. Ralph Garcia uses state-of-the-art dental appliances, some that he has invented, to improve cranial-temporal-mandibular dynamics of the head and jaw. Dr. Garcia’s extensive assessment includes radiology imaging, electromyographic testing, clinical history, and a detailed assessment of the musculature of the face, jaw, neck, back, posture, and dental structures. Interventions can include manual therapies, medications, TENS unit treatments, and most importantly custom designed upper and lower dental appliances. The goals may be to extend the underbite of the jaw or increase the height of the temporal-mandibular joint (TMJ) to take pressure off of displaced or perforated discs in the joint. Adjustments in the device are often needed within the first week and at approximately 6-week intervals thereafter, up to 8 times this year. Just today I discovered that an orthodontic surgeon fairly skilled in this area of practice and residing in a major city 3 1/2 hours away may be available to make some of these subsequent adjustments. This is good news!

Over time the benefits of these specialty dental appliances can include relief from sleep apnea, pain, tinnitus, headaches, sensory changes, clicking or popping sounds, movement disorders (e.g. tics, seizures, Parkinson’s, Tourette’s, etc.), and more. The former have plagued me since an auto accident in 1996; the convulsive episodes began on a daily basis in April of 2012. Every night, sometimes overnight, and most mornings I wake up with seizure attack episodes of varying duration and intensity. This makes trying to get restorative sleep a frightful experience for me, knowing what awaits me when my head hits the pillow. Or in the evening when my body is tired and posture is slumped from the burdens of the day. Last night it was right here sitting at this computer that my body produced a gutteral utterance and repetitive head thrashing. When I re-gained voluntary control of my hands, I placed my fingers in my mouth to attempt to reposition my jaw, make it protrude forward. The episode petered out shortly thereafter. The same thing happened in a chiropractic adjustment today. This time I was able to mumble to the chiropractor to protract my jaw when some earlier neck stretches had triggered an episode. His hands pushing on my face hurt. He removed his hands and the neurologic event ended within 30 seconds. That just doesn’t happen! Wow! How cool is that?

We believe that we are finally onto something good and trust that the Lord has gone before us in leading us to this specialty treatment for a Temporal Mandibular Disorder (TMD). I am grateful to have a skilled chiropractor locally to address the related orthopedic issues, the dysfunctional dynamics of my TMJ. However, we have come to understand that the TMJ/TMD assessment and treatment are extremely expensive and will require out-of-State travel for almost 3 weeks. I have started a Go Fund Me campaign to raise $10,500 needed for my care as indicated below. Don’t freak out about the consultation and appliance fees! This figure is typical and even more for the top specialists in the USA treating persons in this manner with complex illnesses such as movement disorders. The research and science is established. The TMJ splint and later anti-snoring appliance that my local dentist made for me about 7 and 4 years ago, respectively, hurt my teeth or caused me to choke. Imagine waking up from a sound sleep whilst choking on an acrylic appliance in your mouth with your head-banging violently in an involuntary seizure attack. (Go here for videos.) Frightful indeed!

Budget for Julie’s Neuro Treatment:

$4440 initial consultation, testing, and fabrication of dental appliances.

$215 follow-up adjustment after wearing them 1 week and before we return home.

$2,000 for gas towing trailer (as I cannot stay in hotels without triggering seizures) and campground reservations.

$745 x 4 = $2980 For airfare, 2 nights hotel, and 2 days rental car x 4 estimated follow-up visits.

$215 x 4 = $860 For dental appliance adjustment consultations with Dr. Ralph Garcia; no monies budgeted for Dr. Richard Crowe in Chicago if appropriate for interim adjustments.

$10,495 Estimated Total for 2018

Here is the link to my Go Fund Me Campaign to support my neurological treatment with a donation of any amount.

Fundraiser for Julie’s Neuro Treatment

Please join us in prayer and donate if you can for this promising development in my treatment plan. Steve and I are very optimistic, feeling the Lord’s hand guiding us with your prayers covering us in love. Lord willing, I am going to get well! Thank you for being here online with me these past 6 years. Yous da best!

Godspeed,

Just Julie