TMJ anyone?

I need to go to the dentist I have decided to not just get my teeth cleaned (it's been 1.5 years since my last cleaning and exam), but mostly because I think I have TMJ.

I've been told I grind my teeth ridiculously loud so that's a bad sign for my teeth and my jaw, but I've been researching TMJ this week and realized the sharp ear pain I get every once in a while (lasts for like 30 minutes and goes away) could be from TMJ! Since the joint is right in front of the ear, swelling of the tissue and everything around it can cause you to have an earache. Apparently it's a common mistake. People think they have something wrong with their ear and it's really because they're experiencing TMJ. Recently, I'm thinking stress from finals, my jaw has been throbbing pretty strongly and if it lasts for about 5 minutes, I get a ridiculous headache on the same side where my jaw hurts. It's bad enough that I have to take something for it (for those who know me and my stubborn reluctance to take medicine...that says something about the pain level). So...Right side gets ear aches, left side gets headaches and the jaw popping. Joy! I'm hoping a mouth guard will help it and that'll be the end of it. I've been trying to consciously realize when the pain is starting in and trying to relax my jaw. It seems to help. If I start to feel too much pain, I tend to unconsciously pop my jaw, which makes it worse in the long run (even if it helps in the short run). Weirdly, I don't think chewing gum really makes a big difference for me. My jaw never hurts during or after chewing gum. It seems to be after I wake up (grinding teeth) and when I'm just sitting around (jaw clenching). I just now need to remember to make the appointment...I tend to remember during class or after the clinic is closed. Go figure.

Anyway, with that long winded description of my jaw pains, I'm starting my internship hunt again. I still haven't heard from COMPASS. I tried e-mailing earlier this week, but I'll try again on Monday. I e-mailed the Bren graduate at the aquarium (figured I might as well), someone who did a fellowship with the Sanctuary (looking for contacts), and e-mailed Oceana again. The person I contacted before seems to not be with Oceana anyway (I get a "no one at that e-mail address" error when I try it). Unfortunately, I had to use their general North Pacific e-mail address. Hopefully my e-mail doesn't get lost underneath everything else. Oh internship hunting...how annoying can you be?

With that...I should go to bed. I didn't have class yesterday afternoon or this morning so my sleep schedule is pretty messed up now. LoL