It's a New Day

I am feeling peaceful. Miles left for a two week vacation--in you guessed it, San Diego. I took a couple days off this week and it is nice to just be alone. Then again, there are 4 cats in this house, so I am never really alone, and they remind me of this every. damn. morning.

Doing all the work around the house is kind of annoying. I don't remember it being like this when I lived in San Diego, but then again, I only had one cat, a few rooms, and no outdoor space to deal with. I also had significantly less *stuff*. At the beginning of the month I was decluttering and decided to try a challenge I saw online of trashing or donating a certain number of items depending on the date, so on the 1st of the month, 1 thing, the 5th, 5 things, the 10th, 10 things, etc. Anyway, I got to 18 and I was like, shit. A practice that was taking maybe 30 minutes a day, is now going to make me declutter a closet, which is a large project that I don't have time for right now. 

I have like two papers to write this weekend, and I want to work on re-organizing my office a bit. I would also like to pull some stuff down from the pantry cupboard and toss anything expired and organize a bit more in there. 

I went to a sleep dentist on Thursday, my regular dentist referred me because I was looking for a full mouth guard. I have a top mouth guard, but I've been clenching my teeth so hard at night I wake with a sore teeth and jaw. I am already pretty sensitive and careful with my teeth, as I still have a baby tooth with no adult tooth under it. I have been saying that I would get an implant when it falls out, and I still will, but I'm just not looking forward to a dental surgeon screwing a rod into my jaw bone. So, I usually do not eat very hard foods or hard candy. Anyway, I did a sleep study late last year and am now on CPAP therapy, and besides the jaw clenching, I have never slept better. 

However, the teeth clenching is not from with my sleep apnea, it's TMJ, and physicians don't really know what causes it specifically, but mostly it boils down to stress. There is also some information stating it's due to overbites as well, but mostly stress and untreated sleep apnea. Mine is treated and the therapy is working really well for me, so I shouldn't be clenching, but I am, and of course I'm stressed. Anyway, for a flimsy looking nylon dental device they wanted $2400. They said my insurance wouldn't cover it because I am already on CPAP therapy, I asked if they called for an authorization and she said no, they don't cover it. So I said no and left. 

Ummmmm $2400 dollars for that?? No thanks. I will just buy an over the counter guard for my bottom teeth. I called my insurance company and spoke with our advocates (because I work for my insurance company, our questions about benefits and coverage are managed with another company) and he reviewed my benefits, said I was covered, then called my insurance company and spoke with a benefits manager, who also said it should be covered. I am annoyed, because I told the provider I am comfortable appealing a denial, and she just said the same thing, since I am already on sleep therapy it wouldn't be covered. After some digging, I think it's because they code this as an sleep apnea device instead of a mouth guard. 

I am going to start with Plackers night guard, they are disposable and very small, you can get them in grocery stores. While I prefer to have something that works for a long time, I've had my top guard for probably like 5 years, I want to see if this even works first. The dentist at the dental sleep place also recommended getting TMJ massages, which I have never heard of, but it's like Swedish massage for your face, which sounds like it could be a good time. Before the pandemic started, like that year I made a "resolution" to get massaged once a month because I know my body needs it. Then, pandemic. I think I should pick that up again. I did find a TMJ massage person, he is partnered with a dental office, but offers TMJ massage. It's quite pricy, and I don't like to be massaged by men, but maybe worth a try. 

In other news, I had an interview for a state position in the department of health and human services this week. I think it went okay, I am still being screened, so I don't know the status yet. I am not thrilled that it is only partial telework though. The job also seems like the stress would be equal to my current job, but at least the pay range starts 10k higher than what I make now. Also, I would have to get a few certifications within a year if I am offered/accept the job, which would put me in a great position to parley this into another better job back in the private sector. After the interview I thought about if I would take it or not, then stopped and reminded myself that I have only interviewed, and have not been offered the position, and haven't really thought much about it since. 

I recently read These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant and loved it. I wasn't sure I was leaning so favorable for this book, but man it really got me. The audiobook narration is fantastic. Right now I'm reading Never Saw Me Coming by Vera Kurlan and am enjoying it so far. It's an interesting plot, and while it took me awhile to get into it, I am invested. I finished Dark Fire by Ruby Dixon on Thursday, that book wraps up her Fireblood series. It was okay, definitely not as good as the first half of the 10 book series, but a quick paranormal romance read. 

Anyway, time to get some cleaning done.