I just realized I hadn't posted anything more about this situation. I thought I had, so maybe I wrote something & then never posted it!? Anyway, here it is...
Ended up going to the ER the next day, because when I woke up, the left side of my face was really swollen and painful. (I called the doc's office & they told me to go ahead to the ER). ER doc, based on his exam of the facial swelling, told me I likely had an abscessed tooth. He gave me a script for an antibiotic, and told me that if it wasn't better within 4-5 days I should see my dentist. I called my dentist as soon as I left and made an appointment for that afternoon.
Dentist checked it out, confirmed the abscess, and then numbed me up so they could work on it. They drilled out my filling, then drilled out some of the root system. They got to a certain point, then I couldn't take it anymore, so they gave me another local shot & tried to finish up. It didn't work, and the dentist apologized to me and said he couldn't numb me up anymore, he'd done all he could, and to hold on because they were almost done. I managed to make it through by gripping the arm rests & making my whole body stiff as a board. It worked, and I got through it. Then they told me they were going to have to drain out the rest of the infection, so they sliced open the inside of my cheek at the gum line, and proceeded to squeeze out the infection. I thought the tooth was bad, man, this guy really squeezed! I had tears streaming down my face, and I was shaking from what I assume was adrenalin. The really bad headache came back & I couldn't really open my eyes for the pain (migraine-type light sensitivity), even though I'd taken a hydrocodone before I got there. It was all I could do to walk out to my car, I was totally drained - couldn't even drive at first; I just sat in the car for about 5 minutes, until I was sure I'd be ok. The dentist gave me a script for a stronger antibiotic, and told me that I should start feeling better within 2-3 days, and this morning is the first day I haven't had to take any hydrocodone. My face is getting a little movement back as well, so that's good.
Another good thing is that the tooth that had been overly sensitive for this last year didn't hurt at all anymore. My guess is that when I had that filling replaced, they didn't get everything, and it got infected. I'd asked the dentist how a neck issue could have brought on this abscess, and he thought that maybe the tooth had been infected for a while, but that my body was able to keep "clearing" it out to that point, but that the neck issue created some swelling, which prevented it clearing itself anymore. It's the only explanation any of the doctors gave me that makes any sense. My hope now, is that I won't have this horrible sensitivity anymore, and that my constant headaches might go away now. I was also thinking that if I had an infection for that length of time, it might explain why I was having such a hard time getting back into exercising.
Anyway, I have to go back in to the dentist in a week or two, so they can finish up my root canal. I told him that if it was going to be as intense as it was this time, they'd better knock me out for it! He said that by then, all of the irritated nerves should have settled down, and it should be nothing like this time.
On another topic, I've had my phone basically shut off for a few weeks (well, since father's day, anyway) and have turned it on occasionally to see if anyone contacted me. I did finally get a couple texts from Viv, but just a few words each. GRJ called me a couple times too - first message was basically "hey, it's me! catch ya later." 2nd was a bit more wordy - she wants me to come up for her b-day gathering today (Saturday). I don't know if I should go or not. On one hand, I don't want her to think I don't care, but on the other, I really don't know any of the people who will be there except her b/f, whom I don't particularly care for. Besides, seeing couples together is *not* something I really want to be a part of. I've not been out to a bar since last Saturday (was that just a week ago? Seems like two weeks!?) Point is, I don't really want to socialize and if I go, I'll be expected to do so. I don't want to go and then stay off to myself the whole time either, because I don't want to bring anyone else down. I don't know what to do. I haven't called/texted her back yet. I was going to wait & see how I felt closer to the time I'd have to leave, then maybe I'd just show up. Besides, I can't drink while on the antibiotic, so I'm going to feel even more awkward. I guess I can just take a couple pills with me & see if they can "take the edge off", so to speak...
1:48 p.m. - 2012-06-30
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