But I think we are finally on track to fix things. The hitch is, I have to put up with this (mild) headache, I fear, until the 20th, when I can get the endodontist to fix something another dentist did ten years ago. This is good, understand, but I am real tired of painkillers, pain, headaches, jaw aches, antibiotics, and appointments.
The good news is that through a chain of improbable connections I have finally gotten a dentist that has located the problem. So this is fixable. Just kind of drawn-out.
Meanwhile I’m making progress, just not as much as I’d like.
Congratulations on being a person who does not wait until the pain gets annoyingly in the way of life before having it seen to. I have never been so wise. As a teen, I recall stubbing my toenail most of the way off and walking on until the blood caused me to slip with every other step before asking for help. In my mid 50s, I was at bone on bone in both knees and in tears before I went to a doctor. It appears that I haven’t grown any more gormful in the last half century of my life. >snicker<
Wonderful to finally find a dentist one can trust and who finally finds the root of the problem. (sorry, couldn’t resist.)
I have great sympathy for you right now, since I’m in the middle of a root canal that should have been done 5 months ago when this started, but the dentist really didn’t take it seriously. Sigh.
I know that whole painkiller problem. To totally kill the pain, you need to take such a heavy dose that you cease functioning. Cut down, and you’re in a constant low level of pain. And still dopey from the meds.
Man, teeth problems really get you where you live. Hang in there, lady. At least you have access to pain killers that work. I’m glad you found somebody who could not only identify but fix the problem.
We’re into our third week of unmercifully hot weather here in the flatlands in the square bit at the top of Tx. Today’s predicted high is 105 F (40.5 C). Only supposed to get up to 103 F (39.4 C) tomorrow, though. Humidity is now 36%, so if you go outside, you’ll shrivel right up. In an attempt to augment the AC, which is set on stun, I’ve got so many fans on that if I turn on one more, I will have to contact the tower and get takeoff clearance.
I am profoundly glad that, over the years, we have replaced every ceiling light fixture but two with a fan and light fixture combo (it wouldn’t really work in the kitchen, and the other room, the Captain’s Cabin, is a walk in closet with airs). They make a difference! The solar panels on the roof are proving their merit now during the ‘fry egg on sidewalk’ part of summer; our electric bills used to be horrific because of a/c, but are much more tolerable now.
You know fans generate heat, right? They only can help if you’re sweating more than unaided evaporation will cope with, and that you can do something with their heat.
When I need to, I run the A/C in the morning to de-humidify and pre-cool. Until after sunset, I keep fans off and let the heat stratify: hot near the ceilings, comfortable when seated. Of course, this depends on how much heat your home gains in a day, and whether things get significantly cooler at night.
(Congratulations, Chondrite!)
I was talking to a business acquaintance at the south edge of that square area, last Friday, and he said that they’d just had a shower go through, on a day when it was otherwise 106. (One thing I have to say for California – when it’s that hot, we generally have humidity that’s below 30%. However, having your eyelids sweating is not fun.)
I hate to say, but we’ve been in the 70’s with rain, which is totally unlike Spokane’s Julys.
I wish I had more energy, but I was on one antibiotic for the abscessed tooth, and a round of Keflex for the jaw, together, and I am relieved to say I will at least be done with the Keflex after tomorrow. Heavy-duty antibiotic just doesn’t make you real spiff. I was glad to have it, however,
I’m just so anxious to be done with this!
As all of us here are old enough to know, courage consists of being afraid and doing the necessary anyway; have I mentioned that ‘done’ is one of my favorite words?
Sorry for the dental issues. Yes, it’s good to have the drugs, and yes, they are a hassle of their own. Hope things get resolved soon!!
And, uhm, concerning high temps, I live in the desert in Arizona. This is a week of 110+ days, pretty typical for July. June was worse, with several in the 118-120 range. And before anyone quips “dry heat,” this is monsoon season. We do get our share of humidity this time of year. Not complaining, though. I wouldn’t live anywhere else!
It certainly has been an odd summer. After temps in the 80’s and 90’s we went through days of temps in the very low 70’s. We live about four miles from the Atlantic so weather is always interesting.
CJ, I am glad to hear you have found a good dentist! Serendipity! Keflex does a great job but it sure is a creativity killer! (I assume you are taking a good probiotic with each dose of meds)
I once went many year’s without seeing a dentist because one almost dislocated my jaw. The woman I go to now is considered an artist by others in the profession. She has wonderful hands!
Toes crossed that all your dental woes are soon fixed. SOON!
Sympathy for your dental woes. I don’t remember whether or not you can take ibuprofen, but I’ve found that’s the best thing for relieving dental pain. Back in the 1988 I had to have several crowns put in because I had been grinding my teeth for years and no one but me in a bite guard until then. There was at least one root canal involve too. It was during all of that I found that ibuprofen worked better than percodan, at least for me.
When I went for my semi-annual cleaning earlier this month, the dentist told me that the spot that’s been ouchy when I floss is in fact decay around a crown. Sigh. So I’ll go back a week from today for that filling and another he found that I hadn’t noticed yet. Both on the same side of lower jaw, so that at least means I can get it over with in one trip.
Hope you’re through all of your trials soon.
Teegan: My crown expert (I am also a tooth grinder and cracked all of my teeth) put me on a prescription fluoride tooth paste to protect the tooth ‘foundation under my crowns. ( I joke that I have a full tiara and am trying to decide who to will it to!) Having a dentist who is expert at making sure the crown surfaces fit each other properly makes a huge amount of difference to those of us who grind.
He has really managed to stabilize my TMJ. I still use a night guard – having one made by the dentist to fit precisely is expensive but worth every penny.