Two weeks, 6 Dental considerations, 10 prescription medications, numerous rescue remedies and supplements later, the complete resolution of a dental procedure remains in the distance! Perhaps you know the story here and here where I suffered with anguish then crawled my way into renewed hope with the extraction of an infected tooth. Yes, the tooth is out. And no, I am not convinced that the infection is resolved. Some goo came out 3 days ago and the gum is still somewhat inflamed. Pain is not yet resolved. How can inflammation go down when there is goo? No one seems to believe me that this nightmare is not yet over, that there is more that can be done to help me.

The struggle continues this night with a less-clear course of action from here. Dr. L, the oral surgeon, says everything is normal and won’t see me until a month from my call last week. Dr. K, the referring dentist who diagnosed me, says the medications prescribed are “strong,” what else do I need? Yeah, I agree they are strong and the side effects created 2 new symptoms! I don’t need stronger. I need a modification in my treatment plan! Dr. J, my medical Doc, says it’s healing epithelial cells that oozed out; use some anti-microbials topically. Already on it sir but one of them has inflamed my gums so I had to discontinue it. Oh and the antibiotic tore up my esophagus so I had to discontinue it too. Dr. R, the Biologic Dentist out of town, still won’t see me in this COVID-19 pandemic even though he is the one who has the procedures and expertise to clean up this mess. Then there is Dr. B: the one whose office WILL treat me with IV Ozone this week because hey, I am willing to pay for it. So it is to the office of Dr. B we will go for a systemic treatment of infection and inflammation. Lord willing, I am hoping it helps!

Lots of tears have drained from my face these past few days. I went 8 days with nary a convulsive episode then they returned as my intolerance to pain medication of any type progressed. I went off of icing 24/7 only to return to this treatment so I can sleep at night; it seems to reduce the risk for seizure attacks as well. But make no mistake: the cranial nerve complex in my face, predominantly the trigeminal nerve (teeth) and vestibulocochlear nerve (ears) on the left side are still inflamed. A sharp banging sound of my hubby pounding a board while putting together a raised bed triggered all matter of hell breaking loose! It was all I could do to slam myself down on the sectional before the episode of involuntary shaking, gutteral screams, flexion posturing, leg posturing then flopping, writhing, and finally weeping in exasperation. I was helpless. And I am really spent after years and years and years of this hell.

Somebody please figure out how to calm down these nerves in my face, k? Can’t some dental, medical or otherwise knowledgeable person figure out how to fix it? Will the Great Physician speak healing into my life soon? I know that healing will take time from the second tooth extraction procedure from hell. (The first was in 2015 with extraction of 2 infected teeth and virtually NO PAIN COVERAGE after the first day! It was just too much to bear.) The trauma of these repeated incidences of convulsive episodes, complicated/painful medical procedures, and waning compassion from the medical community create a type of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Each new procedure brings grief and tears as I earnestly try to work through issues of appropriate pain management and recommended treatments that my body ends up not tolerating. IT IS NOT MY FAULT THAT I CAN’T FOLLOW YOUR TEXTBOOK PROCEDURES PEOPLE!!! Welcome to chronic illness! Even when I do the work of researching everything and writing down what works for me, they really don’t care much past the initial service or consult. Dr. L changed one med then prescribed what Dr. L prescribes. ISN’T THIS PART OF YOUR JOB PEOPLE!!!

Looks to me like there is a subset of Docs within any area of practice that really doesn’t like a smart, engaged, researched female patient who is really trying to make your job easier. When I bring a list of questions and show it to you it’s because I am scared and don’t want any further harm than the illness or the potential procedure otherwise might bring. I am trying to make things easier on BOTH OF US. Please listen to me. Please bring your best to our appointment as I will too; I have taken hours and hours to prepare already. I am scared; please be nice to me. Please follow-up with me and allow me to participate in my care. I want to be YOUR BEST PATIENT EVER! If we are successful together then know that I will write your praises everywhere with a clear and compelling testimonial. Isn’t that worth something to you?

I wannabe well. I realize that I might not get to be well. In the meantime I hope at least to have some good moments beyond the medical crap that dominates my life. I fight for moments of normalcy every day despite chronic pain and numerous medical problems. It might be too much to ask for the Docs to want something bigger for me beyond the procedure he or she is rendering. I get it. You have lots of patients and a practice to run and can’t get bogged down with one more problem to solve. Well just maybe this is why you got into the dental or medical field to begin with some years back? Saving lives? Bringing cures? Helping people feel better? Something more than money and prestige must have brought you into one of the most respected professional titles on earth. You can do it Dr. L, Dr. K, Dr. J, Dr. R, and Dr. B. Let’s see you try a little harder for me.

In the meantime I will rest in the arms of Dr. GP, the king of surgery of the heart, mind, and spirit. One day I know that I will be whole again in Your presence. Oh dear Jesus, is this all there is this side of heaven? I’m just so very broken. Thank you for listening. Thank you for your provision in my life including the most incredible helpmate and love on earth for me in Steve. Thank you for the ability today to make a nice meal for us despite the pain and problems. Thank you for protecting us from the virus that is wreaking havoc on our world. Just thank you. JJ