It began after I had COVID in September. Once I say “it”, I am simply referring to a sequence of little occasions that added as much as the place I’m this morning. I want I had been writing about this all alongside as a result of it will be simpler to maintain up, however right here goes…
In September, I obtained a headache. I might stop ingesting espresso the day earlier than, so I assumed it was because of the caffeine withdrawal (my caffeine withdrawal complications are horrible and I at all times vow by no means to get hooked on espresso once more, then I do). The subsequent day, my throat felt prefer it was squeezing shut. This is quite common due to my generalized nervousness.
The next day, my headache was nonetheless persistent however my throat had gotten a lot worse–it was to the purpose that I *knew* I used to be getting sick. The telltale signal for me is at all times a sore throat. Certain sufficient, I obtained extra signs and was down and out for just a few days. It wasn’t horrible, however undoubtedly not enjoyable. The worst half was my persistent headache and throat that simply felt like I used to be being strangled.
I had been taking a decongestant across the clock with COVID in order that I would not get a sinus an infection. I used to be completely satisfied that I by no means did–but my sinuses felt completely dry and I assumed that is what was responsible for my headache.
The headache truly began to get even worse. It wasn’t excruciating or migraine-like, however it was there, continuous, 24/7. I began taking increasingly ibuprofen, 800 mg at a time, and it was barely touching it. I could not sleep. I obtained actually moody as a result of the headache was so persistent and I simply wished a break. I evaluate it to having a dialog with an grownup and your younger baby retains tugging in your pants saying “Mama, mama” making an attempt to get your consideration the entire time and also you simply do not need to interrupt the dialog.
Quickly my entire face was hurting, significantly my jaw, my temples, brow, and behind my eyes. After a few weeks, I knew it could not be the caffeine. COVID was lengthy gone. My jaw was hurting so badly that I made a decision to go to the dentist. I might been avoiding the dentist ever since Eli had oral surgical procedure final December and awoke in the midst of it, feeling each single factor the oral surgeon was doing to take away his impacted knowledge enamel.
Once I’d been sick, I used to be consuming popsicles across the clock as a result of they helped my throat. And the enamel on the fitting aspect of my face have been SO delicate to the chilly. This wasn’t completely new, and the dentist knew about it however could not discover an issue, so I’d simply been utilizing toothpaste for delicate enamel (Tom’s truly works fairly nicely for that!).
Anyway, I had a nagging feeling that I had a nasty tooth or one thing. The hygienist took x-rays and mentioned she did not see something on the x-rays, however it’s doable I had a hairline fracture or one thing (which sounded horrible to me). And positive sufficient, upon inspection, she seen a really small crack in my (#31) molar (the one farthest again on the decrease proper aspect).
The dentist mentioned he might put a crown on it, however referred me to an endodontist as a result of he mentioned I needs to be evaluated to see if I want a root canal first. I had a root canal and crown in 2016 and I used to be terrified to ever must get one other crown (truthfully, the foundation canal was simpler than the crown). He mentioned since I used to be having quite a lot of ache, there was a superb likelihood I might want the foundation canal–otherwise, I’d nonetheless have ache with the crown.
I wished to do nothing. Faux that I by no means went to the dentist. Faux that my tooth was high quality. How did I chew ice for like 15 years and by no means get a crack, then stop a 12 months and a half in the past and my tooth will get fractured? Whereas I do not grind my enamel, I do clench my jaw so much when my nervousness is dangerous, which could possibly be the trigger. However the dentist mentioned if I did nothing it will probably get contaminated, probably inflicting an abscess and a a lot larger drawback than a root canal and crown.
As a lot as I wished to disregard the issue, my fixed headache was so dangerous at that time that I simply made the appointment with the endodontist and hoped I at the very least would not want a root canal. After having a severely damaged jaw in 2010 (the surgeon mentioned it was the worst damaged jaw he’d ever seen), needing two reconstructive surgical procedures, and having my jaws wired shut for six weeks, you’d suppose that perhaps my dangerous luck with my enamel was over. However that will be too simple! It brought about a dental phobia, and I at all times dread going to the dentist.
Anyway, the endodontist was SO variety. After taking extra x-rays and analyzing my tooth, he instructed me the worst information but… he mentioned that he was fairly positive that he would not be capable of save my tooth in any respect. He mentioned that if I wished, he might begin the foundation canal and attempt to save the tooth, however from his expertise he did not suppose it will work. He advisable extracting the tooth altogether.
The considered it made me really feel sick and I (embarrassingly) cried a bit of when he instructed me. Not solely am I fearful of any form of dental work, I’m now additionally fearful of twilight sedation (which is what Eli had). I knew there was no means I might endure the extraction with out the sedation although. He gave me a referral to an oral surgeon… and after I checked out it, it was the identical surgeon Eli had had. I mentioned there was completely no means I used to be seeing him, so he referred me to a unique one.
For the reason that endodontist did not suppose he might save my tooth I did not need him to strive, solely to get midway by means of a root canal earlier than needing it extracted anyway. I wished the least quantity of procedures doable. So I referred to as the oral surgeon and made an appointment for a seek the advice of, requesting IV sedation. I do know individuals get extractions with out sedation, however there was no means I might make it by means of that.
The oral surgeon was reassuring, particularly when he took a panoramic x-ray and noticed the plates in my jaw and discovered how dangerous my dental phobia was. He was truly very shocked that I used to be by no means sedated after I obtained the arch bars eliminated (the steel issues that held my jaw shut for six weeks) as a result of it is such a painful process. (I evaluate it to flossing with wire as thick as a paperclip.) I instructed him about Eli and he assured me that he is by no means had that occur to a affected person earlier than.
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| The panoramic x-ray appears fairly cool, proper?! |
He additionally gave me extra dangerous information. He defined that he extremely advisable an implant the place I might be lacking a tooth–not for beauty causes, however as a result of my jaw bone might begin to degrade and trigger a complete host of issues with my different enamel.
At this level, I used to be simply so overwhelmed with all that was occurring. It began with a headache, and now I wanted a tooth extracted and implant to switch it, adopted by a crown? I requested a ton of questions in regards to the process and if he might do it concurrently the extraction (if I used to be already going to be sedated, I might quite get it finished in a single process as a substitute of two) and he mentioned yes–it’ll solely take one other 10-Quarter-hour.
My headache was nonetheless 24/7 (I am not exaggerating after I say that) and I used to be determined for aid. I made the appointment for the (very costly) dental process. And in about three hours from now, I will be getting IV sedation, having a tooth extracted and changed with an implant. It has to heal for 3 months, after which I will must get a crown.
My nervousness is thru the roof proper now. I do know this may occasionally sound like no massive deal to most individuals, and why am I so frightened a couple of silly dental process? Most individuals have not skilled a damaged jaw I’ve and I really feel like my concern is legit. However I’ll do something to eliminate this headache. I’ve needed to eat on the left aspect of my mouth for 2 months (which feels very unnatural) and keep away from something chilly. I have been stress-eating and have gained 12(!) kilos in two months. I simply need to get this over with and hopefully get again to regular.
Soooo, that is the place I’m at proper now. I hope the subsequent time I write, it’s going to be and not using a headache and the extraction and implant can have been uneventful and boring. Right here goes nothing…
