Wednesday, February 20, 2013

IHKW Report ... & More

I'm a bit late doing my International Hermit & Knit Weekend report.  In my post this past Saturday, I mentioned that I would be going back to the endodontist on Monday to have the second root canal infection treated.  I wrote that I anticipated a simple procedure, quick healing, & little, if any, pain.  Remind me not to anticipate things anymore.  The procedure itself lasted an hour & consisted of drilling a hole through my crown, through the metal post it was attached to, removing the old root canal filling material, & treating the infection.  The root canal was then filled with new filling material, the hole in the post repaired, & then the hole in the crown repaired.  I wondered how in the world a hole could be drilled in my crown without damaging it but I figured this procedure has been done thousands if not millions of times throughout the world so I had no worries. However, the endodontist filled the hole in the crown with regular cavity filling material & told me I now need to see a regular dentist to have the hole filled with porcelain, if possible.  If it's not possible, I will need a new crown.  Isn't that nice?  I just bought this crown last year & now I might need to buy another one?

Before the endodontist started my procedure, he said he was going to need to numb me (duh) & I asked him to shoot me with enough novocaine to numb an elephant. He stated that I probably didn't need a whole lot but thankfully he gave me a whole lot anyway & I felt no pain during the procedure.  I was not even worried when I heard him say "I can't believe how long this root is" or "I need a longer file."  I only had mild concern when he filed & filed & filed away at this second infected root canal, just like he did with the first one.  It never occurred to me that I would have any problems.

We didn't get back home until quite late (6 p.m.).  I was feeling a little sore as the novocaine wore off but it was nothing I couldn't handle.  The soreness seemed to intensify as it got closer to bedtime & I decided to take one of the leftover pain pills that he prescribed for me after the surgery in January.  I woke up yesterday morning still feeling quite sore.  The soreness turned to pain.  I tried to hold out as long as I could, wanting to take another pain pill at bedtime so I would sleep, but by 8 o'clock I couldn't wait any longer.  I was feeling like my face was swelling & sure enough, when I got up to take the pain pill, I looked in the mirror & the left side of my face was quite puffy.  I couldn't do much of anything for the remainder of the night because the pain got worse instead of better.  I cried & cried & cried.  The prescription stated to take 1 pill every 6 hours.  I went to bed near midnight with 2 more hours to wait until I could take another what appeared to be useless pill.  I couldn't get to sleep because of the pain & at 1:00 a.m. I got up & took another pill rather than waiting another hour.  I went back to bed & must have dozed off for a while because I remembered dreaming. Either that or I was hallucinating.  I looked at the clock & it was 2 a.m.  I decided to try sleeping in the recliner.  No could do.  The second pain pill was as useless as the first one.  The pain increased.  The swelling increased.  I cried throughout the night.  I finally was able to doze off for a little while after the sun came up ... maybe 45 minutes or an hour.

When the endodontist's office opened, I called & left a message explaining how swollen I am & how much pain I am in.  The receptionist called me back & said she is going to try to have the endodontist see me today.  He won't be in until after 11:00 so I am waiting now to find out what's going to happen.

I must admit that I have a nice looking upper lip.  I lost my lips several years ago.  I had no idea it was happening.  One day I just looked in the mirror & wondered what happened to my lips.  Rather than the pouty, kissable lips that had always been there, I suddenly needed a magnifying glass to see the 2 pink pencil lines that replaced them. Sure, this lip is giving me a lot of pain right now ... along with it's friends nose, cheek, & jowl ... but it's nice to have a lip again.  Here I am ... finding something good in the midst of a bad situation.

My IHKW was rather uneventful.  I did work on my sock but ended up taking it apart & starting again.

I turned the heel & was merrily stitching my way to the toe when I thought it looked a little big.  I decided to try it on.  It was just a tad loose everywhere except at the cast on edge which was way too tight.  I took it apart & started it again using a German twisted cast on which is supposed to be very stretchy.  I hope so.  These logs I have for legs need all the stretch they can get.  

16 comments:

Vickie said...

Oh Shirlee! I have prayed for you my friend.

gracie said...

Oh my, you certainly are having a hard time of it. Nothing worse than a pain that does not react to the meds. I do hope you will soon feel better.....

Robin at The Primitive Hutch said...

It doesn't sound like your having a good day Shirlee. Hope your pain goes away fast for you and your day is filled with sunshine!
Prim Blessings
Robin

cucki said...

Hello deary me so happy to see your post..
Good luck for Monday
Sending you lots of love xx

jennifer768 said...

Shirlee,so sorry to hear that you are once more in pain!Darn but you and I seem to have a theme going right now.Nothing working as it should.Will be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.Big hugs,Jen

Nicola said...

Bless you Shirlee you have had so many problems with your teeth. Hugs dear friend.

marly said...

Oh Shirlee I hope you aren't going to have a problem. Hoping it will start subsiding soon. I have that problem too - why do ankles get bigger and lips get smaller? That is the case with so many body areas that I wish would reverse the order.

Pam in IL said...

Sorry to hear about the pain you've been in. I hope you were able to see the dr and get some relief.

You're in my thoughts and prayers.

Maggee said...

Man, I sure hope that you have gotten some relief by NOW! It is not good that you had to suffer all night long! Grrrrr! Sending up a prayer for your relief! Hugs!

Anne said...

ow!! Sorry to hear all the problem. I was at the dentist yesterday, got my two back teeth crowned. No root canal thank goodness! Take care and hope you get to knit lots soon.

capecodgirl565 said...

I could cry just reading the description of your pain! I guess there is a good reason why I hate the dentist visits. Feel better soon.

Marilyn said...

Oh, how horrible!
I hope you have gotten some relief since and are feeling better.
Marilyn

Stress Less said...

I'm praying for you. Please let us know how you are doing.

Marsha said...

I understand your tooth issues. I've been there and hope never to go back. Crowns, implants, root canals, crowns breaking off at the gum line.... I hate dental work, sigh. I hope by now it's much better. I'm thinking of you and hope you are back to stitching.

Catherine said...

I hope you are feeling better by now ~ I can't even imagine!

Jo who can't think of a clever nickname said...

Ouch! I'm having dentistry done in March but I'm being sedated because otherwise they won't get near me!
Hope you're feeling better now.