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“Both abundance and lack [of abundance] exist simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend." - Sarah Ban Breathnach

Thursday, November 11, 2010

A Different Kind of Ouch

Words that strike fear in the heart of any PWC (person with CFS):  I have a tooth ache.

It started Monday night, innocuous enough, but by Tuesday morning, it was raging.  I called my dentist, and they were able to squeeze me in yesterday at 3:30 pm.  Right in the middle of my scheduled rest.  :(

I was told I needed a root canal.  Hm, that's interesting, because the dentist I went to about five years ago was supposed to have done a root canal on that tooth.  Rip-off artist.  I guess that's what you get when you are in a new community and don't know how to get referrals to the good guys.

The procedure took about an hour and a half.  Luckily, I was able to ask for and receive nitrous oxide.  Ah, good ol' nitrous oxide.  At least it minimized some of the stress of the situation.  Hopefully, it will minimize my crash as well.

Because crashing I am!  I took pain medication last night before bed, but I woke at 2:15 am in agony.  Took more pills, but I awoke again at 5:15 am and had to wait another hour before I could safely take more pills.  I was grateful for the pain management techniques I had learned during my childbirth years.  I took another pill at 6:30 am.  Now I have to wait another hour before I can take another pill.  :(

Luckily, my kids are out of school for the long weekend, and I have no responsibilities I need to muddle through.  Just rest and recuperate.  I hope the crash is minimal and short-lived.  A root canal for a healthy person is traumatic enough; for PWCs, it's brutal.

4 comments:

Renee said...

Oh Shelli...been there done that ~ 5 times! Although I do not remember pain after the root canals. Were you put on antibiotics for the infection? Sure hope the pain subsides soon and the crash does not last long...Hugs and prayers coming your way.

Amy said...

That is really rough. I hope and pray you are able to recuperate well, this weekend.

Alison said...

Sorry you have to go through this. I kind of went through the same thing. I had two root canals on a molar, and it was still hurting. This summer when it got really bad I went to a more holistic dentist who said he doesn't recommend root canals for PWCs...of course I forget why. The tooth had to come out, recuperation was slow and awful. I have one other tooth that's had a root canal. He wants to take it out too, but I'm holding off because it was so traumatic. I just don't want to wait too long until it really starts to hurt. And I want a second opinion.

I hope this root canal takes for you.

me/cfs warrior said...

Perfect title and I sooo get it! I've been getting a lot of dental work lately and narrowly missed needing a root canal.

I'm hoping the pain has left by now and that you are recovered from the appointment...