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Friday, October 7, 2011

Blegging for Emergency Oral Surgery - UPDATE - Worse Than I Thought It Would Be

Please forgive me if this post veers into incoherence, I will try to get through it before the minimal amount of relief from massive amounts of analgesics and topical anesthetics wears off.

I have a couple of important half started or half finished posts in draft form, I wanted to have at least one up by today, but the intense raging pain that has overtaken my life and left me shaking and in tears since this afternoon have me all screwed up. The recurring ache in my tooth that I have had flare up for the past few days blew up into something I really hoped it would not today.

I am prone to infections in my jaws that need to be treated surgically, about every 4 or 5 years I get them. The last time it happened, I had no dental coverage (I still don't have any) so I borrowed a bunch of money and went to the cheapest dentist I could find - big mistake. He took out one molar on the upper right side and then did a root canal on the tooth next to it and covered the empty hole with a bridge and the root canal tooth with a cap, attaching them. It always felt wrong, like it was put in backwards or something, and never really stopped being sore. But I was a new mother with a baby at home and nobody to really watch her for me and I was out of borrowed money anyway, so I couldn't go back and I learned to live with it. Two or three years ago, the cap fell apart, just disintegrated, leaving only half of a fake tooth or whatever you want to call it, with holes and jagged edges that I have to be careful not to cut my tongue or cheek on. Since then, every few months something must be getting caught up in there & I get an infection. I have had to resort to home remedies like cramming tea bags up in my cheek next to the bad stump of a tooth and the gum to calm it down and topical stuff like Orajel along with lots of aspirin or ibuprofen in addition to the prescription meds I already have to take for my nerve damage problem. It usually gets better after a few days. Not this time though.

The infection from that last back tooth on top spreads all the way to my front teeth and my lower jaw, along with my cheekbone under my right eye and my right ear and down into my neck where the gland on that side is swollen up nearly as big as a pool cue. It is hell. I have no money, we struggle all the time anyway but a whole bunch of bills came due, like the propane to run the stove & my doctor bills so they'll continue to see me each month to write the scripts for the meds that help keep my chronic pain condition from leaving me bedridden. Of course, as some may remember from one of my recent posts, even getting those filled is rough. I'm tapped out and haven't even paid to keep the internet and phone on yet. I have been doing whatever little paying online work I can find, like MTurk (worked 2 hours and made 50 cents yesterday) and trying to sell ad space here hoping to cover it, and buy freaking food, but an emergency surgery is not even remotely something I can swing, and this time I don't see it getting better without surgery and antibiotics. It's the worst mouth pain I have ever known, and as I said before, painful infections in my jaw are no stranger to me. I am hurting and I am scared, I don't want to gross you out, but it looks BAD up there, the flesh around the tooth on my upper jaw and even spreading to the roof of my mouth is all discolored, gray, white & even black in places, as best as I can see with a flashlight and mirror. I have a fever and chills too. I am terrified by the way it looks in there that this might be something worse than a mere infection because I've had it untreated for so long.

I hate being broke and living like I do, but this new development has me all effed up. I called around and learned that a basic extraction is between $250 and $500, more if there's complications. The A-C page has some 870 or so fans, if each could spare a dollar, I could go to the oral surgeon and maybe even keep my internet/phone connection on, maybe even have something left over for food. I hate being hungry but it is something I deal with more often than I would care to so everyone else here has enough, I am mom, that's what moms do. This blog gets between 19,000 and 23,000 page views a month, I can't do math very well, but if a tenth or so of my readers sent a buck to my tip jar I'd probably be OK. Like I said though, I am bad at math and in a lot of pain. I am sorry if this bores or annoys you but I am scared. I know that infections in one's mouth left untreated can lead to much worse things and I have young children at home who need me. I am not much good to anyone right now due to the misery.

I hate having to ask for help, but I am asking for it because I need it badly. I can't go on like this. If you know an oral surgeon in the Hudson Valley region who's like to fix a blogger's mouth in exchange for ad space, please let me know. Prayers are greatly appreciated if you can spare one or a few. Feel free to share your wisdom if you know of any cheap easily accessible remedies that actually work that might help until I find a way to get this fixed medically the way it needs to be. Again, I am sorry for the bleg and if I sound whiney but I am in pain and afraid.

Note to my trolls: this is not an opportunity for you to kick me while I'm down, no matter how badly I feel, your vitriol will still be removed unless you pay the Troll Toll. If you hate my guts and would like to mock my pain, go ahead, but pay up first so I don't ban you and then you can write all over my comments section about how awful you think I am while I go and get my emergency surgery.

To my beloved readers: if what I do here at the Zilla blog and the A-C page has been of any value to you at all and if you'd like to see me continue doing what I do, please help if you can, and yes, prayers count as help as do suggestions for what might help kill the infection that doesn't require a doctor, dentist, or a lot of money.

If you are still here and haven't yet closed your browser in disgust at my misery, thank you. I hope you all have a nice weekend. I'll try to add interesting things to the blog and A-C page if there is a lull in the pain. Anyway, thanks for reading, sorry if it is just a bunch of rambling crap, but it's hard to think clearly under the circumstances.

Thank you to the two dear friends of the A-C page who hit my tip jar today, I was able to get the topical anesthetic, a big bottle of ibuprofen and some mushy food which is how I was able to pull myself together enough to write this sorry excuse for a blog post.








This post is linked at The Lonely Conservative. Thank you, TLC! 

This post is linked at Blazing Cat Fur. Thanks, BCF!

This post is linked at The Blog of Walker. Thanks, Walker!

Thank you to the good Professor William Jacobson at Legal Insurrection for putting a link to this post in his sidebar. 

This post is linked at the 1389 Blog Counter-jihad! Thank you, 1389AD! 

This post is linked at The Jawa Report. Thanks, DMartyr!


This post is linked at rumcrook. Thank you, rumcrook! 


This post is linked at The Other McCain. Thank you, Stacy! 

This post is linked at From the Desk of Lady Liberty. Thanks, LadyLiberty1885! 

This post is linked at the Hard Times Preparedness Blog.  Thank you, Aland!


This post is linked at The Conservatory. Thanks, Dan! 

This post is linked in the Recommended Reads list at Pundit & Pundette. Thank you, Jill! 

This post is at The Sundries Shack. Thanks, Jimmie!


This post is linked at Adrienne's Corner. Thank you, Adrienne!

This post is linked at lgstarr. Thanks, lgstarr!




UPDATE - October 8, 2011:

After much searching, I was able to find an oral surgeon who would see me for a consult today and prescribe antibiotics. Thanks to the magnificent Tip Jar Hitters, I was able to pay for that appointment & the meds. I was told it would take a day or two before the antibiotics start to subdue the infection, so please forgive me for the delay in properly thanking everyone who has linked, tweeted and donated so far. I am still pretty messed up.

There are complications to my predicament; the bad tooth with the broken cap is the end that holds a bridge together. The doctor said that if he extracts the bad tooth that is causing the infection, he would also have to remove my bridge, which will result in my having three molars missing on the upper right side - so I could basically say goodbye to chewing on that side forever. Then the doctor said he could do a root canal on the bad tooth which would spare me from having to lose it or the other two, but I nearly passed out when the receptionist gave me the first estimate for that procedure as it was several thousand dollars - I don't recall the exact number because the shock of the price really did freak me out and the whole world swam away for a few seconds as she kept saying how much each item for the procedure would be, but then I managed to stutter out that the doctor said he could do a cheaper filling instead of a new cap for me on the bad tooth and she recalculated the price to be just under two thousand dollars, still far out of my reach. The receptionist said she could knock a thousand off the tab because I am uninsured, but it is still hundreds of dollars more than I thought it would be and still far out of my reach. So, barring a miracle, it looks like I'll have to go with the first option which is going to take all but one of the four teeth behind my eye tooth on the right side.

I really do not want to lose all of those teeth, but I suppose I can learn to live with it if it means the infection will stop coming back. They cannot see me until the week of the 17th for the extraction, if I have to opt for sacrificing my other teeth along with the bad one, or the 29th if I am able to somehow cover the cost of the root canal, which would save not just the bad tooth but the other two as well. I was given a refill for the antibiotics prescription if I need it during the wait. I have to tell them what my decision is by the end of the coming week.

So that's where I am at now. Once the antibiotics start to work and I am feeling a little better, I'll be back to posting at the A-C page and this blog about things other than this bleg. Thank you to everyone who has helped thus far and to everyone who has offered kind words and prayers, God bless you all.


UPDATE II - October 10, 2011:

Thank you to everyone who has donated, linked & tweeted and to everyone who has left kind words in my comments section and offered prayers on my behalf. Words cannot adequately describe how incredibly grateful I am for you help, I am in awe at the amazing and overwhelming kindness that has been shown to me. God bless you all!

I am sorry that I didn't update this post yesterday but in addition to the raging infection in my jaw, I am also now ill, I have caught an upper respiratory infection from my husband and have been pretty out of it. Hopefully once the antibiotics start working (still waiting for relief, but they said it would take a day or two), it will help fight the new sickness in addition to the oral infection.

Thanks to all of your help, the surgery that I will need to be able to keep my teeth is now becoming a very real possibility. I never could have imagined that so many people would reach out to help someone like me.
Thank you, and God bless you.




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52 comments:

SignPainterGuy said...

Hugs and Prayers !

Please, dears friends of Zilla, help knock the cobwebs off the tip jar ! Thanks and Bless your Hearts !

MNRobot said...

Hi Zilla, threw a few in the kitty. It's not much but I hope it helps. Been dealing with some medical issues myself lately. Sucks to be in pain.. Praying for you dear lady. Get well soon.

Teresamerica said...

Tooth pain is some of the worst kind of pain Zilla. I am so sorry that you are going through such extreme pain.  You are in my thoughts and prayers.  Dealing with pain from endo and I can honestly say pain really sucks.  

Bilbo Bloggs said...

just paypal'd you a 20.
hope it helps.

TOWG said...

Keep up the fight Zilla ! One more thing, anyone reading this who hasn't sent Zilla whatever small amount you can I would like to say, you suck. Support your own people.

SignPainterGuy said...

Oooh, don`tcha think "you suck" is a bit strong and insulting ? Maybe "tight, stingy or even lacking in compassion", but "you suck" ?

And before you ask, I sent her $50.00 .......

Mike said...

Prayers to you Zilla.  Wish I could do more.

Q...Do they not have a free clinic in your area?

Zilla of the Resistance said...

Thank you for the prayers!
Regarding 'free clinic': I do not qualify for it, being American, married to the father of my children (and married to a man who has a job, even if it's a crappy one) and not of an ethnicity that gets preferential treatment, and it is not nearby or accessible for me with no car during weekdays and nobody to watch my kids anyway.

Zilla of the Resistance said...

Thank you!

Zilla of the Resistance said...

Thank you, Robot!

Zilla of the Resistance said...

Thanks, Theresa, I hope you are feeling better soon. 

Zilla of the Resistance said...

Thank you, it does! 

Zilla of the Resistance said...

Thank you, TOWG!

Zilla of the Resistance said...

Thank you for the help!

Erick Brockway said...

Hey, Jawa sent me over, $25 isn't much but hope it helps a little, prayers also for you. Get better.

rosalie said...

Sent a little something.  Thanks for the update.  I'm so glad that you've found an oral surgeon and that you're on antibiotics.    I'll keep you in my prayers, Zilla. 

Amusing Bunni said...

Oh Dear Zilla, this is really a horror you are going through.  I hope you are feeling better.  I wish I had money to help you, but I'll say lots of prayers.  I don't have dental insurance either.  I haven't gone to the dentist in 3 YEARS, and I live in fear every day of my crown falling off, or another tooth breaking off.  That one tooth 3 years ago cost me $3,000, even WITH insurance.  

Just a thought, but can you check into universities in your area, and maybe the dental teaching schools would do it for free?  Or, is there some sort of Emergency room type place you can go to.  If the illegals can flood the hospital system with free health care, surely a Great Citizen like yourself should be entitled to something.

Lady Liberty 1885 said...

Help inbound from me and I also posted to my readers. I hope it helps!!

Zilla of the Resistance said...

Thank you, Erick! It helps a lot! 

Zilla of the Resistance said...

Thank you, Rosalie, you are very kind. 

Zilla of the Resistance said...

Thank you, Bunni, every prayer helps! Before this infection took over my life, the last time I'd been tot he dentist was 5 or 6 years ago, and it cost seven thousand dollars, that I borrowed from family, and the guy did a shoddy job, which is why I'm all screwed up now - it was that last dentist's inferior work which directly led tot his infection. 

Zilla of the Resistance said...

Thank you, Lady, it helps a lot! You are a terrific friend.

LC LtC said...

Zilla, no excuse for it, but I hit your tip jar. Stacy made me do it and he hasn't seen a dime from me yet. I'll put the blog on my daily and hope you get through this.

Zilla of the Resistance said...

Thank you so much! 

Kim Harrison said...

My small donation to your health has been submitted Zilla! Please let me know if there is anything else I can do!

Kim Harrison said...

I have posted this request to my Facebook friends as well

Jmeekslaboratory said...

Hello,
I was alerted to your situation through the Jawa report and I understand what your going through. Although cash is tight I would like to offer my services free of charge should you need them in the future. I have owned and operated a dental laboratory for 20  years in Oklahoma City and if you are in need of any high quality crown or bridge work My lab will fabricate them at no charge to you. pleaase let me know if I can be of service. J. Meeks

Zilla of the Resistance said...

Wow, that's amazing and so wonderfully kind! THANK YOU! My email is zillaoftheresistance@gmail.com - I would love to talk with you, maybe we can work something out with my new oral surgeon.

Jenny Achuthan said...

Hi, Zilla, 

I just added a bit to your tip jar.  I have to confess that I haven't read your bog before, but I came to this link via PunditandPundette whom I've grown to trust.   

My heart and prayers go out to you!

Jenny

Jenny Achuthan said...

Oh, and sorry, I mean to add that clove is  potent and well known for fighting tooth infections.   I was trying to find a link for you at my favorite go-to natural remedy site, www.bulkherbstore.com but haven't found the right link yet.  (I've been busy making dinner, sorry)   You can search under " share a remedy" on the right side of the home page. Also, I've had good luck searching for natural remedies at www.welltellme.com.  

Just did a quick search and think you may do well to just google search clove and tooth infection.  There are tons of links like this one http://www.livestrong.com/article/477444-clove-oil-for-tooth-infection/ for example.

Seems to recommend clove oil.  When I had my wisdom teeth pulled, the doc packed the cavity with gauze soaked in clove oil.  Tastes weird, but works to kill the pain.  Clove has strong antiseptic properties too. See here http://www.bulkherbstore.com/CW?s=Admin%20|%20clove
  
Hope I'm not overwhelming you with too much, but I would definitely look into clove for tooth pain/infection

Ditto for garlic which has strong antimicrobial, antibiotic properties.

Jenny Achuthan said...

Scratch the "livestrong.com" article I sent you.... That one's not as helpful as I thought. (Getting the kids to bed while I type this, so I didn't read all the way through it, sorry!)  It mentioned concerns the FDA has about efficacy.   I pay NO attention to what the FDA says, by the way.  Clove is a great analgesic.  My dentist used it and it helped a lot. 

Wishing you relief!

sablegsd said...

Been there.  I feel so bad for you.  Do to congenital health problems, my teeth were never "right."   The ongoing agony, the infections, multiple root canals, etc. finally ended when I insisted I wanted every tooth in my mouth taken out.  Was it pleasant?  No.  But I have no more pain, no more infections.  My main problem was my bottom gums were deformed (totally flat.)  So I can't wear a lower denture.  But I am happy as a clam with my uppers.  The only thing I can't eat is planters honey roasted peanuts.  Man I miss those.  I bought a bag and just sucked the coating off once!  :)  Sending a prayer up for you.

sablegsd said...

Living on disability here, mr. sable gsd has kidney disease and diabetes.  I have some health issues also.   TONS of medical bills, so $10 as all I could send.  I hope it helps.  When you get all healed up, munch some honey roasted peanuts for me! : )

sablegsd said...

Do you have a dental college near you?  They sometimes take in the uninsured for them to "practice on."   

SignPainterGuy said...

It`s an extra special gift and a testament to your faith, caring and generosity when you give when it costs you. Mr sablegsd and you are included in my prayers. May you both be richly blessed ! Thank you on behalf of Zilla. You are a dear friend indeed !

SignPainterGuy said...

PandP cross-link often. Zilla is my go-to site for islamic info and those who promote islamic policies and teachings here in the US as well as other CRAPTASTIC exposes. I extend you an invitation to return often and comment as you wish. I know she`d appreciate it.

Zilla of the Resistance said...

You are very kind and I truly appreciate your sacrifice. Thank you so much! Prayers for you and your husband. May we all live to see better days - and soon!

Zilla of the Resistance said...

Not any that I'm aware of, and because there are complicated complications, I think I might be better off with someone who has already had practice taking pointy tools to the insides of my face rather than hoping that the person operating on me is at the high end of the learning curve. 

Zilla of the Resistance said...

Thank you, Kim, you've done plenty! I am truly grateful for our friendship. 

Zilla of the Resistance said...

Thank you, Jenny! I love P&P. 

Zilla of the Resistance said...

Thank you, Jenny. I've done all the home remedies before I got to this point, and lots of the do help, but there are some things that can't be fixed without a doctor. Those links are great though & I'm sure they'll come in handy for future reference.

Zilla of the Resistance said...

Thank you, Sablesgd! My mom also did what you did, and for the same reason, she just couldn't take it anymore! My dad had bad teeth too, so it's no surprise that I've had dental problems for as long as I can remember.

Marilyn said...

So sorry you are suffering this event in your life.  We've "been there" many times.  Saying a prayer and dropping a little dough in your jar...

Zilla of the Resistance said...

Thank you so much, Marilyn!

Kim Harrison said...

You are a special Lady and am I honored to be call your friend

Cindi said...

Thanks for this article! 
Having tips on home remedies that may help my family is so nice!



I wanted to pass along this blog that has great home remedy
recommendations for a toothache in case you wanted to add it to your blog roll
or link to it. 
http://www.1dental.com/articles/dental/toothache-home-remedies/


 


Have a great week!


Cindi

Jonathan Huie said...

Support Universal Heath Care in America so everyone can get the medical care they need without begging.

Zilla of the Resistance said...

Have you seen the teeth of the British?
Under Universal healthcare, like in the UK and Canada, you have to go on a waiting list for surgery and many other treatments that simply should not wait. If the economy wasn't such a nightmare, most of us could afford healthcare, you know, if there were jobs available that weren't terrible and offered no benefits.

AlissaBonds said...

Can I still pitch in?

---
dentist Doncaster

Zilla of the Resistance said...

Sure! Thanks for asking! :) I still need to have the root canal finished (nobody was able to watch my kids but my mom is here now) and we're still struggling to get by here.  The surgery was already paid for by tip jar hitters, but if I want anesthesia when I go in to finish the job it's an extra $40 which I don't have, and I'd really prefer to be anesthetized (nitrous oxide) while they are poking around up there. If you want to help, it would still be greatly appreciated! At this point, on the particular tooth in question, the root canal was done & a temporary filling given, I needed to go back and have it finished and get a permanent filling put in, but I have not been able to get back there and the temp filling has since fallen out/broken.. Once I get back in the dentist's chair, I don't know if they'll need to do more than just "finish" and put the permanent filling on because it has been a few months and was only supposed to be a few weeks since they started. I can't cover any additional work so I hope all they need to do is clean it up and put the permanent filling in.

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