Friday, March 19, 2010

A Pain in the Jaw

I think I have gotten all the mileage I can out of St. Paddy's day. It occurred to me that it is time for a new post.

I have ideas that I want to explore on my blog, but right now I am not up to the task.
For over a week I have been suffering with an infection. The whole side of my head aches and thinking has not been an option.

After two trips to the dentist I was given the choice between a root canal or an extraction. I probably made a foolish decision when I decided on the root canal because that tooth is more filling than enamel. I suppose it will have to depart my jaw eventually, but if I can avoid that procedure for another year or two I may not even have to have it done. ;-(

Monday I will have, what I hope to be, my last dental visit and will get this over with. I have another tooth that should have a root canal and a crown, but the expense of the crown is daunting. i may, or may not, have that done next.

In between dental appointments I had an out-of-town visitor this week. She was a former neighbor when I lived in my previous house with a pool (as Hyacinth Bucket would say, although I did not have room for a pony. Ha! You do watch Keeping Up Appearances don't you?).

My former neighbor is a beautiful young woman with the most incredibly gorgeous changeable eyes that anyone would envy. (Well, maybe not Elizabeth Taylor). Although she and her family moved to Long Island, her oldest daughter is now in her last year of residency at the U of A. She is/will be a doctor and I am so impressed with her tenacity and ability. I have known her since she was a small girl and always knew that she was destined for great things. She was a brilliant child and now as an adult she is fulfilling her potential.

Whenever my friend comes to Tucson to see her daughter she always takes time to visit me and get caught up. She took me to lunch and I enjoyed eating something beside the soup and puddings that have been my staples for nearly two weeks.

For most of you a busy week is normal; for me it's a rarity. I have a luncheon date today with my friend who takes me shopping every week. I guess you could call this week one of ups and downs. Today is an 'up' day and I had better post this and go get ready.

21 comments:

Paula said...

Feel better, Darlene!

20th Century Woman said...

So sorry that you are not feeling well.

I guess we have to live life as if it might end tomorrow (so get the best out of today), or, alternatively never end (so keep your teeth). I am trying to get over the sort of thinking that tries to guess how much longer I need to make things last.

The other day when the dentist looked in my mouth he nodded approvingly and said. "Well, your teeth are going to make it." I wasn't entirely sure how to take that.

Hattie said...

Darlene: We do keep on going these days, regardless. I hope you're feeling better soon.
Speaking of teeth making it: My mother in law had all her teeth right up to the end, at age 97. But she had cavities and could not find a dentist willing to work on her teeth. That's something to watch for. Some dentists won't work on old people.

la peregrina said...

Oh, I am so sorry you are going through this, Darlene, hope you feel better very soon.

Vagabonde said...

I hope you feel better Darlene, toothache is not fun. I just read an article about the tea baggers being very misinformed. If you have time to read it, here is the link: http://www.forbes.com/2010/03/18/tea-party-ignorant-taxes-opinions-columnists-bruce-bartlett.html. You know I had never heard of St Patrick’s Day while growing up in France – I guess there are not too many Irish people living there – I had never met one until I came to the US.

Darlene said...

*Paula - Thank you very much.

*20th Century Woman - Hey, for your teeth to make it you will have to make it too. ;-) I would be happy if my dentist gave me that prognosis. I don't think mine will hold out many more years. Maybe I should say, many more months.

*Hattie - Ouch !! I doubt that I will make it to 97, but as time goes by I will see if there is an expiration date on getting dental care.

*la peregrina - Thank you for your sympathy, but I have had worse and am a survivor.

*Vagabonde - Thank you for the link, but it no longer works. I found the article by Googling "BruceBartlett/Forbesteaparty".

It really makes the point on how ill informed the tea party bunch are. No surprise there.

Rain Trueax said...

Good luck with your tooth. Dental has become such a huge expense and most have no insurance to cover it.

Darlene said...

*Rain - I know, that's why I am holding off on the crown. My policy covers some of the root canal, but I have to pick up 20%. I am not sure about a crown. Last year it was going to cost me over $1,000 and the root canal wasn't covered at all. Some things are better.

LadyLuz said...

Hope you feel better soon, Darlene.

I haven't been able to do much on the PC lately because of very bad storms, so am having a good time now catching up with people.

Always a pleasure to visit you.

Darlene said...

*Lady Luz - Those storms were terrible. I hope Spring is on the way for you now.

I know I will feel better after I get the root canal over with. Thank you for good wishes.

Sylvia K said...

I just had a root canal so I can empathize with you Darlene and teeth can be a pain in the -- whatever, mouth, too!! And they can/are a pain in the pocketbook as well!! Thank goodness for dental insurance! But today we have beautiful skies and reasonable temps and that makes everything better! Have a great weekend!

Sylvia

Onslow and Daisy said...

'cous,everybody watches us,Missus.

Sorry bout your toof.

Luv,Luv

Onslow and Daisy

Darlene said...

*Sylvia - I saw the beautiful pictures of your sunny skies. Although it's windy, our temps are lovely and the sun is out almost all of the daylight hours.

My root canal is scheduled for Monday and it will be good to finally be rid of the pain. It isn't bad now, but last week the whole side of my head ached. The pain was not restricted to one tooth. Thank God for antibiotics.

I hope you have sunshine for your weekend.

*Onslow and Daisy - Tee Hee! You took away the pain.

Thanks for your visit.

Anonymous said...

Darlene--I'm amazed that you could figure out which tooth needed work if the pain was not localized. I've been trying to figure out what is causing an intermittent toothache for nearly a year - my dentist being no help on it. In her defense, so many of my teeth have crowns that x-rays aren't very helpful.

I hope the pain goes away once the work is done. At least you will have the tooth to help you properly masticate your food. Keep on keeping on!
Cop Car

Dorothy said...

Hope you feel better soon, sounds like a stressful week.

Dorothy from grammology
grammology.com

millie garfield said...

Sorry to hear about your tooth problem. It's not only a pain in the mouth, it's a pain in the pocketbook.

Hope you feel better soon.

Kay Dennison said...

Hope your dental work goes well!!! Glad you're getting out and socializing!

Darlene said...

*Cop Car - I had to wait until the antibiotics started clearing up the infection before we could tell which tooth was the culprit. An Xray showed a shadow on the root of the tooth and when the dentist sprayed cold water on it, there was no doubt that we found the offending tooth. I do have one on the other side that is like yours and we can't determine which tooth is the offender. When it acts up there there are three aching teeth, I guess the others hurt in sympathy.

*Dorothy - It was stressful week, but I get that root canal tomorrow and all should be well after that.

*Mildred Garfield - You got that right.

*Kay Dennison - Thank you. It is good to get out, but now I'm ready for peace and quiet.

Nana Lorena Royer said...

So sorry about your oral problems, Darlene, but I bet you'll feel much better after tomorrow. For me the anticipation of a root canal (have had two) was worse than the procedure.

Just put the Tucson photos up on our website--it's my son's band playing the music (if you can get it). See them on www.nanadave.com

Weather is finally warming up here and am experimenting with putting some vegetables in the ground.

Good luck, Monday.

Rummuser said...

We are kindred souls Darlene. I have been having trysts with my cute young dentist without much success in the recent past. Much success, in reference to my dentures lest you misunderstand!

Joy Des Jardins said...

Oh, I feel your pain Darlene. Teeth problems can be so awful. I'm so sorry you've been feeling badly...I hope it's all better soon. I'm guilty of being a little delinquent in going to the dentist, but so far so good. I hate paying those horrendous fees.

I have given you an award Darlene...and so HAPPY to do it. Please stop by my place and pick it up...it's well-deserved. Love, Joy