So remember back in March when I had half a root canal then the dentist shut because of Covid? And then I developed an abscess but due to having no pain and the abscess venting into my mouth, they could not do emergency dental as it didn't qualify?
Well, now I am extremely ill as a direct result. I have been quite ill for a while but it comes and it goes and I thought it was fibro. Now I know it is gastritis, or basically, I am getting a stomach ulcer. The Dr is hesitant to directly relate it back to the abscess....but if you google it basically the same bacteria that results in both. I had chest pains and acid reflux so bad last month I contacted the Dr. He said it was stress-related. I got so sick on Monday and by last night hubby was trying to get me to go to the hospital (I refused). He went to a local pharmacy and spoke to a pharmacist who gave him an OTC called Nexium. It takes a few days to work but I took my first pill last night.
Then this morning I had another Dr appointment by telephone and she indicated Nexium was the best thing to take, in fact she would have prescribed it (she recommended a double dose though) so I am taking that. Plus tums plus pepto bismal plus gravol.
You see, unlike a lot of people, my acid reflux makes me super super sick and nauseous so I am basically stuck in bed. Hubby is now doing everything - we are fortunate we work from home and that business has slowed or I would be in a much different position.
Yesterday I ate 2 pieces of toast and half a bowl of white rice. Today I have eaten one dry eggo. And water, I can't even stomach tea right now. It is bad. I have lost 7 pounds since March 1, and not in a good way, not from working out or exercise. I can't even go for a walk because I am so weak. Yeah, so if I don't post for a bit I am just recovering. Hopefully, this stupid drug will kick in and I can eat and do things again. In the meantime my sweet little dog Buddy barely leaves my side even though it is beautiful outside. Our original plans this week with the sunshine were to go kayaking. That's off the table as well as everything else :(
There are a lot of people with health situations similar to mine due to the Covid situation. Lots of cancelled and delayed surgeries, people living with pain. Don't feel sorry for me, just keep yourself safe and be smart, don't infect others so we can all beat this damn virus down.
Oh yeah, my dentist opens on Tuesday next week and I have an appointment to get the rest of the root canal done. Let's hope I don't throw up on him in the process. I wasn't in a rush to go back but I need to deal with this and the chance of anything Covid related is lower than what I've got right now attacking my body.
Nexium seems more like a bandaid that keeps coming loose for you. I wonder if anyone suggested you take an antibiotic before dental work. I wonder if your condition makes you more susceptible to the virus now. Okay, I wonder lots...lol. You might call the dentist about needing an antibiotic. I really hate tooth problems. Even worse, I hate the pain from my stomach. I do take a prescription form of Nexium-like med. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteThe Dr said an antibiotic at this point is useless...that is why I wasn't on them in the first place as there was no swelling, just the tooth venting into the mouth :( At least now hopefully everything will get fixed and my stomach bacteria will be healed with this Nexium.
DeleteI think if I were you I would have faked some pain to go with that abscess :-)
ReplyDeleteHubby wanted me too..perhaps I should have
DeleteScary to have dental big problem when everything is closed. Glad you got some good advice from the Pharmacy and backup advice from your Doctor via phone. Hope things settle down before your appointment. Hugs.
ReplyDeleteJoy
If I was in pain they technically could have done it but as I wasn't they aren't allowed to (until now when the dentist office is reopening). Thank goodness for phone Dr appointments though. Thanks Joy
DeleteOh, I'm so, so very sorry to hear that. I've taken Nexium before, and it was a life saver.
ReplyDeleteFingers crossed you are feeling better ASAP!
So glad to hear that Nexium worked for you, I've never had any acid issues before. I am now on day 3 and am starting to feel slightly better after a nights rest (after 2 sleepless nights). I am hoping it is the drug kicking in
DeleteOh no, that's sounds awful! I hope the dentist finishing the work will help but I suspect the bacteria that "vented" is the issue. Fingers crossed the Nexium works though I suspect you'll be on a bland diet for awhile.
ReplyDeleteTake care and be well!
I believe exactly that - the bacteria has caused all of this. I am feeling a little better this morning but I also got a good nights rest and haven't tried eating anything (drinking herb tea with honey) today
DeleteI am so sorry to hear you are so sick! What a horrible result of an unfinished root canal. Please take care of yourself. I hope your doctor's appointment is a success and you feel like yourself again very soon!
ReplyDeleteThank you Dianne
DeleteI am so sorry to hear this. I can empathize due to a similar experience a few yrs ago. My recommendation would be to take your hubby along to the dentist as your advocate. I know it adds to the bubble but you must put your needs first. At least I can say, from experience, that as rotten as you feel now, things will eventually get better.
ReplyDeleteI am sure the dentist wants to clear this up asap, I actually spoke to him when the abcess came up and he was very sympathetic but really think his hands were tied then by the province. They had extremely strict guidelines especially after that dental conference fiasco.
DeleteHave you raised the head of your bed, gravity keeps all the nasty excess bile from floating up into your chest.
DeleteI have a monster storage bed - impossible to raise - but I do also have a monster king size pillow that raises it up. I think that is working fine for now thankfully
DeleteOh how awful. I am so sorry to ready all you've been going through. I lived on white rice and toast for a week one time in my life... but that was all to do with a bottle of tequila! I'm so glad you're getting help. I hope you recover from ALL of this very quickly.
ReplyDeleteYes, I don't love tequila either and have had a few similar experiences much earlier in my life lol. Thanks Mitchell
DeleteOh my goodness! I'm so sorry you are so ill! And I'm so ticked that a Dr actually suggested it was stress related. Why do they always say that? Grr! I hope you get relief soon. Sending hugs!!
ReplyDeleteAt the time I had chest pains the pollin was pretty heavy in the air too, we both thought it might be new allergies too. It is hard to figure out health when you only see a tiny fraction of the whole picture I guess. Thanks Lorraine
DeleteI'm so sorry to read this, what a time to be struck down. I don't blame you for not wanting to go into hospital. Get well soon. xxx
ReplyDeleteYes, I really felt terrible but not bad enough to go to hospital, maybe if Covid was not here but at least I could do a telephone appointment with a Dr yesterday, at least I know this is the right medicine and that by weekend I should start feeling better
DeleteSo sorry to find you in such poor health. I really hope you get well soon. Glad your hubby is there to help. I am having terrible acid reflux too. I had a rather terrible complication after surgery in January this year, they put me on Pantoprazole and it really helped. Cheers. Shelagh
ReplyDeleteThanks Shelagh, I am talking to the Dr tomorrow to see if they can give me something stronger than Nexium as it doesn't seem to work very well. I hope you feel better too!
DeleteI guess that means that you won't be finishing the paint this week :((
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you that gastric distress is caused by the tooth issue. And of course you are more sensitive to things because your immune system is already low from the tooth infection. You are doing all the right things. But it still is not fun, don't even think about the business, just concentrate on stabilizing your body.
Thank goodness you have hubby and Buddy to give you comfort.
No painting, no wine, no chocolate. Bloody hell! Yes, my hubby has been wonderful and Buddy seems to know I am not feeling well and stays glued by my side
DeleteNow that you've got the proper med and a dental appt. in the near future, this will have been a bad memory in your rearview mirror shortly!
ReplyDeleteGive Buddy some extra snuggles and feel better please.
I am hoping so, one week later and things are much the same except the root canal is done (how horrible they are). Hoping for some progress now
DeleteI am so sorry. I hoe the prescribed treatment helps you soon. the COVID19 crisis was not a rationale for other medical needs to be put on hold-someone planned poorly on that front. I now it was to protect PPE supplies, but now so many issues that could have been resolved initially are quite urgent now-yours definitely urgent.
ReplyDeleteOur dentists got exposed to Covid at a dental conference held in Vancouver so the Province immediately shut them all down, or things could very well have been much worse. One dentist actually died from attending that conference. It was right after my first appointment where they drained the tooth. Yes, so many are sick with other issues now but at least our hospitals are safe to go to.
DeleteOh my goodness, I'm so sorry to hear this. I hope you can get it sorted out sooner rather than later as being in pain for any amount of time is miserable. Take care and I hope the latest drugs work for you.
ReplyDeleteThanks Anna. This drug isn't but I am hoping to get something better tomorrow.
DeleteI've also had delayed dental treatment due to covid and at times the niggle in my tooth has made me think I could end up with emergency treatment. There is a LOT of collateral damage, experts are predicting a huge wave of cancers diagnosed too late because so many have delayed investigations. It's a bit of a mess but we can't change it so we press on
ReplyDeleteYes, Kylie you are right. Hubby was supposed to have a routine annual test done but that has been on hold indefinitely, it is one of the cancer screening tests.
Deleteoh that sounds awful, I hope it improves quickly for you. how annoying to be told it was 'stress'!!
ReplyDeleteYes, not stress but sometimes you need to push these Drs to see the bigger picture.
DeleteI really dislike the way doctors cover for eachother instead of being honest and saying 'he fucked up'... then again, they have to cover eachother's butts or we could sue them! sigh...
ReplyDeleteOh No! A person I know was hospitalized with appendicitis. He needed surgery but having a COVID test was a requirement first. That was early on when it took THREE days to get the results. He was in pain, in the hospital, without the company, support, or advocacy of a loved one for all that time. He did end up getting the surgery but was so sick until they got the results. I feel so badly for you both!
ReplyDeleteYour poor friend. 30 years ago hubby was misdiagnosed and sent home from a small town hospital. Turns out he had appendicitis. He ended up back in hospital 2 weeks later and nearly died. He has continuing stomach issues from that incident. This was back before people sued for things like that.
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