Missing Tooth

                Before I went on my mission my dentist suggested that we remove my wisdom teeth.  They weren’t bothering me and I opted to keep them.  I mean they must be there for a reason, right?    There was a while there when I would bite my cheeks – but it didn’t last and the pain was never severe enough for me to make an appointment. 

               I believe it was 2017 when part of my top right wisdom tooth broke.  I had it repaired – three times by the same doctor!  So when it broke again in September (I think) I thought “bag it” – I’ll just live with it – although it was beginning to annoy me also.  But I haven’t ever done anything about it. 

               On December 20th I made an appointment with the medical doctor for a sinus infection. I was hoping for a Z-pack as it normally does the trick.  But I might as well have taken sugar pills for the amount of good that they did.  And last week I came to another conclusion.  I definitely have an abscessed tooth, and as I was looking up the symptoms realized that perhaps that was the cause of my “sinus infection” as outlined by the Mayo Clinic.  Oh . . .

               So this pain is on the left side of my mouth – opposite my chipped wisdom tooth – but next to the left wisdom tooth.  There was incredible pain last Sunday (or was it the Sunday before) but I haven’t felt that severe of pain since. I’ve been using a salt rinse after breakfast – except I forgot to yesterday and this morning.  But have done it today – just later than normal.  Meanwhile the right wisdom tooth is practically gone.

               Of course I can’t see it or even a reflection of it, but it feels like what a baby’s new tooth coming in would look like.  It isn’t painful and I don’t predict that food will get caught in the crevasse anymore (as there is no crevasse) but I am puzzled as to when I lost it.  Had to have been  either last night or this morning at breakfast.  It is weird to think about how it just seemed to have vanished.  I wonder if it will be a further problem though.

               I have three dentist appointments lined up for March and April.  I suppose I can ask about it as long as they are in my mouth anyway.

I am Grateful for my Runny Nose

                I know that this title may sound facetious but in fact it is true right now.  I have had a sinus infection – not my worst but still.  I had gone to the doctor in hopes of a zee pack – though they haven’t seemed to work for me while I’ve been in Oregon – though I haven’t really encountered many sinus infections while in Oregon.  I believe this one started in Utah.  Z-packs aren’t the same as they once were.  I might have well have taken sugar pills. The latest is red coated and non-working.  Iburofen seems to be doing the trick.  At least I feel better.

            So Jai and I were playing games in the back room when my allergies started going ballistic.  I don’t know what was making my eyes itch or me sneeze but I see it as a blessing – truthfully.  I have never been so happy to need tissue in all my life!  So though the title of my post may indicate something humorous, I really am grateful.  Means the infection is going bye-bye.  I wish permanently to never be seen again.

Not Again!!

I don't care for warm water or hot tea.  I like to gulp.  I can't always gulp.  Right now there is something pressing between my gum and my tooth which causes pain whenever there is cold.  It is about this time last year when my mouth felt a sensitivity to cold.  I thought it was a dental thing at first but then realized it was probably a sinus infection as I could brush my teeth without feeling pain.  

A sinus infection. Joy.  It must have been just before Christmas when Richard drove me to the clinic in Roseburg so that I could get a zee pack to make myself feel better.  I think that’s what’s happening now.  Oddly enough it is all on my left side.  My infections have always started with my right.  This may have started in Utah.  Lesson learned.

Health and Temperature

               I don’t know how often I had to go to the orthodontist during the (almost) three years that I wore braces.  I was just recently reminded about how painful it felt having my braces tightened. My teeth have been bothering me since Sunday – maybe before. At first I thought it was dental related but have come to realize that it is part of my newest sinus infection.  Bah, humbug!

          It seems to be the most painful once the sun goes down.  I looked up what I might do to ease the pain.  Steam was a suggestion.  I thought it would make the room more hot but knew that it would work as I have felt better during a shower.  Many of my body parts have bad reactions to the cold lately.  NOOOOO!!!! 

I think about friends I’ve made here in Oregon that have moved to warmer climate (I think all of them ended up in Arizona) as the cold had bothered them physically.  I don’t want to move to Arizona.  I already know that it’s too dry. I hate the heat. I suppose I could get used to it.  But not the dry.  Dryness makes it hard to breathe.  I need moisture. 

So that’s my choice?  I can be miserable in the heat and dried out or I can be sore because of the cold?  That sounds very negative.  I need there to be a happy medium.  I need the consistency I thought Oregon temperatures would be.  I am a grouch when I am too hot or sore.  I don’t wish to be a grouch. 

I need to say another prayer.