toothache and heartache
So ... yesterday was pretty awful.
Shortly after the pain of my earache subsided last weekend, a new pain appeared, this time in my lower left jaw. It wasn't too strong so I ignored it at first, hoping it would just go away. A few days ago, that pain moved into the gum of one of my teeth (one which I got a crown on about two years ago) and became more intense. Also, my gum started to swell. With all the websites that popped up under a search for "swollen gums" using such scary words as "gum disease" and "periodontus," I was starting to worry. A lot. I was hesitant to go to the dentist because I don't have dental insurance and I knew it would be expensive, but it was starting to sound like a better alternative than, you know, my gums all rotting out.
The pain was also making it hard to sleep, to the point that I don't think I got any sleep at all on Thursday night. When I got up on Friday morning, I felt awful. Then I looked at my swollen gum in the mirror and almost threw up. It looked ... really bad. Before it had just been swollen, but now it was obviously infected. I felt nauseated and lightheaded, cold but sweating all over, like a fever. And weak too -- it was hard to stand. I woke my mom up and showed her my tooth and she agreed that I should go to the dentist. I was insistent that it should be the same day, even though I was scheduled to work 9:30 to 6. With how I was feeling at that moment, I didn't think I could make it through work, but fortunately I felt better not so long after (which was really strange -- I wonder if I had a panic attack or something). So she managed to get an appointment, and I called my supervisor to let her know the situation (I did the appointment during my half hour lunch break so my schedule wasn't interrupted). My mom also put some oil of oregano on my tooth, which is a nasty, spicy natural remedy that's supposed to fight infection. I ... really should've told her about the tooth sooner, because that has helped a lot with the pain.
So I went to work. And then I went to the dentist, feeling very nervous. The good news: it wasn't gum disease. The bad news: I had an abscess in my tooth. I needed to get a root canal or get the tooth pulled. And how much would a root canal cost? $1000.
I ... actually started crying in the waiting room of the dentist's office. It's silly and embarrassing (I hate crying in front of other people; in a public place is just ... ugh), but the stress of worrying and the lack of sleep had made my emotional state very brittle.
I have to say, now that I've had some time to calm down, I have plenty to be grateful for. It's not like $1000 will make me destitute (and the dentist didn't even charge me for that brief visit). I have a job, so I'm taking in money, even if it's not much. I live with my parents, so my expenses are minimal. But it's still a heck of a lot of money. After hearing about how I reacted, my dad offered to split the cost with me, but I said no. My parents already do so much for me (probably too much), and before I went to the dentist, I agreed with my mom that I would be responsible for the expenses. Of course, she didn't expect it to be that much, but that's even more of a reason for me to take the responsibility.
It's frustrating that I keep having dental problems. I know I should take better care of myself in general, but dental hygiene is something I've been good about since I found out I needed a root canal at 18 (... yes, this would be my second one. At least back then I was on my parents' dental insurance). I brush my teeth twice a day. I floss every night. I use antiseptic mouthwash. I could be brushing after every meal, but ... it's not like I'm some supernegligent person who never puts brush to teeth. But I guess I need to eat healthier too. This should be a wake up call for me.
So yeah. I feel like my entries made at work are always disjointed. So I'm just going to stop now so I can shut down and go home.
Shortly after the pain of my earache subsided last weekend, a new pain appeared, this time in my lower left jaw. It wasn't too strong so I ignored it at first, hoping it would just go away. A few days ago, that pain moved into the gum of one of my teeth (one which I got a crown on about two years ago) and became more intense. Also, my gum started to swell. With all the websites that popped up under a search for "swollen gums" using such scary words as "gum disease" and "periodontus," I was starting to worry. A lot. I was hesitant to go to the dentist because I don't have dental insurance and I knew it would be expensive, but it was starting to sound like a better alternative than, you know, my gums all rotting out.
The pain was also making it hard to sleep, to the point that I don't think I got any sleep at all on Thursday night. When I got up on Friday morning, I felt awful. Then I looked at my swollen gum in the mirror and almost threw up. It looked ... really bad. Before it had just been swollen, but now it was obviously infected. I felt nauseated and lightheaded, cold but sweating all over, like a fever. And weak too -- it was hard to stand. I woke my mom up and showed her my tooth and she agreed that I should go to the dentist. I was insistent that it should be the same day, even though I was scheduled to work 9:30 to 6. With how I was feeling at that moment, I didn't think I could make it through work, but fortunately I felt better not so long after (which was really strange -- I wonder if I had a panic attack or something). So she managed to get an appointment, and I called my supervisor to let her know the situation (I did the appointment during my half hour lunch break so my schedule wasn't interrupted). My mom also put some oil of oregano on my tooth, which is a nasty, spicy natural remedy that's supposed to fight infection. I ... really should've told her about the tooth sooner, because that has helped a lot with the pain.
So I went to work. And then I went to the dentist, feeling very nervous. The good news: it wasn't gum disease. The bad news: I had an abscess in my tooth. I needed to get a root canal or get the tooth pulled. And how much would a root canal cost? $1000.
I ... actually started crying in the waiting room of the dentist's office. It's silly and embarrassing (I hate crying in front of other people; in a public place is just ... ugh), but the stress of worrying and the lack of sleep had made my emotional state very brittle.
I have to say, now that I've had some time to calm down, I have plenty to be grateful for. It's not like $1000 will make me destitute (and the dentist didn't even charge me for that brief visit). I have a job, so I'm taking in money, even if it's not much. I live with my parents, so my expenses are minimal. But it's still a heck of a lot of money. After hearing about how I reacted, my dad offered to split the cost with me, but I said no. My parents already do so much for me (probably too much), and before I went to the dentist, I agreed with my mom that I would be responsible for the expenses. Of course, she didn't expect it to be that much, but that's even more of a reason for me to take the responsibility.
It's frustrating that I keep having dental problems. I know I should take better care of myself in general, but dental hygiene is something I've been good about since I found out I needed a root canal at 18 (... yes, this would be my second one. At least back then I was on my parents' dental insurance). I brush my teeth twice a day. I floss every night. I use antiseptic mouthwash. I could be brushing after every meal, but ... it's not like I'm some supernegligent person who never puts brush to teeth. But I guess I need to eat healthier too. This should be a wake up call for me.
So yeah. I feel like my entries made at work are always disjointed. So I'm just going to stop now so I can shut down and go home.