Trip to the ER
The pain was excruciating when I woke up this afternoon and brushing my teeth was a nightmare. I could only open my mouth about a 1/2 inch, so I kept having to readjust my toothbrush to prevent from hitting a sensitive spot. So I just got back from the BIDMC emergency room. It's an odd feeling being the patient instead of just the next of kin for a change. It took me three hours to be seen. There did not seem to be too many people in the waiting room. Maybe the patients came in on their own sans family. A nurse took my temp and blood pressure. 98.8 and 112/74. I was surprised by the BP because I can feel my heart beat sort of fast. She also took it over my thick "Atom" pullover shirt, so I think that that had an effect too. Nevertheless, I had been called in to Triage Room 35 at a little after 9 pm. I had a gurney, but no pillow. I also did not know how to adjust the headrest, so I sat at the foot of the bed reading my book, Different People, Different Lives by Orland Outland. That is a good book, but it drags at times. I have had it since last January, but never had any time to continue reading t, so I figured that this would be a good time to do that. Anyway, before I stray any further off topic, I will just give you guys the abbreviated version of my time there.
I was finally seen at 11:30 by two doctors who did a brief, but thorough, exam. The first doctor thought I had tonsilitis, which I knew was incorrect because
- the back of my throat wasn't flaming red
- my tonsils were not oversized
- I could swallow (liquids and solids)
He came back a few minute later with his boss, who also examined me. After inspecting my lymph nodes in my neck and looking in my mouth, he suspects that the back tooth has become infected due to a huge cavity which may have gone down to the bone. There may be an abscess, which means ROOT CANAL of at least that tooth. (I suspect that the dentist will try to remove the wisdom tooth next to it as well.) This also sucks because I will have to have it done sometime next week or I may have too miss a day of the first week of school, which would totally blow. He was also suspicious of the swollen lymphs in my neck, so he told me to have my regular doctor check that out. As for the popping jaw, he said that could be due to one of two things.
One possibility is that the jaw was pushing the pocket of fluid back and forth, causing the sound. In that case, the problem will fix itself once the area has healed from the root canal. The other possibility is that somehow my jaw is fractured or disjointed from all of the pressure and swelling. My doctor will have to figure out what to do about that.
In any case, the doctor prescribed Penicillin and Vicodin for the infection and pain/swelling, respectively. He warned me that Vicodin could make me tired, but so far no signs of drowsiness. I thought that Vicodin would be interesting to take since I have heard so much about it in and out of college, but it jut blocks pain. That's it; nothing wild like me having crazy dreams, falling asleep or saying something inappropriate/rude/embarrassing. That was kind of a letdown, but at least I can sleep on my left side again without discomfort.