I'm going to need your help AGAIN.

[Pat1956100]

Hi everyone,
Thought I would update everyone as I am going to be going through withdrawal again.  Hopefully this will all be over on Tuesday so I'm hoping you will keep me in your prayers.
First some of you know me and for those that don't I have been trying to quit taking pills for over 2 years now.  For the last 9 months (lol) I have had a tooth infection that just won't go away.  I have had to fight for coverage to even see my dentist and then when I finally get there, my problem hasn't been fixed.
The infection has been making me really sick too and I have been off and on antibiotics during this whole time.
I had a root canal done and the infection remained.  They got me into this specialist who comes from Toronto 3 days a week but he told me I needed to see an endodontist (sp).  He did fill 2 other teeth which made me happy.
So I just found out that I can't get any coverage for a retreatment of a root canal but they would pay to have it pulled and a partial plate.  IT'S MY FRONT TOOTH. I don't want to have it pulled so they said It's going to cost a minimum of $1000 and it may as well be a million right now.  
So I have been in a lot of pain and using pills again. Trying hard not to abuse but of course, I'm an addict so you all know how that goes.  I live alone and can't get anyone to help me out by giving me only a few a day but I have been trying really hard.  I have run out a couple of times and the withdrawal hasn't been good so I know I am going to have to deal with that again very soon.

Anyway, I made an appointment with the periodontist for Tuesday and hopefully this nightmare will be over.  They will set up a payment plan so I am hoping that I can work it out somehow to save my tooth. .  As soon as I am finished with the Periodontist, I will stop taking any narcotics.  I am sure I will feel so much better after this infection is out of my system so it's all a win, win. Even with all of the tooth pain, it's the infection making me feel so sick that has been the worst part.

Hopefully this will all be over on Tuesday and my first clean day will be Wednesday so plan to be here, lol.

Big hugs to all and I hope you have all been doing well and beating this damn addiction.

[marycarmel]

Pat, you'll get through this.  I know you want off the meds, but take it slow and don't punish yourself.  If you taper slow it won't feel as bad.  My now 16-year old daughter had her top two front permanent teeth extracted in the netting of a moon walk when she was 8.  It was greusome. What a trooper.  They reimplanted them and her prognosos was dismal.  Every 4 weeks for over a year she had to go to the oral surgeon who performed some procedure beyond a root canal.  She has braces now and theynare moving her teeth very slowly.  They said her teeth will never hold and she will need implants as an adult.  They gave her six months before they failed and she's ok 8 years later.  Are you using any ice?  It really does help.

I am going to begin my taper soon.  I had brain surgery a month ago and I need to get my okay from the neurosurgeon.  Vicki literally saved my life when I tried to CT of Fentanyl and a boatload of other meds.  I will do a very slow taper.  I know I'll still have symptoms but hopefully they'll be manageable.  My dose is much less this time so I'm hoping that will help.

[Pat1956100]

Haha, Rangers just because I want the series to go longer.
I really don't care but I am enjoying watching the playoffs.  I always do.

[Sonrissa]

It sounds like you are doing better. I hope so. Did they tell you to rinse with salt water? I have no idea why, but I remember my dentist telling me that really helps.  I wish I had better advice, but I am so bad when it comes to my teeth. I just brush, floss, and mouthwash several times a day so I can try to avoid any dental problems. I would rather see the Gyno than the dentist. LOL!

Rangers or Kings?

[Pat1956100]

Hey Bright,
So nice to see you back posting.  Yes, I was disappointed when I realized I would still have pain and feel rough but it is getting better.  My gums are still on fire and really sensitive but I am starting to believe that there will be an end to this.  I am doing a quick taper and should be ready to jump shortly.  I don't want to too soon and then have the pain flaring.

Oh Mary, that sounds so terrible.  My problem is with my front teeth as well.  I blame the drug abuse for a lot of my teeth problems.  I have a couple are broken off at the roots.  They are back teeth so it's not as horrible as yours.  I still have to deal with those ones but the thought of losing my front teeth just horrified me.  It was so frustrating when they just threw that out there so casually as an option.  The nightmares I had about my teeth, all were running through my brain.

Hey Vic, no he didn't give me any type of rinse.  I know he did some type of internal rinse on both teeth.  I am using a new tooth brush and trying my best to keep my teeth and mouth clean.  lol, I think I'll go and brush the again, right now.

[Brightfutureahead]

Hi Pat! You go girl! Glad you are on the right track to good health. Sounds like quite an experience at the dentist yesterday. I don't know if I could have handled 2 root Canals and I am perty tough being from jersey and all (J/J!). Anyway, hopefully when you are healed and the pain is gone and you are ready, you will have gotten rid of any left over pills so they are not calling your name. Although I'm still clean, I'm slowly getting back in action here on MH myself! Nice to see your name...

[marycarmel]

Lots of ice and advil will help the pain, too.  I have had a terrible time with my teeth and I blame being on Fentanyl.  It changed all my tastes.  I have had trouble with my teeth ever since.  Not long ago I lost one of my top front teeth, it just broke off at the gum line.  I can't afford an implant so I have a partial and I hate it.  I had brain surgery a few weeks ago and had to take it out before the surgery.  I told my sister to get it back in my mouth asap.  I was still out of it from the anesthesia and I was looking for it.  I had no cavities until I was 30.  Kills me that I have so many dental issues.  Feel better.

[VICourageous]

Hi Pat. I must have been out with my dentist when you first posted! Ha! So I would like to say good luck and lots of prays for the infection to go down.
Yes..Taking care of our teeth..Ekkkk I have so much dental work to be done too..But at least he does knows about my Addiction so I will fight my best to stay off the pain meds.
Are you rising your mouth out with anything that you got or he gave you??
Also I would really be careful of what you eat. Oh, maybe you can not eat..lol
There are many foods that help take the inflammation down too..Just be careful and rinse the mouth alot. I am more concern about the inflammation/infection then the pills right now dear..Be Safe!
Bless
PS..Yes, look at the glass half full & not half empty..I heard that once and it hit me hard..lol

[clean_in_ks]

"It was amazing and I am realizing that I can heal."

(((CLAPPING......CLAPPING....CLAPPING......YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)))))

ALL good news, Miss Pattie~

[Pat1956100]

Haha Sarah, leave it to you to make me laugh out loud.  Hell, I thought I was going to end up with no teeth in my mouth.

Sonrissa, YES, the root canals are supposed to clear up the infection.  I am not on antibiotics as I have been on them 5x at least in the past little while. He put some sort of rinse up into my gums and that was supposed to help too.
I swear I think the swelling has gone down already.  I am so excited.  I would never have dreamed that I could have been suffering like this over a tooth.  Well actually 2 teeth.  When the first dentist did the root canal, he was having trouble determining which tooth it was.  Now I know why.  It was 2 teeth.  Surprised he couldn't have thought of that but OH WELL.  
Stuff happens.  

Lulu, i just got back from an appointment with the best counsellor in the world and she was teaching me all about the brain and how you have to talk yourself out of fears, and negative thinking.  It was amazing and I am realizing that I can heal.  I have to teach my brain to stop cycling all of the bad thoughts and "wake up" the part that suppresses them and teaches me to think more rationally.  It all makes sense now.  

[dominosarah]

If i had more than 3 teeth i would take a big chomp right out of you!!!!  lol

[Sonrissa]

So, are these root canals supposed to clear up the infection?  Are you still taking antibiotics? I've never had a root canal, and I've heard they are the worst! I can't even imagine 2 in 1 day. Yikes!  Gosh, I hope you feel better soon. I'm sorry you are going through this. What a nightmare. One thing at a time. Heal and get well, then, work on the rest of it. Take care, my friend. I'm praying for a fast (well I guess it's too late for that) recovery!

Hugs....

[lulu747]

Hahahhahah Pat BITE ME!

Love it and your attitude.  You're gonna be just fine girlie.  You will beat this and your mouth will heal and then you'll just get off the meds and move forward into your recovery.  If you say something 3 times aloud it's true (might be hard with a numb mouth and you may drool a little but it's worth it (:)
Wishing you healing and happiness...
Lu

[Pat1956100]

Hahahaha, your pun did make me laugh Connie.  And to all of you thanks for caring.  It means so much and really makes me smile.  I have those warm fuzzies going on.

I just got home from the "endodontist.  I keep calling him a periodontist so if I confuse the 2 names, it's just my brain lol.   I had 2 root canals done.  Apparently the tooth next to the one that needed the re-treatment, also needed a root canal so I said GO FOR IT.  I just want the infection out of my body so I can start feeling well again.  
I have to go back in 4 weeks to have it finished.  I would never advise anyone to have 2 done at one time.  He was digging and sticking things in and drilling and shooting in some type of cleanser.  He showed me the xray and my gums are inflamed across the whole top of my mouth and then he sticks what felt like a knife in them.  
LOL, I never usually react to needles or anything when they hit a nerve but whatever he was doing hurt so much I yelled.  He finally froze my mouth and went to work.

So, I'm in a lot of pain still and not feeling the greatest.  I am still cutting back on the T3's and determined that this will be the end.
Hopefully the infection will go away now and the pain will ease up and I can feel like a human again.
I just wanted to give you all an update.  
Go to the dentist people.  Take care of your teeth.  Yeah, yeah, I know..  Bite me.

[clean_in_ks]

Well, Miss Pattie....I couldn't be happier to see your name pop up!!

I do hope you can get your dental issues resolved soon and VERY jazzed to read you are in counseling!!!  Getting to the "root" (pun intended...lol) of the pain (both the tooth AND the grief) should help immeasurably!

Always here to love and support you.....keep us posted on your progress, ok?

[Jinx_777]

recently on here somewhere i seen a post about Colloidal Silver.  seems worth a try i guess.  just put that in the search bar and find out about it. very informative post.

[Jinx_777]

just try to remember that nothing will take the pain of an infected tooth away except the right antibiotics.  i am NO stranger to tooth pain and if i had 100 percs it would not help an infected tooth.  they really need to try a stronger antibiotic.  remember that infection is not far from your brain.  keep fighting until they give you something that takes it away.  once they get the right one, your pain should subside in 24 hrs.  praying for you

[takingmylifeback2014]

Hi Chicky!
I am so sorry to hear about your tooth pain and struggling with those evil pills. I am here for you always!!! I hope they solve your problem Tuesday! Good luck and keep us posted. Missed you around here!!! :-)

[weaver71]

There is a time and a place for everything under heaven. I have watched you battle all this time. Your time has finally come, and you are ahead of the game, you know a lot about addiction. You also know about recovery, it's so good to see you healing and still ready to fight the good fight. Keep us posted.

[Pat1956100]

Thanks hun,
I think I'm going to need all the support I can get.  I know it's not going to be easy but if there is anything that can help me, it's this forum.
So many wonderful people here still posting and staying clean.
I am so glad you are here and will be helping me get through this.  

Love you

[Sonrissa]

Hey Girl.  I will always stand with you and support you.  I can not imagine anything worse than a tooth problem. I hope you can get over this infection soon before it gets any worse.  So glad to see you back posting and getting support.   You deserve to be free of this and to be happy.  You are always in my thoughts and prayers.

[Pat1956100]

Thanks everyone.  Another rough day today. I will be so glad when this is over.  I meant to also share that I finally started counselling again as well and my therapist is amazing.  I'm really working through the grief and hoping I can get back into the world and living again.  So much to look forward to.

[Amandag78]

Hey Pat, just giving you my love and support as well : )

[meegWpaw]

Im still here to support you too, Pat.  Glad your still keepin on.  feel better.

[nursegirl6572]

I cannot add much to the great posts above, I just wanted to offer my support.  I'll be thinking about you and praying for you.