fucking mouth infection - this is unfuckingbelievable

[Trinique_Fire]

or something. so my upper left wisdom tooth is pushing in. trying to. then about a week ago part of my gum comes loose over top the tooth. okay, i can handle that. i figure no biggie, it means the tooth's pushing its way in. cool. whatever.

all's fine til a few days ago. i mean i've got two other teeth pushing in as well, so the right side of my face is swollen on and off. not a big deal, nothing i can't fix with pain meds. but then i notice on the left side of my mouth the part of my gum that flapped off is starting to like....disintegrate. (insert "ew" face here). i'm still not worried at this point. it hurts a bit, but similar to my other tooth pushing in.

thursday night at work, it starts to feel like someone took a heavy bat to my face. the left side of my throat starts closing up. mind you, i'm not sick. i've been sick a lot and i know when i'm...well....sick. and i'm not sick. so i chalked it up to the weather at first. it's pretty cold here. then i started nursing a mild ear infection. during all this the pain in the right side of my mouth has dulled. so now it only feels like i got punched in ONE side of the mouth.

last night at work i discovered i could barely talk. it hurts. i was doing ASL with my friend keisha all night. i can't eat because chewing and swallowing literally make me cry it hurts so bad. the only things i can drink are hot hot soups and cold cold drinks, because of the hot/cold temperature i can't feel much in my mouth then.

i took all the pain medicine out of the first aid cabinet at work and informed my supervisor that it was coming home with me. he saw me all night last night. he had no protests.

this morning i woke up at 7:15 and discovered my tongue is swollen. before going home after work at 3 this morning i stopped at wally world and bought three cans of soup, oatmeal, applesauce, and a vanilla milkshake from mcdonalds. i sucked down (literally) a bowl of minestrone after mashing up the veggies first.

my tongue is still swollen. i can't talk without horrible shooting pain and can't swallow without pain either. best of all, i can only open my mouth wide enough to stick a straw in there to drink soup or applesauce or what have you.

now i'm no damn doctor but this SOUNDS like an infection.

doctors or dentists in the house? what do YOU think?

and hurry please...the hospital is looking more and more appealing as the minutes tick by....

 

[rgraham666]

Whatever it is, it doesn't sound good, Trinique.

Get thee to a dentist and quick.

*HUGS*

 

[FallingToFly]

You need clove oil fo rthe temporary fix (most pharmacies have it) it's an antiseptic AND an anesthetic, so you can make it to the hospital and the ER waiting room without it getting too much worse. You need antibiotics and some heavy painkillers, babe. Infections like that are nothing to mess around with, unless you want parts of your skull to be removed.

 

[Trinique_Fire]

Rob -- nice thought but i have no insurance. my only option is the county hospital.

i have have awesome knockout pills from when i hurt my knee and wonderful painkillers from work. but i promised Luna I'd pick her up from work at 2:30 so i'll wait until then. it's freezing and i don't want her waiting for a cab or bus....

maybe i can get her to go with me. *sigh*

 

[Tuomas]

It sounds like you have an infection of the jaw... That's really serious. Any blue spots anywhere? Things that look like bruises.

See a doctor! Now.

 

[poppy1963]

Go to ER now...!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Trinique_Fire]

have any of you actually been to the ER by yourself?

i have no one to go with me.

i know i should go but i really want to wait until i can see Luna.

anyone want to drive to Maryland? i'll go now if I convince a Litster to come with me.

 

[Trinique_Fire]

It sounds like you have an infection of the jaw... That's really serious. Any blue spots anywhere? Things that look like bruises.

See a doctor! Now.

blue spots on my face or on the inside of my mouth? lemme go look....

ETA: no blue spots. i tried to stick my tongue out to look down my throat and i can't move it very much. definitely can't stick it out to see. OUCH x 500 million

 

[rgraham666]

Rob -- nice thought but i have no insurance. my only option is the county hospital.

Oh yeah. I keep forgetting. Very little public health care in the States.

Still, there is some and you should use it. What's happening really doesn't sound good.

 

[FallingToFly]

Rob -- nice thought but i have no insurance. my only option is the county hospital.

i have have awesome knockout pills from when i hurt my knee and wonderful painkillers from work. but i promised Luna I'd pick her up from work at 2:30 so i'll wait until then. it's freezing and i don't want her waiting for a cab or bus....

maybe i can get her to go with me. *sigh*

Run down to the corner pharmacy and tell them you need clove oil. Trust me- if you're going to insist on waiting until 2.30, at least go get that and apply it liberally to the entire affected area (inside the mouth). You will be anable to feel anything, and you're not going to want to swallow that stuff (it tastes like crap) so get a nice absorbent towel to mop your face with and try to sit slightly forward to avoid drooling all down your neck and into your boobs.

Yes, I've done this a time or two... I'm horribly phobic of dentists.

 

[Trinique_Fire]

Oh yeah. I keep forgetting. Very little public health care in the States.

Still, there is some and you should use it. What's happening really doesn't sound good.

i'm afraid if i go to county they'll turn me down because i can't pay my other bills from there....

 

[Trinique_Fire]

Run down to the corner pharmacy and tell them you need clove oil. Trust me- if you're going to insist on waiting until 2.30, at least go get that and apply it liberally to the entire affected area (inside the mouth). You will be anable to feel anything, and you're not going to want to swallow that stuff (it tastes like crap) so get a nice absorbent towel to mop your face with and try to sit slightly forward to avoid drooling all down your neck and into your boobs.

Yes, I've done this a time or two... I'm horribly phobic of dentists.

i have that gel novocaine crap...will that work?

 

[FallingToFly]

i'm afraid if i go to county they'll turn me down because i can't pay my other bills from there....

They can't, according to federal law.

 

[FallingToFly]

i have that gel novocaine crap...will that work?

It'll numb the pain, but the clove oil is a holding action- it's an antiseptic, which is like washing out a wound with Betadine to clean it out. They've used in for centuries in India to clean putefrying wounds and manage pain.

 

[Trinique_Fire]

It'll numb the pain, but the clove oil is a holding action- it's an antiseptic, which is like washing out a wound with Betadine to clean it out. They've used in for centuries in India to clean putefrying wounds and manage pain.

i really don't want to go outside at the moment...that's why i'm trying to get around it. i have nothing to cover my face with and it's icy cold out there.

oh yeah...that and the only money i have is for the light bill.

 

[FallingToFly]

i really don't want to go outside at the moment...that's why i'm trying to get around it. i have nothing to cover my face with and it's icy cold out there.

oh yeah...that and the only money i have is for the light bill.

Then do the novacaine thing and brush your teeth... avoid the worst pain spots, but brush evertything else... try to keep the possible bacterial infiltrants to a minimum.

 

[Tuomas]

blue spots on my face or on the inside of my mouth? lemme go look....

ETA: no blue spots. i tried to stick my tongue out to look down my throat and i can't move it very much. definitely can't stick it out to see. OUCH x 500 million

Well, without actually seeing it, I can't say what it is. However, inflamation like that is usually a good sign of an infection. Sometimes, when teeth are coming out, they open wholes in the gums that allow bacteria to penetrate all the way into your mandible or maxilar bone. That is a very serious condidtion. Also, it could by a sub-cutanial infection from some oral lession caused by your growing teeth that has gone untreated and has compromised a significant portion of your face. At least there is no dead tissue (blue spots).

Most likely it's a bacterial infection, which is easier to treat with antibiotics. You will need a doctor to perscribe them, and he will also give you some kind of more-potent anti-inflamitory. You will also need rest, keep the area warm and stimulate blood circulation to the area.

Something else, but this is a little more rare, is that one of your teeth is pressing down on a nerve, and causing the pain and inflamantion. But that's not very common.

Still, the best thing is a doctor. They are worth the money

 

[Trinique_Fire]

do you know what i hate about being poor? i just realized that even if i do get an antibiotic prescription, i won't be able to afford it.

i'm hurting and really angry right now

fuck.

 

[Trinique_Fire]

Well, without actually seeing it, I can't say what it is. However, inflamation like that is usually a good sign of an infection. Sometimes, when teeth are coming out, they open wholes in the gums that allow bacteria to penetrate all the way into your mandible or maxilar bone. That is a very serious condidtion. Also, it could by a sub-cutanial infection from some oral lession caused by your growing teeth that has gone untreated and has compromised a significant portion of your face. At least there is no dead tissue (blue spots).

Most likely it's a bacterial infection, which is easier to treat with antibiotics. You will need a doctor to perscribe them, and he will also give you some kind of more-potent anti-inflamitory. You will also need rest, keep the area warm and stimulate blood circulation to the area.

Something else, but this is a little more rare, is that one of your teeth is pressing down on a nerve, and causing the pain and inflamantion. But that's not very common.

Still, the best thing is a doctor. They are worth the money

thanks T....i hope it's not too too serious. i don't want them to have to amputate half my face or anything....

can i just curl up with all of you for a minute?

 

[Trinique_Fire]

Then do the novacaine thing and brush your teeth... avoid the worst pain spots, but brush evertything else... try to keep the possible bacterial infiltrants to a minimum.

yes ma'am

 

[Tuomas]

i have that gel novocaine crap...will that work?

No, unfortunately, it won't. It will only make you forget the pain, when pain is actually telling you there is a serious problem that needs to be addressed.

FallingtoFly's suggestion of clove oil is actually very good, particularly since it's an antispetic.

Brushing your teeth is imperative, and so is maintaining oral hygene. Only eat boiled foods, put nothing else in your mouth, not even your fingers to your lips and especially don't kiss anyone. Bush your teeth thoroughly after eating, and rinse with antiseptic mouthwash.

Maybe your immunological system can fight it off. Maybe not. But, if it can't, you will be in a lot worse trouble down the road if you don't treat it now.

And get off the comp, wrap your head in a towel at the very least, and keep very, very warm. In fact, if you are sweating, it's the best. Drink lots of liquids, too.

 

[Guest]

Trinique -

Emergency room.

You can handle it by yourself.

Go now.

If even your tongue is swollen you need to be seen as soon as possible.

 

[rgraham666]

Curl up all you want, sweetie. *HUGS*

 

[Trinique_Fire]

i guess i should go.

someone let Ari know. please.

thanks guys...

 

[CandyLipps]

I'm glad to read you are going to the hospital. Mouth infections can have serious consequences. They can't turn you away by law.