[BJ]

I just want to thank you for all the info you gave me in my wisdom teeth extraction. I'm still in a lot of pain and my socket is healing but I would never have made in this far without your help.

Bryanna

[Bryanna]

Hi BJ!
Well, you are very welcome! But you most certainly would have been just fine on your own. The body has a way of healing...... in spite of what we do, or don't do, to it :-))

I am surprised that you are still in ALOT of pain. Are you still taking the narcotic pain meds? It is common to have achiness and some on/off throbbing for a few weeks after impacted wisdom teeth are removed. But generally, nothing that would require anything but OTC pain meds. If you are experiencing alot of pain or constant pain, then it may be wise to see your dentist.

Are you able to eat more regularly now?

Bryanna

[BJ]

My socket got dry when I had my sneezing fit outside. I went to the dentist 3 times this week for medicated dressings. The pollen has been so bad here this past week. My car is all green. I'm still taking the Percoset in the evening but trying to not take it in the day time because I have to work. I'm not eating "right" because everything seems to be upsetting my stomach and I'm having "strange" pains. I've had bleeding ulcers in the past but this seems different.

But again, I still want to thank you.

[Bryanna]

Hi BJ,
Ok...... you ended up with a dry socket!! They can be very painful and take several weeks to heal. Generally, this condition occurs because the local anesthetic used contained epinephrine which prevented the socket from bleeding adequately during the surgery and a healthy clot never formed or the clot became dislodge soon after the surgery was done. I recall you mentioning that you had a sneezing fit, but that was a few days after the surgery, wasn't it?

The stomach pains, nausea and lack of apetite that you are having could be from taking the antibiotic and/or the pain meds on an empty stomach or without adequate food intake. Even OTC pain meds can cause irritation and inflammaton in the digestive tract if they are taken on an empty stomach. I have a hunch that you have not been taking the probiotics regularly?? Did the dentist prescribe more antibiotics for you since he's been treating the dry socket?

I see this exact thing occur frequently in people who did not or were not able to prepare themselves for the oral surgery. It is hard to know how to prepare for something like this especially when you are in pain and just want it to be over with! I totally understand!

I cannot stress enough to people that oral surgery is "surgery" and it takes awhile for our body to heal from it. It also takes extra effort on our part to make ourselves better. It is very important to eat nutritiously during the healing phase or your body will have difficulty healing and coping with the stress of the surgery.

Perhaps you need to regroup and start fresh? I would suggest that you drink plenty of water every day; drink soothing herbal teas like chamomile, lemon balm, green tea; take your probiotics; eat small nutritious meals frequently throughout the day and see if this helps alleviate the stomach upset.

I feel badly that you have had such a negative experience. I hope that you realize you can still get a handle on this and get better!

Sending you a big healing hug!!
Bryanna

[BJ]

Yes Bryanna it all happened so fast and I didn't know if I was coming or going, I just wanted them out and fast.

I do need to regroup but it's so hard with all the stress I'm under at the moment. And no I haven't eaten right or taken the probiotics. I'm still on the antibiotics for how long I have no idea at the moment. I called my primary and she squeezed me in late yesterday afternoon. She sent me to the lab for bloodwork and called me back this afternoon. My liver enzymes are out of whack and my WBCs are up. She thinks it could be gall stones and not just an upset stomach especially after I told her about my hot dog incident. She ordered a scan to see if that's the problem.

I can't thank you enough Bryanna for all your help.

[Bryanna]

BJ,
I am so sorry that you are having such difficulties. I assume that you told your PCP that you had infected wisdom teeth removed and that you have a dry socket? Either of these conditions can cause your WBC, among other things, to be elevated. I sure hope it's not gallstones and you start to feel better soon ~'.'~

Please keep in touch and let us know how you are doing.
Bryanna

[BJ]

Yes she knows about the wisdom teeth Bryanna but when I told her what kind of pain I was having she didn't think it was from an upset stomach. I drank way too much coffee today and had another attack.

She's scheduled an endoscopic ultrasound for tomorrow to see the bile ducts, gall bladder and pancreas. I'm a wreck but she assured me I won't know the tube is going down. I just hope she's right because I'm gagging already.

Now I have to tell my boss. He's at a client's right now and I'm sitting here shaking like a leaf because I'm so afraid of his reaction. This is why I'm under so much stress.

[Bryanna]

Hey BJ,
So how did the endoscopy go?? I have never had one, but my sister has had two and she said it realy wasn't bad. I hope you've have a positive experience!

About your boss...... he sounds like an a**hole!! Don't let him get the best of you and keep in mind that your health is number one! If he has a fit about you needing some time off...... don't take it personally because it's not realy directed at you, it's just his way of trying to control you. Do what you have to do and get back to work when you can. Your doing your best....... what more can he want?? Actually, he can't have anymore...... so there!!

I'll be out most of the weekend.........family reunion! But please drop us a note and let us know how you're doing :-))

Bryanna

[BJ]

It wasn't sooo bad Bryanna. They gave me Versed so I was pretty out of it. With the holiday I'm assuming I won't know the results until next week.

I work my butt off at this job and I just want a little respect. When I take time off I always make it up either on weekends or bringing work home. I'm salary and every bit of time I take off I have to make up and I do. We're almost due for our evaluations and tax season bonus in July. I worked about 64 hours every week so I'm hoping and praying it's a good one. The one partner did say I had a good tax season so hopefully that's good news. But if I need surgery the daggers will fly again and there goes my bonus.

[Bryanna]

Hi BJ,
I'm glad the test wasn't so bad and you got through it ok :-)) Please keep us posted on how you're doing!

I had a job several years ago that began as hourly and changed to salaried. I made sure I made up any time that I owed him....... but the two other salaried employees never did. I hear that can be pretty typical in small offices. It sounds like you have a stressful job to begin with.... never mind having to be concerned about who's temper you're going to ignite!

Hope you feel better and have a pleasant day!!

Bryanna