Hey guys,
I'm sitting here exhausted after listening to snow plows ALL night. I love where I live, and the running joke is that we have "heated streets" due to owning our own snowplows, and not relying on VDOT. I live on a road that is a horseshoe, so the plows use it as a way to turnaround. Plus, they will park and consult, or wait to be told where to travel to next. At one point, I could swear that one of the guys was listening to an 80's mix tape. Nothing like Heuy Lewis and the News at 2am. It's the Power of Love...
Of course, that was way off topic
Had a dentist appointment, and was diagnosed with yet another abscess. I have no idea how many that makes during these last few months. After a phone conference involving my jaw surgeon, local crew, and my Durham docs, the decision has been made to pull all my molars. This will allow my smile to look totally normal, and I was told that eating would not be difficult. After a few seconds, the eating part drew a laugh, since number of teeth doesn't really affect the feeding tube
But hey, it's always good to dream big, right?
The consensus is that my system is attacking my gums at a pretty ferocious rate. I sometimes wake up in the morning with blood in my mouth. Not the best way to rise and shine. The constant attack
opens the door wide
open for infections, which my body just can't fight off. The gums around molars are already the most common area for abscesses to occur, and I have the added fun of a very limited jaw
opening due to the metal TMJs and jaw conformation surgeries.I'm also due to begin a new protocol of monthly infusions, slightly similar to one in the past, which chucked me inpatient quite a few times with systemic infections. This fact would definitely support the conclusion that this whole situation really just bites. My blood work shows a huge spike in my sed rate(level of inflammation in your body) each time an infection occurs.My levels are already high, so removing one source would be highly beneficial. There is also a real fear, and a high risk, that an infection could travel and settle into the replacements. l
My posse also felt that I'd be throwing money away fighting these constant infections, and repairing teeth, that will only become affected again at a later date. Actually at a sooner, rather than later, date.
The plan is that all their effort will be concentrated on the teeth that are visible. These teeth are easily accessible, and not set as deep into the gums as the molars.
Needless to say, this is not a great development, and I'm not jumping for joy. I have a group text made up of my main docs, and I asked if this is a common occurrence, or expected complication of any of my diagnosed diseases, and (shocker, I know) was, no. I do have sjrogen's syndrome, but this is thought to be too severe to have just been caused by it. I also have a mixed connective tissue disorder, which I share with Seashell(woot woot), but that's a pretty large umbrella term.
One of them said that in addition to my issues being a load of BS, Becky Syndrome, the diagnosis of VDD should be added. VDD: Venn Diagram Disease. I am the center where all the symptoms of various autoimmune disorders overlap. BTW, this is my fave Dr. Lupus, scleroderma, uveitis, epilepsy, lung disease, heart disease, clotting disorders, complete loss of function of the throat(can't hiccup, burp, throw up, swallow, etc), and now the gums… All have to be somehow connected. I have a few characteristics of just too much stuff.
One huge plus of this mess, is that the developing cataracts, have almost reached a point where insurance will cover lasix. That is one great side effect.
Back to the teeth. I will need to have the removal done in an OR due to my other medical mess. I'm going to feel like a total baby in recovery. What did you have done? Oh-appendix, gall bladder, biopsy…And you? Oh..teeth pulled.