Tooth Saga Part 2 in Still Listening to Spirit

Friday was 'better' according to Bill. I medicated him with the vicodin and Penicillin. He slept mostly and when he was awake, he was foggy. Saturday? Pain started coming back and the pills--taking only 1 vicodin--was of little help. I gave him 2 vicodin at his 10pm med time. He told me this morning it was the best 2 1/2 hours of sleep he had had in weeks... I was awake to give him his 4am meds, then I went to sleep.

Each time I give him meds, I put the next dose in one of those cups that come atop pepto-bismo--perfect pill givers, much easier than trying to turn your palm just so so the pills get in the mouth and not on the floor. The cup is placed on the schedule. This is just in case I am asleep, the pills are there in the right dosage.

So at 4am, I placed his 10am dose in the cup and went to sleep. I slept a couple of hours and got up at 7am. I checked the pill cup and the 10am pills were gone! Sigh....

The pain was worse today (Sunday) unbearable and the swelling had doubled, part of it intruding into his throat and the side of his head and his ear gave him twinges.

Bill spent part of the day down with the dogs and I took a nap between 8am and 10am. I went down to check on him and he was almost wild with the pain. I went to Madame's and got some more vicodin, the small prescription the dentist gave him was gone and I did not want to start on the 222's again because they contain aspirin (I didn't know this. The dentist was concerned that Bill had been taking blood thinners and almost didn't want to pull the tooth)..... Madame suggested I call Lynn as well. "Call her at home" said Madame.

I put in a call to the dentist. His office number gave me another number to call and that number asked me to leave a message. The dentist got back to me in an hour, and it was a long hour. I also called Lynn at home. She was very gracious and would take none of my apologies for disturbing her at home. She said I could double the vicodin 3 times a day to get him through til Monday. Then he would need to come in to see her.

The dentist called and said that Bill needs to get on an airplane Monday, the first flight out, and get to Juneau to see an oral surgeon. Dentist said that usually pulling a tooth will release the pocket of pus and infection but that this obviously didn't happen. He said Bill needed to see an oral surgeon who would go through Hub's cheek and put a drain into the pocket that encapsulated the infection. He also said that Hub would need stronger antibiotics and maybe an IV antibiotic to boost things along.

I called Lynn back and asked her if she could up Bill's antibiotics and maybe get rid of the infection. Lynn said she told Bill, but he probably forgot, that there was a chance that the infection had formed a pocket and it would have to be drained. She told me that NO amount of antibiotics will reduce this infection if it is in a pocket. She said to think of it like a boil, the only way to get the infection out was to lance it.

Bill says he is NOT going, we don't have the money, etc. He IS going if I have to have the police chief escort him to the plane in handcuffs--hopefully the weather will permit flying to morrow morning!! I am going to set my alarm for 6am and start making arrangements. The dentist said his office staff is available at 6:45am and once I let them know Bill is coming, they will make certain Bill gets in to see the oral surgeon.

I can't go with him. I am worried about him getting around Juneau doped up and foggy. I feel like I need to pin notes to his clothing. "Taxi to oral surgeon" "Taxi back to airport", It will get more complicated if he has to take the ferry back or both ways.

I have been having regular panic attacks and the medicine isn't helping much. I am more able to calm myself and get rid of them but the one I am having right now as I write is a doozy. I burst into tears at Madame's, thank goodness only she and Greg were there. I know I can handle whatever comes my way. I don't know how, but I can have my breakdown after this is all taken care of.

On a brighter note, I went to the Fall sale at the recreation center Saturday. Everyone brings things they don't need anymore and they are arranged and then sold to raise money for the Rec Center. One small bag full is $5, medium bag $10, large at $15 and x-tra large $20. I brought a huge Costco reusable shopping bag with handles and a floor that folds down to make it very stable. Madame was there, with an almost full bag. She was going home to take that load so she could come back and get more. I had driven over in the van, so I told her just to put it in the van and come back.

I found really wonderful clothing made of cotton--dresses, skirts, shirts, and just a huge piece that might have been a sarong or something....One skirt I could almost just cut up since it is pieced kind of like a quilt and make a quilt top out of it..... I found lots of scarves, a picture frame, a book I hadn't read. My bag got full and heavy and I finally paid my $20 for it and took it to the van. When Madame got done, we went to her house to drop her off.

I got one of those giant spacebags that is attached to a canvas 'box' with handles on each side -- I have seen them on TV and thought it was wonderful storage.... The zipper on the top was broken, and so was the thingie that closes and seals the top. However, I got all of my costumes to return to Madame into the bag, folded the top opening like a lunch bag several rolls down, then I began to squish the air out of the bag. Once I got it pretty well squished, I tied the 2 straps that were inside to hold things down (like a suitcase) and It is ready to go to Madame's.

OK so I need to go, I can't get control of the panic, my fingers are tingling, my chest is pounding and my head is starting to feel light.

still and all, Blessed be!