Back again with yet another OT question

Sue777 · Post by **Sue777** » Sat Oct 15, 2005 6:01 pm

Hi Guys:
First I'll provide an update on the "new job" and then I have a non-MC related medical question.

I just spent my first week on the new job, and it was the week from hell, but only because the lady leaving (who was there to train me) is a psychotic nutcase! Remember I left my old job of 10 years primarily because I couldn't stand working with Miss Know-It-All anymore? This one (Pam) made the old one look like a sweetheart! Trust me - I started questioning if there were something wrong with ME that brought out the worst in these people, but I finally found out late in the week that it's not me.... I've just had rotten luck. Anyway, I spent a week glued to this woman's side as she insulted, belittled, ridiculed, and embarrassed me. Heaven forbid should I ask a question (isn't that what she was there for?) she would loudly berate me and say "I TOLD you that already on Monday - don't you remember anything!?!?!?!" On Wednesday I finally stated that I didn't think I should be expected to remember every single miniscule detail she told me on my first day there, when I didn't even know anyone's NAME, let alone the product line or the procedures. But enough of that, I survived, I found out that the managers and other co-workers there were apprehensive about how well I would survive this woman, and I did, so Monday I "fly solo" and can't wait!

Now for the medical question, which I probably shouldn't post here, but I know I can always count on people here to jump in if they have any clue what's going on, or even if they don't, to offer a thought or opinion.

I have noticed a lump/bump on my upper, outer gum (right where the gum meets the inside cheek) on and off for a couple of weeks. Not painful, only notice it if I'm running my tongue up there. Last night I was chewing gum, and I was doing so pretty vigorously for a minute on that side, and all of a sudden I felt pain in the upper gum. I figured, OK, I hurt that lump or it's finally getting sensitive or something. As the night went on, the pain got worse and worse, to the point where the whole side of my face was throbbing. I tried to look in there with a flashlight, and everything SEEMED normal, except for the pain. When I woke up this morning, it was really bad, and that side of my face was slightly swollen. I can't smile right, the swollen, painful side won't lift up enough, and it hurts to try. If I take Ibuprofen, the pain gets manageable and the swelling seems to go down, but it's back when it wears off. It's definitely not tooth-related... it's the area of soft-tissue near where that lump is, but the lump still seems the same. It almost feels "sore" like when the dentist sticks the novacaine needle in, and it has that same "puffy" feeling , too. And now that I've said that I just remembered that I was at the dentist one week ago and he DID put a needle in that area, but the lump was there before that.

Any clues????? Did I do some soft-tissue damage by chewing gum too hard? Or am I having a "week later" reaction to the novacaine shot????

I am stumped, and of course this happens on a weekend when it would take an emergency call to see the dentist. I don't want to take time off from the new job, either.

Sue

Liz · Post by **Liz** » Sat Oct 15, 2005 6:57 pm

Hi Sue. I would be having my doc take a look at it as soon as you can. It may be something quite innocent and as you say the pain could be from the injection but it would be worthwhile getting it checked out. It would put your mind at rest if nothing else. I get lots of sore spots and lumpy bits too but I put it down to irritation from dentures.

Love

Liz

Sue777 · Post by **Sue777** » Sat Oct 15, 2005 7:05 pm

Hi, Liz:
You're right of course, but I just wanted a whole bunch of people to say "that's exactly what happened to me once, and it disappears completely by the next day!" LOL

No, huh?

OK, I think I'll see what tomorrow morning brings. If it's better than today then I'll see what the day brings and hope it just keeps improving. If it's the same or WORSE, though, I guess I'll have to make an emergency call to the dentist. Or is this a medical doctor thing? Hmmmm....

Post by **tex** » Sat Oct 15, 2005 9:26 pm

Hi Sue,

My guess would be that it's a hangover effect from the injection, but I've had bumps like that from time to time, myself, especially before I adopted the GF diet. I always just tried to ignore them, and they eventually got tired of hanging around, and left on their own initiative. Sometimes they would last for 2 or 3 weeks, though, if they thought they were getting on my nerves, or worrying me.

Tex

Polly · Post by **Polly** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 8:09 am

Hi there, fellow pond buddy!

Hard to say without seeing/feeling the lump. It could be a leftover from the injection and not be at all serious. Or it could be an infection. I always recommend checking out any possible infection on the face/head - because of the brain being so close, you don't want to risk any infection that might begin spreading.

Polly

Sue777 · Post by **Sue777** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 8:46 am

Thanks everyone. I just got up and am trying to see if this gets any better once I'm up and around for an hour or two. I can definitely say it's not any worse, but I don't think it's any better, either. The fact that I can't smile bothers me....it must be from all the swelling up there, but I can only give half a smile. Great look for the new job, huh?

Of course if I take some Ibuprofen I'll start to feel better and head outside to FINALLY get some work done on the ponds, and then I'll let the day slip by without calling the dentist, so I think I'll try to remember Polly's reminder that this is too close to the brain to fool around with. I've got ENOUGH things messing with my brain already!
Sue

Post by **tex** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 9:18 am

Hi Sue,

If you still can only muster half a smile, that sounds like fairly serious swelling. I have to agree with Polly, you may well have an infection that might need attention.

Tex

Sue777 · Post by **Sue777** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 11:06 am

And it just keeps getting better and better! OK, I called my dentist, who asked a few questions including why I was taking Asacol, and I told her for colitis. She said "so you are extremely sensitive to taking medications?" I said that I didn't seem to be, and she prescribed Clindamycin. So I send my hubby to go get the drugs, while I read on the internet about this drug. WARNINGS all over the place about not taking this if you have colitis or any intestinal problems. Oh goodie. After more reading it seems the big problem, sometimes fatal, is that C. Dif. will take over. So is that comforting or scary? As far as I know I've never had a problem with C. Dif.... just collagenous colitis. Half of me wants to take this pill that's sitting here because the pounding in my face tells me I should, and the other half says I do NOT need to be having severe diarrhea on my new job! Not to mention, I really was enjoying having a "normal" life back thanks to the Asacol. So here I sit, trying to decide the lesser of two evils: brain damage from a gum infection, or fatal colitis. Shall we take a poll?

I have a call into my gastro doctor, but if he doesn't return it in the next 10 minutes (already been 20) I'm going to take the pill. I think. Help.
Sue

Mars · Post by **Mars** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 11:16 am

Hope I caught you before the 10 minutes is up.............

My decision would be NO, do NOT take the meds. That is entirely MY opinion though. I would wait for the call from the GI doctor.

When I searched through Google - this was on the web page........... first few words read as follows............

MedlinePlus Drug Information: Clindamycin
Clindamycin may cause colitis,....................

Good luck in your decision!

Mars

Sue777 · Post by **Sue777** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 11:33 am

Hi, Mars.
Sorry, you didn't catch me, but nothing says I'm going to take the NEXT dose 6 hours from now. I sat here totally torn, and kept reminding myself that the "big guy upstairs" works in mysterious ways and ALWAYS has a method to his madness. I don't always know what it is while the madness is happening, but AFTERWARDS can always see what and why he did what he did. There's a reason he's got all this happening to me right now, and all I can do is try and listen to what he's telling me. I read several articles about the antibiotic, and as scary as they are, I came to the conclusion that taking the antibiotic for one or two doses today probably won't kill me, but letting this infection fester (if that's what this is in my gum) COULD. So I popped the pill, and as I was washing it down with lots of water, the phone rang. The on-call doc from the GI office listened to my colitis history and my mouth problem, and said she thought it would be perfectly safe for me to take the antibiotic, at LEAST for a few days, until I can get in to see the dentist and decide if this strong of an antibiotic is really warranted. She explained that the major problem with this drug is it's ability to let the C.Diff get out of control, but since I've never had a problem with C. Diff, I would probably be OK. She said the fact that I take a probiotic every day to help keep healthy bacteria in my gut would help protect me, too.

So, the pill has been popped, and now.... I wait. However, I also read that the diarrhea could take weeks before it appears, so it might be one of those cases of "just when you thought it was safe......"

Thanks for listening, and taking my rollercoaster ride with me. Now can someone tell me WHY these things always occur at the WORST possible times? I fly solo tomorrow on the new job, so there's no way I can be sick, and I have a huge, formal "farewell dinner" to attend Tuesday night from my old company, and I fly to Florida for a wedding in 12 days. So even if I THINK I may be out of the woods, I should probably be prepared with Depends before I get on that plane, huh?

Sue

Mars · Post by **Mars** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 11:50 am

Glad the GI doc felt it would be safe! Luckily they know more than me, that's why I suggested to wait until the doc called!

It's awful when you have to sit and second guess the docs decisions sometimes. I know that I have personally been in that situation. What is the lesser of two evils!!!???

Good luck - hopefully, a few days on the meds will correct the problem.

Good luck!

P.S. - the job will be fine! I have confidence in you!

Mars

Polly · Post by **Polly** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 11:55 am

Oh Sue,

There you are between the rock and the hard place. I would opt for the medication, at least for a few days. We know that ANY antibiotic can make our MC worse, so it is always a tough decision. But a spreading infection in the mouth is the greater of two evils, IMHO. Do you remember when Shirley had an infection on her face some months ago? It DID spread, they were concerned about it getting into her brain, and she ended up in the hospital. Better to be safe when it concerns the brain (HAHAHAHA- I agree with you - I have enough things messing with my brain already too!).

Polly

P.S. Good luck flying solo this week!

Post by **tex** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 12:26 pm

As for the reason why things like that happen at the worst possible times, I believe that's a corrolary of Murphy's Law, isn't it.

Tex

JJ · Post by JJ » Sun Oct 16, 2005 5:06 pm

Hi Sue...My fingers are crossed that the antibiotic does the trick and that your tummy stays healthy!

Take care......Jill

Sue777 · Post by **Sue777** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 5:12 pm

Well? My mouth feels a little better already, but I doubt the antibiotics could have started working THAT quickly. Of course I should wait til the Ibuprofen wears off before I say that too much.

OK, now that you've all helped me get through that, how about some recipe ideas to fit into my new job and still keep my blood sugar stable. I WAS going to the cafeteria every morning at my old job and ordering eggs, cheese, and sausage patty (high protein/lowcarb) but the new place doesn't have a cafeteria. If I eat before I go to work I will be starving by 10:00 or 11:00, so I'd like to think of something I can prepare every weekend and freeze in 5 ziplock bags. Then I can grab one each morning, zap it in the microwave at the office at 9 or 10:00 a.m., and be all set. Anyone have a good egg/cheese type of recipe I can bake, cut up, and freeze?

That is, if I can get it to last long enough to make the freezer! I better plan on making two of whatever it is, since hubby and son will want it right away!

Thanks in advance.
Sue