An Update on Me

[Polly]

Hi Good Buddies!

I haven't been posting as much due to a very busy summer but always lurk when I can. Scott is on vacation this month, so we have been taking mini-trips to the mountains and beach.

I wanted to update you on my dental woes. You KNOW how much I hate the dentist. After much deliberation I had finally decided to go ahead with a dental implant last March. It turned out that the implant was not even done at that time - because there was a cyst in the gum that needed to be filled with that bone powder they use. So, that was completed in preparation for the implant in another 4 mo.

On followup last week, a CT scan showed that I have developed a chronic sinusitis - just above where the surgery was done, of course. So now I have seen an ENT doc and am being treated with heavy-duty antibiotics (horrors!) and prednisone. GRRRRRRRRRRR.

The ENT wanted me to take clindamycin, but I bargained to get Cipro instead (because our experience here has shown that Cipro is better for our guts). Clindamycin , I believe, is the one most often associated with the awful side effect of C. difficle. I have to call in tomorrow to get the culture results. If the infection is not sensitive to Cipro, I'll be between a rock and a hard place. I may just stop the antiobiotics and go directly to surgery to drain the sinus (not a fun thought).

I just completed my 3rd day of 60 mg prednisone, now I do 3 days of 40 mg and so forth until tapered off. Luckily, no side effects from this, other than feeling "wired" all of the time. Lots of energy, which ain't so bad. The pred. was needed to decrease the inflammatory response. At least it will help to reduce any diarrhea that the antibiotic may be causing. No problem in that area yet.

Hope you are all having a good summer!

Love,

Polly

[Peggy]

Hey Polly,

Great to see you! I've been busy this summer, too, so I know what you mean.

I'm sad to hear about the dental woes. And the antibiotics and pred, of course. Hopefully it will all be over soon and you can flash the kiddies a bright, white, nonpainful smile! Oh, and Scott, too.

Love and hugs
Pippi

[tex]

Hi Polly,

Thanks for the update. No wonder you hate dentists - you've had nothing but bad luck lately with dental experiences, (as if any dental work is fun). I certainly hope the Cipro works. Knowing how much you dislike using prednisone, I'm sure you felt that it was a necessary choice.

With all that going on, I hope you're able to enjoy your vacation excursions to the mountains and the beach. It's interesting how we humans tend to crave to spend our vacation time visiting the altitude extremes, isn't it? We tend to be attracted to either sea level or mountaintops, rather than all the territory in between.

I hope you can get that problem cleared up - it's been going on long enough.

Love,
Tex

[fifthofanickel]

Hi Polly;

Tho't I'd pop in to say Hi, & to let you know I also have chronic sinusitis. In fact my sinus' are intermingled w/my teeth roots. Ouch. Every Spring & fall, I get horrible back molar toothaches. Had one pulled a few yrs ago & just put up w/the pain w/the others , til it disapates. Hate it.

I've checked w/3 orthodontists, & they all recommend dentures, as they feel this will never be relieved for me. Once the teeth are all removed I shouldn't have the problem anymore.

W/having TMJ, FMS/CfS probs, I know I'm going to be in for a world of hurt if I have this done. And I know they will open my jaw widely to remove the teeth. I can't open my mouth fully, so when I go to the dentist, I almost need a tranquilizer to go, as I know what's going to happen. Needless to say, I haven't gone for a few yrs. (Big Chicken)

Hopefully the Pred/Anti-biotics will do it for you. Wish you all the best. Tooth probs are almost as bad as MC, eh?

Good to "chat" w/you again;
Blessings;
Fifth

PS. I'm still having great results on the Caltrate regimin for MC/IBS. Still need to watch my trigger foods however..No probs w/gluten Things seem to be better in those areas...Yaaay!!!

[Polly]

Peg,

Great to see you too, and thanks for caring!

Tex,

You are so correct about prednisone and me. You know why I decided to take it this time? I found an ENT article on the internet that talked about chronic sinus problems in some folks possibly being related to an overzealous (hyperimmune) response, complete with a cytochine storm, etc. Sound familiar? (Remember, folks with a HEIGHTENED immune response were the first to die in that 1918 flu epidemic - it was their wicked inflammatory response rather than the virus itself that actually killed them). So, I was wondering if most of my problem was INFLAMMATORY rather than infectious......and decided to cover both bases. Interesting, huh?

I have been able to enjoy the vacations. Luckily, I have had almost no symptoms with the sinus problem. It's just the damn meds now that I am worrying about. Thanks for the well wishes.


PENNY!

How wonderful to hear from you again! Sorry to hear that you also have dental woes. It is the pits - I would agree, almost as bad as MC. I don't blame you for avoiding the dentist for a few years. Leave well enough alone, I say. Wish I had.

I'm thrilled to hear how well you are doing otherwise. I think you were the only person I knew who had more food sensitivites than I did. It's good to know you've been able to add some back. Gives me hope. Sigh.

Love to all, Polly

[annie oakley]

It is very good to hear from you magain Polly....Dental problems are the worst. Sounds like it's not going to be fun for you. I hopee it all works out good tho. I hate that prednesone. It Must have a use...but I hate the side effects. Take care Have missed you Oma

[starfire]

Polly,
It sounds like you have really been dodeging bullets (or trying to at least). I hope the worst is over now and things will start looking much rosier. Hoping no afteraffects from all the meds too.

Thanks for letting us know whats going on with you.

Love, Shirley

[JJ]

Hi Polly and Penny....so sorry about your dental woes...not fun at all!

Good luck...JJ

[Tessa]

Hi Polly

Glad to see that you are having a great time but sorry about your dental woes.

I hope that you are feeling better now.

Love,
Tessa

[CAMary]

Polly-

FWIW, I think avioding Clindamycin like the plague is a good idea - it has a fairly high correlation with c-diff - not worth it!! I got into the same "hard place" with a female infection - first line treatment was Clindamycin suppositories - I said "no way, no how!!" Doc tried to convince me risk was almost non-existent if not taken orally - I still refused to take it...

Dental problems are the pits!! I think that is one area I've lucked out in!! I actually prefer gyno visits to dental ones !

Glad the Pred. is not giving you trouble!! I've never taken it, but I'm thinking the excess energy S/E would really benefit me on the housekeeping front

Your mini-trips sound fun! I actually prefer them to *bigger* vacations! I'm a homebody at heart, and a long weekend is the "perfect" amount of time away for me...

I'm going to Yosemite this weekend for the first time in 23 years!!! I'm so jazzed I've heard it has changed a lot (and not necessarily for the better!) - but it's still the most awe-inspiring place I've ever been! The scouts are doing volunteer service in the park, so we stay for free I'm off the hook for shoveling, so I plan to go exploring on my own - heaven!!!

May the dental/sinus fairy bless you in great abundance!

Mary