Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Symptoms:
Jaw at the joint under ear extremely painful, can’t open it far. Same teeth hurt.

Pain: 3 on pain med; 5-6 when pain med expires

Actions: Two doctor visits today

Providers Seen: Dr Viswakarma, Dr Young

Results of Visit: Dr Vishwakarma, 9:45am:
He said that there was no way it could be necrosis of the jaw, since the CT scan did not show it. He was supportive that I was seeing the oral surgeon. He refilled a 4 day supply of Dilaudid, 1 every 6 hours. There were no ideas proffered for a “next step” other than follow up with my oral surgeon.

Results of Visit: Dr Young, Oral Surgeon, 3:10pm:
He took time to hear all my recent symptoms. He did a thorough exam of my mouth. He told me that he had contacted Mayo Clinic Oral & Maxillofacial team, and I now have an official referral to them. He said it was their idea for a bone scan, and that they would look for a number of potential problems with the bone scan, and he didn’t feel it right to get into all the weird things it could be. He is concerned that the numbness I had before tooth 31 was ever extracted, and the abnormality of the pain beneath so many teeth that has existed through all of this since November 20. He does not have an answer, neither does Mayo. But both are sure that there is a good chance something is wrong that they can’t see yet. We agreed on a plan: since my last dose of antibiotic is tomorrow, we will wait to see after the last dose if the infection increases, swelling increases, or if pain stays the same or gets worse. Also we will see if the numbness subsides. We will then meet next Monday morning the 23rd and look at where we are symptom-wise, and decide about a bone scan then. I am pleased with this plan. If symptoms get bad between now and then, I’m to contact the ER and they will know what to do. I’m now officially referred to Mayo by him, so they should all know what to do.

I am also hoping that this just all goes away over time and no more medical care is needed. That would be nice. And I would take that boring resolution any day over more and more tests and visits.

Medications:
Dilaudid 4mg and Tylenol 325 every 6 hours, Augmentin 875-125 every 12 hours