Once again, I am thrown by what is affected by this illness. I had an abscessed tooth and it turned into a major infection. My dentist actually had to call my Rheumy to fight it and the pain is lasting way longer than it should.
This is not a one up story, even if it may seem that way. I too had an abscessed tooth. It of course started on a Sat. by Sun. my wife took my vice grips away. I was going to pull my own tooth. I was waiting at my dentists door mon morning. It was worse. One small problem no problem with any tooth. They took multiple xrays hammered on them sprayed cold stuff etc etc. nothing. By this time I couldn't open my mouth.. Off to the rheumie. He took xrays saw some damage to the tmj's He then sent me to the ER for IVs and IV steroids. Met with the surgeons the next morning. Had a CT. More steroids now threatening Feeding tube. more IVs, and they start home infusion after I refuse to be sdmitted. Next day... MRI. They insert the feeding tube. Now I meet with the ENTs another CT this time the neck. MORE steroids and they add morphine to the infusion pack.
The radiologist calls asks me to come in for a different contrast. He gives me the news: Reactive Lymphadenopathy consistent with severe arthritis...... I should see a rheumatologist immediatly. No chit Einstein!!!!!!! So I calmly suggest that the facial surgeon, the ent, the rheumy, the radiologist, and for grins an giggles the dentist and the eye doctor all go out for drinks. I think they had a phone call but I got a diagnoses and it came from the EYE DOCTOR. I was to stop the Doxy I was taking for the occular rosacia immediatly and resume a full dose of MTX.
In any event I started getting better immediatly. I still have a tooth ache, just finished a predi burst and ate solid food for the first time in two weeks iver the weekend.
So yeah anything can hsppen, but PsA in the lymph nodes to where you can’t swallow open your mouth and want to pull your teeth?.. Who da thunk.
OK, I guess I got lucky, It sounds like the pain is the same and it happened just as fast but the dentist found the cause. Problem 1 is that is got into my jaw and problem 2 if I loose anymore weight my GP is talking major interventions. Kind of hard to eat when you can't open your mouth.
I go back in 3 weeks for a third "cleaning" and if it's good, they will close it up. I also think my fibro is making it worse cause of the whole hyper active nerve thing. And of course, with an infection there goes the humira and just in time for the cold that makes everything worse.
*sigh* This has now become the top of the list so the other medical issues I was suppose to deal with have now been pushed back.
And just to add to the stress, my husband is seeing all the weight I am loosing and is certain this is killing me.
Sorry for the total spiral venting. Some days I just feel like my life has spiraled completely out of control and just totally beyond my ability to handle.
I don't know if you were lucky or not. As you say its always something. However, you are more in control than you think. Venting is the start of action. Baby steps and creativity. If you have to drink weight gain shakes then you do. You at most will miss one dose of humira or delay it a few days. assuming you have to miss it at all. Check with your doc. A tooth infection usually doesnt cause eniugh fever or systemic infection
I did check in and had to miss 1 dose so far. Seems the Humira or PsA, not sure which, is making what should be an annoyance into a major issue.
However, while I am still frustrated, in the light of day and now that the pain meds are working - I am back to a more positive attitude