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the theory is salivary gland infection
2021-Aug-27, Friday 03:10 pmI got a prescription for "amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium", aka Augmentin. If I don't get any better by Monday, then I come back for CT scans to get a deeper look at what's going on with my jaw/head. There's a strange path for the most intense sensation, shaped like a capital letter L. My ear drum is at the top, it goes downward to the hinge of my jaw, then it extends along my lower jaw underneath the two back teeth, and it ends at a point under my tongue along an abnormal bone growth there.
Yes, it's weird. Very weird. I mentioned my tori recently, but I didn't say that I find them annoying. I have these bone growths on the sides of my jaws. On the upper jaw, they grow outwards towards my cheeks. On the lower jaw, they grow inward below my tongue. They're so broad at the back of my mouth, that they form an actual "shelf" with an "underneath" side. My tongue sits on top of the shelf. The left and right sides of my lower jaw still have a normal open channel between them, which is where that skin connector for my tongue attaches, but that channel is so narrow that I can't fit my finger between it.
The Dr. was as much at a loss to explain this infection as I am. She saw the pressure buildup in my right ear. She retrieved one of those dental mirrors to see underneath the bone shelf under my tongue, which is where I feel the other end of the pain path. She saw the irritation happening there too, right where I said to look with that mirror. What this line of pain means, I have no idea. I've lived through a whole lot of sinus and ear infections in my life, thanks to allergy issues. These symptoms are brand new to me.
Anyway, I took my first dose of antibiotic. She specifically asked me to eat it with "food", so I had my first solid food today since Monday morning. It'll be worth it if it makes the pain go away eventually. She wanted an antibiotic that is good for salivary gland infection, which I guess is her current theory. It sounds reasonable to me.
As of 3pm, there's still no result on the covid test, but as I said before, I still expect it to come back negative.
Update 2021 August 28 Sat 11:00: The covid19 test came back negative, as expected/hoped. I took my 3rd dose of antibiotic this morning, and I can't tell yet if it's helping.
Update 2021 August 29 Sun 20:30: The antibiotic seems to help... slowly. I still woke up with a headache this morning. It still hurts to chew. All of the other pains are diminished, though. I think it's getting better. I still have a week's worth of antibiotics, so hopefully it's all cleared up by the end of the course.
Update 2021 August 31 Tue 16:05: Still getting better, still not cured. Chewing still hurts, but not as much. Headphones still hurt eventually. And my concentration at work drops to nil about 5 or 6 hours into the day. But I'm plowing through the day anyway.
Update 2021 September 03 Fri 12:30: Almost at 100%. Not quite, but almost. I still have a few days of antibiotics left, so I think it'll be fine.
Update 2021 September 06 Mon 09:45: Still not 100%. I'm getting worried. That point under the shelf that was sore is now feeling like something is poking through. Is it popcorn or sunflower hull, eaten months ago? Or is it bone finally breaking through the skin? I'm worried it may get worse after the antibiotic wears off. And today is a holiday, so I can't call the dentist yet.
Yes, it's weird. Very weird. I mentioned my tori recently, but I didn't say that I find them annoying. I have these bone growths on the sides of my jaws. On the upper jaw, they grow outwards towards my cheeks. On the lower jaw, they grow inward below my tongue. They're so broad at the back of my mouth, that they form an actual "shelf" with an "underneath" side. My tongue sits on top of the shelf. The left and right sides of my lower jaw still have a normal open channel between them, which is where that skin connector for my tongue attaches, but that channel is so narrow that I can't fit my finger between it.The Dr. was as much at a loss to explain this infection as I am. She saw the pressure buildup in my right ear. She retrieved one of those dental mirrors to see underneath the bone shelf under my tongue, which is where I feel the other end of the pain path. She saw the irritation happening there too, right where I said to look with that mirror. What this line of pain means, I have no idea. I've lived through a whole lot of sinus and ear infections in my life, thanks to allergy issues. These symptoms are brand new to me.
Anyway, I took my first dose of antibiotic. She specifically asked me to eat it with "food", so I had my first solid food today since Monday morning. It'll be worth it if it makes the pain go away eventually. She wanted an antibiotic that is good for salivary gland infection, which I guess is her current theory. It sounds reasonable to me.
As of 3pm, there's still no result on the covid test, but as I said before, I still expect it to come back negative.
Update 2021 August 28 Sat 11:00: The covid19 test came back negative, as expected/hoped. I took my 3rd dose of antibiotic this morning, and I can't tell yet if it's helping.
Update 2021 August 29 Sun 20:30: The antibiotic seems to help... slowly. I still woke up with a headache this morning. It still hurts to chew. All of the other pains are diminished, though. I think it's getting better. I still have a week's worth of antibiotics, so hopefully it's all cleared up by the end of the course.
Update 2021 August 31 Tue 16:05: Still getting better, still not cured. Chewing still hurts, but not as much. Headphones still hurt eventually. And my concentration at work drops to nil about 5 or 6 hours into the day. But I'm plowing through the day anyway.
Update 2021 September 03 Fri 12:30: Almost at 100%. Not quite, but almost. I still have a few days of antibiotics left, so I think it'll be fine.
Update 2021 September 06 Mon 09:45: Still not 100%. I'm getting worried. That point under the shelf that was sore is now feeling like something is poking through. Is it popcorn or sunflower hull, eaten months ago? Or is it bone finally breaking through the skin? I'm worried it may get worse after the antibiotic wears off. And today is a holiday, so I can't call the dentist yet.