bone

[mellowtigger]

I just scraped my fingernail over "that spot" in my mouth that's been causing so much trouble recently, previously part of the path of infection and pain, but now it's an eruption of something through the gums under my tongue.

It sounded hard like bone.

I am not a happy camper tonight.  I nursed the hope today that it was just a piece of popcorn or sunflower hull that worked its way down the tissue and was finally coming out.  But tonight it really doesn't sound like that alternative.  I spent 40 minutes on the phone this morning with my dentist office, trying to get another appointment, explaining that I just finished my last antibiotic pill yesterday.  The earliest appointment they have is October 4th.  *SIGH*  I signed up for it, because I don't have any alternative at the moment.  The hospitals here are full of covid patients these days, so I hope I don't end up needing surgery to cut out those bones, like the dentist suggested to me only a month ago.

But I'm pretty sure I have exposed bone erupting through my jaw.  I hate American healthcare.  I'll try to get some sleep tonight, then ponder tomorrow what I should try to do next.

Update 2021 September 10 Friday 16:45: 

American healthcare.  *slap forehead in dismay*

My primary care doctor didn't need to see me again.  She accepted at face value my online reporting of what was happening.  She referred me to an oral maxillofacial surgeon office in her same healthcare network.  Great.  I called them.  The receptionist said they received the referral and would review my case, but I'd have to check with my health insurer to see if their 2 specific surgeons were covered.  I checked, and one of them is.

The surgeon office didn't call me back yesterday about a case review, so I called them this morning.  They need dental records, which my primary care doctor doesn't have.  Different health network, so I need to contact my dentist to have them send x-rays by email to the surgeons, so they can decide even if to take my case.  Okay, so I called the dentist, got the recording, left a message explaining what I needed.  No return call.  I called again around 4pm.  I need to sign a form.  Ok, are they open now so I can sign the form?  Yes, so I drive to the clinic to sign the form.  I take that form to the dental check-in station at the same building.  The person who emails the records won't be back until Monday.

I have a tiny bit of sharp bone poking out of my gums.  It's already been infected once.  I don't know why it isn't infected again already.  The lack of urgency by everyone except my primary care doctor is... surprising, maybe?

Update 2021 September 14 Tuesday 16:45:

More bureaucracy, but finally some sense of urgency.

The doctor at the hospital can't do the work there (no surgery... at a nearby hospital, make that make sense please?) but can do it at a different clinic (far away).  The x-rays he got at the hospital can't be sent to the other clinic, so I get to visit my dentist clinic and do the forms all over again.  Tomorrow.  At least I have an appointment near the end of this month to see someone who can finally help.

Comments

[darkoshi]

I wonder if they could have emailed you the x-rays, so that you could forward them on to the other office without waiting for the person who does it the official way. Although that may be the only person there who knows how to do it. For the last several years, I've asked my dental office to email me my latest x-rays after each checkup, so that I have them for my own records.

I hope things take a swifter turn for the better for you. It sounds very frustrating; it would be driving me crazy too, to feel anything sharp like a bone poking out of my gums.
I have mandibular tori too on the inside of my lower jaw, but only a mild case compared to many of the photos they show.

[mellowtigger]

I have to go do the forms again. (To the same doctor, but at a different clinic location. *sigh*) I'll include my own email address this time, so I get a copy for my records too. Thanks for the idea.