Update on the Pain

Fair warning, I still hate writing about my authentic self, especially in a positive light. None of this is outright meant to be narcissistic, but I also have to realize that my goal of self-actualization won't happen unless I actually tackle things what accurately represent me instead of presenting myself as some hyperbolic, overly-emotional douchewaffle.

I'd like to report that the immense pain I was in on Xmas Day is starting to subside, and the infection is on its way out. Turns out, my lower-left second molar [which has been a nerve pit for the past seven years] dumped out the rest of its core and cracked clean in half due to extra pressure applied by the lower-left wisdom tooth [which I've named Little Fucker #3]. When it split open, it revealed an untreated infection that's been festering since I was about seventeen years old which was caused by a contaminated filling.

The doc at my urgent care facility prescribed ten days of Amoxicillin and told me to take ibuprofen and acetaminophen in alternating doses every four to six hours. The dentist I visited the following business day said there's nothing they can do until the infection is fully cleared, and even then, they can't do the surgical consultation until 25 January! He did recommend I carry a bottle of heavily-salinated water with me so I can rinse out after I eat anything.

Funny sidenote -- both the doc and the dentist commended me on continuing to use nicotine pouches because, apparently, nicotine itself has antioxidant and pain-numbing effects. Who knew?

So, I'm stuck with a busted tooth that I can't put pressure on, blinding bouts of pain when my jaw clenches, and a diet of soups and soft foods until that time and during the post-extraction recovery period. I've told my team that I'll be working from home every so often when the pain reaches unbearable levels.

During this time, though, I've been working on my 2023 plan. As mentioned, next year is a year of self-improvement and self-actualization. There is time for one more blog entry before the year's through, and I already have the topic in mind. Keep an eye out for that tomorrow!

Thank you all for reading, by the way! I really appreciate it!