A minor yet blatant plea for sympathy.

[mcscajun]

I'm under orders only to talk through closed teeth, and that would make it a bit difficult (to say the least) to make myself understood over the phone. So the only folks I can communicate with tonight, and probably a good part of tomorrow, are those who are online. I'm spending Thanksgiving tomorrow alone, although I hadn't planned to do so. Here's why:

I'd had a sensitive tooth the last couple of days, which blossomed into a toothache, and which late this afternoon, bloomed into a five-alarm event, resulting in a sudden departure from work to make an emergency trip to the Dentist (taking him away from his Thanksgiving cooking, yet) and ended up in an extraction of a tooth with a lot of history that was now fractured and abscessed. YUP...The Day Before Thanksgiving, I Manage To LOSE A TOOTH! It's in the upper right quadrant, but thankfully, a bit off to the side. I can't assess the damage yet, 'cause my face is all swollen out from the extraction and the massive amounts of novocaine I got. There was plenty of pain before the extraction, but none during, I can tell you that! And on top of everything, my dentist did this without his assistants...a solo tour de force. I won't need a trip to an oral surgeon; he was able to get it all out, thank goodness. I'm in a bit of pain now, but I'm fully armed against it.

I just arrived home from the drugstore, bearing Amoxicillin, Tylenol with Codeine, Acidophilus tablets (in case of yeast infection from the Acidophilus), sterile gauze, and Bob the Bird. More on the Bob the Bird later. In the A.M. I'll be trekking out for Ensure, which my dentist strongly recommended I have, considering what little I'll be able to eat. I'm instructed to eat only cool, soft foods for the next 24 hours (and I HATE HATE HATE Yogurt, and what else IS there in that category besides egg salad? PLEASE DU'ers --gimme some CLUES here!) and I have to ice my face (the 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off drill) for the next 36 hours, minimum.

I'll be lousy company for anyone on any day, but especially tomorrow. So, unless circumstances change amazingly by tomorrow, Bob the Bird and I will enjoy a quiet day at home. So now, more on Bob the Bird: When I went to the pharmacy (one which I'd never been to before) I had to communicate via credit card, signs, grunts and writing. I met this lovely lady behind the counter named Beth Ann, and on the counter was a Gund stuffed animal, turkey by trade, with a sign saying "Please Help! Only 1 Day left before I'm Bob's dinner!" So, I bought him, figuring he'd be the only turkey I'd have this Thanksgiving, and decided on the spot to name him Bob. Beth Ann got a kick out of that.

Goddamned tooth.

[bicentennial_baby]

1. Pudding

Yeah, yougurt, pudding, egg salad...shakes, soft ice cream... :shrug:

[mcscajun]

6. Yay, Pudding! ::Smacks Head:: Why didn't *I* think of that!?!

I found an old box of My-T-Fine Lemon Pudding & Pie Filling in the back of the closet.

I'm going to hard-cook some eggs now for the ubiquitous egg salad, then I'm going to make Pudding!

[fudge stripe cookays]

66. Those little....

fat-free chocolate Jell-O pudding cups are awesome! Yummy and chocolatey!

Hope you feel better! We can commiserate about your tooth and my finger.

fsc

[mcscajun]

68. I got some Pudding cups -- not fat-free,though.

Yum.

What's up with your finger?

[fudge stripe cookays]

71. Here...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x4348169

[mcscajun]

72. YEEEEEOWWWWWWWWWCH!

My deepest sympathies, oh wounded one.

[DainBramaged]

74. Hey you OK tonight??? Face still hurt??? I discovered a crack today

no, not the one where EVERYONE has one, at the top of a molar. One that had no filling, never gave me pain, never showed up in any x-rays as having a problem. Right at the gum line. I am very bummed. A life of taking care of my teeth, and they fail me utterly. Almost as if I have termites.:cry:

[mcscajun]

75. I'm much better tonight, thanks. Taking plain Tylenol only at this point..

...plus the Amoxicillin, natch.

Had a real meal tonight...eating on one side of your face is an interesting adventure.

How'd you discover the crack in your tooth? And is the crack vertical or horizontal?

We all have "termites" -- it's called entropy. All systems fail in time.

[DainBramaged]

78. Horizontal, discovered it when the floss got stuck.

Verified it with dental mirror reflecting in mirror. :cry::cry:

[texanwitch]

79. Have you been to a dentist yet, you may need a crown.

I have six due to childhood fillings, crowns aren't bad.

The only that hurt was writing those checks to the dentist.

[DainBramaged]

83. I would rather get them extracted and get a bridge

Than go through root canal and a crown again. Fucking dentist raped me and pained me in my mouth and wallet to the tune of $3400

[texanwitch]

84. So sorry you had such a bad time with your Dentist.

My Dentist was very gentle the whole dental work was pain free.

The root canal and six crowns was about 3500, I have find out that I was lucky in the cost.

I hope everything works out for you whatever you do with your teeth.:hug:

[fudge stripe cookays]

77. And mine to you, dear.

How's that applesauce? Yum! ;-)

[ashling]

24. Egg Custard

see other thread ... http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x4344166

[mcscajun]

25. Yum! Only without the crust, natch.

It's going to be an interesting quick trip to the market tomorrow morning...picking up all these odd, soft foods.

Pancakes!!! Now there's a soft food everyone can get into. Or outside of. :)

[purr]

2. Hope you feel better soon!

Lucky about your dentist!! I had an abscessed tooth that needed a root canal asap to drain it and he couldnt do it for 2 weeks :wtf:

Went to another dentist and he did it that day.

You can try Kefir but its similar to Yogurt.. Its in the natural foods refridgerated section. I take it every morning with instant breakfast mixed in and its much better tasting.

I get the dreaded yeast infection after any round of antibiotics and ANY probiotic I've been on hasnt done a damn thing for me :(

Hope you feel better soon and take care of Bob :)

[mcscajun]

15. I'm looking for a picture of Bob...I may just have to take one myself.

It'll be something to do after the egg salad and the pudding. :)

[mcscajun]

22. Well, I found a pic of Bob -- check this out.

[purr]

23. Aww!!

How cute!!!

[Kali]

80. Looks more like an Ostrich but the name Bob seems perfect!

get-well-soon sort of greeting on the tooth

[In_The_Wind]

3. I'm sorry you lost a tooth.

Perhaps you could share some rice pudding with Bob.

Happy Thanksgiving to you both. :hug:

[mcscajun]

16. Rice pudding might stick in his feathers.

LOL

thanks for the chuckle.

[bigwillq]

4. Hope your feel better!

:hug:

[mcscajun]

17. I just did -- I thought of Bush with MY tooth Before the Extraction...

...and all the dentists are Democrats!

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[DainBramaged]

5. My sympathies, three extractions here in two years, the age factor

comes into play, and another broken tooth to go when finances improve. No matter how well we take care of our teeth, bad (hidden) dentistry from years past caches up to some of us.

One suggestion that never fails to put a smile on when soft foods only are recommended;

pudding.


You never realize how much you love pudding until you get to the point where you have a stitch in you gum, gauze in you cheek, and pain in your eyes.

And yes, I too will be alone tomorrow. Not because I want to be but because of circumstances beyond my control. My Bob the Bird is 11 years old, has a fur coat and weighs 122lbs. When I came home from having my first tooth extracted two years ago, he knew instantly I hurt. And that made the pain go away much faster. If nothing more, I hope my little reply helps the pain go away faster and lets you know that I will be replying again throughout the day tomorrow. One last thing:



A glass 'o kitten always makes me smile. I hope it made you smile too.

[mcscajun]

7. Glass o' Kitten... a guaranteed chuckle, even from this pained mouth.

And yes, If I had a pooch nearby, he'd make me feel better too. Petting our animals has scientific backing as having healing properties.

See you in the ether here tomorrow. :)

[Elidor]

8. Here's to a speedy recovery with no pain

You will experience a remarkably fast recovery and will be in good spirits for the holiday. Others with no health care would not be so lucky, but you are. When you experience pain, you will notice that it's not really that bad, and it will soon recede. Enjoy the holiday if you can. :)

[mcscajun]

26. Always good to put some perspective on it.

And you're right...in a couple of days, this will just be a good story with no pain left.

[mcscajun]

27. Self-delete

posted in wrong spot.

[Redstone]

9. Well, if you can force some vodka between those clenched teeth,

it'll feel better.

I know, it doesn't help the Amoxi work, but it's only one day, and a holiday at that...

Here's hoping you do as well as is possible under the circumstances. Hang in there.

Redstone

[mcscajun]

14. I *do* like the way you think, Redstone!

No alcohol with Amoxi? Not even RUM!?!! (grumble) Doctors, Pharmacists...bunch o' damned heathens, the lot of em.

I'll make exceptions for Dentists tonight. :)

[Redstone]

34. Like I said, it's a holiday. Have yourself some fun, you.

Redstone

[merh]

10. So sorry about the tooth - wish I could suggest something to eat

but the pudding is all I can think of (jello is not a food, so I won't go there). How about some cranberries?

You could always back a sweet potato or a bake potato and let them cool and eat them.

If you don't mind, I will include you in my prayers, this isn't easy and it is no fun to be alone on a holiday. :hug:

Take care and best of luck to you. (((((hugs))))))

[mcscajun]

11. You're right. Jello is Not a Food. That didn't stop me from looking for it

though. :)

Oh, for a mashed sweet potato. Yes! When I go out tomorrow morning for the Ensure, I'll buy one or two, roast 'em, and mash the beejeesus out of 'em! They'll be good even lukewarm, and they be some connection with the day.
Thanks for the hugs, and the prayers. I'm not a believer, but no good wish is ever wasted.

You have a marvelous holiday!

[babylonsister]

12. Ice cream! I hope you get to feeling better. nt

[mcscajun]

13. Maybe tomorrow, maybe melted. Cold is Out, Hot is Out.

Cool. Soft. In.

Ugh.

[sbj405]

18. Apple Sauce.

Cold scrambled eggs aren't too bad.
Wishing you and Bob well.

[mcscajun]

19. Update on Bob the Bird. Worth a good laugh at my expense.

He's NOT a "turkey by trade" -- He's an Ostrich!

No wonder I couldn't find his picture. Here's Bob:



In my own defense, he was sitting on those long legs, there wasn't an egg in sight, and I was in PAIN!

Still, it IS funny.

[DainBramaged]

21. Just wonderful. The face is priceless.

[fudge stripe cookays]

67. I was right!

When I saw the other pic of him above, I was thinking..."That's a turkey? He looks more like an ostrich!"

:spray:

fsc

[Kali]

81. OOps

didn't read all the way before I had a know-it-all moment (but I WAS right!)

[miss_american_pie]

20. Cold soups?

I think some of those are okay at room temperature.

Sorry about your tooth.

[mcscajun]

28. Pancakes? Nice thought, but...

One of my sisters sent me a list of foods titled "What Can I Eat When My Teeth Hurt?" It was for folks with braces, but it'll do for my situation as well...more or less, this list didn't take temperature into account.

http://www.archwired.com/soft_foods_category.htm

Pancakes! Too bad they're lousy cold.

But Hummus sure seems like a good idea.

[hippywife]

29. Sorry your holiday is spoiled

but the drugs will help. Might even make you like yogurt. I didn't used to like it either but they have so many really yummy flavors now. Just don't waste time or money on the Yoplait Chocolate Whips. Key lime, orange cream, banana...yummy.

Do you like cottage cheese? Maybe mix in some canned peaches? Ensure tastes pretty good, actually. I work in a retirement center and have tried it. Not bad at all. Quite a few flavors to choose from there, too.

Whatever you do don't drink anything thru a straw!!! It can cause your clot to break loose and then you will bleed so profusely it will be difficult to stop.

[mcscajun]

30. Thanks for the wishes, and the info.

Especially the explanation on the straw bit. It was in my instructions not to drink through a straw, but didn't explain why. I figured it was something precautionary about the healing, but not that it'd break the clot loose. Wow.

The instructions also mentioned not "sucking" on the wound. You know, we can't help but probe and suck at some things. :evilgrin:

But in this case, I really, really, really have to keep my tongue in its proper place. I do not want "dry socket". I've heard stories. Ugly stories.
:scared:

[hippywife]

32. Trust me on this!

I speak from experience. No smoking, no straws. No matter how tempting. It just ain't worth it.

[mcscajun]

33. No smoking...no problem

Never caught the habit.

[lildreamer316]

31. Aren't you lucky!

because you should be able to eat...wait for it...SOFTENED CHEESECAKE!!!!

You lucky luck soul!!!

Of course,if you get too impatient waiting for it to soften from the freezer, you will be in trouble.

Hope you feel better.

[mcscajun]

35. Hmmm...ya' know? Just a few months ago, I couldn't have imagined it.

I loathed the whole Idea of cheesecake...passed up countless opportunities to try it. Figured even if it Was Good, who needed another 'bad habit'?

A short while back, I sampled a bit of what ought to be truly good cheesecake, and it wasn't that bad at all. :)

Until you mentioned it...I hadn't even thought about it.

Any good brands in the freezer? Sara Lee? Eli's? Baby Watson's?

[babylonsister]

39. I can highly recommend

key lime pie, found in your frozen food section. I've only seen one brand and dang it but I can't remember the name, but it is so yummy, similar to cheesecake, and would probably be perfect when allowed to sit out and soften for a bit.
How about egg salad on soft white bread?
LOL, now I'm worried you won't be able to eat well on Thanksgiving.
Hand in there!
One more idea; flan!

[mcscajun]

42. Lucky me... I had a Key Lime Pie in the freezer, Edwards is the brand

And it went down pretty easy last night after I let it sit out for an hour. That was after the really smooshed egg salad on white bread.

We think along similar lines, sister. :)

[babylonsister]

47. Yes-Edwards! It sounds like you're keeping yourself

fed, so I'm relieved! Happy Thanksgiving, mcscajun!

[mcscajun]

48. Happy Thanksgiving to you as well...

...and to all who've shared with me in this thread.

:grouphug:

[SharonRB]

36. Applesauce would be okay

Hope you feel better soon.

[DainBramaged]

37. You still with us, or is sleep a gentle option now?

[mcscajun]

38. Sleep is coming up shortly. I'm gonna take a Tylenol with Codeine

a couple of Amoxicillin, and hit the sack.

Sleep well, also, and thanks again for the concern.

Nighty-night, DU

[DainBramaged]

40. Oatmeal, with maple syrup

Nice consistency, great warm won't bother you. I'm going to have some in a few minutes.

Time to wake up.:party:

[mcscajun]

43. Well, I haven't felt up to making oatmeal yet, but you're right.

It IS an option, and a good one. I just have to remember not to dive in right off the stove. Got to let it cool off Just A Bit.

I had a good night's sleep(courtesy of Tylenol with Codeine) and just came back from the market a little while ago, where I picked up Hummus, cream cheese, small soft pitas, dinner rolls, bananas, milk (for smoothies doncha know), applesauce, potatoes for mashing, more Tylenol, and at my dentist's urging (he called this morning to check on me, bless his heart) the makings for Turkey Soup. I'll make that later to dine on, and at least the house will smell like turkey. I'll warm up the applesauce JUST a bit and add some cinnamon for dessert. It's not apple pie, but it's close. :)

The "Party", so to speak, has started; I just caught the climax of "March of the Wooden Soldiers" where Laurel and Hardy wind 'em up and set 'em loose -- I'm a sucker for that scene. (So was Barlet in an episode of West Wing.)

[DainBramaged]

45. Happy Thanksgiving, you're doin' great

We had a dusting of snow here last night (first of the season). Kitty sleeping on my arm, and thoughts of going out for a newspaper crossing my mind now.

[mcscajun]

46. Yeah, we had a bit of a dusting here as well. Go get your paper.

It's not as nasty out as the weatherfolk would have you believe. Just dress warmly for those NJ winds.

PS: I just had my oatmeal -- missed the raisins, though. Ah well, it went down easy and it IS filling. :)

[Tsiyu]

41. Applesauce is good

Sprinkle some clove and cinnamon on it.

Toothaches suck, but what a dear dentist to spend his holiday helping you out.

Sounds like Bob will cheer you up!

[mcscajun]

44. Great idea, certainly. Would have done the cinnamon, didn't think about

cloves. Yum.

Yes, my dentist IS a dear; he called this morning to check up on me, bless his heart.

[DainBramaged]

49. You ok??

[mcscajun]

50. I'm much better now, thanks.

Made and ate some turkey soup, mashed a baked potato, been icing my face and taking my meds -- OOPS, time for more Amoxicillin.

Thanks for keeping up. :)

[NMDemDist2]

51. cottage cheese? it's good, soft and cool and glad you're feeling

better

and Bob the Bird is precious!

[mcscajun]

52. Yeah, I don't even mind that Bob's not a turkey.

:)

Cottage cheese is a huge YUCK in my book. I've stocked a bunch of other soft foods, though, and I had some homemade turkey soup earlier. :)

Thanks for the concern. DUers are just great. :hug:

[DainBramaged]

57. Doin my best. I sat alone for 3 days when I had mine extracted

And that was when I smoked, so I was a miserable sob.:hug:

[mcscajun]

60. But you're *much* better now...

:hug:

I'm planning on going in to work tomorrow. That should be loads of fun.

Bringing the meds (and the salt with me for the rinsing bit.)

[DainBramaged]

61. Ah yes, salt rinses in warm water.

Nothing more thriling to drink in the morning, :rofl:

[hfojvt]

53. As Yossarian said

Good God, how much respect can you have for a Supreme Being who finds in necessary to include such phenomenon as phlegm and tooth decay in his divine system of Creation?

Sounds to me like you are over-treating it. I never went through all that with my extractions. I never needed any of the pain pills either, although the day after came with the biggest headache I have ever experienced.

[mcscajun]

54. I absolutely have to agree with Yossarian.

But how am I over-treating it? 'Splain, please.

[hfojvt]

55. well, over-treating will not hurt

I just never did all the icing and pain pills for my own extractions, but everyone knows best how to treat themself. I never had the infection going either though, and I could probably use the acidophilus or yogurt, which I never liked either.

[mcscajun]

56. Yogurt. Ick. I'd rather have an infection than eat it.

I haven't taken the Acidophilus yet -- that's a just-in-case thing. :shrug: I probably wouldn't have bought it most other days...last night, I was a bit on the judgment-impaired side as I stood in the pharmacy. Otherwise, I wouldn't own Bob the Bird now. :)

I'm done with icing...now it's on to salt-water rinses. Ick.

[antigone382]

58. What about potato salad?

If you boil the potatoes for a long time, it should be nice and soft...it's just a little more exciting than a cold baked potato--and I don't like egg salad at all.

[mcscajun]

59. I'm better off with the egg salad...No chewing required by the time

I get through with the post-extraction version...it's more like egg paté.

[don954]

62. cheese cake... :)

[Lydia Leftcoast]

63. Pureed soups

When I had my wisdom teeth out at the advanced age of 43, I knew that I would not be able to eat solid food for a while.

Accordingly I made a different kind of soup every day for a week, pureed it, and stored two servings in individual tupperware bowls in the freezer, creating what I called "soupcicles."

For two weeks, my daily menu was like this: hot cereal for breakfast, a thawed and reheated soupcicle for lunch, and a fruit milk shake for dinner. And no, I didn't lose weight. :-(

[mcscajun]

64. There IS No Justice in the world.

IF you can only eat soft pureed things and NOT lose weight.

That's all there is TO it.

Here's to Solid Food in all its variety! :applause:

[DainBramaged]

65. Chewed food is good food

Unless you were the guy with the eating disorder in CSI tonight, OMG!!!!!! :freak:

[mcscajun]

69. I'm off to work -- egg salad, salt (for the rinse) and meds in hand.

Should be an interesting day - at least the missing tooth is NOT on the
"phone side" of my face. :)

[DainBramaged]

70. Good luck, have fun, painfree today we hope 8=))

[bridgit]

73. you have our undiluted sympathies...

i go in next week for a 'consult', and hubby put off the second phase of his sessions until after T-day. he's on antibiotics & Rx pain stuff even now so we hear'ya on this one x(

he'll be doing mashed potatos next week...

[mcscajun]

76. Let hubby have this list...it may help.

http://www.archwired.com/soft_foods_category.htm

Someone else in this thread quoted Yossarian (Catch-22) on the subject of god and tooth decay, so I pass this along to you:

"And don't tell me God works in mysterious ways," Yossarian continued, hurtling on over her objection. "There's nothing so mysterious about it. He's not working at all. He's playing. Or else, He's forgotten all about us. That's the kind of God you people talk about - a country bumpkin, a clumsy, bungling, brainless, conceited, uncouth hayseed. Good God, how much reverence can you have for a supreme being who finds it necessary to include such phenomena as phlegm and tooth decay in His divine system of creation? What in the world was running through that warped, evil, scatological mind of His when he robbed old people of their power to control their bowel movements? Why in the world did He ever create pain?"

[bridgit]

86. thanks for the link i'll pass it along handing back a little ditty...

from The Bard, "...there was never yet philosopher that could endure the tooth-ache patiently." x(

Heller noting rather duly, "phlegm" is another matter altogether questionable = peace & holism to us all :thumbsup:

[TankLV]

82. Got some for ya here, sweetie!

Being out of sorts or sick sucks.

Hope all gets better soon.

[UncleSepp]

85. Pumpkin, sweet potato, and peanut butter pie insides

Might give you at least a little sense of the season, too. You poor thing. That sounds really awful :-(

Oh, also hummus and baba ghannoush might be good.

[mcscajun]

87. Got the hummus -- that's for tomorrow night with pita bread.

I may pick up a sweet potato or two just for baking and eating with a little butter. Yum.

[DainBramaged]

88. Are you better yet??

:hug::hug::hug::hug:

[mcscajun]

91. Much better, thanks.

Yesterday I had my first day of NOT needing any pain meds.

:woohoo:

And Monday, I go back to the dentist, so progress report pending then, I'm sure.

[DainBramaged]

92. WOOHOO

:woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo:

I love these little guys

[khashka]

89. Maybe something to make you smile:

"Listening to the quiet breathing of our Persian we call Cajun on a Wednesday" - Tori Amos.

And no, I'm not calling you a cat or catty. Just saying we'll be happy with your quiet breathing until you can speak again. Heal up, feel better :)

Khash.

[mcscajun]

90. That's cute. Thanks.

:)