Hi there, I remember you!

Long time no see! I apologize, I really do. I’ve missed blogging and I’ve missed you guys! Just when I thought that my run in with bad luck was over and my life started to even out, I hit another snag… but I guess that’s life, right? First I came down with a chest cold and it really took me out, being Asthma Girl and all. That coupled with more hours at work kept me off the computer more and feeling pretty crummy. Alright, then I get some more hours at work and all of a sudden I’m working more than I’m off which hasn’t happened in a while. Hooray! Right? Well, my bum leg was used to resting more than anything else, and it’s been protesting. I thought once it was healed, I’d hit the ground running and I keep getting hit with the realization that it’s not just going to go that way. The edema (swelling) in the damaged tissue is still an ongoing battle and as my custom compression stockings aren’t ready yet, that battle is being fought with Ace bandages. They bunch, they slide, they come undone and I somehow managed to peel them off in my sleep even though they’re held on with Velcro and safety pins. Sooooo, I have a lumpy, bumpy Franken-leg. After a few days in a row of hours on my feet, I am not a happy camper. One day, it felt like there was a hatched buried in my shin. This was my fourth day of work in a row and with the warm weather hanging around, retail is getting busier. Luckily, it slowed down because my supervisor went to bat for me and my boss man let me leave early. I got home and immediately went to unwrap my leg to see what was going on (other than a leg that I had to rest for months now thrown into the swing of things) and my bandages had slid to mid-shin and my lower leg looked like and hour glass. Unwrap, elevation and ibuprofen began to appease Franken-leg.

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Then, last Saturday I notice that an area of my gums that I thought I had just scratched and made sore was actually becoming swollen. My mom noticed it, but thought I had gum in my mouth and my supervisor also noticed it when I went to work. Great. I do not have dental insurance. I was freaking out since if there was that much swelling in my gums/jaw, then I probably had an abscessed tooth. Some online research told me that I’d either need it pulled or get a root canal. I was floored at the expense of a root canal. Heck, I couldn’t have afforded to get it pulled. A friend heard of my plight via Facebook and told me about a dental program for low income people that would help with the cost. Whew! I called on the program that Monday (swelling held at bay by frequent brushing and peroxide rinses) and some wonderful woman had me enrolled that morning. She gave me the information on a dentist that participated in the program that wasn’t open on Mondays, but would be open the next day. I call and am told that I could be seen the 19th of this month. I tell the receptionist that I suspected that I had an abscessed tooth and had some pain. Her response? When can I be there. Really, she said someone could see me as soon as I could drive in. It was a little over an hour away, but worth it since my first visit with a diagnoses, cleaning, x-rays and treatment plan would only be $50. I finally make it to the office after getting turned around a couple times and am called back before I could get to the second line of the sign-in sheet. Great people, checked me out thoroughly, located the problem tooth and, yes, it is abscessed. An old filling has failed and let germies get in and created an infection. The nerves in my tooth are nearly dead from it (ugh) which explains why the pain wasn’t OMG!!! So now I have to decide if I want to get the tooth pulled or get a root canal. I’m going to see how long it would take to save for the root canal since I’d prefer to save the tooth. I’ve grown attached to it as I’ve had it for most of my life.

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So, I’m on yet another round of antibiotics to clear up the infection. The swelling is going down so I’m pretty sure it’s working. The only problem is that taking the antibiotics every 6 hours keeps me feeling kind of sick to my stomach all day. It seems like most foods make my stomach even more upset so I’ve been picking at bland, dry things. Yogurt and chicken have been sitting the best. I had a Subway sandwich at work the other day and definitely payed for it. It was nice to eat it, tasted good, I was excited over all the yummerful veggies, but it was too much. Oh well, I tried. I haven’t really been hungry too much, and I’m just hoping that once this round of pills is done I don’t go crazy. “I can eat again, OMNOMNOMNOM!” Haha! Actually, I had a piece of toast with a thin coat of smooth peanut butter a little while ago and I can feel the argument going on in my tummy. * sigh * I hate being on antibiotics! For the best, for the best.

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If that wasn’t enough fun times, my internet access is being restricted because I went over my allotted download space. I can barely get online and only at certain times of the day when a lot of other people aren’t also using their internet. Why did I download so much stuff even though I know that I have a limited amount? Well… a virus worked it’s way onto my computer. My layers of protection didn’t catch it and it started downloading more malware, spyware and all that crap. The computer is cleaned out now, but I’m still getting slapped with the violation and have to wait another week or so to get my internet back to normal. UGH!

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Oh, and today the fuel pump on my parents’ care went kaput. It sucks because they’re on a tight budget as well and it also means that they won’t be able to help me out with getting my tooth fixed. Their car is sitting in WalMart parking lot, poor thing. . I’m really hoping that this time, things calm down and my life levels off for a while. I have moments where I just want to sink into the frustration and let the trapped, never get out feeling get to me, but I’ve been pretty good at calming down, taking a breath and remembering that life happens. Yeah, this year has been off to a rocky start, but someone always has it worse and things will get better. When it rains it pours, it’s always darkest before the dawn, it always gets worse before it gets better etc, etc. I’m surrounded by wonderful people that I love and love me, I have a job even though it’s not the best one or a career, I’m getting my problems taken care of and I’m going to get better. I mean, how many other people are dealing with these same problems? Financial problems? Health problems? So many! Can’t even count. We live, we survive, we thrive.

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So, hopefully this time that I’m getting back into the swing of things… I get to swing a little longer.