Brandi??? Are you in there somewhere??

I'm going to tell you a little story about my "fun" adventure on Tuesday. I went into the dentist at 1:00 because I had a bump above my front tooth in my gums. A couple of years ago, either Kaid or Kenn (can't remember), head-butted me and hurt my tooth. It started to turn a little gray so I had to have a root canal done. I thought everything was taken care of...end of story. So, when I went into the dentist's on Tuesday, they took an x-ray and then he came in and said there was nothing he could do, he had to refer me to the Endodontist (root canal specialist). They made an appointment for me that day at 4:30. So, I went in to see him and he did another x-ray. He immediately numbed me (in the roof of my mouth and in my gums above my front tooth...eyes were already watering at that point) and then started to drill a hole in the back of my tooth. All of the sudden, I felt the worse pain I think I have ever felt. My whole mouth was burning, throbbing, aching, feeling like it was being sliced open...what the *!?$ was going on????? He proceded to tell me what was going on...basically, the infection in my tooth exploded like an open pop can and that was what I was feeling along with exposed nerves. So, the pain seemed like it lasted an eternity...tears were streaming down my face, I was shaking, heart beating sooooo fast. There really was nothing they could do but let it all drain out. Meanwhile, they packed it with loads and loads of medicine to kill the infection, packed my tooth and then it was finally over. I sit up, basically hyperventillating at this point and he tells me what happened. Whenever you have trauma to a tooth like I had (headbutting...or for some people its caused by your braces moving your teeth too fast), it breaks the barrier that holds your tooth's cells together. He said he likes to call it "cancer of the tooth" except its not cancer. Basically, your own tooth cells eat your tooth. So, mine caused two 22-gauge holes PLUS absorption (infection) in my tooth. He told me that I was going to swell and maybe get a little black and blue. He gave me prescriptions for an antibiotic and a small pain killer (safe for pregnant women thank goodness) and told me he would call to check on me that night. He also said to go fill the prescriptions right away because the infection was so acidic it would eat right through the novacain that was in my mouth already. So, I got out to my car and could already fill the pain coming. I was seriously still shaking and balling at that point. I drove to the pharmacy and filled my prescriptions and drove back to my parent's house, still stunned with the whole experience. I took my medicine, grabbed an ice pack from the freezer and waited for the pain killer to kick in...nothing. Meanwhile, the swelling GREW and GREW...and GREW. I had numerous visitors from family and friends...all not being able to help the laughing and staring. My face was and still is so distorted, you couldn't even recognize me. The doctor called a few hours later and told me all my symptoms were completely normal. He said my mouth suffered so much trauma, my swelling would double in size and then turn black and blue. Boy did it ever. Miller and his Dad gave me a priesthood blessing, which completely put my mind at ease. I am so thankful for the priesthood in my life and for a wonderful husband who takes such great care of me...he rubbed my feet, took care of the kids, got me my medicine and ice packs, took me to the Bagel Bakery to get some soup (don't worry, I didn't go in. However, I did get some stares while driving down the road). What a crazy experience!!! I wasn't even able to get my root canal...the doctor is hoping the medicine will work and in three weeks he should be able to do one...crossing my fingers! So, here are some pictures...Miller took them every chance he got :)

This is right after I got home...icing it
an hour and a half later...

My gums...black and blue

A couple hours after that...

Side views...

Before I went to bed...

The next day...don't mind the "non-shower/no makeup/hair not done/pure ugliness"...I only slept about 2 hours that night...so painful! Don't you love the "perma-flare of the nostril"???

I am feeling a lot better now...still very swolen...but black and blue now. I'll take a picture tomorrow. I stopped taking the pain medicine yesterday because it really didn't do anything. We were going to do family pictures too...WOW, that would have been bad!