"Magic Day 9"

It happened last time and now it has happened again. I'm talking about magic day number nine. Chemo is day one and from that point on the muscle aches and pains, queasy tummy, no appetite, headaches, other stomach issues, low energy and tiredness take hold. Then, on day number nine it stops! That's twice now that day nine has been the first "good day" after chemo. I'm sensing a pattern!

The only thing that marred happy day number nine was my tooth. Yes, my stupid tooth. I have spent hours with the dentist during the past few weeks after a throbbing toothache. On four different occasions, he has worked on a root canal and has been unsuccessful in finishing it. The reasons are complicated (I barely understood what he was saying the problem was). After these visits, he popped a temp filling in and said "let's just wait a month and see how it goes."

It didn't go well. I woke up with the horrible toothache again. This time, he sent me to the oral surgeon. I just went there and had my back, right upper molar yanked. Currently, that has not helped the toothache! I am hopeful that it will heal soon and I can start enjoying my "good" post-chemo days until it is time for another round. In the meantime, I am thankful for pain meds!

"Forget Cancer, Have a Nice Root Canal!"

As I went to bed Sunday night, I thought about everything that had to be done the next few days. A trip to the cancer center was on the calendar for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (not to mention other things). Unfortunately, I did not factor in an emergency root canal.

I had a toothache on Sunday, but didn't think too much of it. Until, that is, it woke me up three times during the night. At four in the morning my face was throbbing. I got up to take Advil and still couldn't sleep. I was worried because I knew I was facing my first chemo treatment on Wednesday and dental procedures are highly discouraged during chemo. I knew I didn't have time to play the game of wait and see. I called my dentist at 4:30 in the morning and left a message explaining my situation.

I went in as soon as my appointment at the cancer center was done. The X-ray was compared to the last time I was there (not that long ago because I always have my regular cleanings). At that time, he marked it as a place to "watch." The dentist took one look at the two X-rays and said "Wow, that got bad fast!" He looked at his watch (11:30) and said he would work through lunch because I needed a root canal right now! I didn't even have time to get nervous! He worked on me for an hour and a half, put a temp filling in and I go back in today for him to finish the procedure. That will be after my pre-chemo lab work and appointment with my oncologist, of course.

I guess I had seen so many doctors lately, the dentist was feeling left out! Do I have bad luck or what?! Here is the upside: it was caught and acted on quickly before it became an infection and before chemo started! It seems like every time something "bad" happens there has been the silver lining of God at work. His timing is perfect, even during less than perfect circumstances.