Have you ever....

Gail---there are five antibiotics but remember I only started the first one on Sunday, then on Tuesday they gave me a shot of antibiotics and added two more oral ones, and then today, they added yet another oral one.
So I have not really completed the full courses of them. They are all prescribed for 14 days and I am only a couple of days into them. On Sunday, I started Amoxicillin 500mg - 3 daily, then on Tuesday I had an
injection of 1gm or Rocephin and started on Batcrim DS-twice daily and Clindamycin 300mg -three times daily.
Then just today, they added Augmentin 875mg three times daily. SO---it may take a little longer. My original
PCP thinks that there may be a staph infection, but it has not been cultured unless the surgeon did a culture that I did not see him do when he did the incision and drainage. As for the doctors, I did see my PCP, who consulted by phone with an ENT (regarding choices of meds) and then that same day I saw my dentist and an
Oral-Maxilliofacial surgeon. The only other thing I can come up with would be if it is staph, maybe an infectious disease specialist. BUT, I have faith...this will be better soon!

Thanks for your prayers!

(and be assured, if I go to the hospital, MY LAPTOP goes with me!)

I am keeping the faith with you and thanks for clarifying on the antibiotics. I guess I was jumping the gun and not thinking about a 14 day regimine on several antibiotics. I usually do math but I guess not this evening! LOL!!! I am thinking about you and I am glad you keep your laptop handy!

LOL Gail....I can't hardly keep the pills straight and I am the one taking them. I certainly would not expect anyone else to be able to do it!

Thanks again!

Carolyn~

I can definately understand... I have a hard time taking multivitamins and calciums.... I feel for you! Now, don't laugh to hard.... I know that can't feel good!

Yes, I have seen this as a nurse!!!  Personally, I think they should have admitted you to the hospital sooner than this and started IV antibiotics.  Tooth infections are NOT to be played around with especially since it is soo close to the brain!  So If he admits you, follow his instructions and go!!  I am praying for you!!!!!  Please update us!!!

Thanks Lucy. I am prepared. I have already got my bag packed and will have it in the car when I go to the doctor in the morning. If he says I need to be admitted, I won't argure the point at all. I would much rather go ahead and do it now if it is going to end up having to be done
at any point.
I work with a large Physician group and one of the docs was "playing" with me today and said I needed to just go ahead and be admitted---I responded with telling him that I did not want to have the IV Stick because it would hurt and he says..."it can't hurt as bad as your face does!" I then told him that my face did not hurt because I have a bottle or Lortab 10's that I can have every four hours! He just laughed and told me he would check on me at the hospital tomorrow.
Again, thanks for the Prayers.

Carolyn~

Oh Dear God Carolyn! I hope they get you HEALED SOON! Oh Geezzzzzz! I am so sorry. It does sound wayyyy more than DENTAL only.

I'm so sorry that you have to go through this Carolyn.   Yes, I have had a really bad abcessed tooth before.  I was looking for pictures, but I suspect we haven't put them on the computer yet.  I had no health or dental insurance for a few years, so I was no stranger to abcesses (from three different teeth), but I only had one that was as bad as you are describing.  It was the worst abcess that I ever had, and I'll never forget it.  The swelling started on the right side of my neck just about an inch above my collar bone and went all the way to my eye.  I tried to get in to see a doctor, but no MD's would take me because I didn't have insurance and they were worried that something would go wrong after my initial visit and I wouldn't have the money to pay for another visit or medications.  I finally (after only two days of suffering) went to the ER and begged them to help me.  The ER dentist took one look and told me that he was going to admit me to the hospital, after he pulling the tooth.  He told me that they do not normally pull abcessed teeth, because there is a risk of the infection spreading rapidly and because the infection would counteract with the numbing medication causing it not to work, but he was worried about the abcess and wanted to pack the site with antibiotics.   He pulled the tooth and packed the socket with antibiotics and admitted me to the hospital where I stayed for three days and received IV pain meds and antibiotics.  After three days, most of the swelling was gone and he told me that I was looking a lot better, so he released me with a prescription for more antibiotics and some pain meds and told me to return at the slightest sign of a problem.  I didn't have any more problems, so I didn't have to return, but I did go back after I healed to see the doctor.  I truly believe that he saved my life that day.  I'm not telling you this to scare you, and I apologize if I did.  I'm just telling you this so that you know that you aren't alone, it has happened before.  You are one very strong woman...there was no way that I would have been able to go to work with that (I'm a big baby lol).  I will pray for you (that you will heal quickly with minimal pain, and that it is just an abcess- nothing more) and the doctors treating you (for  wisdom and guidance when treating you).   You are in my prayers!! Hugs, Angel