Friday, January 18, 2008

Cat Run Progress. I Build Stairway to.........

I am climbing the stairway to Heaven. At least I am trying. Each step in completing the cat run from the house to the garage room puts me on better terms with the gods of the house. The cats. I've descended to status of cat slave. I have built my first cat stairway.

Check it out.




I've built this from scrap wood, some of it that I hauled from the old place, when I had to move.

My tooth is raging. It didn't hurt this morning much but then I ate some cold cereal and now it's killing me. I did call my dentist but she is off for the weekend. I left a message.

9 comments:

  1. My recommendation is to try ice- do NOT use heat because that causes the infection to grow!!

    Also, oil of cloves (avail at a pharmacy or health food store) can help as can a bit of alcohol- ie , liquor, not the other stuff.

    Ibuprofen or ASA if you do not have an ulcer or stomach issues is good for a tooth ache. I have often had to treat children with tooth aches in the ER - and fortunately could call the dentist on call but in the meantime, usually gave them meds and rubbed baby gel - the super strength kind dentists have on their gums and tooth. ASA with codeine is good too if you have any of that. In Canada, you can buy ASA with codeine (just the 8 mg) OTC and it is sometimes just as good as Tylenol 3 but then I am a pediatrician so I would always recommend less rather than more meds.

    If it is a sensitive tooth, perps Sensodyne might help?

    Just some thoughts- please see your dentist and do not rely on me since I am not your primary doctor and while you do not strike me as someone who takes many if any meds, one has to be careful of drug interactions.

    I hope you feel better. I know what it is like to have an aching tooth,. Sometimes I think I'd prefer major surgery to seeing a dentist and I actually see a friend who is a pediatric dentist, lol

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  2. Thanks! I don't take any meds, actually. I have been using ice. The tooth has been problematic for years and the dentist has told me for at least four years it's only a matter of time until I need a root canal, but so far so good on it. The nerve becomes inflamed. Then it will deinflame. Right now, it's ok if I don't chew on that side, which I'm not doing, just liquid diet time. this morning I made a shake of bananas and grapes and pumpkin seeds, in my blender.

    I don't like codeine or any narcotics, make me irritible and constipated. I didn't even take them after my major back surgery. I don't like them. Ice for me is a better nerve pain killer. And I don't get constipated!

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  3. unbderstand what you mean re narcotics. It is best to abvoid them tho ironically they have fewre side effects than some of the other meds we thinkiof as harmless, amazingly. Think of the cox 2 inhibitors Big Pharma tried to firve on us like celebrex and vioxx!!! They are so much worse! I will take codeine any day (when needed!!) over those. They scare me to no end. I was fotunate in that a friend who works in the HIH warned me about the testst that were down on them and thus I never prescribed them to anyone nor gave out samples. (She is like me a Harvard MD-PhD grad so I value her opinions.) We both took the 6 yr program that alloed uis to graduate with the 2 degrees but then of course she went her way and I went into hematology and pediatrics. However, she alweays seems to be in the know with US sponsored studies and it boggles my mind that these meds are still on the market - despite all the knowledge. If you ever have time to read, get Marcia Angell's book at a library or anywhere and raed it- if need be,m I'll scan if for you. She pts out how the drug companies have created ilnessed to devlop drugs for. How bad is that!!! Like erectile dyssfunction for example, lol Or PMS as an illness that requires an alledgedly new drug (prozac in pink by another name, sigh or is that GIVE me a BREAK!)

    In any case, I am not helping your tooth ache. I am not a fan of root canals because inevitably they do not work. Reconstructions are much better and the cost is about the same. Why? he tooth may continue to hurt, an abscess may not heal, and on follow-up x-rays a simmering infection may continue to erode bone. Also, because there is no longer a vital pulp with the nourishing blood and lymph, the tooth becomes more brittle and is more prone to fracture.Worse, teeth once given a root canal give off toxins and these toxins can cause a myriad of systemic problems. I had a root canal myselff at 20 and it bothers me 15 yrs later!! I had to have it resconstruicyted just a few months ago and I hope that works!@ But read the studies.

    Teeth with root canals also lead to problems like sinus for example and my sinus problem is all but ibliterated once that root canal was taken out. And most worrisome is the fact that when a root canal is performed, the bacteria in the tooth go from being aerobic (no O2) to almost none bacteria thrive on anaerobic ( low oxygen) situations. When the bacteria become anaerobic they give off toxins which are extremely potent. I know of a vet who looked at the tooth of a rabbit (I had a rabbit who was at one time the longest livcing in the world - domesticated one anyway) and discovered to his dismay and amazeemendt that the tooth decay - due to a root canal performed by a person who loved their bunny- had caused arthritis!!!! I know thqat's bizarre but he has documenetd this unusual finding in a vet study and humn phsyicains have studied similar sitations - thio not as much - in humans. The vet deteremined the rabbit - an elderly one like mine had been (He is at the bridge now, sigh but he had a good long life but I still miss him!) developing arthritis and the root canal speeded up the process. Human studies have shown that had the rabbot or the human had heart disese, that wold have been made worse! These studies showe these bacteria- post root canal are almost indestrucytable- need masses of powerful antibiotivs which in and of themselves have their own problems. (I have treated at least 10 children with a certain med who have develiped aplastic anemia , a disease similar to leukemia that often can only be treated by a bone marrow transplant- I do not want to name the med for fear of a law suit.

    Some dentists are now uggesting that root canals are fine if the patient is already healthy but with your back problems (like mine), I would nthink about a root canal if I were you. Look online to get more info. Do some research - don;'t just accept whayt your dentist says.

    Also, just because a tooth is sensitive does not mean you need a root canal. Sometimes, just adjusting the bite or changing a filling can alleviate the sensitivity.

    I am not dentist but I share a ride with one I listen to his musings often and he is an excellent dentist. I consider myself lucky. He does not do crowns - I mean, not mean kids need them - his speciaty is to often work with my oncology patients because an infection in their tooth can kill them so I value his services not just for me but for "my" kids.

    Good luck and keep the ice on. Even Rescue remedy works on a tooth ache (I suspect it is the brandy, lol) but that is assuming there is no infection. Take cate - My dad is in surgery and I am sick with worry so thinking about this actuallyt helps so your tooth ache has a silver lining (along with dictating reports which I loathe but I digress, lol)

    S

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  4. Excuse my typos- it is a God awful day for me!! I wish thee was a way to edit. Do you know if there is. Mean kids should say Many kids!! Gawd!

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  5. Here is one study:

    http://jmm.sgmjournals.org/cgi/content/full/54/8/777

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  6. And yet another: (unscientific but makes one wonder - I have never liked anecdotal info but there are too many re root canals now to not take them seriously, combined with enough studies)

    http://dailystrength.org/discussions/Arthritis/messages/1616477

    OK, that's ir- sorry to go on!

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  7. I just heard from someone locally who is having problems years down the line, chronic infections, from a root canal. Think I'll pass on it. Why does that dentist you ride with not do crowns, same reason?

    I would think removing the tooth, if it was dead, then bracing it to maintain the space, would be healthier. My dentist is extremely cautious about root canals, and maybe doesn't do them. There are two teeth behind this one, so space loss and bite issues would be a problem, if it were pulled and the space not maintained in some fashion. Bite issues cause more pain and suffering than people could imagine.

    Thanks for all the information. I know how corrupt the drug industry is, due to my own experiences in the psyche system, the pushing and forcing of drugs onto people, that don't need them. The recent study, in Oregon, indicating a huge percentage of foster kids in Oregon, are on large numbers of psyche drugs, illustrates the mentality among many doctors--the more drugs the better. I know some doctors get stipends for pushing a drug companies drug of choice. Many doctors' offices are littered with "drug paraphanalia", as I call it, posters, even pens and gadgets with their drugs of choice brand labeled.

    The recent study about the latest cholestrol lowering drug, how it is ineffective, or at best, about as effective as currently available generics, yet the study showing this was withheld from the public for two years, only shows the problems.

    People take drugs also often so they won't have to change lifestyle, which might solve the root problem. Cop out. Laziness.

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  8. He does not do the because he is a pediatric dentist and there is little need for crowns in children. He has a very specific practice at a Children's hospital. I think he has no major prob with crowns providing there is no underlying disease.

    I would agree with your fried. I see no need for root canals.

    Extraction and a I forget what it is called (I am so wrapped up in my father's serious illness An Implant tho that is an expensive option. There is something called hmmm- that name escapes me as well, veneers, might be an option. But I would have it checked to make sure there is NO infection!!!

    Good luck!!!!!

    And sorry for so much info!!! I hope I don't take you away from your important work - we need more people like you and don't forget it!!! I wish more peple cared about cats and had the passion you do!! I wish I could give you a medal - I would!!!!
    S

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  9. I will consider that I have received a medal from you. Thank you. My first medal! Hahaha. I hope your father is ok. I have forgotten what is going on with him.

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