Smiling Through The Pain A Difficult Week

Smiling Through The Pain A Difficult Week

This past week has been a nightmare in terms of pain. If you read my blog entry, getting a root canal and my nightmare dental treatment you will be aware that I’ve been having issues with two teeth for the past 6 months. It’s been difficult but the last two weeks have been the worst. 

I had a root canal last Monday on the left hand side of my mouth and then my right root canal which is waiting for further treatment became painful so I ended up back at the dentist on Friday. Then the left root canal became painful again and I had to see a dentist again today. 

A Virus and Pneumonia

I’ve spent the best part of two weeks in pain with my teeth and prior to that I had a virus and pneumonia which lasted 3 weeks so I have been quite unwell on top of my usual chronic health conditions for the past 5 weeks. I’m not going to lie, it’s been tough and I’ve struggled at times. I have cried and had sad moments. 

I’ve felt disappointed when certain plans have had to be cancelled and frustrated not being able to do the things I need to or want to do each day. Heck I had a simple list to complete today but I didn’t get very far. I try to join in on Instagram with #Kickerslists an idea started by Katy Kicker a fellow blogger. 

I wanted to do the following:

• Book the dogs in to get groomed
• Visit the dentist
• Empty my inbox
• Put the laundry away
• Do Photography for a review that is due out soon. 
• Cook Dinner and tidy kitchen
• Help Sylvia with Homework
• Social Media Work at night
• Buy more pain relief
• Write a blog post on frugal living

For some this could be done in a matter of a few hours in the morning and a few hours in the evening but for me, having chronic illness, it would usually take a whole day just to do these tasks as I have to pace myself. However I did not get far. 

In fact, we rang up to book our dogs in for a hair cut and I walked down stairs to make a sandwich before my dental appointment and what happened? I slipped and fell really bad. 

I had A Big Fall

It’s true. I totally went over on my right ankle and fell on my left knee. I was in pain…serious pain and to make matters worse I have Adrenal Insufficiency which means I don’t produce Cortisol the stress hormone that the body would need in these situations. 

I screamed and cried as I was in pain and my husband came to my rescue. He gave me emergency cortisol medication as I was in so much pain I was heading towards Adrenal Crisis symptoms. Taking emergency medication helped a lot but I ended up sitting on the floor for a good 20 minutes before my body had the strength to stand and by that point I was very weak. 

John and I were faced with a tough decision. Do I miss my dental appointment (although I’ve been in severe pain for two weeks) and go to the A and E for an x-ray or do I go to the dentist. 

I decided to go to the dentist. I’ve waited for so long and got a new dentist and didn’t want to do a no show at my first appointment so off we went, I have crutches at home but little did I realise that the new dentist is an upstairs practice and it was very difficult to walk up the stair being the usual disabled me, never mind having a painful knee and a very painful ankle. 

Going To The Dentist In Pain

However I smiled through the pain and went to the Dentist. I was seen and had a treatment plan made. My broken filling was repaired and the tooth pain died down which was one less thing to worry about. Can you believe when I got home the filling fell out yet again! Yep…what a nightmare. 

By the time I was home I was shattered. I was still in major pain in my foot but I needed to sleep, the need for more cortisol and my Adrenal Insufficiency symptoms made it impossible to travel to the A and E. I simply had to go to sleep. I could not physically walk. 

I didn’t do anything else on my list. I didn’t help Sylvia with her homework. We had sandwiches for dinner and I went to bed at 6pm. 

Of course I woke up at about 10.30 to find Sylvia had crawled into bed with me and I attempted to go to the bathroom but could not walk on my foot. John thinks it may be broken or fractured but I’m not too sure. Either way Sylvia was fast asleep and we decided my hubby would have to stay home tomorrow to help me and take me up to the emergency department to get an x-ray.

It’s hard being unwell all the time and having a condition where added stress from sickness or injury makes life way harder to live. Yet the one good thing is I had my husband and daughter with me today. It would have been nice to do something to celebrate  bonfire night together but instead Sylvia watched fireworks from her bedroom and I slept. 

Having Loyal Dogs When I Am Unwell

I did have my lovely dogs by my side. Yoda and Casper must know when I’m not well as they have stayed by my side all evening and night. But then they can smell the frozen bag of onions I am using to ice my ankle and maybe that is what’s keeping them here, the hope of tasty food! 

I am in pain but trying to smile through it. I am trying to be positive and not stress over the things I can’t do but it does get hard. I really want to be well for a few days. It would be nice. I want to be able to work in the home and get the rooms tidy and the laundry done but it will all have to wait. 

I’ll keep you updated and keep smiling and focus on the good things. My family and the blessings I have in my life. 

Angela x