Root Canal Checkup - November 26 2012

I was able to get a 10 AM appointment in Idaho Falls (100 miles each way) with Bart Morrison DDS, Endodonist this morning. My bottom back tooth has been bothering me ever since I had a root canal on it 29 Aug 2012 EXCEPT for days that I take dex and then it doesn't bother me AT ALL.  Since I take dex twice a week, I have more days without tooth pain than with!

I had 2 x-rays and there is no evidence of infection beneath the tooth.

Bart Morrison, DDS could find nothing wrong with my tooth (#18 for those who count teeth). He thought maybe the tooth was too tall and hitting my top teeth when I chew. He used the drill and removed the areas that were touching with chewing. I had absolutely no pain to the drill - so, the tooth must be dead with the existing root canal. I had taken antibiotics before the appointment and Dr. Morrison wants me to continue taking them for 10 days. Dr. Morrison     said it may take a full 6 months for the tooth to settle down. So, I guess I can continue with my intravenous Aredia now.

I went on to Walmart to pick up my antibiotic prescription and headed home to Mackay, Idaho.

I felt a lot better today - my mind was clearer and I had adequate energy for the whole day. I leave early tomorrow to St. Luke's Hospital MSTI in Twin Falls for my 2 days of carfilzomib.

Kemmer stayed with Ron and smells of SKUNK again - oh joy~

2nd ASCT - Day 114 - September 10 2012

More neuropathy in my left foot and leg through the night. First thing, called Dr. Padavanija at St. Luke's Hospital in Twin Falls office and requested a consultation with her tomorrow before my Velcade/Dex dose to see if a Velcade dose reduction is in order. I sure don't want to get saddled with terrible neuropathy which tends to NEVER go away in myeloma patients once they get it.

Drove to Challis, Idaho (50 some miles north of Mackay) and had Dr. Tom McGown put the permanent filling in over my root canal. It was a breeze and I did a whole LOT of anticipatory worry that I SHOULD NOT HAVE DONE!

They did another x-ray to check that I did not have any infection beneath the tooth - it looks fine. The only thing that I did not do that I should have done was taken some antibiotic before the appointment - oh well~

The Mackay Dam about 6 miles above Mackay is at 44 percent today. (Double click to enlarge).

2nd ASCT - Day 106 - September 1 2012

My root canal is healing nicely and I can even chew soft things on that side now. I'm enjoying my chemo free days (14 each month).  Start again on 4 September 2012.

Walked Kemmer up the Mine Hill from the Cattle Guard to the Cliff Creek turn. This is a bit of a grade, but I made it easily. The distance is 1.26 miles roundtrip and there is a gain of 159 feet or the equivalent of climbing 12 stories in a building.

Mackay from the Cliff Creek Turn on the Mine Hill 11 AM September 1 2012. We had a hard rain last night and air is clear of forest fire smoke of the moment, so I did not wear my N-95 mask today. However, the Halstead fire has grown to 123,893 acres and is only 7 percent contained.

 At the Cliff Creek Turn on the MIne Hill September 1 2012.

That land bridge on the left is where the old Shay Engine for the Empire Mine backed up to turn around for the journey back to the mine over the Shay Trestle.

Before I had multiple myeloma, I used to walk up here from my house in Town and I put a rock on the pile beneath this pole for each time I made it here.

I made a similar pile of rocks at the Double Aerial Tramway support before I started walking higher to the pole above.

I love my Mine Hill walks! 

2nd ASCT - Day 105 - August 31 2012

Slept great last night and was pain free this morning from my root canal. 

Our air quality in Mackay, Idaho is much improved. It must be the wind since there are MANY forest first burning north of us. This is a NASA photo from August 28 2012

I walked Kemmer on the Mine Hill. I wore my mask even though the air seemed better.

 Kemmer

2nd ASCT - Day 104 - August 30 2012

I AM BETTER. I took 8 mg of Dex this afternoon (8/30/2012) and it TOTALLY CALMED my root canal DOWN. No more whining....promise~

Kemmer and I went on JackRed this evening. Have 50 miles on JackRed now - only 50 more to go until first oil change.

2nd ASCT - Day 104 - August 30 2012

This root canal business is not for the faint of heart. Slept maybe an hour last night due to the PAIN. Took Percocet, Advil, and used an ice bag on my jaw. Not only does the root canal tooth (#18) HURT, all 3 teeth in front of it hurt too!I feel like I've been punched in the jaw or what I think being PUNCHED IN THE JAW would feel like - since, I've never experienced that... I finally took 8 mg of dexamethasone in an attempt to reduce the swelling.

 Looking a tad drugged...and I have a swollen gland under my left jaw line. I continue on the Augmentin 875/125 twice daily.

Paco is doing great after his arterial stent placement on Tuesday. He is not yet driving, but I'm sure he will tomorrow. I got up at o'dark thirty and ahalf and went to Sammy's for his coffee and doughnut which I delivered to his house.

The UPS guy came today for my damaged package from Danny and Michelle Quinn. It was a fabulous walking stick that came in 2 pieces...The UPS Claim Guy asked me if I thought it could be repaired - he obviously never used a walking stick...Hopefully, it can be replaced by UPS.

2nd ASCT - Day 103 - August 29 2012

Paco seems fine this morning and I took him home at o'dark thirty (his choice).

I drove 100 miles to Endodontics office in Idaho Falls for my root canal on tooth #18. The novocaine worked well and the procedure took less than 40 minutes. The novacaine made me shaky and I could feel my heart in my chest.

Douglas Sutton DDS, Endodonist who grew up on a dairy farm...he likes teeth more than cows!

Bart noted there was active infection in the root canals of my tooth #18 - he even cleaned it out with clorox at one point.

I'll need to go back to Dr. Tom McGowan within 1 month to have a permanent filling put in the top of the crown that Bart Morrison had to drill through today...and yes, that's a root canal on the the tooth on the left too - today's root canal is the tooth on the right!

Drove home and my mouth was still very numb. HOWEVER, IT WOKE UP and I have so much PAIN - thankfully, I have both Advil and Percocet...putting ice on my jaw tonight. Hopefully, the pain will abate by morning. I talked to my transplant coordinator at the University of Colorado Hospital and Lindsey McMenimen asked the pharmacist there about my antibiotic coverage for this root canal - Augumentin 875/125 is adequate and I continue to take it twice a day.

2nd ASCT - Day 101 - August 27 2012

Drove 55 miles north of Mackay, Idaho to Challis, Idaho to see Tom McGowan, DDS. They were so nice to fit me in to a full day of appointments. The x-rays don't show any pockets of infection nor necrosis of my jaw which is good, but Dr. McGowan said I need a root canal on tooth number 18 (my last tooth on the bottom left). I could be at risk for necrosis of the jaw since I've had several doses of Zometa and Aredia in the last 15 months since I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma.

They made me an appointment for a root canal to be done on the tooth with Bart B. Morrison, DDS, an endodontist in Idaho Falls, Idaho for Wednesday, 9/28/2012. I was advised to continue the Augmentin twice a day and to contact my transplant coordinator to make sure I'll be covered with appropriate antibiotics for the root canal procedure and healing period.

Pretty drive to Challis and back. The forest fire smoke has abated for awhile due to high winds last night. Here is the real time air quality monitor from this morning that has temporarily been installed in Challis.

Mackay Dam from Highway 93 August 27, 2012

Barton Flat from Highway 93 August 27 2012

Three Sisters from Highway 93 August 27 2012

Mt. Borah from Willow Creek Summit August 27 2012

Walked Kemmer to the Big Lost River Smelter Bridge just before sunset.

 Saw baby mule deer in the Palmer field.

2nd ASCT - Day 99 - August 25 2012

Tooth ache continues...will probably have to seek out a dentist on Monday. I'm taking Augmentin and that seems to calm it down the most.

Air quality from Halstead forest fire above Mackay Idaho is TERRIBLE, and limited my time outside today with Kemmer...bummer~

2nd ASCT - Day 98 - August 24 2012

I'm feeling really great and have good energy of late. However, my lower left jaw started hurting last night (8/23/2012) and sensitive to hot - not sure if I have a toothache or what. The pain seems to travel between my lower left teeth. The pain is sharp and I even took 1/2 Percocet for it. I bought some Advil 200 mg today and that helped some. I'm not going to panic about it - maybe it will just settle down on its own. This is a computer photo of my MY TEETH from Dr. Sidney Benner's in Greeley, Colorado.

The injection site for my last subcutaneous Velcade given on 20 Aug 2012 on the back of my right arm is really bruised - none of my other 3 injections did this.

I finished up my apricot jelly today with another 7 pints.

The air quality was much improved at mid-day today (Friday, August 23 2012) in Mackay Idaho from the forest fires north of us. Kemmer and I took a spin on JackRed to get these photos.

This is my Gram's former house on Main Street and Spruce. Currently owned by Shawn and Monica Nelson and rented.

My neighbors finished their second cut of hay and turned their horses out in the pasture today. I love to watch them.

Tonight, August 24 2012, I rode JackRed over to the first high school football game of the season - Mackay vs Challis football game at 7 PM. So much for the clearer air... The smoke in the air was choking thick and I did not stay for the whole first half. Mackay lost in overtime to Challis 34 to 40.

Guest Photo by Morgan Betzer (above).

My neighbor, Pam Denning Lords.

Guest photo from Shauna Nelson (below)