Root Canal

Radical simply means "grasping things at the root."
-- Angela Davis

Thursday, March 16, 2000
One year ago: Headcrash
Two years ago: Old and New

I woke up this morning, and trotted myself downtown to the endodontist's office. I thought I was on time, but I found a message on my answering machine when I got home -- I'd thought my appointment was at eight thirty, but it was really at eight! How humiliating for one who prides herself on punctuality.

The procedure itself wasn't bad. They take digital x-rays several times during the work, to see how they are getting on. I had to hold the electronic "film" in my mouth. I peered over Dr. B----'s shoulder to see the results on the computer screen. Dr. B---- drilled away, then started the meticulous scraping and filing of the nerve canals inside my tooth. It's better than losing a tooth, for sure! And I wouldn't want her to rush, but I was rather drained by the time she was done.

I was surprised that Dr. B---- didn't want to prescribe antibiotics, at first! I must have been too much of a stoic. But I was concerned that the infection had spread, and affected other teeth on that side! I'd been feeling pain, not just in the tooth she worked on, but in the tooth above, and in my jaw and cheek and cheekbone. It was obvious to me that the round of meds from last month hadn't knocked out the problem. She compromised by writing the prescription for a different antibiotic, and I wouldn't fill it until tomorrow.

*     *     *     *     *     *     *    *

After we were done, I wandered around downtown for a bit, buying a few things for this weekend -- massage oil and a little plastic massage thingy, some fancy votive candles, and so on, at the Nordstrom Rack (so the prices were good). I wanted to find things that would be fun to have for this weekend trip. I took a tour through Pike Place Market, inspecting all the fruit, flowers, and crafts. The flowers are great right now -- daffodills combined with some blue dried stuff.

I wasn't feeling too bad. After I got home, and as the afternoon wore on, I did start to feel some pain. I kept busy, doing most of my laundry, and sorting out what clothes I wanted to bring with me.

I did have to leave the house one time -- I was scheduled to provide food for the homeless men at the overflow shelter at St. Joseph's. I was kicking myself! Someone had left a message a few weeks ago, looking to trade nights with me. I'd neglected to call the person back! So now I had to go to the grocery store, buy twelve of each thing (oranges, yogurt, string cheese, etc.) and distribute them into twelve plastic bags. Fortunately, the wind wasn't strong in the parking lot, the church was open, and the whole thing only took an hour.