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After everything in the last three weeks, I was hoping and looking forward to going back to work yesterday. Well, it never happened. I am going to apologize in advance as this post contains TMI but this is a personal blog and well, this is personal. So, if you don’t like talking about gross stuff and body functions, don’t read any further. Since the second round of antibiotics, I have felt pretty horrible. Nausea, vomiting, fever, diarrhea and generally just feeling ill, on top of the pain.
Last Thursday and Friday night I was really feeling particularly horrible. Thursday night we stayed up in the city mom and I, in a hotel so that I could go to an 8 am appointment at the VG oral and maxillofacial surgery department. I spent the whole night with a fever and with it coming out both ends so to speak (vomiting and diarrhea). Since then nausea, occasional vomiting, stomach cramps and tenderness, diarrhea and fever and just general feeling of being unwell has been pretty much how I feel all day every day. I have stomach cramps as well and really bad heartburn.
Friday night last week Mom and I stayed in a hotel overnight so we did not have to drive the 2.5 to 3-hour drive to get to the appointment at 8 am. I spent the whole night in the bathroom wrapped around or on the toilet. They told me at the VG that they could not see any outward signs of infection but urged me to see my family doctor to have blood work as it would confirm if something is still going on. They cleaned my socket again and I am not sure all they did but they said there were still bone fragments, Alvogyl paste, food and other debris in it.
On the way home I just slept through the whole drive which ended up being almost 6 hours as we had to go to Bridgewater for an appointment for my mom as well. I wasn’t feeling well at all. Over the weekend I felt okay on Saturday and was starting to feel a bit better but by Sunday I was feeling pretty sick again. I still planned to try and go to work Monday as the dentists’ office had only put me off till Friday. On Monday morning after speaking to my manager we decided I would not come in yet and she took me off the schedule until Thursday.
I called and got an appointment at my family doctors who had a cancelation at 3 PM and drove myself up to Halifax yesterday. At this point, I am not on any medication except Advil or Tylenol as needed. I have Tylenol 3 for the pain but the pain has subsided considerably, now the issue is nausea, loss of appetite, stomach pains and tenderness, fever, and diarrhea. He saw me and put me off until next Monday, December 2nd. He suspects that I may have a Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) infection now as well and/or still have the dental infection even though they were telling me it was under control he suspects it may not be.
So now I have to do a stool sample and get blood work done today or tomorrow. Preferably today. The only issue is now after over a week of watery diarrhea for some reason last night and this morning I can’t seem to go. I feel like I need to and I feel horrible but so far nothing. It’s been 3-5 times a day for the last few days up until last night. And now when I really need to collect the sample I am just not going. I still have all the other symptoms. I still have a fever, loss of appetite, my stomach hurts, I feel like I am going to throw up and I just feel really unwell.
Unfortunately, it takes 3-5 days for them to get the results back, it’s now Tuesday, and I am limited to where I can take the stool sample and the hours I can take it there. I really can’t handle another long drive right now. I am concerned that I will not be able to get it in time to have the results come back before Monday. I am tired of driving or being driven to Kentville and Halifax and who knows where else. I just want to be at home getting rest instead of having to drive all over the province to be seen by people who just keep sending me home in misery.
*Edit – I finally got the stool sample thank god, now at least they can properly diagnose me hopefully, what a relief!
Oh wow this sounds awful, I hope you get some answers soon and start to feel better!
Thanks, me too!
There’s nothing worse than it coming out of both ends, and I had a colonoscopy, which required me taking laxatives
Ain’t that the truth! I have never had a colonoscopy but have heard it’s not fun
This sounds awful! I hope you feel better soon and get some answers. There is nothing worse than being poorly away from home.
Thanks, Kirstin. I am back home now, only stayed one night in Halifax but it does suck when you are not at home.
Ah, that sounds horrendous! I hope you feel better soon. 😦
Soph – https://girlvsworldblog.com x
Thank you, Sophie.
Oh no, this sounds awful. And c-diff too on top of everything else. But 3-5 days to get the results of that sounds extremely long! I remember when I worked in the hospital and took that sample on patients, lab rang us the same afternoon or the day after with the result. But it’s always different when you’re not admitted at the hospital, of course.
I’m guessing I didn’t end up having c-diff?! I know they had the results because I called yesterday and the receptionist couldn’t tell me anything other than he said my white cell count was up so I was likely still fighting something. She said he would call me after he reviewed the results if I was positive for c-diff and they didn’t so I assume I wasn’t. It’s much quicker when you are admitted, at least here. Otherwise, it takes 3-5 days for most results of anything. This time was faster than normal.
No, if you’re better you probably don’t have c-diff! But also without it, antibiotics can make a mess with your body. I hope you’ll be ok now!
Hopefully you get the help you need. I know how frustrating it can be to wait for answers!
I’m mostly okay now, it’s starting to heal well. I have some numbness and pain leftover but nothing near what it was.
I’m mostly okay now, it’s starting to heal well. I have some numbness and pain leftover but nothing near what it was.