Man, I really did it this time. I have really bad teeth due to things like too much carbonated soda and not enough good dental hygiene. Lack of dental insurance and making just enough money to barely cover my other bills are other reasons. I’ve also had some bad experiences with dentists that were nothing more than respectable thieves. Anyway, I had a tooth that cracked ages ago. Like the rest of my teeth, I did my best to ignore the pain until it became absolutely necessary to have it out. Well, this time I waited too long. My face swelled up like a balloon from the absess. When my state tax refund came in yesterday, I made an appointment with the dentist. He took a look at how bad the infection was and sent me straight to the emergency room. I didn’t want to go there as I still have outstanding bills from slicing my thumb open last May. When the dentist insisted and remarked that the infection was so bad that I could die, I went.

By the time the doctor saw me, the infection was so bad that my left eye was almost closed. They put me on an IV antibiotic and some Percocet for the pain. As with most pain meds, I started hallucinating spiders. Ick. Since I hadn’t slept much in the last 36 hours, I was immediately out like a light. I woke up a couple of hours later. I guess I had tried to bend the arm that the needle was in and it woke me up. Since it was like another hour before they finally let me check out, I went ahead and drove myself home. I'm still driving on expired plates and didn't want to leave it in the hospital parking lot for fear of it being towed. Of course, the car didn't want to start in the parking lot.

Marcus took me to get the medicine when he got home from work. The antibiotic itself cost $145. The doctor explained that he could give me something cheaper, but it might not work and I'd end up spending that much to see a doctor again. I also got a generic form of Percocet ($12). The down-payment on the ER bill was $166. So, State tax refund is gone and I still have to pay to have the tooth out. Oh, and I'm going to get a yeast infection to boot, too. I always do when I take antibiotics.

The good news is that I’m not working today or tomorrow. That’s one of the reasons I’ve got time to post stuff today. I’m torn about going to class tonight, though. I should really stay home, yet we’re coming up on final project time and I really need the information that is given out today. If I do go, I can’t take the pain meds because I won’t be able to drive, so I will have to take ibuprofin and I’m not sure that will dull the pain enough to get me through. *sigh*

I really hope I get this job that I interviewed for. After three months, they offer medical benefits (not dental, though). I'll also have more money coming in, though, so hopefully I can get some kind of dental insurance on my own and get my teeth problems solved for good. I've been dealing with these problems for over 15 years (since one dentist knocked out a filling when he pulled a wisdom tooth and wouldn't replace it). I would be nice to go a day without some kind of tooth pain.

Current mood: sick

I'M SO TIRED OF BEING SICK!

Current mood: sick
Just in case anyone actually comes here and wonders where I've been, I've got some sort of viral URI. I got bitten by a spider or something on Dec. 23rd, resulting in a major allergy attack. By Christmas Day, my arm was swollen up to twice its normal size and the bite was starting to blister. I guess my lowered immune system let in the virus. I starting coughing Christmas night, figuring it was just allergies, but by the day after Christmas, full blown infection. By yesterday afternoon, full blown sick. I even called in sick to work today (can't wait to see the repurcussions from my boss on that). So, if I'm not around for awhile, I'll be in bed.

Current mood: frustrated
I had a nice long chat with the president of my school this evening about my neck predicament. He's about the fifth person that urged me to get a lawyer. He told me that both of his daughters have been rear-ended and have had lengthy whiplash recoveries. I was smart not to take the insurance company's offer of $1000. He told me that each of his daughter's cases racked up several thousand dollars and recovery times were from 1 - 2 years. Oy. As it has become increasingly clear that this will not heal on its own, I need serious medical attention. He said I didn't need to drop the class, he'd help me however he can to make sure I finish the class after I take care of myself first. He is the kindest man I think I've ever met.

I hate my neighbors. They have become the bane of my existance. These are the same neighbors with the screaming trampoline kids. They recently got a dog. I don't know why. The kids played with him for less than a week before they lost interest in him. Now they keep him on a 3 foot chain right outside my bedroom window. He's always out of water and I think he only gets fed once a day. Last week when it rained really bad, they left him out in it with no shelter. The poor thing cries and barks for attention late at night and early in the morning, which they ignore. I can't since he's right outside my window. I complained to the park management about the dog and how he's being treated, but apparently they don't care, either. Of course it's in my lease that a dog may not disturb the "peaceful" enjoyment of others or some such crap. This situation is definitely not peaceful. Their dog was getting into our yard through the gap in the gate/fence between our properties. This gate was tightly shut until they decided to dig it free so they could cut through our yard. I put cinder blocks up to keep the dog out of our yard and today I find that they'd been through the gate and our cinder blocks are in their yard. Marcus was pissed. He's written a rather irate letter that will be delivered to them tomorrow stating that he expects our property to be returned and for them to quit cutting through our lot. We'll see how that turns out. I hate them.

I went to Mom's grave today. I don't know why. I just started driving after I left work and ended up there (she's buried over at Fort Logan). I haven't been there in ages. I must've sat in the grass for about 45 minutes just thinking and staring at her headstone. It still amazes me that, on days like today, it still really hurts. You'd think that after 7-1/2 years, I'd have gotten used to her being gone and be over the hurt/anger of her dying. I guess I'm not. How does one get over that? Will I ever really? *sigh*

OK, I need to try and get some rest. Gotta call a lawyer from Tom Martino's referral list later today.

So, I think I got whiplash during the accident last Friday. I wasn't in too much pain until two days later. Some internet research revealed that pain and symptoms showing up days later is not uncommon. Whee.