Reclast. Teeth. And Kvetch(ing) Up.

Good Sun-ny-Day!

Hope all is well with everyone who is still left around Multiply.

I am still setting up my other sites, so bear with me as I still blog over here.

Has everyone figured out where they will be in another month? 
As for me, I am just hoping to still be alive. hehehe  
Just kidding, although I did have surgery this past week... Outpatient- and never left the hospital until 10pm. 

Long wait. Longer day. 

But the anesthesiologist was a nice doctor; concerned enough even for my anxiety levels, an attack that was bound to happen if they left me sit in that cold dark room for any longer, just w~a~i~t~i~n~g...

That Casey waited with me made it very bearable, (and even halfway enjoyable).

At any rate, my teeth are gone! YAY! I have been bucking for this for a very long time; the thought of never having an abscess or another toothache ever again being very attractive to me.

Besides if Casey can do it, then so can I.

As you might know, my own problems arose in that I had received Reclast for my severe osteoporosis. 

Reclast is a form of drug called a bisphosphonate. 

With that drug classification comes the side effect of ONJ- (Osteo-Necrosis of the Jaw). Or, more accurately in my case, BrONJ (as Bisphosphonate-related). 

My own clinic wouldn't even look in my mouth; let alone even do what was necessary to just circumvent my constant tooth pain. They sent me a 7-page list of dental surgeons who would be able to help. Since I do not live on the reservation, I would have to pay 100% of any/all referrals. Grrr...  Some of those surgeons were in Madison, some clear across the damned state. 

You that know me, also know that there is NO Freakin' WAY I can travel those distances. I couldn't even go to Uncle Chum's funeral!

To add insult to injury, I called to Sault Ste Marie. My own Tribe wouldn't even help me! That truly, and absolutely, angers me! 

This refusal, even after explaining that I have 27 fractures- & those are in my spine alone- all at various stages of healing- that there was no possible way for me to travel all the way up there- The gal that answered the phone was a very snippy and impertinent um, er, 'thing'. 

Mad I am about that too- To be treated as garbage by my own Tribe! 

I had asked her then for some other phone numbers. Our chairman for one- She flippantly told me I could make any number of calls I wanted, that the answer would just remain the same. 
Blah Blah Blah...

I gave up- And moved on to begging people that I know love me. 

Oh well- As long as the end always justifies the means, all should be ok.

Wait though- It ISN'T ok. Not by a long stretch. That was an awful experience in/of itself, and will stay with me for a very long time. 

If tribes want to be treated with all this kindness then I think they should start with treating their own that way first. And it's not like I haven't been looking for a damned house on the rez.  (Yup, still mad I am). And I've always been so proud of my heritage, and my tribe...

Anyway, back to Wednesday. After that last anti-anxiety hypo (I do not remember how many times he came in), I remember virtually nothing; save for being told in the OR that I needed to wiggle on over to the other table. That process alone, with respect to my back, may have taken a little while, but I wiggled anyway. 

I then remember, vaguely, seeing the surgeon before I was sent off to la~la~land.

I hear that he had some problems with one or two teeth; they didn't want to relinquish their hold within my face- But the next thing I remember is being in 'recovery'. And much like my complete hysterectomy in 2000, my pain was gone! But do not misunderstand, the surgeon had 'froze' my mouth up so much that I couldn't even feel a 6" square of my face- that of the surroundings of my mouth and nose.

Tooooooo weird that was! I hated that feeling.

From that point onward, we were back home within 2 hours- I'd (of course) gotten an awful migraine from the lack of caffeine- Casey had run down to the car to fetch those pills for me- As I took them I remember thinking, "OMG, please don't let me drool all over". I didn't. Not even a drip! But heck, how could I have? My mouth was stuffed full of gauze for cryin' out loud! hehehe

I have had minimal pain- more accurately just a 'sore' feeling in my mouth; my back is always worse, unless/until I get a migraine. 

Afterward, my surgeon had told Casey that if I had lived through those fractures that I probably wouldn't be bothered overmuch by my mouth. So right he was!  This is a breeze! I do take my meds though; just to remain on the painless side. 

Now to wait for new teeth... Tick-tock...  Tick-tock... Tick-tock... Tick-tock.

I should be able to enjoy Thanksgiving, pies and all! Whoo~Hoo! That is, *if* the tribe will cover the new teeth!? They'd better! But watch, I'll probably have to borrow even more $$$ to get the special [padded] dentures needed because of my exposure to Reclast.

Too bad stem cells haven't progressed to the point that I can regrow my own teeth- I have every faith that in our kids lifetime that WILL be possible, just not in my own. But that's OK too. Much better for all my babies and grandbabies that way.

The surgeon also said from this point forward I can never even have an injury to my gums anymore. It could too easily set off an infection that would exacerbate the damage done by the BrONJ. No poppy seeds. No sesame seeds, etc.  Casey told me just never to take them out except for when I clean them.  Do dentures need to be brushed 3x day? Hmmm... ?  Probably.

Now the only thing I have to worry over (for 3+ years) is the progression of my BrONJ. (Bisphosphonate-related OsteoNecrosis of the Jaw, aka "Jaw Death"). The bisphosphonate responsible is the fookin' Reclast I received to treat my Osteo.

I cannot emphasize enough to everyone NOT to ever take any chemicals for Osteoporosis. All this BS, and worry, (from my kidneys to my GERD, to my teeth, to my ulcer, to my BrONJ, to prematurely bringing on my COPD) is hardly worth any potential value- (if there is indeed any good [click there] to come of taking the treatments). Especially knowing what I know now... 

These drugs, (bisphosphonates) do more damage than they are suspect of curing/treating. Notice I did not say 'proven to be'. Just like any chemotherapy, Reclast, and all chemical osteoporosis treatments will remain in your body, effing things up, for 30+ years. 

I was one of the "lucky"   ones that it set off so much more garbage in my body. Even so, I remain luckier than some who have died terribly painful deaths as their bodies stopped working, one organ at a time. <--And that, within a few months of receiving their treatments.  My heart goes out to their families.

My own thoughts are that bisphosphonate treatments are government accepted, and legal, forms of warfare and torture to the patients. 

The surgeon also asked if I had received Reclast by mouth or by IV. I had an infusion, so an IV. He said that with the bisphosphonate IV, there is a 10,000-fold increase of the possibility of ONJ, of losing half your jaw. 

Great. Add more 

Though frightening in its entirety, I am looking forward to being able to go out in public, and smile, and talk again. 
Not that a broken tooth could stop me, (but...)- hehehe

Let's see- What else has gone on in my vacation from blogging? 

Lots.

My cousin Buttercup visited Green Bay last weekend- A seminar at Oneida- and right in Casey's backyard! Well ok, it was across the parking lot... I couldn't take pictures past the one at the top here. Tiffany sat in the front seat, and Casey in the back. Unwilling to be left out, Punk planted her backside right next to Casey-  Not a funny story unless you know that I had removed one of the back seats so Punk can still get in/out when her back is bothering her...  



Good thing that Casey has a skinny backside or that would never have worked! hehehe

Randy finally retired about 3 weeks ago! Say YAY! Much less worry this way.

Casey is doing alright, save for the near constant pain on her insides. Greg will be bringing her in tomorrow morning for another shot to her inside scar tissue.

I still can't remember what these shots are called- a type of "nerve block" that goes near to her liver. 

Next to Casey and Greg, Punk remains such godsend in my life- 

She takes care of me, and all for 2 measly meals every day plus a few leftovers. (Gee, remember when that was enough for people too)? 

Sputty has his nose all flared up again, he sneezes (GROSS!) and then hightails it out of whatever room I am in. hehehe 

Funny to watch sometimes- I swear he even tries to cover his mouth and nose; but so nice that he knows not to sneeze on/around my furniture!

The problem I had with my friend in my last blog is ongoing. Not a feud, mind you, just that nothing has been settled or fixed. I thought by now this person would be over the humiliation they put themselves through.

Sadly, I thought wrong. (I really do hate it when I'm wrong).

Fall is here, and without my camera our beautiful 2012 foliage must just remain in my memory, unshared with you. Most of the leaves are off the trees now, save for the oak trees- and they are such a deep mahogany- Nice to see that against a near-barren forest. 

I have fresh chicken soup simmering on the stove- With my handy-dandy mini~chopper nearby. I'll only chop up my own servings as I don't think anyone else would care for baby food soup at this point. To remark that I am half-starved is not an exaggeration- merely the truth. One can only live on applesauce and pudding for so long. My tummy hasn't even growled yet- Perhaps it is in shock! hehehe  Even freezing the puddings, assorted though they are, doesn't fool my tummy for long.

I'd best close and go dump a few more veggies in my soup- There can never be enough of those in soup. But no potatoes as the bin is empty. No problem there, I just throw in extra chicken and a few more egg noodles!

Kelly brought over some squash the other night- She'd fed the dog while I was up at the hospital. I will be cooking that up too. Add salt, pepper, and a spoon- or 3- of brown sugar.

Mmmmmm.....

I do hope all is well with everyone? And that you are well and enjoying the changes of the season.

♥ Love to all ♥

XOXO
Me

**** Janet's story: DEATH by Reclast (a bisphosphonate) 

http://www.inspire.com/groups/national-osteoporosis-foundation/discussion/death-by-reclast-janets-story/