Listening to Rational Mind

Believe in yourself and the rest will fall into place.

I wake up hearing my fearful personal mind talking, 

"Oh I can move my neck a bit more...maybe it is getting better...maybe it is nothing...maybe I don't have to go to ER for that??? ...And though there is still a little one in the front of the teeth...one or all...I can't tell... of the abscesses in the back of my teeth have opened and drained (terrible, terrible taste in my mouth) ...maybe that is all taking care of itself too...maybe my immune system is strong enough to handle a bit of Viridans Strep or any misbehaving members of the HACEK family that might have popped in for a visit. The chances of anyone getting an IE are so small anyway..."7 fold more likley" is not that big of a probability.  This flue like feeling I have is likely just in my head or just fatigue due to the lack of sleep I am getting because of the neck. Maybe I don't have to go in??? Maybe I can wait until October?? "

Then a very frustrated rational mind interupts.  Rational mind says...

"Yes, you are going in.  You need to rule out a VCF (compression fracture in your neck). Your T-Score in your spine was -2.8 a year ago...and you have not been on enough of the medication to make it higher since then. You have not been on anything since April. You already had a VCF and it too was in an unusual place...T-3 and T4? This remarkably increases the likelihood of another. You had "more than" full ROM two weeks ago...you are hypermobile and you have been practicing and teaching yoga for years...this lack of ROM is very unusual for you and is indicative of a possible VCF!!! It doesn't matter what anyone thinks or says...you are a smart cookie and you know...you know it has to be checked. As far as the mouth? Five months with infection coming and going is going to increase anyone's risk for sepsis or IE! And 4 courses of amoxicillin and one of clindomycin in a 5 month period is way too much antibiotic...Yet it is not enough...It is not "clearing up" the infection...it is just slowing it down...That shows how virulent this infection is ...it is not going to clear up until the source of the problem is fixed. You cannot keep popping antibiotics like they are candy...there will be repercussions for that.  An emergency root canal is what is needed! You need a dentist who will do it! 

For now...you need help to sort out the infection thing. So, you are going to march yourself in there...be prepared to sit and wait as long as it takes...You are going to keep your head up high (well as high as you can hold it up with the neck the way it is lol) knowing you are doing nothing wrong getting it checked. You will ask about the mouth infection and about getting an Xray.  Yes! You are going to ask for an X ray if they do not suggest one (insist on an Xray if you have to without being impertinent). (A lateral and anterior-posterior view is needed...hopefully that is what will get done). If they come back and tell you you were wrong...you are going to want to see the Xray...look for any wedging...any cracks on the anterior portion (and the posterior though that would be less likely) of C3 down to C7 ( though the location of pain seems to stop at C6)...and if you don't see anything...thank them so much for their time...and get yourself a collar somewhere to wear for the next six weeks....

As far as the mouth...just ask about controlling the infection without another round of antibiotics...ask if you can risk going without....until you can find a dentist who will do you sooner than October...Oh and show them where your jaw is very tender....stress that the jaw has been getting more and more tender over the last two months. Don't expect a lot of help here...(being that it won't be a dentist that you have)...other than help with preventing an IE or other potential consequence of a persistent mouth infection in this set of circumstances. "

Wow! Rational mind is getting kind of bossy, isn't it? lol 

Well, I think it is just tired of all the "pretending to be stupider than I am" I have been doing in these situations just so as not to step on toes or do anything that will allow ego judgement to get in the way of a solid diagnosis. 

I mean no disrespect to anyone...I don't.  I appreciate and have great respect for allopathic medicine and what it does for others. I do.  I do my best to see the people in these roles as people beyond their roles...My conditioning, however, sometimes gets in the way and all I see the role that is intimidating to this "me". It is getting better. 

Anyway...I will let you know the outcome.

All is well.