It's been almost a year since I posted. I try to ignore the abnormalities in my head and pretend to be normal. Sometimes I think I do it too well. When I meet people, they have no clue.
I have been subjected to several comments about being overweight. I'm not going to launch into the whole problem, so I just ignore the obnoxious comments, looks and judgments. So I'm not skinny anymore, but I am above the ground! I guess it's one of those life lessons. Actually this whole thing has been a life lesson in patience and tolerance. Well I'm still impatient! I'm ready to be done with it! And I am definitely less tolerant of incompetence, poor treatment and stupidity.
I left off last year right after surgery on the left side of my jaw by Dr. Borneman in Anacortes, Wa. The left side is much better. My left ear no longer feels like there is a knife in it, but it still feels a little stuffy. My hearing isn't as good on that side. My left sinuses and left eye frequently feel like I have bugs crawling around in them. I wake up in the morning with my left eye watering.
The problem on the left side was also found to be parasitic in nature, so I have been on a variety of holistic remedies for parasites, which has helped a lot.
On Oct 10, 2013, I was scheduled for surgery on the right side on my jaw (upper & lower).
I took a short-term physical therapy assignment in Oak Harbor, Wa in order to be close to the dentist. I found a little furnished apartment close to the facility. I noticed it smelled musty, but thought if the windows were opened the smell would go away. Once I moved in I discovered that the windows were solid plate glass and didn't open. Long story really short, the smell was from excessive mold. After about a month, my shoes and the furniture started turning green. I had an indoor air quality test done and the mold spore count in the bedroom was 87,000 spores/m3. Outside the mold spore count was 480 spores/m3. Ten times the outside count is considered abnormal. The count in the bedroom was 180 times greater.
Oct 10, 2013 came around. I was really anticipating getting rid of this nasty lump in my right upper jaw. Electrodermal testing was completed. I was asked if I had been subjected to any environmental toxins and told that I wasn't ready to have surgery. My immune system was too compromised. Surgery was rescheduled to December 10, 2013.
I had really been looking forward to returning to Florida and NOT being in the great northwest for another miserable winter, plus my work contract was up November 30, 2013.
December came around. Prior to the date of the surgery I went to Kirkland, Wa to visit Larry Ward. Larry does the electrodermal testing. Once again I was told that surgery was inappropriate due to my poor immune system. I needed at least 2 more months on with the anti-parasitic supplements. I also needed treated for mold exposure and for a water parasite. I used tap water to rinse my mouth after brushing my teeth and the tap water in the Oak Harbor area is known for having parasites in it (per Larry). Ironically the OH city hall office has a brochure on why tap water is superior to bottled water. This area is also known to have a high level of developmental problems in children..hmm.
Surgery was once again rescheduled. This time for Feb 28, 2014. Fortunately for me, I was able to extend my work contract through March 28, 2014 and back in October I moved into a nice clean not moldy apartment on a month-to-month basis. Unfortunately for me, I was still stuck with the frequently painful, nasty tasting, nauseating abscesses draining from the right upper jaw and the lump that I wanted so badly to dig out with a potato peeler or my tongue.
A few days before February 28, 2014, I got a sinus infection. I'm sure it was caused by the jaw bone infection. I had seen Larry a few days before it started and he had okay-ed me for surgery. I started taking some antibiotics in hopes that the sinus infection would go away. It was a little better, but I sounded horrible. Despite the sinus infection and because it was most likely from my jaw bone, Dr. Borneman and Larry Ward proceeded with the surgery on the right upper and lower jaw.
Dr. Borneman dug deep up into the worst area, but despite that once again a lump was left back there. I know that Dr. Bornamen went far enough back as a stitch was in the middle of the lump. The lump is way back on the right where my wisdom tooth was, but the lump extends up into the roof of my mouth. I like the roof of my mouth and would like to keep it. The thought of having it dug out doesn't excite me and the lump appears to be shrinking on it's own.
About 3 weeks ago, my stomach got really upset. I could taste the drainage from the lump. Everything tasted bad including water. It gradually got worse, to a point that I was not able to digest anything. Usually when a big abscess drains, I get sick to my stomach for a couple of days and then throw-up. This time, it was the other GI problem. I went to a walk-in clinic, because Larry Ward was booked up. I had lab work done and gave stool samples.
As always with me, nothing showed any problems. I am the picture of perfect health, even when about to die. Sounds dramatic, but I was to a point I couldn't even drink water without upsetting my stomach. I was so dehydrated that they had trouble finding my veins.
So the doctor tells me that everything is fine. I'm like, but I can't even drink water. So as an after thought she put me on Flagel, a pretty potent antibiotic. It took several days for my stomach to get back to feeling almost normal. It also seemed to have helped my sinuses on the left. I have a fear that it really is parasitic and the antibiotics are only a temporary fix, since I am 90% sure that it was caused from drainage of an abscess. Of course when you say things like that to traditional doctors, they dismiss it.
When I think about it, I get really annoyed with the fact that this has cost my medical insurance over $250,000.00 since the onset 5 years ago. Plus at least $50,000.00 out of pocket for me, when it literally could have cost about $3600.00 if I had known about and just seen Dr. Borneman to begin with and if he would have removed the entire lump the first time.
It's not just the cost. It's really been a loss of 5 years of my life and nearly a loss of my life due to the incompetence of mainstream medical.
For now, I have faith that with more time, the right side is going to continue to get better. The left side, I don't know. I will give it until next spring. If it is still a problem, I will see Dr. Borneman again.
I'm leaving Washington finally now and heading back to Florida. My work contract ended and I wasn't able to extend any longer, plus I was ready to move on.
I have decided to take a break from physical therapy. I am exploring being a travel writer/blogger and photographer. It is a long drive back to Florida. There is a lot to photograph and a lot to write about.
It also is providing me a much needed break from dealing with other people's pains and problems. Taking on the energy of others that are in pain, is very fatiguing when you are fighting when you are trying to heal yourself.
If you would like to check out my travel blog, it is www.smalltownreview.com or my photography site is www.dmhallphotography.com. Both businesses can be found on Facebook too.
Thanks for reading.
I have been subjected to several comments about being overweight. I'm not going to launch into the whole problem, so I just ignore the obnoxious comments, looks and judgments. So I'm not skinny anymore, but I am above the ground! I guess it's one of those life lessons. Actually this whole thing has been a life lesson in patience and tolerance. Well I'm still impatient! I'm ready to be done with it! And I am definitely less tolerant of incompetence, poor treatment and stupidity.
I left off last year right after surgery on the left side of my jaw by Dr. Borneman in Anacortes, Wa. The left side is much better. My left ear no longer feels like there is a knife in it, but it still feels a little stuffy. My hearing isn't as good on that side. My left sinuses and left eye frequently feel like I have bugs crawling around in them. I wake up in the morning with my left eye watering.
The problem on the left side was also found to be parasitic in nature, so I have been on a variety of holistic remedies for parasites, which has helped a lot.
On Oct 10, 2013, I was scheduled for surgery on the right side on my jaw (upper & lower).
I took a short-term physical therapy assignment in Oak Harbor, Wa in order to be close to the dentist. I found a little furnished apartment close to the facility. I noticed it smelled musty, but thought if the windows were opened the smell would go away. Once I moved in I discovered that the windows were solid plate glass and didn't open. Long story really short, the smell was from excessive mold. After about a month, my shoes and the furniture started turning green. I had an indoor air quality test done and the mold spore count in the bedroom was 87,000 spores/m3. Outside the mold spore count was 480 spores/m3. Ten times the outside count is considered abnormal. The count in the bedroom was 180 times greater.
Oct 10, 2013 came around. I was really anticipating getting rid of this nasty lump in my right upper jaw. Electrodermal testing was completed. I was asked if I had been subjected to any environmental toxins and told that I wasn't ready to have surgery. My immune system was too compromised. Surgery was rescheduled to December 10, 2013.
I had really been looking forward to returning to Florida and NOT being in the great northwest for another miserable winter, plus my work contract was up November 30, 2013.
December came around. Prior to the date of the surgery I went to Kirkland, Wa to visit Larry Ward. Larry does the electrodermal testing. Once again I was told that surgery was inappropriate due to my poor immune system. I needed at least 2 more months on with the anti-parasitic supplements. I also needed treated for mold exposure and for a water parasite. I used tap water to rinse my mouth after brushing my teeth and the tap water in the Oak Harbor area is known for having parasites in it (per Larry). Ironically the OH city hall office has a brochure on why tap water is superior to bottled water. This area is also known to have a high level of developmental problems in children..hmm.
Surgery was once again rescheduled. This time for Feb 28, 2014. Fortunately for me, I was able to extend my work contract through March 28, 2014 and back in October I moved into a nice clean not moldy apartment on a month-to-month basis. Unfortunately for me, I was still stuck with the frequently painful, nasty tasting, nauseating abscesses draining from the right upper jaw and the lump that I wanted so badly to dig out with a potato peeler or my tongue.
A few days before February 28, 2014, I got a sinus infection. I'm sure it was caused by the jaw bone infection. I had seen Larry a few days before it started and he had okay-ed me for surgery. I started taking some antibiotics in hopes that the sinus infection would go away. It was a little better, but I sounded horrible. Despite the sinus infection and because it was most likely from my jaw bone, Dr. Borneman and Larry Ward proceeded with the surgery on the right upper and lower jaw.
Dr. Borneman dug deep up into the worst area, but despite that once again a lump was left back there. I know that Dr. Bornamen went far enough back as a stitch was in the middle of the lump. The lump is way back on the right where my wisdom tooth was, but the lump extends up into the roof of my mouth. I like the roof of my mouth and would like to keep it. The thought of having it dug out doesn't excite me and the lump appears to be shrinking on it's own.
About 3 weeks ago, my stomach got really upset. I could taste the drainage from the lump. Everything tasted bad including water. It gradually got worse, to a point that I was not able to digest anything. Usually when a big abscess drains, I get sick to my stomach for a couple of days and then throw-up. This time, it was the other GI problem. I went to a walk-in clinic, because Larry Ward was booked up. I had lab work done and gave stool samples.
As always with me, nothing showed any problems. I am the picture of perfect health, even when about to die. Sounds dramatic, but I was to a point I couldn't even drink water without upsetting my stomach. I was so dehydrated that they had trouble finding my veins.
So the doctor tells me that everything is fine. I'm like, but I can't even drink water. So as an after thought she put me on Flagel, a pretty potent antibiotic. It took several days for my stomach to get back to feeling almost normal. It also seemed to have helped my sinuses on the left. I have a fear that it really is parasitic and the antibiotics are only a temporary fix, since I am 90% sure that it was caused from drainage of an abscess. Of course when you say things like that to traditional doctors, they dismiss it.
When I think about it, I get really annoyed with the fact that this has cost my medical insurance over $250,000.00 since the onset 5 years ago. Plus at least $50,000.00 out of pocket for me, when it literally could have cost about $3600.00 if I had known about and just seen Dr. Borneman to begin with and if he would have removed the entire lump the first time.
It's not just the cost. It's really been a loss of 5 years of my life and nearly a loss of my life due to the incompetence of mainstream medical.
For now, I have faith that with more time, the right side is going to continue to get better. The left side, I don't know. I will give it until next spring. If it is still a problem, I will see Dr. Borneman again.
I'm leaving Washington finally now and heading back to Florida. My work contract ended and I wasn't able to extend any longer, plus I was ready to move on.
I have decided to take a break from physical therapy. I am exploring being a travel writer/blogger and photographer. It is a long drive back to Florida. There is a lot to photograph and a lot to write about.
It also is providing me a much needed break from dealing with other people's pains and problems. Taking on the energy of others that are in pain, is very fatiguing when you are fighting when you are trying to heal yourself.
If you would like to check out my travel blog, it is www.smalltownreview.com or my photography site is www.dmhallphotography.com. Both businesses can be found on Facebook too.
Thanks for reading.
It's quite fortunate that your medical insurance paid off that hefty medical bill, although it's too bad that it didn't entirely solve your problem. At least your current doctor was able to do something at a fraction of the cost. You must be happy with that, even if there are some malingering effects still left. At least you are now able to live somewhat normally, and be able to travel. So have a great time doing just that!
ReplyDeleteJason Hayes @ DECO Recovery Management
Thank you for reading. I appreciate your comment.
ReplyDeleteI am grateful for the fact that I have a life now. If I had left it up to mainstream doctors, I would have died from the infection 5 years ago.
It saddens me that so many people die at the hands of doctors due to "unknown" infections that won't respond to antibiotics, because they are really parasitic based.
My insurance did pay a lot; however, everything that I have had done could have been completed for probably less than $10,000.00 if I had known about Dr. Borneman to begin with and hadn't wasted my time with mainstream doctors.
My deductible and copay for the last surgery with Dr. Berger was $6000.00 and frankly that surgery did not help at all.
I am deeply in debt due to this illness. I am miserable everyday due to the draining lumps in my month. I depend on caffeine for energy. I have no motivation and have gained 60 pounds. I gave my physical therapy business away, because I couldn't handle it while I was really sick. I despise being a physical therapist and dread everyday that I have to go to work, but need the income to pay off the debt. (Apparently being a travel blogger takes a significant amount of time to make money. In 3 months, I am up to $5.00.)
As a physical therapist I have to deal daily with unfortunate people who are misdiagnosed but still enthralled with mainstream doctors and unwilling to take the leap to holistic medicine. I see people with tremors and diseases that are most likely vitamin deficiencies and could probably be completely resolved with the right holistic doctor, but they would rather dr hop and complain about being repeatedly misdiagnosed than even think about forking over cash to see a holistic doctor that could help and ultimately save them money in the long run. I spend most of my day biting my tongue, because it is more productive than recommending electodermal testing.
The problem with the medical system in this country is the poor education, ignorance and close mindedness of mainstream doctors that simply don't listen or really care about their patient's!
And I forgot to mention, one year my medical insurance was $1200.00 a month (most years I was paying over $700/month), just so that I would have a PPO and could go to Mayo. When I sent in my medical records to the purely rude and incompetent oral surgeons at Mayo, they circled facial pain on all of my records and refused to see me as there was "nothing surgical" that they could see. Since then I have had multiple abscesses drain and > 5 surgeries. BOYCOTT MAYO!! Now I am grateful that they rejected me, they probably would have hacked my face up and left me deformed!
ReplyDelete