Tooth Extraction

The decaying canine on the upper right side of my mouth has gone and only a gaping hole remains. So it goes. I had to wait two hours before entering the dentist's surgery but after that it all went smoothely. I fear that there may be more problems ahead but for the time it's all good. Only a few hours after the extraction, I can eat and drink normally.

I have taken the once-a-day pain killer that was prescribed and the fingers of my right hand are feeling a lot more flexible. Whether this is the result of the medication or not remains to be seen. I'm not in any pain so I won't take the medication again and I'll see if the fingers still remain relatively flexible tomorrow. I hope that's the case (see addendum at the end of this post).

Getting rid of the chronic abscess that lurked above my decaying tooth can only have a positive effect on my overall well-being. I've currently been advised by my psychic healer not to eat fried foods, peanut butter, egg yolks, baked beans and a plethora of other foodstuffs. If my stiffness disappears completely, then I can perhaps indulge in some of these forbidden foods again if the prohibitions can be at least relaxed in the future.

My umbilicus remains sensitive and this inhibits me from doing any exercises that put a strain on that area and my thymoma inhibits me from any exercises that put a strain on the solar plexus area. The stiffness in my hands doesn't help and so overall my upper body is slowly atrophying due to sarcopenia. I need to develop an exercise regime that maintains muscle mass in my upper body without exacerbating my existing sensitivities.

Walking regularly helps to thwart sarcopenia in the leg muscles but additionally I need to return to my squats and other leg exercises. Since my fall, I've noticed that my leg muscles have become noticably weaker. I tend to sleep in two sessions nowadays: two or three hours before midnight and then four or five hours beginning from four, five or six in the morning. Currently I weigh around 71 kilograms.

Of course, having completed my course of antibiotics, I need to rebuild my gut biome. To this end, probiotic foods like Kimchi, a spicy fermented Korean cabbage rich in beneficial bacteria like Lactobacillus Kimchi, and Kombucha, a fermented tea drink that may contain probiotic bacteria depending on the brand and brewing process. Choose kombucha with unpasteurized and unfiltered varieties for the most potential probiotic benefit.

ADDENDUM 

My fingers remains flexible and no stiffness has returned. I asked Google's Gemini about the pain killing tablet that I took yesterday. Interestingly, the medication is an anti-inflammatory drug as well as having pain-killing properties. The dosage that I took, 120 mg, is quite strong and I may still be feeling its effects. If the stiffness returns then we'll know that I definitely have some sort of chronic inflammatory condition. If it doesn't then I'll be very much relieved. Clearly it's not a drug you would want to take in over a long period of time. Here was Gemini's response to my query:

Etorvel (Etoricoxib) is a prescription non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to manage pain, inflammation, and stiffness caused by various conditions. Here's a breakdown of key information about Etorvel:

Uses:

Treats pain, inflammation, and stiffness associated with:

• Osteoarthritis (wear and tear of joint cartilage)
• Rheumatoid arthritis (chronic inflammatory joint disease)
• Ankylosing spondylitis (inflammation of the spine and large joints)
• Gout (sudden and severe joint pain caused by excess uric acid)
• May also be used for short-term relief of moderate pain after dental surgery.

How it Works:

Etoricoxib works by selectively inhibiting an enzyme called cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). COX-2 plays a role in the production of prostaglandins, which contribute to pain, inflammation, and fever. By blocking COX-2, Etoricoxib helps reduce these symptoms.

Dosage and Administration:

Dosage depends on the specific condition being treated, its severity, and the patient's individual needs. Always follow your doctor's instructions for dosage and duration of treatment.

Etorvel is typically available as tablets and is usually taken once daily, with or without food.

Side Effects:

• Common side effects of Etorvel include:
• Stomach pain, heartburn, diarrhea, indigestion
• Headache, dizziness
• Upper respiratory tract infection
• Fluid retention

Important Considerations:

Risks: Etoricoxib can increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, and stomach ulcers, especially with high doses or long-term use. It's crucial to discuss these risks with your doctor before starting the medication.

Contraindications: Etoricoxib is not suitable for everyone. Inform your doctor about any allergies (especially to aspirin or other NSAIDs), a history of stomach ulcers, heart problems, high blood pressure, kidney disease, or liver disease.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: Consult your doctor before taking Etoricoxib if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant.

Interactions: Etoricoxib can interact with other medications. Be sure to tell your doctor about all medications you are taking, including prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Tooth Trouble

In addition to my current woes, the decaying tooth on the right upper side of my mouth has started to play up again. I've decided to take the plunge and swallow the prescribed antibiotics for five days prior to the extraction of the tooth. It's not a great idea to have a decaying tooth just sitting in my gum. It is subject to chronic low level infection that from time to time flares up and becomes acutely infected. I have an appointment scheduled for Thursday the 27th June.

I need to take two 200mg tablets of Cefixime Trihydrate daily for five days. Here is what Google's Gemini spat out when asked about the medication.

Cefixime Trihydrate is a prescription antibiotic medication belonging to the third-generation cephalosporin class. Here's a breakdown of its key characteristics:

Uses:

Treats a variety of bacterial infections, including:

Ear infections (otitis media)

Strep throat

Bronchitis

Pneumonia

Urinary tract infections (UTIs)

Gonorrhea (often as a single-dose treatment)

Lyme disease (in some cases)

How it Works:

Cefixime works by interfering with the bacteria's cell wall formation. This weakens the cell wall and prevents bacteria from multiplying and spreading.

Dosage and Administration:

Dosage depends on the specific infection being treated, the patient's age and weight, and kidney function.

Available as tablets, chewable tablets, and suspension (liquid) for oral administration.

Typically taken once a day, with or without food.

Side Effects:

Common side effects include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and headache.

Less common side effects include rash, yeast infections, and allergic reactions.

Important Considerations:

Antibiotic Resistance: Like all antibiotics, overuse or misuse of Cefixime can contribute to antibiotic resistance. It's crucial to take it exactly as prescribed and complete the entire course of treatment, even if symptoms improve.

Allergy: Inform your doctor if you have allergies to penicillin or other cephalosporin antibiotics.

Kidney Function: Cefixime is eliminated from the body by the kidneys. If you have impaired kidney function, your doctor might adjust the dosage.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: Consult your doctor about the safety of Cefixime during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Here's hoping. The dosage is quite high and to quote from this website:

Cefixime Trihydrate Film coated caplet and Film coated tablet : For adults and children weighing > 30 kg, the usual recommended daily dose is 50 – 100 mg (potency) of Cefixime given orally twice daily. Dosage should be adjusted according to the age, body weight and condition of the patient. For more severe or intractable infection, the dosage may be increased up to 200 mg (potency) given twice daily.

So it's bad news for bacteria, good and bad, but after the extraction I'll hopefully be able to repair my devastated gut biome. 

In Recovery

Following my psychic surgery in Medan to address my thymoma problem, I'm feeling quite good with only some lingering stiffness in my right hand and a sensitive left foot that I need to be careful to not subject to sudden stress. These are the residual effects of my DOMS and it's quite unusual that should have persisted for this long. 

My symptoms bear some similarities to mild gout but I doubt if I'm suffering from that condition. I just don't fit the profile (somebody who eats a lot of organ meats, seafood and alcohol). Here is what Google's Gemini had to say about gout:

Gout is a complex form of arthritis that causes sudden and severe attacks of pain, inflammation, redness, and tenderness in your joints. Here's a breakdown of the symptoms and risk factors:

Symptoms of Gout:

Sudden and severe pain: Often described as excruciating and debilitating, gout attacks typically strike at night and can wake you up. The pain usually affects one or more joints, most commonly the big toe, but it can also hit ankles, knees, hands, wrists, elbows, or even feet.

Inflammation and swelling: The affected joint will become swollen, red, and hot to the touch. Even slight pressure, like the weight of a bedsheet, can be very uncomfortable.

Tenderness: The joint will be extremely sensitive to touch, making even minor movements painful.

Limited range of motion: As the attack progresses, the inflammation can limit your ability to move the affected joint.

Risk Factors for Gout:

Several factors can increase your chances of developing gout:

High uric acid levels: Uric acid is a waste product created during the breakdown of purines, which are found naturally in the body and certain foods. When uric acid levels become too high in the blood, it can form sharp crystals that deposit in your joints, triggering gout attacks.

Diet: Consuming excessive amounts of certain foods and beverages high in purines, such as red meat, organ meats, seafood, sugary drinks, and alcohol (particularly beer), can contribute to high uric acid levels.

Obesity and metabolic syndrome: These conditions are associated with increased purine production and difficulty eliminating uric acid from the body.

Certain medications: Diuretics, low-dose aspirin, and some immunosuppressant drugs can elevate uric acid levels.

Medical conditions: Some health problems like high blood pressure, kidney disease, and psoriasis can increase the risk of gout.

Genetics: Having a family history of gout significantly increases your susceptibility.

Age and sex: Men are more likely to develop gout than women before menopause, but the risk for women increases after menopause.

It's important to note that not everyone with high uric acid levels will develop gout. Conversely, some people with normal uric acid levels can still experience gout attacks.

It's interesting that the Gemini article describes gout as "a complex form of arthritis". I simply don't know what I've got but I've been placed on a diet that restricts the amount of fried food that I consume and that forbids the consumption of many other foods that I was formerly fond of. The details are still being worked out.

I smile when I think how the so-called medical professionals in Australia would react if I said I'd had psychic surgery to address my physical problem. Hopefully I'll never be at their mercy and, if I was, I'd be very careful about what I disclosed to them. It still staggers me how brainwashed the majority of medical professionals are in Western countries and what little real help they are able to offer. 

Meanwhile I have done some walking and intend to do more as my strength returns. I probably will never return to the physical level that I was at before my fall but I can try to arrest any further decline. My weight is slightly under 71 kilograms at the moment which is good. I'd like to stay around that weight.