In which I complain of my Genetics

It's funny how genetics always catches up with me. Type 1 diabetes runs in my family on both sides, I inherited my Dad's low blood pressure - an awesome trait most of the time (excluding the lightheaded-ness that frequently accompanies it).

Then there are the dental issues. My mom has great teeth and rarely has an issue more than needing a "deep cleaning" because they don't have dental coverage. My Dad, though, his teeth are awful. Cavities and Root Canals are no strangers to my Fathers mouth. I learned from my orthodontist years ago that everyone inherits their jaws separately - so you could have your top teeth from your mom and bottom from your dad, or both from one or the other. I've been 'blessed' with teeth from both my parents.

I waited a year to get my teeth worked on because we couldn't afford it on our old dental plan provided us through Kenny's awesome job. When it came time to "re-enroll" and chose from our options of health care plans we found that there was a way better/cheaper dental plan that would cover all the costs of the work I needed. So, I've been having that stuff finally done the last few weeks.

The first time I had 2 teeth out. While uncomfortable for a week it wasn't too bad. The first day ended up being more painful because I was out all day and didn't get back home to take my Hydrocodone (Vicodin) until very late and the anesthesia had long since worn off.

Today, I only had 1 tooth taken out and, strangely enough, I'm not doing as well. My mouth has been hurting a ton more than last time. I've laid around all day - which I do not do. When I had my wisdom teeth out I took a drive test for drivers ed a couple hours afterward.

Tonight, I took another dose of the Hydrocodone, snuggled with Miss Rylee and ate some toast. Shortly afterward my blood sugar shot up from 138mg/dl to 264mg/dl and I felt like I was having a super bad low blood sugar - the sort where I feel almost like passing out. I thought at first it was because I was using test strips that were expired by a couple months, I checked them against strips that are not expired and found that - Yes, I am indeed at 264 give or take a couple digits.

Yuuuuuck. I don't like feeling so crappy, and I don't like the balancing act of diabetes and any sort of "surgery." Diabetes in a guessing game all day every day as it is. Then you throw something else at it and it's still just as much of a guessing game - with another variable.  :::sigh::: I'm so happy the extractions are all finished!

Diabetes and Teeth and... Oprah.

I was going to write about how irritated, possibly enraged, I was at Oprah's segment today on Diabetes. I went to several forums and joined in the ranting that was already in full swing. I decided not to and let the professionals keep it, and I'll continue on with what I had originally planned. Kerri did a great job, everyone should head over to her blog and check out her 2¢ on the topic.

I am so Thankful for my resilient body. I have put it through a lot of abuse over the years. Years of poor eating habits, not taking my insulin, over exercising... you know, the eating disorder type of abuse.

As I said earlier, I'm also Thankful for my Husband. He came along just in time. He helped me through the worst of it. I can rely on him SO much to be on my side for my health. He'll go to bat for me whenever I need it.

Some of my misbehavior has caught up with me in the form of my teeth. I never had a cavity until I was 16. I inherited my dad's teeth - which is not a good trait - his teeth are awful. It started when I got braces - when I got them off just in time for my wedding I had a couple cavities which I could no longer get fixed because I was then off my parents' insurance plan.

That was nearly 3 years ago. Fall of 2008 I had the most awful tooth pain I had ever experienced, only thing was that I was 6 months pregnant. I needed a root canal. Being as I was pregnant I couldn't have the normal anesthesia and had to have the dumbed down stuff that wore off after a couple minutes max. They couldn't finish it either, they stuffed a filling in there to wait until after I had baby girl, then I could come back.

Our dental plan changed after she was born. When I finally went back, with more tooth pain and that filling had fallen out - I needed another root-canal in that same tooth, one in another tooth. 2 deep cavities filled and much more done. I've had chronic gingivitis too. We couldn't pay for all that work, it was several thousand dollars and we were struggling to pay bills every month and still have money left over for other necessities.

That's left me with a constant run of tooth aches, and gum infections. Driving my blood sugars crazy all across the board. I'm battling it constantly. My awful blood sugars over the years have helped create awful cavities in my mouth, turned into root canals, turned into constant infections. Which leads to awful blood sugar control.

Infections drive blood sugars up, blood sugars up allow the infection to rage on... and so goes the circle (more information). I'll be able to get rid of the gum infections for a little while without antibiotics, but they always come back.

I've finally got an appointment with a new dentist with our new dental plan that started this new year. It's not until the 26th this month, but I'm excited to finally be able to get my teeth fixed and have it be affordable. I am excited to get off this roller-coaster of poor health and finally be on the mend, I hope. I'm sick of the constant infection and pain in my mouth, I'm sick of the constant extremes for my blood sugars - neither are good for my sanity or continued health.

I'm trying to think of this as a good warning/sign to take care of myself better and better. I want this to be the worst I have to deal with as far as "complications" go. I owe it to my sweet husband and adorable daughter.