Wmoon24

Hey everyone, I am new to the boards, just found them tonight after doing some research on the internet.
During the past week, I have been going through the worst ordeal of my life, and it's all because of one right, lower molar.

It all started last Friday night (Oct. 29) when my tooth started throbbing continuously. I have had problems with this same tooth in the past, but being the dental phobic I tend to be, I always put off having it extracted. BIG mistake. This was just the beginning of my nightmare. A day after it started hurting, I landed myself in the ER with what I can only describe as the most excruciating pain in my entire life..and I've had 3 children naturally, mind you. I never knew pain could be so intense, I was bawling from the pain. The ER doc prescribed me Vicodin for the pain and 250mg Penicillin, and told me to call my dentist for an appointment ASAP Monday. Well Monday night I was in the ER again for a rapid and severe swelling on my jaw down into my neck. After another examination, the gave me an IV antibiotic (Rocephin), and a steriod for the the inflammation. I was told to come back the next night for another dose of IV Rocephin and steriods. I also saw my dentist on Tuesday and he told me to continue taking the Amoxicillin 250mg and we'd try to pull it Thursday. I did have it successfully extracted on Thursday which I THOUGHT might help it drain, but it didn't. The swelling only got worse, and was hard as a rock under my jaw. SO...back to the ER on Thursday night because I felt like my throat was getting tight and it was almost impossible to swallow. Again they gave me IV Rocephin, and I had to go back Saturday for another dose. After dealing with this for over a week, the ER doc decided Saturday to finally do some blood work (they were concerned about the possibility of septecemia), attempted to drain it at least a little, and decide where to go from there. After my lab results were back, the doc brought in a big syringe (ouch), and after numbing it with a spray, stuck it next to the tooth extraction site and into my jaw. Unfortunately the infection/pus was so packed, he got nothing out. All that pain for nothing. After looking at my bloodwork, he told me to stop taking the amoxicillin and prescribed me Clindamycin. He also told me to make an appt with an Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist (I would have thought an oral surgeon would have been a better choice, but what do I know ??) to look into having it drained. I've been taking the Clindamycin almost 2 days now and so far (knock on wood) it is working wonders. The swelling is going down rapidly and I am no longer in misery because of a hugely swollen face. Wish they would have done that sooner to avoid all the antibiotic roulette. It's a strong antibiotic and apparently only used for serious infections due to potenially bad side effects. I'm a little nervous taking it, but so glad it's helping.
I truly would never wish this experience on anyone, not even my worst enemy. I hope to never go through another ordeal like that. I still dread the dentist, but I'll know to keep my appointments from now on..no way I'm risking that again. Anyone else ever been through anything similar???