2024 Nov #8-1/2: The Ordeal

Something of a disappointing week. Root canal, allergic reaction to antibiotic, bleeding ulcer, four days in the hospital.

Tl;dr

Fri 11/11: to the dentist for a toothache. Got antibiotic & big pain killers

Sat & Sun: big pain

Mon: root canal

Tue: skin rash. stopped antibiotic & started antihistamine

Wed: rash fading, weakness gathering

Thu - Sat: gradually increasing weakness

Sun: to emergency. Low hemoglobin, got transfusion, checked in

Mon: top & bottom endoscopies, found bleeding ulcer

Tue: wait for hemoglobin to rise

Wed: checkout!

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Fri Nov 15

Friends, I have had a disappointing week. Tooth started hurting last Wednesday, by Friday it was clear I needed dental care.

Found a dentist, got an appointment at the end of the day (best they could do) and went in with fingers crossed. They took an x-ray, said I might need a root canal, prescribed an antibiotic & a high dose of ibuprofen. Started antibiotic & elephantine dosages of ibuprofen.

I *might* need a root canal.

Friday night was difficult.

Saturday, found another dentist (a few are open weekends), went in. They said it was a difficult case: a 3-root tooth with a crown. They could do it but recommended I find a better equipped dentist.

Brings to mind the MASH episode with the best equipped dentist in the army…but actually, for those not up on root canals, they now use a microscope to locate and measure the roots, it greatly increases the likelihood of success. Likelihood of success? They can fail?

Yes. With a crown, it’s harder to find the roots. Might need to remove the crown…might need to pull the tooth. Lots of dentist websites talked about ‘saving the tooth’. Gulp.

These microscopes are pretty intense, only endodontics specialists and a few dentists use them. Went online to search for one. Found 2 specialists and 2 dentist candidates. Left voice messages and sent e-mail to them all, two had an online appointment system and they had openings for consultations on Monday afternoon. Just consultations, but a glimmer of hope.

Saturday night was unbearable.

There is an emergency dentist service open long hours on the weekend staffed by the local hospital: Charité, apparently quite respectable. A friend we’ve gotten to know here said we should go, they should be capable. Don’t know if they have the ‘scope, but I’m pretty desperate at this point.

Went there Sunday evening, waited over an hour, they said they couldn’t treat me because I didn’t have a pre-printed ID with a German address.

Just as well, the antibiotic was apparently starting to kick in, pain was receding. Although the pain is receding, is it getting worse with the passage of time, increasing the risk? Gum is starting to swell, a bit of a skin rash forming..

Mon AM started calling the endodontists. 1st one: consultation available dec 15. 2nd: consultation next week, possible app’t in 2-3 weeks.

So I’ve got consultation appointments with dentists at 12:30 and 3. 12:30: yeah we've got a 'scope but at another branch office, you'll have to go there.

3:00: bingo. Head and shoulders better feeling than any of the others. Yes, no question you need a root canal. It'll take 2 hours. Normally I do it in 2, 1-hour appointments. I have 1/2 hour open at 6PM, if you want I can start, see how far I get. My next available appointment is next Monday.

Back at 6PM, here we go. She's the picture of efficiency, there's an assistant with whom she's obviously worked a lot, they are like a symphony. Lots of banter between them, but to me: "OK I found the first root. It's the biggest, the one with the infection". "OK I found the second". "OK I found the third". "Oh interesting, there are four. Normally there'd be four roots in three canals, but you have four in four". I can tell it's been well over 1/2 hour, I am extremely relieved and grateful. She finished at 7:15. Finished, no further work necessary. In case yer in need of a root canal in Berlin: Leipziger 14, https://www.leipziger14.de.

So then we talked about the antibiotic. You're supposed to complete the course, but now the rash was pretty bad. I thought I'd had amoxycillin before without issue, so she wrote a prescription for that. Leslie went out to an all-night pharmacy (pharmacies rotate staying open all night here) and got some for me. She has been going with me through all of this, and is now on deck to do the rest by herself, as I am bedridden. I am extremely grateful.

Tuesday, rash has spread over my entire body, I look like a boiled lobster. I'm also weak, can't stand for more than a minute without passing out. First thing in the morning California time (6PM here), called my Dr in LG, got through, she said amoxy is bad, recommended a couple of others, as well as an antihistamine. By this time we've missed pharmacy hours, so again Leslie went out to the all-night. They weren't there - apparently it's not 100%.

Wednesday Leslie got the antihistamine and I'm in bed all day, too weak to stand, trying to eat & drink but no appetite.

Thursday Leslie went out & got some electrolytes, I started mixing them into water, started getting a little energy, was able to eat more. Thursday night I began to itch. It's so hard to sleep when you itch all over.

So now it's Friday and I'm starting to feel better, able to function, even went out for a short walk. Took a while to ascend the 5 flights back to the Wohnung, but all went well. I seem to be on the mend.

But wait...started feeling gradually worse, by Sat night it was clear it wasn't over. 1st thing Sun AM took an Uber to the local hospital emergency room, by this time barely able to stand. they took a blood sample, and my hemoglobin is way low: 4.8 (min normal range 13+ I think).

They did a transfusion, which stabilized me, & checked me in for diagnostics. First stop: gastroenterology. took a sample, found blood. Scheduled me for a upper & lower endoscopies the next day (Mon).

Monday I had nice nap & the result was: bleeding ulcer. A relief to know the cause. So now I'm getting more transfusion and a drip of something that is supposed to decrease the stomach acid & allow the ulcer to heal. Looks like 3 days in a hospital bed.

Tuesday, blood hemo level looks good; but wait, we forgot to test your stool for h-pylori, the bacteria that causes ulcers (interesting: stress does not). Huh. So I'm spending another night, and might get a prescrption for an antibiotic. An antibiotic..

Boy am I glad I noticed that medicare overseas coverage is only good for two months, and bought a travel policy. Also: they gave me an estimate: $6500 out the door. Yes, you read that right. $6500 for 4 days/3 nights in the hospital.

Update 2025:

Got the bill: $4k. Yes: $4k for 4 nights in a hospital, blood transfusions, upper & lower endoscopies, constant IV drip. You read that right: $4k. $4000. What would that have been in the U.S?

Submitted a claim to my travel insurer, and two weeks later got a deposit for the full amount. Wow. Two weeks. The travel insurer is Seven Corners, highly recommended.

I mentioned I'd gone to Urgent Care in SF before coming to Berlin, about Sep 1, remember? Medicare still (Jan 2025) hasn't made a determination about whether or how much they'll cover. wtf. Unpopular opinion: I have hope that RFK Jr will make this better. I have no other hope.