The week that was

Last Wednesday I took the Megabus to Philadelphia. Except for the fact that there's no way to get up and walk around, it's a decent way to travel. Of course, they leave before dawn, which meant I had to get up at 4:30, but it was OK. I met Renee in Philly and we went to the Chagall exhibit at the Museum of Fine Art. Very nice. We also walked around South Street; went to the Magic Garden, Reading Market, and Eastern State Penitentiary; staying overnight to do all of this.

Finally, exhausted, we got on another Megabus and went to New York, where I went to the Japan Society to see Bye, Bye Kitty, a really good exhibit put together before the earthquake, but entirely appropriate to the circumstance, and then spent time at the Met. I can't go to New York without spending time at the Met. Also went to visit friends who have just moved into a new apartment.

Robin and Steve drove in on Saturday and we had dinner with Steve's family: Renee, Michael and Rosemary. On Sunday Renee went to Boston to have a Passover Seder with Steve's sister, Robin and Steve moved to the apartment (musical apartments) and we had our Seder with friends in Teaneck. Our friends have a mixed marriage: he's Ashkenazi; she's Sephardi. The Seder is always a blend of their traditions, making it more interesting for us.

Now comes the bad part:

We were supposed to stay until yesterday morning, but I had a problem so my kids very kindly brought me back to Pittsburgh on Tuesday. Two weeks ago I had the implant inserted where my tooth had been pulled. It became infected, although I wasn't certain of it until Sunday. Monday morning I called the oral surgeon and got a perscription for an antibiotic, but it didn't seem to help. Feeling worse on Tuesday, with obvious swelling of my cheek, we drove back. Yesterday, I spent the morning back at the oral surgeon's. You don't want to know the details. I'm still swollen and not certain it's getting better. I am allergic to penicillin and tetracycline, and I've had bad side effects from levaquin. It makes it very hard for me to take antibiotics. They've been alternating between two arithromycins, but now they don't seem to be working. So I'm taking cipro, a levaquin-type, and keeping my fingers crossed.

Comments

[Alice]

You might remember my problems with Levaquin (during the C period); Cipro might be the answer--it worked for me. I had 3 impacted wisdom teeth removed at one time and one side got infected. My face was bigger than a pumpkin and the pain was no fun. I feel bad for you; hope you get over it soon.

[ruthe]

Im glad to hear that Cipro worked for you. Ive been very worried about it; it is similar to Levaquin, which left me with tendinitis that lasted for nine months. Since mine problem is only one tooth my face is only swollen on one side. Looks very strange. 

[Baileyz]

I'll cross all fingers and toes keeping myself and these appendages elevated until you give the all clear. Seriously, I am sooooo sorry.

[Ryder Mulford]

Well I hope you're doing okay now. My doc always tests the anesthesia first before using them on me, especially in dental surgeries. Gingivitis can be a pain when having a dental surgery, too. Good thing I'm not allergic to any medicine, thank goodness.