Slice of Chaotic Life

The after-effects of the dental surgery unfold in slow motion. Which is better than fast motion, but still disturbing. The small swelling on my upper jaw has diminished, but there is now a small swelling on the side of my lower jaw (still on the right side). So basically the swelling seems to be “sagging” down. I assume there is some kind of lymph node or something there that has had an influx of the bacteria.

Finally accepting that I may need the clindamycin after all, I took one capsule. The product sheet said to swallow it whole, but it is far too large for that. I can barely swallow mustard seeds! Ever since I was a child, I have chewed everything three times as long as the people around me, because if I don’t, the food sticks in my throat and I have to try to cough it up. I am not sure whether I have a really small opening or this is just an acquired reflex of some kind. But antibiotics are kind of moot if I choke, so I bit it through and washed it down with a glass of water. Afterwards I drank some more water and a probiotic milk drink, in the hope of dodging the Chlostridium Difficile. (Bacterium which tends to cause horrifying and even life-threatening intestinal infections in clindamycin users. It runs wild because the broad-spectrum drug kills every other bacterium in the gut, most of which are friendly.)

Can you chew clindamycine? Random person on the Internet says: “It’s can be done but it’s not recommended because Clindamycin irritates the lining of the stomach and intestines and cause an upset stomach (that’s why it has the capsule.) They do have a liquid form called Cleocin which may help if you or the person you’re prescribing the medication to has a hard time swallowing pills. Hope this helps.”

Why am I not surprised? I have been bothered by acid reflux and stomach pains off and on for years, to the point where my doctor recommends not taking aspirin (or rather the equivalent in Norwegian, of course). I also providentially forgot to replace my anti-acid chewing tablets. DRAMA! On your Internet NOW!

OK, at least I know which of the alternatives is Scylla and which is Charybdis. I am now on my way from Charybdis (the all at once whirlpool) to Scylla (the blow-by-blow reef).  Wish me luck! I am not going to give up until I look down on my dead body. Actually, if that comes to pass as some people say, that’s probably just the beginning. But I won’t be able to blog from there, so keep me in your prayers for your future edutainment!