Time for a change in the subject line. I had a chat last night with Gemini, the AI talking bot. Have you checked that out yet? I have only played around with it a little but decided to chat with it about my current health condition. At first, it only provided the standard, top of the search answers. But as I provided more and more details, it became more and more specific too. It seems I am obsessed with my problem and am searching for answers I already know, but hoping for better ones. The standard answers to recovery time of chronic sinusitis post root canal tooth infection is 10 days to 2 weeks. I am going on 3 and not particularly feeling hugely better. So, I want to know why. Between Dr Google and Gemini, the answers is more like 6 months, maybe a year. It seems it depends on the length of the tooth infection and how severe it was. My infection went on for at least a year. Hence, perhaps a year recovery? Arggg. I was even reading forums, where people write about their experiences. It was interesting to read people’s accounts that were almost identical to mine. Some suffering for years, bouncing around ENTs and docs, not realizing they have a tooth infection. Apparently, you can have the infection and not know it as the nerve has died and you have no pain. And you can have it for a long time. That much I now know. One guy, who went through the same process as me, meds, nasal sprays, surgery and finally a root canal said he felt like a new man 6 months later. His doc was pleased he recovered so quickly and in half the time. In a strange way I find comfort in these stories. They tell me my struggle is not unique, and I just need to be patient. But it is hard, when like now, I am having a coughing fit and spiting up goo. Sorry if that is TMI. At least some of the goo is coming out my nose. But I just want it to go away. In the bigger picture, I wonder if I will ever get my health back completely. I wonder if age will continue to throw health issues at me. Of course, the answer is yes. But how will I respond to it? What will my quality of life be? I look at Carter and think that his quality of life is rather poor. Yes, he has me, a nice home and all. But he can’t do much. So, he sits in his chair and reads, listens to music and then goes upstairs to nap. Taking sips of gin all day to relieve the boredom. It doesn’t seem like much of a life. Not that I have much of one, but at least I can take my walks and all, putter in the garden and hang out in my studio. I look forward to grocery shopping as a big social event. I am not feeling sorry for myself, but this health issue has made me wonder just how fragile life really is and at any moment it could be over. Or your life could just be one lingering health issue after another. For what it is worth, I feel I will get past this and have a newfound view of life, and a new puppy too. I guess that is the optimist in me. Always hoping for the best.
