A week passes but the aching does not.  I will revisit the dentist on Monday - whilst the gums are very gradually healing the bizarre (and extremely painful) toothaches from nearby untouched teeth are debilitating.  I have not had pain like this since I don't remember when.  My brain tumour operation some 6 years ago was a breeze by comparison.

So last night I decided to hell with it all and went out for a a Friday night beers with friends session - my first since the operation.  I tried to use alcohol as a pain reliever but failed to drink the amount required.  With aching returning I took my leave early and came home to knock back two panadeine forte and some water.    Apparently famed for aiding deep sleep, panadeine forte do not provide such relief to me in general, but I assumed with a few drinks this might finally happen.  It did not.

I lay in bed in a hallucenogenic haze for a few hours before finally drifting off.  I dreamt weird stuff (as you do) including Windows error messages blipping up warning me about things related to my life - some true, some not.  I even got up at one stage and tried some to put some Oil of Clove on the sore teeth (an ancient remedy apparently) but it made little impact.  And, so I soldier on...

Listen to me - you would swear there's nothing else happening in the world.   All moan moan poor me.  But the thing is, when something like this happens in our first world, safe & protected easy existences, they do become all encompassing for the mind and body.  And my worry is that there is only so much ibuprofen, codeine and paracetamol this mind and body can take.