04/10/2025
Dream, timing, angels
This is a long post about the incredibly dramatic 64 hours that I have just experienced. I am writing this in my hospital bed, recovering from a procedure last night…
Thursday morning I woke up to this text from my 17-yo son sent at 5:03am
“Hey mum just woke up from a bad dream, just checking how you are”
A few hours before his text, I actually started feeling a sharp pain in my right jaw. I took an ibuprofen at 2.30am. When I woke up at 6.30am the jaw was swelling and painful.
Luckily I could book in to see my GP at 11am that morning. He suspected abscess and sent me for blood test and CT Scan of my head, and prescribed antibiotics. He did warn me that I need to go to the hospital straightaway if the pain and swelling has gotten worse as the pus can cause blood infection which can be dangerous.
By 6pm Thursday afternoon the pain and swelling has gotten worse so I had Jimmy dropped me off at the Wesley Emergency Department on his way to the airport (for his flight to Melbourne at 8pm).
I was given stronger antibiotics and painkillers via IV drip plus more blood test. The Dr said my infection marker is not very high so that’s a good sign. However as they can’t access my head scan results the Ear Nose & Throat specialist can’t see me that night to drain my pus. She suggested I called the ENT surgeon’s office first thing in the morning to arrange to be seen by him. After prescribing Endone, a very strong painkiller, I was discharged from the Wesley ED and got home just before midnight Friday.
3am Friday I woke up from a severe pain in the jaw. Despite taking ibuprofen and Panadol it was still very sore. I eventually fell back to sleep after taking half a sleeping pill. Another sharp pain woke me at 5am.
I called the ENT surgeon’s office at 8.30am. Being the Friday before the King’s Birthday long weekend, the earliest they can see me is next Tuesday 8am.
Also because of the long weekend my GP only works half day but he was kind enough to call me back with my scan and blood test result. He suggested I should get the pus drained quickly and he even called around to see if there is a radiologist available to do it for me. But again due to the Friday before the long weekend there is no availability. He stressed I need to go back to the hospital asap if I feel my condition is worsening.
My conditions had indeed worsened drastically with the pain despite taking the prescribed Endone. I headed back to the Wesley ED at 1pm and was seen immediately by the Dr. By that point my heart rate, blood pressure and temperature were all getting high. They gave me morphine and another antibiotic via IV drip but my condition hasn’t improved.
Again, the timing of the Friday before the long weekend seemed to be working against me at that point. The Dr said none of the 18 ENT Specialists at Wesley could see me. But the Dr knew I need to be treated asap as my temperature was nearing 40 degrees and my blood pressure was getting dangerously high.
They arranged to transfer me to the Royal Brisbane Hospital as there is more resources from the public hospital to treat me. I am so grateful the ambulance came quickly and the paramedics were amazingly caring. There was a long queue at the hospital waiting area but they escalated my case as there is the danger of sepsis with my high fever and rapid heart rate. They gave me Fentanyl as even the morphine wasn’t enough for the pain at that point.
I was admitted to the ED and attended to by a team of doctors and nurses. I was so drugged up at that point but I could see they all have concerning expressions. I heard that they were making multiple calls to move things around in an attempt to get me treated immediately. I am so thankful I could eventually undergo a procedure under local anesthesia to drain the pus from my jaw at 8pm last night and afterward was admitted to the ENT Ward with my own room.
I keep mentioning timing because I think this timing actually worked perfectly for me. I went to Wesley Hospital but had to be transferred to Royal Brisbane Hospital so I ended up not needing to pay for my hospital stay for a private room (only the Wesley ED). And Jimmy has cut short his trip to Melbourne and is now on the flight home to be with me.
The doctors, nurses and paramedics are all so supportive and caring. I feel they are all angels sent by God to help save me. I am very very grateful. 🙏
