Maslow’s Hierachy of Needs comes into play….
One of the things I remember from my education courses in college is Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. I’ve become acutely aware of its truths over the past week or so. I do see that if one’s physiological needs are not met, all else in life can be thrown to the wayside.
A little over a week ago, I was diagnosed with an abscessed tooth and prescribed penicillin to take care of the infection. My appointment with an oral surgeon to see about getting the tooth extracted isn’t until October 5th. In the meanwhile, I’ve developed what I think is a sinus infection on top of all the rest.
I have an appointment this afternoon to see my family doctor about whether or not it’s actually a sinus infection. My pharmacist has said the penicillin I’m taking wouldn’t be the first choice of antibiotic for a sinus infection. He also said that the discomfort in the sinuses could actually be due to the abscessed tooth and not another infection source.
The bottom line of it all, going back to Maslow, is that when we’re experiencing physiological discomfort, it’s hard to focus on much else but that discomfort. I went on a three-mile walk yesterday and probably should have cut that short. I went to Barnes and Noble to read and write and found it hard to focus. This morning, I’ve found it hard to think about much else but finding a solution to the mouth and facial discomfort. Luckily, I’m taking a required day off work today, so it’ll allow me to see the doctor to get his diagnosis. I’ve even taken a home covid test to make sure that’s not it and it was negative.
Hopefully, I’ll be able to get some relief from the discomfort from both my sinuses and the abscessed tooth. Nothing fun at all about not feeling well and it’s at least made me grateful that I’ve not had to deal with a lot of this type of discomfort in my life. I’ve been pro-active in seeking a solution and am hopeful that between my doctor and dentist’s treatment, I’ll be feeling better soon.
David Lee 