Ameloblastoma is a is a rare, benign tumor of odontogenicepithelium commonly appearing in the lower jaw. It is a rare disease with incidence rate of 1 per 1.96Million people. I am one of those one per 2M people and this is my amelo story.
February - I have noriced a small bubble like appearance inside my gums near my lower right canine teeth. It was painless and I had an abscess on my teeth before so thinking it was just one of those ordinary dental cases, I thought it was not urgent.
May - I have almost forgot my gum issue until my very hyper and future martial-artist baby kicked me straight in my right jaw, hitting the affected area. It did not hurt much but there was an almost numb feeling. I checked the abscess, now already extending until the first premolar area. My dentist is in Tarlac but unfortunately, I cant find time that fits both of our schedule so I decided to have it checked at a dental clinic on SM Clark thinking that dentists there are competitive. I was told it was an infection and I needed a panoramic x-ray. We had it checked and the panoramic result revealed a cyst from the lower right lateral incisor, canine and first premolar. The head dentist told me it was a puss, and she said it was pericoronitis or periodontal cyst (I failed to notice the inconsistency) and the teeth needs to be extracted. On 25th of May, I had my canine extracted and a fibula on my right gum. I was charged a total of 6,500 for the procedure. She gave prescriptions for expensive medicines that cost around 4-5k all in all. Dentist told me to return because series of procedures need to be performed.
June - I was not getting better. I noticed the lump got bigger I started looking for other dentists. I do not want to return to the dental clinic at SM because I felt I was misdiagnosed and that the procedure was not proper. I found a periodontal dentist at Angeles who told me it looked infected and since it was just more than a week since extraction, advised me to get a ConeBeam CtSCan costing me 8,500 php plus her professional fee. The dentist was actually nice but I guess they did not have any lesson about psychology. She informed me that she found something on my lower right mandible area and she will forward it to her mentor who is an Oral Surgeon at St Lukes. She added that I need to be still, keep calm and pray. I panicked! There was no clear diagnosis from her and I felt I was at dead end. I wanted to seek other help but I do not know where to get it. I had to wait for another week for the interpretation of the Oral surgeon.
Start of sleepless nights. I was so depressed I felt like I was about to die anytime I keep praying and asking God to please extend my stay on Earth. I thought of my baby who was not even a year old and felt pity thinking she would grow without a Mom (I have a wild imagination). I cried most of the times. I skipped work. I stayed at our home in Tarlac, I did not want to speak with anyone. I was not doing anything except of thinking what might be the diagnosis. I was not getting enough sleep. I was too depressed I was not even opening my facebook account. :p But it was during this time that I have turned into deep moments of prayer for strength. I started praying the rosary again and novena to Our Mother and to Her son Jesus. I prayed for a long healthy life for my Clairey. I know she listens and intercedes. Never was a time that she fails anyone who turns to seek help from her.
The one week extended to another week and finally, the Oral Surgeon who just came home from seminar abroad informed me that I had a multi-cystic ameloblastoma. He said it was not life-threatening but it needs to be managed as it deforms the face. I did not know what was amelo but hearing that it was benign brought me back a little to sanity. He told me of the options for surgical procedure and that they were costly he was estimating 150 - 300 thousand for the procedures. He asked me regarding my financial status and my source of income. I told him that we are ok, we get by everyday. I kind of lie when I told him that only my husband has a regular job (because at that time, I was still on my probationary period with my new job). He said he only performs procedures at St Lukes (I said fine as well, I want to get treated) then he said he would contact me after he seeks an opinion from a head & neck surgeon. He added that if I do not have any medical insurance, I would probably have to shoulder all expenses. I mirrored myself in his eyes as I kind of felt he was estimating my Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Ahh..business...
July - I waited. And waited. One week has passed and so I decided to text and email him. He replied, still waiting for the opinion. The one week turned into a month of waiting for nothing I decided to walk-in at AUF Medical Center for a Head & Neck Specialist. The H&N Doctor was kind of surprised that I was just a walk-in patient and had no referral despite having the results of several examinations. She immediately scheduled me for a biopsy informing me that if it really were ameloblastoma, then I have to be referred to another specialist in Manila. She said it must have been God's will that I found her clinic. She told me that it is important that I get the procedure from a doctor, not an oral surgeon or a dentist. I did not know. I was expecting those professionals were practicing due diligence. I was admitted for biopsy, I was on general Anesthesia during the procedure. Total hospital billing surprised me at 35thousand pesos including pre-op procedures and medicines. Thanks to Philhealth I had a deduction of around nine thousand php.
The result of the biopsy turned to be acanthomatous ameloblastoma. I was referred to a specialist in The Medical City where we met for three times. I decided that I wanted the operation on 27th of August and so I had another CT Scan a week before the surgery. Doctor said the tumour looks three year-old already. It just did not manifest because it was benign. Sigh. She might remove the entire jaw and replace it with metal plates. Or she might leave small portion, about 5mm and support it with plates removing six teeth including the gums and jaw. I will be left with a right 5mm jaw. No teeth. No gums. Might be permanently numb right lower lip and tongue. Speech might be slightly affected. I might need to find special ortho for a false teeth with false gums..It did not matter much any more. The tumour will be taken away and we will start another chapter. God will take care of the other things.
The surgery took six hours plus another five hours on the recovery room. I woke up in pain, I kept throwing up. I started praying the rosary in my mind and the pain started to go away until I fell asleep again. Then I woke up with a doctor beside me telling me all vital signs are stable and I can be transferred back to my room. After that, everything started to get better.
After four days of hospitalization, I was discharged from The Medical City. The entire procedure has cost 230,000 php with 12,000 php deduction for Philhealth. Thinking of the high taxes that I pay to the government, I kind of feel disappointed that that was the maximum amount that the government will help me cover. They take away 32% of my monthly salary for the people of the Philippines but now that I need help from the funds I contribute..which my company religiously remits on time, I was not even able to claim 10% assistance.Ahhh.. Napoles issue.
I was not yet entitled for our company insurance but God has always been so good he always provides for us. God has brought me to this, he will bring me through this. I have received 250,000 php as my last pay from my previous employer. A portion has been saved and was used for my operation. My husband*s parents also assisted. I was also surprised and overwhelmed by the support and concern of my family and relatives whom I haven*t spoken with for almost two years now. I have also received a lot of prayers and emotional support from friends, relatives and even from people that I do not know. It is during this difficult times that you realize what truly matters.
Five days post operation, my swelling face and neck has already started to return to normal size. My doctor was also able to preserve the nerve that is responsible for the senses on my right jaw and lip area. I can already speak (although not yet as clear) but sure, it will come back the way it was pretty soon. I can eat and chew slowly using my left side although it might take few more weeks before everything comes back to normal but I am happy and grateful. Goodbye amelo. It was not so nice meeting you but thank you for the life lessons. Everything will be back to normal again and I am so ready to start another chapter of my life.
The result of the biopsy turned to be acanthomatous ameloblastoma. I was referred to a specialist in The Medical City where we met for three times. I decided that I wanted the operation on 27th of August and so I had another CT Scan a week before the surgery. Doctor said the tumour looks three year-old already. It just did not manifest because it was benign. Sigh. She might remove the entire jaw and replace it with metal plates. Or she might leave small portion, about 5mm and support it with plates removing six teeth including the gums and jaw. I will be left with a right 5mm jaw. No teeth. No gums. Might be permanently numb right lower lip and tongue. Speech might be slightly affected. I might need to find special ortho for a false teeth with false gums..It did not matter much any more. The tumour will be taken away and we will start another chapter. God will take care of the other things.
The surgery took six hours plus another five hours on the recovery room. I woke up in pain, I kept throwing up. I started praying the rosary in my mind and the pain started to go away until I fell asleep again. Then I woke up with a doctor beside me telling me all vital signs are stable and I can be transferred back to my room. After that, everything started to get better.
After four days of hospitalization, I was discharged from The Medical City. The entire procedure has cost 230,000 php with 12,000 php deduction for Philhealth. Thinking of the high taxes that I pay to the government, I kind of feel disappointed that that was the maximum amount that the government will help me cover. They take away 32% of my monthly salary for the people of the Philippines but now that I need help from the funds I contribute..which my company religiously remits on time, I was not even able to claim 10% assistance.Ahhh.. Napoles issue.
I was not yet entitled for our company insurance but God has always been so good he always provides for us. God has brought me to this, he will bring me through this. I have received 250,000 php as my last pay from my previous employer. A portion has been saved and was used for my operation. My husband*s parents also assisted. I was also surprised and overwhelmed by the support and concern of my family and relatives whom I haven*t spoken with for almost two years now. I have also received a lot of prayers and emotional support from friends, relatives and even from people that I do not know. It is during this difficult times that you realize what truly matters.
Five days post operation, my swelling face and neck has already started to return to normal size. My doctor was also able to preserve the nerve that is responsible for the senses on my right jaw and lip area. I can already speak (although not yet as clear) but sure, it will come back the way it was pretty soon. I can eat and chew slowly using my left side although it might take few more weeks before everything comes back to normal but I am happy and grateful. Goodbye amelo. It was not so nice meeting you but thank you for the life lessons. Everything will be back to normal again and I am so ready to start another chapter of my life.
