D
Danny Oliver
Member
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2019
- Messages
- 20
- Location
- Elda
I guess my story is very similar to other people. As a child, I had a RCT and the anesthesia didn't work as well as it should, so I was in terrible pain during the procedure. It must have stuck, because I developed an acute fear of dentists. Luckily I never had bad teeth nor ate too many sweets, so I didn't get another cavity until I was 18. This one was very painful and I went to the dentist to have it fixed, after some coaxing from my parents. I was terrified, I had a panic attack in the clinic, and the staff was less than kind about it, so I got my antibiotics and left. I tried again in another clinic, but the same thing more or less happened, plus my stepfather mocked me for being afraid, so after a very bitter fight (my family and I have had a very difficult relationship) I told my family I would fix it without their help. It wouldn't have mattered, anyway, since both my mom and my stepfather got fired, it was the recession years, and we lost our home. It never got mentioned again.
For years after that I dealt with terrible pain, both because of my phobia and because I hardly could pay my own food. My father, who is mostly absent from my life after all the damage he's done, refused to help with any money, while he got implants for him and his wife. Meanwhile I got another cavity, and suffered in silence while they got bigger, more painful, more scary. I feared for my life, feeling I would die of an infection. For a long time I acted as though I would die young, because in my mind, I would. I guess I'm paranoid like that.
Then I met my future husband. After 5 years of relationship we're about ready to have a family and marry and those good things. I realized I could not do that and not fix my mouth. I could not have children while thinking I could be sick any moment. I could not get pregnant and risk an infection hurting my baby. I couldn't plan for the future, so that too was put off, but it bugged me. It was the seed for change. Two days ago I got the worst pain to date. It felt like it was spreading to my ears, and finally this morning, I could not take it anymore. I made the call. The nurse was super nice to me, she said not to worry, that they would walk me through everything and that she would not leave my side. I booked an appointment for this evening. After the call I cried, both from nerves and fear, and from relief.
I went, my fiance was with me all the time, and so was the nurse. The dentist was kind too, incredibly so, and seemed very competent, I am elated.
I need a couple back molars pulled and some minor cavities filled, mostly because they are small but they don't want them to get bigger. I told them I was concerned about the cost, as I hardly can make ends meet as things are right now, but they told me not to worry, the procedures I need done most urgently (the pullings) are affordable, and the rest of the work is not urgent so we can do it at a pace that takes my budget into consideration.
I am right now in pain but I feel better than I have felt in ages. I feel silly for feeling so proud of myself. On monday I'm having the first tooth pulled. I hope I can make it through.
For years after that I dealt with terrible pain, both because of my phobia and because I hardly could pay my own food. My father, who is mostly absent from my life after all the damage he's done, refused to help with any money, while he got implants for him and his wife. Meanwhile I got another cavity, and suffered in silence while they got bigger, more painful, more scary. I feared for my life, feeling I would die of an infection. For a long time I acted as though I would die young, because in my mind, I would. I guess I'm paranoid like that.
Then I met my future husband. After 5 years of relationship we're about ready to have a family and marry and those good things. I realized I could not do that and not fix my mouth. I could not have children while thinking I could be sick any moment. I could not get pregnant and risk an infection hurting my baby. I couldn't plan for the future, so that too was put off, but it bugged me. It was the seed for change. Two days ago I got the worst pain to date. It felt like it was spreading to my ears, and finally this morning, I could not take it anymore. I made the call. The nurse was super nice to me, she said not to worry, that they would walk me through everything and that she would not leave my side. I booked an appointment for this evening. After the call I cried, both from nerves and fear, and from relief.
I went, my fiance was with me all the time, and so was the nurse. The dentist was kind too, incredibly so, and seemed very competent, I am elated.
I need a couple back molars pulled and some minor cavities filled, mostly because they are small but they don't want them to get bigger. I told them I was concerned about the cost, as I hardly can make ends meet as things are right now, but they told me not to worry, the procedures I need done most urgently (the pullings) are affordable, and the rest of the work is not urgent so we can do it at a pace that takes my budget into consideration.
I am right now in pain but I feel better than I have felt in ages. I feel silly for feeling so proud of myself. On monday I'm having the first tooth pulled. I hope I can make it through.