Telling My Mom

[CollegeBound]

So.........
I went to school and actually did concentrate a little bit. Learned new stuff.

Got to the office and immediately felt my heart race, so I turned on my music and prayed to whatever Deity is up there. A different hygienist called me back than the one that I saw for my cleaning.

She put the bib on me and told me what was going to happen, and then we made small talk that turned into a full blown conversation about the determination of kids with special needs. We talked about that for 10 minutes alone. I really liked her and trusted her after that.

Doctor came in, leaned me back, and placed the topical gel stuff on my gums and rubbed it around some. The hygienist must have seen the terror in my eyes, because she grabbed my hand. What she didn't expect was that this 4'7" girl has a death grip. She didn't move or anything and just let me squeeze the day lights out of her hand. I closed my eyes tightly right before he got the shot to my mouth so that I wouldn't have to see it. I felt the needle go in, but it didn't hurt. I noticed that he had to move it around a little bit. He warned me that he had to give me another one, but said this one wouldn't be as bad. Back to death grip mode. Turned my music really loud.

After, he sat me up and excused himself for a few minutes to let me numb up. I just sat there and poked my cheek and pinched my lip. The hygienist laughed a little bit and said that I shouldn't do it a whole lot or it will hurt when the numbing wears off.

A few minutes later, the doctor comes back in and leans me back again. He tells me what will happen next with the water and the air and the handpiece whistling, and says that if I need a breather, to just raise my hand. I told him that my music was going to be really loud so that I don't hear anything but Apple Bottom Jeans and Kesha. As he began, I was kind of surprised at how painless and awesome it actually felt. Death grip is gone at this point, and has moved to the Ipod. I look up and realize that he is trying to tell me something, so I take out an earbud so he can tell me. All he needed to was for me to turn toward him. I left one earbud out after that.

In the end, he said I did really well, and left the room. The hygienist and I made a little more small talk, and I apologized for the death grip I had on her hand. She complimented my grip. Said it was strong. Didn't mention that I may have broken it (lol). She was awesome!

Next appointment is the 22nd, aka Monday. Not as nervous, but still will probably be on Sunday night.

 

[FearfulInMA]

What is your appointment for on Monday? Glad someone is up before me so that I can try to focus on someone else's anxiety instead of my own!

 

[CollegeBound]

I have to get 3 more fillings. At least I have something to look forward to afterward! We are celebrating my birthday that night. Just hope that I won't be too sore. I was a little bit sore last night. Probably from the shots.

 

[CollegeBound]

When is yours again Fearful?

 

[FearfulInMA]

Just a cleaning, but I'm having some pain in a tooth that's already crowned which is never a good sign. I'm also having a lot sensitivity in one of my front teeth. Plus, last time I was there the dentist noticed a couple of areas of concern that he was just going to 'watch'. I did do much damage with all of my years of a avoidance that, even after 6+ years of regular dental care and brushing (even have special prescription toothpaste)/flossing meticulously, I continue to have problems.

All that and I'm feeling particularly embarrassed about having made such a stink about wanting to reschedule my cleaning appointment for after the dentist came back from a medical leave. Evidently his first day back will be the day of my appointment... So my sure how that will be.

The nightmares started last night. In the nightmare, I was seeing some strange dentist and had to get 2 teeth extracted.

I just really need this to be over.

 

[FearfulInMA]

Birthdays are fun! And, even if the injection sites are sore, ice cream can only help, right?

 

[CollegeBound]

Fearful, don't feel bad about rescheduling. Now that I know the importance of seeing the dentist that you trust and have trusted for a period of time, I realize why you did it. If anything, he should be flattered that someone likes him that much to wait until his return.

As for the road ahead... If he knows you, and has for a while, he should know that you are scared. If you feel like he has forgotten, just remind him. Ask lots of questions, if that is how you roll. I like to be informed. Or don't, and ask to know the bare minimum. Either way, make sure that you two are on the same page.

I always bring my Ipod to drown out the noises. It distracts me from what is going on. I don't want to know what they are saying unless they are talking directly to me.

What day is your appointment?

 

[FearfulInMA]

Thanks . My appointment is 9/29. It ended up not being rescheduled because he is coming back from leave sooner than expected. Good for him, but not-so-good for me . I was hoping for a few more weeks before I had to deal with this.

I'm a bit of a control freak so I need to hear everything going on around me. The room where the hygienist works is VERY small and the head of the chair is towards to door, so I feel like I need to know that nobody is going to be able sneak up behind me . I've seen this hygienist a number of times and I like her.

Trust me, I don't need to remind anyone there what an anxious wreck I am... Lol! I don't 'act' anxious (I don't think), but I have told them so many times that I'm sure there's some big red mark on my chart. Because I've had so much dental work done, there's no chance the dentist would forget -- he also knows that I'm soooo much better than I used to be. And, he also knows not to tell me too much -- because despite my need for control, I don't really want to know the details. I still don't know exactly how many fillings I had when I first started getting this all taken care of.

Now I just need to deal with 10 more days of nightmares, anxiety, and stomach issues -- the only silver lining is that I usually lose about 5lbs in the couple of weeks leading up to appointments.

I will be sending you good thoughts for Monday, but you're a pro now!

 

[CollegeBound]

I wouldn't call myself a pro by any means. Still nervous about Monday, but at least I know what to expect. I hope that they same hygienist is with me. At least she knows a little about me. I emailed the dentist prior to my first appointment and told him about me and my crazy, so he knew what he was getting into.

Try watching comedies on Netflix. I recommend Scrubs, because it is hysterical!

 

[FearfulInMA]

I've been watching Weeds on Netflix when I have 'free' time -- though I don't have much of that these days.

I think I need to start my own thread so I don't keep detailing yours... Just need to think of a catchy title.

 

[CollegeBound]

You can detail mine whenever you want, no worries!

Anyone here from Mugz?

 

[Spike 1969]

Nothing yet from Mugz, I think she has a few things to deal with so I expected her to be preoccupied for a little while. I'm sure Mugz will be back soon.

kind Regards

 

[CollegeBound]

You are probably asking why you are seeing a post from me at 5:30 am. This is because tooth # 19 hurts so badly that I cannot sleep. And because I am having trouble breathing through my nose because it keeps stuffing up and draining. Now in constant, yes constant pain until 2pm on Monday. Can this really get any worse?

 

[FearfulInMA]

Oh no!!! Is this a tooth that is supposed to have a filling on Monday? Most dental offices have an emergency number. I know it's Sunday, but I bet if you call there is a voicemail with instructions of who to call in an emergency. Either that are call first thing tomorrow morning.

In the meantime, I usually take Tylenol and ibuprofen together for tooth pain (I can't take opiates -- so this is always my go-to for bad pain). Talk to a pharmacist or your PCO before you do this. Your other option is to call your PCP office who will definitely have someone on call and see if they can prescribe you something for the pain to get you through until tomorrow.

Other options are topical numbing gel (ambisol, etc.) or clove oil that you can but over the counter at any pharmacy.

So sorry you are dealing with this -- there is NOTHING worse than tooth pain! Hang in there and let us know if there's anything we can do to support you!

 

[FearfulInMA]

Just stopping in to say good luck today!

 

[Spike 1969]

Yes Good Luck CollegeBound, I'm sure it will be all fine

 

[Mugz]

Ditto! Sending calming, healing thoughts your way....with a dose of fun music thrown in for good measure!! You can do it!! Think cake and ice cream, cake and ice cream....

 

[FearfulInMA]

Hoping things went well for you today.

 

[zombiegroupie]

how are you?

 

[CollegeBound]

Thank you all for checking up on me <3

Drum roll........................


I AM FINISHED UNTIL MARCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I walked in only a little bit nervous this time. The hygienist lead me back to the chair before I could sit down. She was the same awesome one as last time. Dentist came in and began almost immediately, asking about my pain after last time and making sure I was ok for this time.

Topical, wait. Shot time: Hygienist let me squeeze her hand again as I screwed my eyes shut. I didn't break her hand this time! Or even come close! The shots stung a little worse this time, but nothing that I cried about.

I of course had my music loud for the handpiece part. But, instead of me having my eyes shut the whole time, after the handpiece I would peek every once in a while, and then shut my eyes again when I saw all the instruments still in my mouth. I was so relaxed that I tapped along to the beat of my music! How crazy is that?

Whole thing took 45 minutes this time. The dentist said that I did well this time, and he noticed that I wasn't as scared. I also noticed that I didn't have knots in my stomach this morning, but I still stayed up until 3:30 this morning.

At the end of the appointment, they gave me the "see you on spring break!" Best. News. EVER!

Got home, ate my birthday dinner after I was done being numb, opened presents, at cake AND ICE CREAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Overall great day..

Oh, best part? There was a cute boy sitting next to me in our Psychology Club meeting today He even offered to pick me up and bring me home from our club trip on Saturday .... And I can smile without feeling self conscious!