I can hardly believe that I'm not in constant pain today. In fact, I haven't been in any pain since about 9:00 last night. I have a testimony of root canals!
So anyway, it actually wasn't too traumatic of a procedure, until the end. I decided to go for the laughing gas, which I have never done before (just makes you relax--and I definitely don't naturally relax in those situations). They also have a tv on the ceiling and wireless headphones--Monsters vs. Aliens was a great distraction. I must have looked pretty awesome with this gas thing hooked over my nose, this blue thing covering my mouth, and huge headphones, as the marks on my face afterwards attest.
I won't tell you why the end was traumatic for me, just in case you have to have one in the nearby future. But he told me that most people don't feel that particular part, but because my tooth was especially swollen I could feel it. He honestly had to wipe tears away it hurt so bad. BUT . . . it was totally worth the 3 minutes of pain, because I am pain-free today.
Thank you Dr. Matthews (courtesy of Cougar Dental). You are my new favorite person.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Overcoming my fears
(Warning, this post sounds like a sob story and reads like a travelogue.)
Some time ago I realized that my number one greatest fear is going to the dentist. Honestly and truly, there is nothing I dread quite as much. Hours before I go, my heart starts racing, my palms get sweaty, my breathing becomes shallow. And that usually lasts until an hour or two after I'm done. Especially when I have to get cavities filled.
Well, I'm going to the dentist today, and you cannot believe how much I want to be there . . . now!!!
You see, a week ago Saturday (on October 17) I went to sleep with a headache (I'm pretty much a big whiner when I get headaches because I rarely get them). I expected it to go away by morning, but it was still there through most of Sunday. It came and went through Monday, and on Tuesday it was joined by a mild toothache. I didn't think too much of it, because my teeth are hyper-sensitive as it is. But the headache and the toothache both continued, and worsened, through Friday.
I finally concluded that the headache must be a result of the toothache, so I called the dentist on Friday. Unfortunately the receptionist said they couldn't see me until Tuesday. I thought I would survive that long. Well, on Friday night and Saturday day, I thought I was going to die! The pain came in waves, each one bigger than the last. When they hit, I couldn't function. I would curl up and hold my head and sob. I had been taking a little bit of pain medication on Friday, but finally Saturday afternoon I resorted to prescription doses of IB Profen. It seemed to help somewhat, but after another bad wave hit Saturday evening, Royce said, "That's it, I'm taking you to the hospital." I cried and said I wouldn't go, that he couldn't make me.
Well, he was frustrated because I'm being a cry-baby but I won't do anything about it. I told him that if it was that bad on Sunday he could take me to the hospital. He said, "Whatever, you'll just fight the tears or walk out of the room or something so you don't have to go." He knows me so well!
Luckily, the pain was better on Sunday, and mostly on Monday too (consistent doses of prescription-strength IB Profen are amazing!). But today the headache is intense, and I cannot wait to see my dentist so he can tell me what the heck is going on. If anything good comes of this week of pain, it may be that it is the beginning of the end of my greatest fear.
I will overcome! (And I'll keep you posted--I'll probably have to have a root canal or some other lovely procedure. Yay.)
Update
Root canal it is. Think of me today at 3:15.
Some time ago I realized that my number one greatest fear is going to the dentist. Honestly and truly, there is nothing I dread quite as much. Hours before I go, my heart starts racing, my palms get sweaty, my breathing becomes shallow. And that usually lasts until an hour or two after I'm done. Especially when I have to get cavities filled.
Well, I'm going to the dentist today, and you cannot believe how much I want to be there . . . now!!!
You see, a week ago Saturday (on October 17) I went to sleep with a headache (I'm pretty much a big whiner when I get headaches because I rarely get them). I expected it to go away by morning, but it was still there through most of Sunday. It came and went through Monday, and on Tuesday it was joined by a mild toothache. I didn't think too much of it, because my teeth are hyper-sensitive as it is. But the headache and the toothache both continued, and worsened, through Friday.
I finally concluded that the headache must be a result of the toothache, so I called the dentist on Friday. Unfortunately the receptionist said they couldn't see me until Tuesday. I thought I would survive that long. Well, on Friday night and Saturday day, I thought I was going to die! The pain came in waves, each one bigger than the last. When they hit, I couldn't function. I would curl up and hold my head and sob. I had been taking a little bit of pain medication on Friday, but finally Saturday afternoon I resorted to prescription doses of IB Profen. It seemed to help somewhat, but after another bad wave hit Saturday evening, Royce said, "That's it, I'm taking you to the hospital." I cried and said I wouldn't go, that he couldn't make me.
Well, he was frustrated because I'm being a cry-baby but I won't do anything about it. I told him that if it was that bad on Sunday he could take me to the hospital. He said, "Whatever, you'll just fight the tears or walk out of the room or something so you don't have to go." He knows me so well!
Luckily, the pain was better on Sunday, and mostly on Monday too (consistent doses of prescription-strength IB Profen are amazing!). But today the headache is intense, and I cannot wait to see my dentist so he can tell me what the heck is going on. If anything good comes of this week of pain, it may be that it is the beginning of the end of my greatest fear.
I will overcome! (And I'll keep you posted--I'll probably have to have a root canal or some other lovely procedure. Yay.)
Update
Root canal it is. Think of me today at 3:15.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Grown up?
Sorry that I've been absent from this blog for so long. You might conclude that due to the lack of posts our lives have been rather uneventful. But, my friends, if you came to that conclusion you would be oh so wrong. Our lives have been a little too eventful as of late, and I've been so preoccupied with planning and worrying and resting that I just haven't been able to get myself to blog. But here's a little update with hopefully more to come later (like pictures).
1. My parents returned from their mission in the Czech Republic this past Sunday. I cannot tell you how good it is to have them home. Bring on the Sunday dinners!
2. We just closed on a house yesterday. Yes, it's true, we are officially grown up. It's all so exciting and slightly terrifying. We're very excited though. We may even invite you to our Halloween Housewarming (that is, if we get our act together and actually host it).
So that's a little of what's been going on in our lives. Hopefully you'll hear more from me soon--like in two or three weeks instead of two or three months.
1. My parents returned from their mission in the Czech Republic this past Sunday. I cannot tell you how good it is to have them home. Bring on the Sunday dinners!
2. We just closed on a house yesterday. Yes, it's true, we are officially grown up. It's all so exciting and slightly terrifying. We're very excited though. We may even invite you to our Halloween Housewarming (that is, if we get our act together and actually host it).
So that's a little of what's been going on in our lives. Hopefully you'll hear more from me soon--like in two or three weeks instead of two or three months.
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