Lost Tooth, Gained Wisdom

Well, what a week!

The ear infection that was ... wasn't.  The pain was eventually diagnosed as a nasty, TWISTED and manky wisdom tooth.

So these past few days have been a real learning curve for me in very many ways.  Wanna know what I've learnt?  Some of it I already knew, but some has been reinforced.

*  I have the best husband, son and mum in the world.  Nuff said.

*  I can do anything if I put my mind to it.  Years ago I was told by a dentist that the only way I'd be able to have wisdom teeth removed would be under general anaesthetic.  Not true.  The wonderful young man I saw at North End Road NHS Surgery was the most efficient, chairside-friendly dentist I have ever met in my life.  From start to finish, the way he dealt with me was 5* and I shall be leaving a review on any sites that I can when I get his full name (for now he is just simply 'Mr Wonderful').  Thankfully I just need to return for a scale and polish and to collect my dreaded 'night shield' to protect my gums but 'hats off' to this fantastic practice and I'll always return for future treatments.

*  My coping mechanism is to go into 'shutdown'.  Possibly annoying for those around but it works for me!  I did the same in labour - no swearing or cursing from me, just TOTAL silence and a glazed stare.  Hubbie told me that 'Mr Wonderful' looked me directly in the eye at one point during my dental treatment and said very calmly, 'Connect with me.  Focus on me.'  I don't remember, but it must have worked - five minutes later he had a massive tooth in his hands.

*  I now know why babies pull their ears when teething.  Good grief, what a confusing and travelling pain.  Mums, listen to me, it's true! 

*  I should not surf the web prior to any medical procedure.  So far I have 'died from an infected abscess, had a dry socket which has left me in agony for weeks, bled to death in my bed and also needed to be stitched up due to clots and anaemia'  Will I learn?  No! 

*  I escalate from mini-setback to major drama in under 30 seconds.  Being faced with 'The Amityville Horror' in the bathroom this morning instantly (in my mind) saw me in hospital and on life support (yes, I really work that quickly!)  Lovely hubbie, after saying, 'Shit!  That's a lot of blood!' then calmly dealt with me, and then the fantastic staff at the surgery put my mind at rest.  Why do I do that to myself?

*  I am a pitifully, stupid addict.  I know it's not advisable to smoke after an extraction and I managed to last for six hours without having a cigarette but that was as far as it went.  I have cut  RIGHT DOWN and I rinse with salt water or mouthwash after each one but I am a pathetic specimen.  SO pathetic, I may now be addicted to salt water and mouthwash!  If I get 'dry socket' I deserve no sympathy - you heard it here first.

*  The support from close friends, Twitterers and readers has been phenomenal.  From people I've known for years to people I've met a few times and those I plan to meet in the future, I've felt very loved and cared for by texts, emails and Twitter DM's.  One lady in particular, who also saw me through my last bout of sciatica, deserves a special mention.  Drum roll, please ... Ms Mireille Eustace!  If you're in or around Glasgow, go and see this lovely complimentary therapist at Napiers - I can guarantee you won't regret it.  Mireille has been there for me through this whole ordeal and advised me and calmed me down.  Her next visit to London is one I am REALLY looking forward to and my door, dining table and bed are waiting for her.  (Oooh, that sounded wrong but I just mean she's always welcome to shake a feather boa with me.)

* Dealing with something is far better than worrying about it.  What a total waste of energy.  My husband is the King of this philosophy and the more I live with him, the more I see that he's right.  Being married to me means he has a lot to put up with (!) and I love him more with each passing day for his sense of calm and logic.  I bagged a good one there!

* If your house is a tip and you've got friends with teens coming to stay, it doesn't matter.  A hearty meal, a lovely table, some daft games and a singalong will be all we need - time/distance (and a messy house!) mean nothing to some friendships.

*  Life without pain is wonderful!

So that was my week - hope you all had a good one and hoping mine continues to improve.

    

Ranting! Tread carefully ... (and see update at the bottom)

A short and not so sweet blog this week.

I have the hump.

I've now been in pain for ten days with a misdiagnosed ear-infection.  It went a week untreated, thanks to the STUPID nurse I saw.  The antibiotic/steroid drops I've since been given by the local minor injuries clinic do not appear to be working and I'm now grinding my teeth in pain throughout the night.

So … I now have toothache.  But what came first, the chicken or the egg?  The earache or the toothache?  Do you know what?  I'm now so spaced out on drugs, I have no idea.  Waking up at six am every morning with raging pain which goes from head to ear to mouth to jaw to neck tends to leave you slightly confused - and a little cranky.

Bu not half as cranky as you find yourself after spending the best part of a day looking for a good, reliable NHS dentist in your area.  Forget it!  Just forget it.  I'm destined to die in pain from a burst abscess or the likes - see I told you overdosing on painkillers and lack of sleep leave you confused.

Well why not just go private, I hear you say?  Yes, in the ‘good old days’ I would have done.  Those were the days when hubbie was working and we could afford such frivolities as dental hygiene.   Third world country?  The UK?

But now, every penny from every book goes to keeping our roof over our heads.  No holidays, no luxuries, no designer handbags.  And, at this rate, no bloody teeth!

I’m cross.  Yes, this is a RANTY blog.  I am STILL, four hours later, waiting for my PRIVATE dentist to call me back and see if I now qualify as an NHS patient.  It’s now 7.15pm - I don’t hold out much hope.

How sad that I find myself thinking that if we have a little lottery win, I could use it to sort out a possible toothache. Still no cruises or holidays (difficult without a passport) or posh handbags (charity shops have some corkers) - just piece of mind and a pain free night.

End of rant.  As you were.  And a word of advice - never mess with a woman with ear/toothache.

UPDATE -  4th April.  Roehampton Dental Care did not reply.  It took  FOUR chasing calls (FROM ME!) to be told that they 'cannot take any more NHS patients as they have reached their quota'.  WHY could their receptionist not have told me that in the first place??!!  I've worked in a dentist - it doesn't take too much working out!

In the meantime, I am in  incredible pain, possibly with an abscess or infection and nowhere for me to be seen as I don't have the funds.  We are now becoming more like The States.  The soonest appointment I can get is for Tuesday (in a crappy surgery) or the end of April (if I survive).

Not happy and still no further towards a resolve as we approach the weekend .