I know many of you are probably thinking, "Root Canal, Shmoot Canal! What's the big deal?" I've talked to people who say, "Yeah, I've had four of them." Maybe everyone in America has had a root canal, and to them this is no big whoop-de-doo, but it's my first! So, I'm going to continue to bore you with my step-by-step-behind-the-scenes report.
I was told to take it easy today. I was able to sleep 11 hours last night! Haven't done that in FOREVER! Usually I'm happy to get 6-8 hours. With three kids at home to school there's not much taking it easy. We're still doing school. I'm still doing laundry. But, unlike most days, I'm escaping to blog in the afternoon.
Here's the Root Scoop: It went GREAT!
I visited the bathroom three times upon arriving to the endodontist's office. I was not going to have an "accident" in the chair.
The anesthesiologist arrived. Surprisingly, he wasn't 17! He might have even been a little older than me. He did have gray hair. He was almost an hour late because his previous patient was a 27 year old heroin addict with no visible veins. It took the doc a super long time to find a vein in this guy. One glance at my hand and he openly expressed great joy at my strong, all powerful veins. I'm so proud! Apparently, I informed him they were weight lifting veins. I'm a dork!
He soon told me the margaritas were coming. That's the last thing I remember.
The next thing I know they were saying, "Time to wake up."
"Huh, what."
I didn't even know where I was. It took me a second. How in the world Michael Jackson was able to function after doing whatever he did is beyond me. (Dr. Murray is in the news big time with the trial going on and I couldn't help but think of that situation when I was going in.)
The rest of my evening is a blur. It is kind of like having a dream and remembering bits and pieces, but not quite sure what really happened.
One thing I found interesting was my continued subconscious obsession with rootbeer milkshakes. About 14 years ago, I was put under during an IVF procedure. Apparently, as I was drifting off I told the doc, "If I make it through this, I'm going to have a rootbeer milkshake."
After that appointment, my hub told me what I said and we went to fulfill my last pre-op request.
Yesterday, I guess as I was drifting off I mentioned the rootbeer milkshake again. I haven't had one in 14 years. Weird. I would love to have one, but calorie concern has prevented it.
Hmmm...Guess what I think? I think Heaven has rootbeer milkshakes and I will have as many as I want for eternity. Until then, I will fantasize about them as I drift off, or perhaps I will have a fantastic date one evening at a malt shop and my sweetheart will surprise me with my dream treat. Hint, hint...
I'd like to send big thank you to the anesthesiologist and my wonderful family for taking such good care of me! I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU!!
Showing posts with label Dentists. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dentists. Show all posts
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
I'm a Dental Scaredy Cat- Let's Pray
Ecclesiastes 9:11
11 I have seen something else under the sun:
The race is not to the swift
or the battle to the strong,
nor does food come to the wise
or wealth to the brilliant
or favor to the learned;
but time and chance happen to them all.
If I were Solomon, I would have added, "nor does good dental health come to those who care for their teeth;"
I'm getting a root canal today. It's not just the regular run-of-the-mill root canal. It's the one where the endodontist has to call in the anesthesiologist and he has to put be to sleep because I'm a scaredy cat, or a pained cat, or a claustrophobic cat, or...
I know there are people who get root canals, surgeries, and anesthesia everyday, but I'm very nervous about this whole thing.
Yesterday, I went to my dentist for a crown prep. She's GREAT! She's done other work on my teeth and I've been thoroughly impressed. Because I have dental phobia I usually have to take something to relax me before an appointment. Then, if it's more than a cleaning, I've opted to have a little nitrous, as of late. Even with all the assistance in relaxation, when she began the procedure, but I could still feel some of the drilling and the cold air.
She stopped, leaned back and said, "I think you need a root canal." Those words stung. I've never had a root canal, nor did I ever plan to have one. I want things like a new computer or camera, not a root canal.
She instructed me to immediately go to the adjacent building where and endodontist was waiting for our arrival. So with my numb face, my sweetheart and I walked over.
I was beyond nervous to meet this next doctor, or endodontist, which probably made matters worse. She's not as friendly as my dentist. She was matter-of-fact bordering on abrupt. She explained the procedure and showed me the "rubber dam." I don't do rubber dams. She insisted on the rubber dam for safety. Pulling out the needle-like instrument she was planning to use, she said if she dropped it down my throat it would be hard to retrieve. I could choke. It would be bad. She basically freaked me out.
I gave consent for the rubber dam.
Sitting in the chair, clicking my upper and lower jaw together, I told her I could still feel my teeth a bit. She said she was concerned to give me any more Novocaine as it's harmful to my liver. Again, she freaked me out. I sensed liver failure in my near future. Nothing like freaking out a freak out.
Honesty, must be her policy.
She said, I may feel the drill, but I should endure. There might be temporary pain (if I were in a torture chamber). Yikes! But it had to be done. The root was dying.
Wearing headphones and listening to Dave Crowder Band playlist on Pandora I tried to drown out the sound of the drilling. Lord, please get me through this!
She started working on the root. I felt it. I raised my hand. I could feel the surge of adrenalin through my arms and legs. I asked them to remove the dam. I felt like I might suffocate. I'm a drama queen.
Halfway into a panic attack, I stopped them and said, "We need to pray."
The doctor and assistant nodded. I think they sensed the need to pray. I began praying for the procedure and that I'd have some sort of peace.
Then, I started crying. I'm a wimp! I'm a scaredy cat. I don't mind pain if I'm in the middle of a workout and my skin splits open on my hands from doing pull-ups. I didn't cry when I tore my calf muscle while trying to play soccer and had to be carried off the field. But, when someone is messing with my teeth...I can't bare it!
Gaining a bit of composure, they replaced the rubber dam and began again. I couple seconds into it I felt it again (I have to mention, just typing this account is causing my hands to sweat uncontrollably). I then placed each leg on the sides of the chair, instructed them to take off the rubber dam, and gave them the "I'm out of here" sign!
So, all that leads us to today. The tooth has had a partial root canal. It hurts pretty bad, as does my jaw. They're calling in an anesthesiologist to put me to sleep (hate that phrase, as it refers to what just happened to my poor Lukey, but I don't know what else to call it).
The anesthesiologist called me last night. He sounded like he was a cool, hip, be-bopping 17-year old. It'll be interesting to meet him today. He instructed me no food after 7:30am. Water, black coffee, or apple juice until noon. Then nothing other than a sip. He said he'd run an IV. After setting it it'd be nighty night. Actually he compared it to margaritas and said I'd be relaxed. He commented the next thing I'll know they'll be waking me up. I hope it goes so smoothly.
He did give me one more thing to be paranoid about...peeing my pants! Oh Great! Why'd he have to mention that?
11 I have seen something else under the sun:
The race is not to the swift
or the battle to the strong,
nor does food come to the wise
or wealth to the brilliant
or favor to the learned;
but time and chance happen to them all.
If I were Solomon, I would have added, "nor does good dental health come to those who care for their teeth;"
I'm getting a root canal today. It's not just the regular run-of-the-mill root canal. It's the one where the endodontist has to call in the anesthesiologist and he has to put be to sleep because I'm a scaredy cat, or a pained cat, or a claustrophobic cat, or...
I know there are people who get root canals, surgeries, and anesthesia everyday, but I'm very nervous about this whole thing.
Yesterday, I went to my dentist for a crown prep. She's GREAT! She's done other work on my teeth and I've been thoroughly impressed. Because I have dental phobia I usually have to take something to relax me before an appointment. Then, if it's more than a cleaning, I've opted to have a little nitrous, as of late. Even with all the assistance in relaxation, when she began the procedure, but I could still feel some of the drilling and the cold air.
She stopped, leaned back and said, "I think you need a root canal." Those words stung. I've never had a root canal, nor did I ever plan to have one. I want things like a new computer or camera, not a root canal.
She instructed me to immediately go to the adjacent building where and endodontist was waiting for our arrival. So with my numb face, my sweetheart and I walked over.
I was beyond nervous to meet this next doctor, or endodontist, which probably made matters worse. She's not as friendly as my dentist. She was matter-of-fact bordering on abrupt. She explained the procedure and showed me the "rubber dam." I don't do rubber dams. She insisted on the rubber dam for safety. Pulling out the needle-like instrument she was planning to use, she said if she dropped it down my throat it would be hard to retrieve. I could choke. It would be bad. She basically freaked me out.
I gave consent for the rubber dam.
Sitting in the chair, clicking my upper and lower jaw together, I told her I could still feel my teeth a bit. She said she was concerned to give me any more Novocaine as it's harmful to my liver. Again, she freaked me out. I sensed liver failure in my near future. Nothing like freaking out a freak out.
Honesty, must be her policy.
She said, I may feel the drill, but I should endure. There might be temporary pain (if I were in a torture chamber). Yikes! But it had to be done. The root was dying.
Wearing headphones and listening to Dave Crowder Band playlist on Pandora I tried to drown out the sound of the drilling. Lord, please get me through this!
She started working on the root. I felt it. I raised my hand. I could feel the surge of adrenalin through my arms and legs. I asked them to remove the dam. I felt like I might suffocate. I'm a drama queen.
Halfway into a panic attack, I stopped them and said, "We need to pray."
The doctor and assistant nodded. I think they sensed the need to pray. I began praying for the procedure and that I'd have some sort of peace.
Then, I started crying. I'm a wimp! I'm a scaredy cat. I don't mind pain if I'm in the middle of a workout and my skin splits open on my hands from doing pull-ups. I didn't cry when I tore my calf muscle while trying to play soccer and had to be carried off the field. But, when someone is messing with my teeth...I can't bare it!
Gaining a bit of composure, they replaced the rubber dam and began again. I couple seconds into it I felt it again (I have to mention, just typing this account is causing my hands to sweat uncontrollably). I then placed each leg on the sides of the chair, instructed them to take off the rubber dam, and gave them the "I'm out of here" sign!
So, all that leads us to today. The tooth has had a partial root canal. It hurts pretty bad, as does my jaw. They're calling in an anesthesiologist to put me to sleep (hate that phrase, as it refers to what just happened to my poor Lukey, but I don't know what else to call it).
The anesthesiologist called me last night. He sounded like he was a cool, hip, be-bopping 17-year old. It'll be interesting to meet him today. He instructed me no food after 7:30am. Water, black coffee, or apple juice until noon. Then nothing other than a sip. He said he'd run an IV. After setting it it'd be nighty night. Actually he compared it to margaritas and said I'd be relaxed. He commented the next thing I'll know they'll be waking me up. I hope it goes so smoothly.
He did give me one more thing to be paranoid about...peeing my pants! Oh Great! Why'd he have to mention that?
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Dental Dream Paste for Sensitive Teeth
I'm the worst dental patient on the planet...maybe. I LOVE having clean, healthy teeth, but I have extreme dental anxiety and very sensitive teeth.
The anxiety can probably be traced back the days when dentists didn't pamper and coddle their young patients. I can remember riding in the car with my mom not knowing where we were going. We'd drive down the freeway toward downtown. She'd begin singing, "Henry the 8th," by Herman's Hermits and I knew where we were headed. I'd begin crying trying to sing-a-long knowing we were on our way to the dreaded dentist. Dang! I still remember that so vividly.
These days kids are given the royal treatment at the dentist. I love that for our kids! When they first started going to the dentist, I'd have to hold back the tears while watching them hoping they'd have a better experience than I had. We've been blessed by extraordinary dentists. They've been so kind and loving. Our kids actually try to give me hints so I'll schedule check-ups for them, they're so excited to go.
Me, on the other hand, not so much. Today I just had a cleaning. I don't get as anxious for cleanings, but the oversensitivity my teeth have makes even routine visits potentially painful. Until today, that is. Apparently, sensitivity is a big problem for dental patients. The hygienist asked if I'd like a newer product that helps with the sensitivity for a mere $5. Of course I would! She began polishing my teeth with Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief Desensitizing Paste. It has INSTANT sensitivity relief!! This product is well worth the $5!
So, if you have sensitive teeth and have an upcoming visit, ask your hygienist or dentist for this product. I was told it's only available at the dentist office. Good news is, the sensitivity relief lasts for a couple weeks. Wow!
The anxiety can probably be traced back the days when dentists didn't pamper and coddle their young patients. I can remember riding in the car with my mom not knowing where we were going. We'd drive down the freeway toward downtown. She'd begin singing, "Henry the 8th," by Herman's Hermits and I knew where we were headed. I'd begin crying trying to sing-a-long knowing we were on our way to the dreaded dentist. Dang! I still remember that so vividly.
These days kids are given the royal treatment at the dentist. I love that for our kids! When they first started going to the dentist, I'd have to hold back the tears while watching them hoping they'd have a better experience than I had. We've been blessed by extraordinary dentists. They've been so kind and loving. Our kids actually try to give me hints so I'll schedule check-ups for them, they're so excited to go.
Me, on the other hand, not so much. Today I just had a cleaning. I don't get as anxious for cleanings, but the oversensitivity my teeth have makes even routine visits potentially painful. Until today, that is. Apparently, sensitivity is a big problem for dental patients. The hygienist asked if I'd like a newer product that helps with the sensitivity for a mere $5. Of course I would! She began polishing my teeth with Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief Desensitizing Paste. It has INSTANT sensitivity relief!! This product is well worth the $5!
So, if you have sensitive teeth and have an upcoming visit, ask your hygienist or dentist for this product. I was told it's only available at the dentist office. Good news is, the sensitivity relief lasts for a couple weeks. Wow!
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