I need encouragement, love and prayers…

[Lyne]

Well... exhausted but back from meeting the oral surgeon... I LIKE him, feel safe there.... got it set up for late Sept. (harder to get booked, because for ME he's going to bring in a separate ("hospital grade") anesthesiologist! I like the whole staff, both my 'kids' were in with me, I ended up laughing a lot.... it's still the biggest thing I've ever faced... apparently I have DENSE BONES... ie: good bones.... (ha! knew there was one thing left in my old body and that is strong bones, even with my diet!! woo hoo!) BUT the teeth will be harder to pull out... BUT he does agree that IN MY CASE this is the best choice... He also could recommend a kind dentist for the dentures that has private rooms! I probably will just heal up all winter and start the denture process in Spring.... but the way/food I eat I can... and for me, one major hurdle.. .well THE major hurdle is this one... It will probably take 3-4 hours... since he will smooth the jaw bone where each tooth is removed, so "it will heal well over it, and make a good 'bed' for the dentures".... so 32 teeth x's pulling tooth, "sanding down" and stitching it, is labor intensive! and will be 'ouchy'... a LOT... but hoping my meds I take anyway will take the edge off the initial 3-4 days.... I've already paid half up front (no insurance) and can pay the balance on the day of... oh and the anesthesiologist will call me a week before and talk about what to do, how to take my current meds 'around' my surgery time... (1 pm)

BUT at least I can relax more for ALL of August! AND I understand there is a big cat in the store!! eeeek! *runs off to look*. !

 

[Pendraia]

Pleased to hear this Lyne...

 

[JOdel]

I think my dad was somewhere in his 50s when he had his last 8 teeth out and went to dentures. He lived to 82.
Mind you, this was over 50 years ago and there wasn't the same push to save every tooth that can be saved. In those days half the people over 40 had a bridge. The modern determination to save teeth is certainly laudable. And replacing the ones that wear out with crowns may be better in the long run than pulling them all and going to dentures. But it isn't the only option, and I think the dentist you saw was too damned young to have any hope of looking past whatever the current "best practices" dictate. (These kids today...)

 

[Terre]

Lynn, that's great news. I'm very happy to hear that you found the right person to work with.
JOdel that sounds right to me. That attitude isn't just age related though. The dentist I've been going to (recently retired) and his young replacement both don't want to pull old fillings that are still in good shape because it damages the tooth more but the middle aged (and REALLY expensive) one in town believes that all of the old amalgam fillings MUST be pulled and replaced regardless of their condition.

 

[Hornet3d]

So glad you have found someone that you like and feel safe with, that is more than half the battle. I was lucky to find such a person years ago, I felt comfortable from day one and nothing has ever happened to change my first impressions.

I had a similar experience a few years ago when my wife and I adopted a dog. First vet we went to I was not comfortable with so we went looking for another vet, before there were any problems, and found one where every one was welcoming. The dog recently dislocated a toe, which has been a real battle, but the vet has been first class. Very different to a dentist I know but the principle is the same, if you feel comfortable with a specialist and in a safe place you are well down the road of getting matters sorted.

Wish you all the best.

 

[Miss B]

So glad to hear you like the dentist Lyne, and glad to hear you're happy with what he's recommending.

... apparently I have DENSE BONES... ie: good bones....

This is the main reason my dentist said I could do the implants if it becomes necessary . . . my jaw bone is still very strong. I've always had good bone structure. My Nephrologist took me off Caltrate when I developed a calcium based kidney stone back in 2009 because, as she stated, "you obviously don't need it, you have good bones".

 

[Lyne]

Thanks.... (once again! grin!)... for me, with my diet, I HAVE to have them out...and because "I am me", I don't want implants - just too hard on me when I go to any medical person for anything... am "FM sick today" as well as exhausted from the high anxiety... so just resting. (I pretty much have a permanent PTSD 'built in' from ALL the awful things that went on during my childhood, well into adult 'hood'... ) no one knew what I had in those days, all of it had not been discovered! :/

At least I have: 1. a SURGEON who will take care of me and 2. he gave me a dentist he is sure I will like for getting dentures in a few months, when I'm ready. I'll still be freakin anxious to go in for the oral surgery, BUT I have my kids, all your prayers, lots of support that I'll continue to 'soak up'... I'm SO GLAD I spoke up here and asked!!

 

[Rae134]

I'm so glad we are all love-bugs here at the Hive

sending love and support

 

[Terre]

I glad you spoke up as well, mam. Happy to help in any way I can.

 

[Rokket]

I can't believe I haven't seen this thread. Lyne, I am sending hugs and prayers your way. I have the same fear of dentists that you do, and confronting a stubborn one with no bedside manner only makes things worse. I am happy you found a good dentist.

I lived in San Diego for 12 years, but I was in the Navy. I didn't have a choice when it came to dental or medical needs. But you are right, there are a lot of them around there.

 

[Alisa]

Sounds good, Lyne.

Here's some advice - write down any concerns you have about the anesthsia, and discuss them with the anesthesiologist - they usually have it set up to talk to you. They stay with you the WHOLE time, JUST watching you to be sure all is running smoothly. I remember talking to them before a few of my surgeries, and they were wonderfully reassuring!!

HUGS!!

 

[Kyralae]

Lyne, My hugs and love to you. That is a big step to take. I know as I just had the remaining lower teeth removed and implants put in. It's a slow heal process but I know you can do it. Good thing you have your son and his wife to be your support. For me it is my brother and his wife - that is a relief just to know someone is watching over you. Alisa is right, put a pad where you can get to it and any time you think of a question - write it down. It will be a lot easier to talk to surgeon, anesthetist, dentist if you have your thoughts down and organizes - helps with anxiety too as you have some control over the situation.

Hang in there, you have a whole community pulling for you.

 

[Lyne]

Sounds good, Lyne.

Here's some advice - write down any concerns you have about the anesthsia, and discuss them with the anesthesiologist - they usually have it set up to talk to you. They stay with you the WHOLE time, JUST watching you to be sure all is running smoothly. I remember talking to them before a few of my surgeries, and they were wonderfully reassuring!!

HUGS!!

Thanks, Alisa..... I do trust my oral surgeon (he's that, NOT just a dentist) and HE is "bringing in a full fledged hospital type anesthesiologist for me... and that person will call me a week ahead to talk to me, ask questions, answer mine etc... BUT my surgeon is ALSO a fully trained anesthesiologist....so HE could also right then, answer my questions... I also feel so comfortable with the staff, I know I can call them and either get an answer or they will relay the question... (I was even thinking of sharing my website with them so they'd know the 'whole' me....not just my teeth! LOL!)

I'm also picking up the phone and talking to friends and family.... it's such a bad time to be without a therapist.... the one I had (counseling by phone) and I had to part ways because the 'powers that be' are auditing and ENFORCING the "you can't practice outside your own state"!!?? Sheesh! I have a HUGE list/website to try and weed through, to even interview to find a new one...and I hate to do that 'under the gun'.... it's such a personal relationship, I have to be .... well calm... to be able to do that... and I'm STILL trying to help myself come to terms with the reality of my teeth.... AT least I have 1 1/2 months to do that... my teeth don't hurt (yet)... all of my bad cavities are JUST ON THE VERGE of reaching the root... (which was such a shock to begin with!)

 

[Lyne]

Lyne, My hugs and love to you. That is a big step to take. I know as I just had the remaining lower teeth removed and implants put in. It's a slow heal process but I know you can do it. Good thing you have your son and his wife to be your support. For me it is my brother and his wife - that is a relief just to know someone is watching over you. Alisa is right, put a pad where you can get to it and any time you think of a question - write it down. It will be a lot easier to talk to surgeon, anesthetist, dentist if you have your thoughts down and organizes - helps with anxiety too as you have some control over the situation.

Hang in there, you have a whole community pulling for you.

THANK YOU.... Yep, I always write everything down... and type it out... I had a sheet of about me and my back story and a sheet of questions....and this surgeon asked me, 'is this for me, can I keep this with your records?' which made me feel good!!

 

[Terre]

You definitely found the right person!

 

[RAMWolff]

I'm so pleased to hear that things are moving forward is a positive way. After the surgery just make sure you rest allot, your body does most of it's healing while at rest, esp in deep sleep. Follow the surgeons instructions to the letter and you will be in great shape all the sooner. HUGS

 

[Miss B]

You definitely found the right person!

I'll second that!! Definitely sounds like the right person to me.

 

[Alisa]

And I'll third it

I think you're sounding like you've got your head wrapped around it pretty well, Lyne - I am sure it's still scary, and that's ok! But you're reaching out to your entire support system, and that's JUST what the doctor ordered

 

[HadCancer]

I am so sorry that you had the experience you did and I do often wonder where some professionals get their bedside manner. I am very fearful of dentists, hospitals and doctors and while others often advise me to stay calm about such things I know I have limited control, it is just part of my make up. Some years ago I found an excellent dentist after a experience similar, but no where near as traumatic of yours. I won't relate the details just to say that the whole situation looked a lot less scary with a different dentist with a very different manner. That was over thirty years ago and I still go to the same dentist and, while I am never happy to go, I do not suffer the fear I used to.

I hope that the situations improve for you and I will pray for the same.

Thanks for you kind thoughts. I of course have a different dentist, but have never asked for pain pills. I recently had some very bad dental pain and had seen dentist 2 times and had scheduled to have more teeth pulled. Pian was so bad I was ready to check myself onto the hospital and ask I be put in a comma as I was overdosing my narcotics and not getting any relief, but my chance I took anti- inflammatory pill with narcotic and pain dropped from 10 to 2. I told another doctor who prescribed a different pill which was easier on my body and lasts longer. A miracle happened, I had no pain. I dropped the narcotic and still no pain. I cancelled the teeth extraction. I just saw the dentist again. He says I per x-rays I have major bone loss and only a matter of time before he has to pull the teeth...Oh well.

 

[Faery_Light]

Sending *hugs* and keeping you in my thoughts.