Lazy Saturday

[susandennis]

I slept more than 10 hours straight last night.  Travis tried to wake me up this morning and finally gave up and joined me and we just slept right in.   I did not even go to the gym.  I still don't have a cold but I still feel like I'm catching one.  Maybe I'm just catching a pre-cold.  I'm going to quit worrying about it after tomorrow morning.

I do think I'm going to have to go see a dentist.  I have a sporatic tooth ache that is of the very bad kind.  Not the surface kind - not pressure induced.  But a way up high under my eye OUCH kind that hits usually my first bite or two of dinner.  It portends very very bad things.  Crap.  

My main dental problem is that I don't have a friend who can easily transport me in the middle of the day.  No matter what the issue is, outside of a general check and x-rays, I need sedation.  They won't do me under sedation unless I have someone to accompany me home.  A cab won't do it.  So when I think about going to the dentist, it starts down a slipper slope of pain and cost and aggravation and it ends with can't do it.  It is so stupid.

At least it is not critical.  So far, except for those first couple of bites, there is not problem.  Maybe it will never get any worse.  Yeah right.

Seattle has their annual Torchlight parade tonight through the middle of town ending right here on the other side of The Tree That I Hate.  When the tree was a kid, I loved sitting on my terrace and watching all the action.  They cover it on TV so I used to take my little battery operated TV out to the terrace and watch the coverage and the parade at the same time.  It was a great perch for seeing all the action.  Those were the years.  Now I can hear it but not see it.

The Mariners are playing an afternoon game in Toronto so the daily torture will be over early.    Otherwise, life as usual here at SDQH!

Comments

[kyrielle]

Have you explained to the dentist that you defer care because you can't find someone to accompany you and they won't let you take a cab? Do you have someone who could take a cab with you even if they don't drive?

[susandennis]

I have not exactly spelled it out and probably I should, you are right. But, if it gets any worse, I'll make an appointment to have him assess and explain it then. And, no, I don't have anyone - car or no car. I would have to hire someone. And that's a whole nother set of uglies. It's so stupid to be so phobic.

[kyrielle]

Yeah, that is another set of uglies.

And no, it's not stupid to be phobic. Intelligence or lack of doesn't enter into that emotional area at all. It just is. I happen to be phobic of dogs (moderate) and heights (mild to moderate), rather than dentists. But it just is.

[susandennis]

Thanks. It just seems so silly to me. But I feel better cause I'm ok with big dogs and tall heights. Thank you!

[kyrielle]

I've gotten better about dogs. I used to be terrified of even friendly-acting, vouched-for-by-owner-who-is-family-friend, toy poodles.

Now, I am only nervous around dogs that size if they are acting vicious, no more. (I just keep reminding myself that I can kick them down the block if I have to....)

[alice-q.livejournal.com]

Perhaps you can look for a dentist who specializes in dental-phobic patients. I know there are some; I just (from 3,000 miles away) don't know if there are any in down-town Seattle. In addition to heavy meds, they utilize such strategies as calming music, hypnosis, etc. You're absolutely not the only one with these issues. I have a colleague who admitted to me that he hadn't seen a dentist for over 3 years; he didn't say why, but I did overhear him on the phone when he was arranging gall-bladder surgery, so I would imagine that he's in the "not gonna do it unless I absolutely have to" camp.

[teasdale.livejournal.com]

What about your neighbors in the building? Lee or Sherrie--am I getting the names right? Even if they both work during the day, perhaps you could schedule a late in the day appointment to minimize any time they'd have to take off from work? Offer to take them out to brunch as a thank you and compensation? You always seem to be available to help one another out. Perhaps they'd be happy to help if you explained your situation? Or maybe your neighbor from the building who goes to the same health club?

I know what you mean about these procedures. Any time I need an outpatient procedure at the hospital where they give me the "happy juice instant trip to la-la land" stuff, I need someone to bring me home. I don't know why they don't approve a cab. I mean, by the time they release me, it's not like I'm going to do anything really goofy or anythiing. I'm sure cab drivers have chauffeured people in much worse condition on a Friday or Saturday night!!

[susandennis]

Oh you have the names right. But, yeah, Lee works all day and I wouldn't ask her no to. Sherry is actually a dental hygenist who thinks my phobia is stupid so I wouldn't ask her either.

BUT, I might ask my other neighbor Ann. She is getting ready to have a knee replaced so maybe I can help her while she's recuperating in return. Worth asking.

[alice-q.livejournal.com]

Oh, good lord. I missed this earlier. I don't have dental issues (other than a little ostrich-itis). But I am so glad that the hygienists (and dentists) in the offices that I've dealt with have been kind and gentle.