Right now, I have a bad toothache. One of my wisdom teeth broke badly, months ago. Now, if I was one of my healthy friends or family ... actually, even semi-healthy, I could just zip down to my dentists, and get it pulled tomorrow! No problems.
Not for me. For the last few months I've survived on a couple of visits from the domiciliary dental service, who have put in temporary fillings - there's little else they can do. The last one fell out right before Christmas ... and I've been so ill since then that I haven't even been able to deal with a quick home visit from the dentist. So, predictably, the tooth was eventually going to start causing some major pain. And it looks like now's the time it's going to start playing up.
What to do??? Obviously I'll have to get the dentist service to come see me ... but I KNOW this tooth needs more than just a temporary filling. In fact, I'm not sure if it's not broken so badly now that that might not even work temporarily. But, I have to try at least. It will make my symptoms flare up to have to deal with a) having people visit me here, and b) messing my sleep patterns around, because my body clock is reversed and I sleep in the day. But it's either that or this toothache is going to get worse and worse. Especially with it being a wisdom tooth.
If they can't do a filling, or if it doesn't work, I honestly don't know what I'm going to do. I won't, I suppose, have a choice but to find a way to drag myself to the surgery, deal with sitting upright, in a busy, noisy, bright, overwhelming, germ filled waiting room, (it's a dr's surgery too) in order to get it pulled. God only knows how I'd cope with that ... or what kind of relapse it might cause afterwards, not just from leaving the bed/house but also from the trauma of the treatment itself (especially as I have bad problems with my TMJ joint (my jaw) which makes dental treatment really painful)! I still haven't recovered from ONE family day at Christmas, 2 months ago, and I didn't even leave my bed for that.
So yea, there are so many things that healthy people wouldn't have to give a second thought to, that are major missions for people like me - especially with the post-exertional issues that come with M.E. - this just being one example! I wish more people understood what life is like for us.
Anyone have any experience with situations like this, or ideas on the best way to deal with it? Has anyone ever had a dental surgery 'rush' you through the people waiting so you don't have to sit in a waiting room for ages, or give you a room to rest while you wait, or something??
Twitter Responses
From Pantoeffelchen, who send over a really good idea for if my surgery isn't able to rush me through waiting, I could perhaps lie in the backseat of a car and have them come get me when they're ready for me. Definitely could help at least, especially if I brought my body pillow etc in the car.
I'd love to hear your reply and I know it'll be valued by other readers too! I always try to respond, please just be aware that it can take me some time to find the energy to do so as I've been particularly ill recently and struggling to get online. Thanks for reading! :)
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