Last week, when I went to the dentist, they called the oral surgeon and scheduled the appointment for me. I was standing right there. I heard her schedule it. And confirm it. And she wrote it down on the surgeon's card and handed it to me. She even asked them how much it was going to cost while I was standing there.
So the appointment was for 10:15 this morning. It was about a 30 mile drive, so The Dude and I left here around 9:30 just to be safe. We got there, I panicked a bit, and he got me in the door. I gave the lady my name, and she looked confused. Then she asked for my birthdate. And then for which doctor I was seeing. And then I handed her the appointment card.
I wasn't on the schedule. They didn't have me on their schedule. How does that happen???
She handed me the paperwork anyway, and we sat down and filled it all out and I handed it back to her, but she still said nothing about whether or not they were actually going to see me today. After a short wait, I was called back to the exam room. I grabbed The Dude and made him go with me, because there was no way that I was going alone.
We got back there and she proceeded to tell me that they were going to squeeze me in - unless I wanted to be sedated. If I wanted to be sedated, then they'd have to reschedule me because they just didn't have time. I knew at that moment that I was going to go through complete and utter hell, but I told her to just do it because if I walked out of that office today, I wasn't coming back.
So the dentist/surgeon walked in, introduced himself, and *bam* got to work - after he figured out that he was about to pull the wrong tooth. Yeah, there was a typo somewhere and he asked if he was pulling one on the left and I about freaked and showed him which one it was. Things were not starting off well at all. The initial shots to numb it weren't bad, until he got to the one on the roof of my mouth, where I pretty much lost it and started crying. Cripes, I hate when I do that. But he left to give it time to work, and The Dude stood there and held my hand and talked to me until I calmed down, and then it was time.
The procedure itself was brutal. Absolutely brutal. I'm not going to lie and I'm not going to sugarcoat it. He worked extremely quickly - almost too quick for my taste - and I white-knuckled my way through it. He warned me at one point that I was going to hear cracking....yeah, I'm sorry, that wasn't "cracking" - that was the most horrible sound that I've ever heard in my life, and it was coming from MY mouth. The pressure was incredible, the pain was intense (he did ask at one point if it hurt, but didn't even pause to hear my answer), and the sounds were unbelievable.
I'm not sure how long it took. Maybe 30 minutes? By that time I couldn't even think straight. I know he had to put a few stitches in on the side of my gum, but those are supposed to dissolve so I don't have to go back. He gave all of the instructions and the prescription (yes, I accepted a prescription for pain pills this time) to The Dude, and then looked at me and said something to the effect of "maybe you should consider being put under next time". I really wanted to snap back and say "maybe you should have put me on the schedule this time so that could have happened" but I couldn't form the words.
So I paid and we left. And I cried. It hurt so much and I was so upset by the whole scheduling debacle and this did absolutely nothing to help with the fear of dental work.
The Dude drove me home and then went and got my prescription filled and picked up some lunch for us - mashed potatoes for me! And I took a pain pill and we started to watch a movie...but when the couch started spinning I decided that it was time to lay down for a while. I napped while he watched the movie and then went and got the boys from school. He had to go into work for a few hours, so I'm going to make something for the boys to eat and get them into bed and then become one with the loveseat until he comes back from work. I'm still in an unreal amount of pain, so I plan on drugging myself up really good tonight after he gets back since he can stay with me tonight - maybe if I drug up enough tonight, I can get ahead of the pain.
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| On the plus side, I'm not *too* swollen (right side) so he must have done something right. |
Aww honey I am so sorry to read all this. I cannot imagine what you went through today or the inconsiderate, less-than-perfect bedside manner of the surgeon and his staff. I think I would check Angie's List and any other internet referral source and make certain to write a scathing review of that particular office. I can tell you that I use both Angie's List and other sources myself when researching places to go for medical/dental needs and those reviews help in many situations. Feel better fast. Love ya!
ReplyDeleteLuckily the recovery hasn't been all that bad, so he obviously knew what he was doing. He was just a jerk while he was doing it.
DeleteI had a back molar removed a couple of years ago. it was the single most traumatic procedure I have ever had, and I was awake for my wisdom teeth extraction. I believe I called the dentist a sado masachistic son of a bitch as I left. He kept telling me to open wider...my chin was on my chest. Short of unhinging my jaw like the cartoon in the toothbrush commercials I was as wide open as I was gonna be. I pray I never have to have another one wrenched and chisled out of my head again.
ReplyDeleteThis was not the very back top molar, but the one just in front of it. And it was horrible. And I can guarantee that if any more teeth ever have to come out of my head, I will be sedated.
DeleteI read you all the time but don't comment a lot. You have been kind enough to reply when I have in the past.
ReplyDeleteMay I be so bold as to say you should really tell the referring doctor what you went through. Especially after what that surgeon said to you. How disrespectful of him.
Take good care of yourself and I hope you heal quickly.
SueZK
Thank you, SueZK. I do plan on telling my dentist about it - while the surgeon apparently did a good job since my recovery has been relatively easy, his bedside manner left so much to be desired. I will NEVER go back to him again.
DeleteThat was how all my teeth (2) were pulled when i was 15 before I had braces on. When you mentioned "cracking" I know exactly what you are talking about. I remembered hearing something like roots of a huge tree being pulled off the ground, prying and rocking those pliers. Horrible. I am glad you don't have to go back there.
ReplyDeleteHe had to break the tooth 3 times to get all of it out. *shudder* And I am never going back there again. Ever.
DeleteI go the heebie jeebies just reading the "cracking". I hate the dentist too! Had braces and dealt with all the horrors of that for about 5 years! NOw I make sure the kids go even though inside I'm cringing just having to walk in with them!
ReplyDeleteOh I know - I take the kids every 6 months, and I have panic attacks when I do, but I force myself to go. I think doing that made it *slightly* easier, but yeah....if any more teeth have to come out, I will be sedated.
DeleteThat's what it's like to get a tooth pulled when you're not sedated. It's not a secret, and it sucks, but that's exactly what it's like for everyone that gets a molar pulled when they're not under sedation. Oral surgeons are notorious for having bad bedside manners, though. If it happens again, you should go to an endodontist, which is higher level than a dentist but not an oral surgeon. You'll feel better tomorrow! Take ibuprofen if you can.
ReplyDeleteUgh. I think if he would have just paused a few times to let me catch my breath, it wouldn't have been so bad. But it was like once he got in there he was on a mission and never even paused. But, it's done and over with at this point - and if it ever has to happen again, I will be sedated.
DeleteAw. That's just horrible.
ReplyDeleteAnd as for the anonymous comment above me... Endondists, like oral surgeons have a much higher pay rate than a dentist.
A dentist is fully qualified to do it, however I believe in the above case perhaps a kinder dentist could be used. They do exsist.
**HUGS** I hope your meds are working. Feel Better!
I actually feel pretty good. The recovery wasn't as bad as I had thought, and I didn't bruise a bit - just some swelling. The stitches were more annoying than anything.
DeleteOH MY GOSH!!!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat happened to chairside manner??
Hope you feel better soon.
M:)
Thanks Melinda! Other than the large gaping hole in my mouth, and a little bit of swelling, I really don't feel all that bad. :)
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