Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Dreaded Visit

UGH. I have a root canal that was completed in 1989. Apparently it has ran its course because the crown that sits atop it keeps coming off and my dentist recommended removal. The dreaded appointment is tomorrow at 9:15am. I choose to be put to sleep for this procedure but I am not too thrilled about it. Now don't get me wrong, I don't want to be awake and see, hear, smell and taste it but I don't like the idea of being put to sleep. I have only had that done 2 other times in my life, the first being in 1977 and I was in so much pain I don't even remember it. The second time was 9/13/2005 when I had surgery on my neck. I can remember them putting the mask over my mouth and nose. I tried not to breath because I remember being extremely scared at that moment. It has to do with turning over power of myself to someone else.

That is probably not an unusual feeling for a lot of people. I know that I have to do it and I will but that doesn't mean I have to like it. More than likely I won't be there but just over an hour but just the idea of not being in control of myself is not a good feeling. I haven't told anyone yet, well I have now!, but I have been sweating this for a while now. I am really tired of eating soft foods that's for sure. Last night I had a baked potato for dinner. This morning I had a diet cola. If I chew on that side it starts hurting so I choose not to.

I know that I will be fine, I will turn it over just like I do everything in my life. I know that He will watch over me but I am very nervous. How many of you guys have been put to sleep at the dentist's office? It just seems weird.

5 comments:

Karen said...

I think, for me, the anticipation of medical procedures is always worse than the actual event. I've been put to sleep for several hospital surgeries, but never in the dentist office. But, I think it beats the alternative of being awake for something unpleasant. Good for you in 'turning it over'. In 24 hours it will be all over and you'll be back at home in your favorite chair, sleeping it off, the pups at your side:)

Scott W said...

When I had my ear surgery last November I was just fine until they put me on the surgery table. When they put that mask over my face I was instantaneously terrified. But it only lasted a second and then it was 6 hours later before I knew what hit me. You will be fine. Karen is right, before you know it you will be riding home and feeling peaceful. Plus you have all day to recover!

MichelleSG said...

I was accidently put under for wisdom teeth removal. When I woke the nurse was patting me on the knee say "You don't drink alcohol do ya honey?". I guess being 120lbs and having no immunity at all to drugs puts you out cold for several hours at the dentists. BTW, apparently the reason root canals are historically painful is because dentists used to just go right in and fix them while they were infected, pain killers don't work when the root is infected, you feel it all. Nowadays they put everyone on a course of antibiotics for a good week to get the infection and swelling down and then go in and fix it. Strangely it's much less painful that way.
'm a control freak too and if it makes you feel less lonely I used to hate to go under too But after 5 or 6 surgeries I have decided that I'd rather be asleep for them than awake. Especially that last one, emergency aneurysm. Still can't remember anything until 3 days after surgery. Oddly the headache that started it all doesn't make me want to remember those days.

Trailboss said...

I don't know where my 1st comment went. Anyway, all went well. I must say though this is the most painful extraction I have ever had. But I have pain meds and a good hubby to take care of me :)

I'll be glad when the pain eases up though.

Pony Girl said...

I feel your pain! I am terrified of dental procedures. And I need to have two wisdom teeth pulled! They keep telling me to do it...I keep putting it off! ;)
I hope you are well on your way to a speedy recovery!