Monday, March 21, 2011

As a numbed-up chipmunk

This past week I could feel my wisdom tooth coming back up (again) and it grew more painful with each day. We don't have insurance but a discount plan so I was putting off getting my wisdom tooth taken out as long as possible. However, come Friday I was hurting pretty badly and couldn't take it any longer.
About this time last year, my top left wisdom tooth was doing the same thing. I had to go into a dentist that I didn't know but that our discount plan approved of and have them extract it. I was grateful for my friend, Lisa, who worked there at the time but still he wasn't very nice and I didn't want to return to him, so I put it off.
Saturday we tried finding a dentist off the list that would be open. There was one out of the 16. We went in and then found out they weren't sure if they even accepted our plan. They said we could go ahead and be reimbursed if they did accept it ...OR... pay out the nose if they don't. We decided to wait.
Come Sunday morning I could feel serious pain in my cheek. For neither tooth was it the tooth that hurt but the pain it caused my cheek. Ugh.
Well, someone in church recommended whiskey. Whiskey! A couple others confirmed it. Off I went to the grocery store to purchase this terribly awful gross stuff. I was desperate. I just got a shot and was explaining to the manager what it was for. He didn't believe me. I told him that if it worked I would let him know the next time I saw him.
Now, if you know me, you know that I do not drink. I think alcohol is gross, disgusting and not remotely worth the time. But, the JD worked. Believe it or not. I just swished and spit. Yup, spit it right back out. All that I needed was the alcohol on my cheek and gums and then I was finished with it. But it was oh so gross.
Sunday night we had a youth group event. I opted out because of the pain but said Bryan could go if he found someone to watch A for us. He did, they left, I stayed home with movies, 4 advil every four hours, extra strength ambesol, a pack of ice, and the Jack Daniels. I still hurt but not nearly as bad as I would have if I had been without those things.
This morning my wonderful hubby called into a new dentist that was recommended to us by a good friend and they got us in right away. They were so nice and accommodating. The first dentist numbed me up so I wouldn't be in pain waiting for the next dentist who specialized in tooth extraction. I did have to wait an hour or so but that isn't bad considering they got me in that day with other people to see as well. I was happy to wait.
He did talk with me about my front tooth. He x-rayed it and found that it was a dead tooth and was very surprised it wasn't hurting me. I've had it for 17 years and it hasn't once bothered me. We talked about a root canal and replacing the filling to make it look better. I've wanted to replace it for ever now and was so happy to hear how little it would cost. A root canal is not as cheap but I'm doing a consult in a couple weeks so we'll see. No idea how we'll pay for it all but God will provide!
The second dentist was just as nice and got me in and out quickly but not rushed. She had said to me, "You've nearly gnawed your way through your cheek, darlin'!" No wonder I was in so much pain!
What's funny is how much pain I was in before hand and not at all now. You would think I'd be in pain from having the tooth removed and the novacain having worn off, but nope. I'm happy as a clam.
So now that my monday has felt like a Saturday, I can now begin my week. Yay. Lots of cleaning ahead of me since my momma and baby sis are coming this weekend. Excitement that you can now read on my face since my numbed-up chipmunk look has worn off.

2 comments:

Kathy said...

Tooth pain is awful! I am glad you now have relief. And a couple of dentists you like that makes all the difference. Hooray for being relatively pain free! Praise the Lord!

Unknown said...

So it wasn't your wisdom tooth that hurts? I experienced the same thing before. It was very painful like hell. I had my first wisdom tooth when I was sixteen and my dentist (Murfreesboro, TN-based) thought that it was pretty early. Most people get their wisdom tooth during their mid-20s and up, but I read in some articles that it varies from person to person. It depends on the individual's diet, health or something.