Wordless Wednesday

This is not my beach but it IS a Florida beach. Pensacola. I'm speechless.

Photo by Mike Amerson, courtesy of cnn.com.

I am done at the dentist. Thank god.

I've managed to survive, you guys.


2 root canals and 4 wisdom teeth extractions later, I'm alive. My dental anxiety knows no bounds and valium has been my friend.


This last appointment yesterday was the hardest thing I have ever had to go through. It was harder than losing all of my belongings and home in a hurricane (which I did in '04). It was harder than childbirth without drugs (which I've done. TWICE). 


I cried for a few hours after it was over but now I'm just thanking god that it's over. And being proud of myself.

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for my husband, Dave, who will take me to my dentist appointment (at 1:00, eeek), hold me while I cry and can't breathe, sit there while I'm being worked on, and then pay for it all afterwards, take me home, and repeatedly check on me and make me soup.

I am also thankful for my mom who brought me the most beautiful green apatite brios and white topaz brios yesterday so I'll have something to both distract and reward myself today and tomorrow. Well, I'm so thankful she's my mom, period. The brios are just a beautiful bonus.


So while you're wishing me luck about the damn dentist today, tell me what you're thankful for, too!

Okay, new dentist appointment

I had a wisdom tooth yanked out on Monday and then had a violent reaction to the pain medication that was prescribed. Eww, blech, can I be done yet? Short answer: no.


My mouth is a mess. I have TMJ which causes awful, loud, audible clicking in and out of the socket every time I open and close my mouth. It gets sore if I open too wide, leave it open too long, and sometimes it will lock itself. This presents an obvious problem.


I also have a history of eating disorders. Hard to admit, but there it is. This has left my teeth in bad shape, especially the ones in the back of my mouth.


And for those of you who have been following my saga, you know this already: I have a debilitating fear of the dentist. The only way I was able to go on Monday was with severe pain and valium given to me by the dentist.


So I have an appointment next Wednesday morning with my mom's dentist. She says he is really nice and gentle. But a week away? And so soon after my last visit? Cue a week's worth of panic attacks!


But, I was able to have a wisdom tooth surgically removed on Monday and if I can conquer my fear and do THAT, then I can do anything. Including fixing the two cavities and two broken teeth that I have. Let's just hope and pray that they will pass out the valium again.

I will be all day at the dentist

And I can't think of anything worse.

In case you were wondering, and hell, just in case you weren't, I have an irrational yet debilitating fear of going to the dentist and I have not been in 11 years. Unfortunately, the pain in my mouth this week has progressed to the intolerable point and I have to go today.

In fact, the only thing I can think of that would be WORSE than going to the dentist is to have to go to a dentist who is a clown.

I've been up since 4 am because between the pain and the anxiety, I'm screwed. Oy.

Other than that, everything is fine and I will see you all after it's all over.