Eww and arghhh, I have a regular check-up at the dentist's today. Can you spell dental phobia? Perhaps I have it because for most of my life, dentists just thought I was being a titty baby and bad patient when I insisted they were hurting me. Come to find out, I'm anesthesia resistant, therefore, their weak little narcotics and anesthesia methods never worked on me. I was being poked, prodded, drilled, scraped and enduring other nightmarish procedures without the benefit of pain-killing medication.
It's a verified condition which I discovered when none of the three epidurals I had while birthing big, giant, uncooperative babies ever did their job. Yeah, natural childbirth. Ouch.
My twin sister has the same thing. Plus...we have a double set of nerves in our mouths. One of my kidlets is resistant to anesthesia too. He woke up during an appendectomy and then broke the leather restraints they put on him. Guess it's a good thing they give you that amnesia drug now during surgeries so you don't remember being awake! *shudder*
Okay, so before I freak myself out completely, here's my list:
Top 10 Reasons I Hate Going to the Dentist
10. The days long dread of appointment day approaching.
9. Stupid dentists who think listening to muzak can calm their victims.
8. Dentists who insist on making you talk when your mouth is out of commission.
7. The very phrase, "Spit and rinse."
6. Cotton all jammed up in my gums during procedures.
5. Hygienists who carelessly spray water all over me while they clean and scrape.
4. "Boss, de pain, de pain."
3. The malformed x-ray strips that cut into the bottom of my mouth.
2. Making follow-up appointments for further work.
1. Trying to find a dentist who believes me when I say I'm still in pain (or can feel the drill) even if I have already had 14 shots!
What is it you detest most about going to a doctor or dentist?
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31 comments:
Oh my god. I can't even imagine dental work w/o anesthesia. Of course I've only ever had one filling and regular appointments when I was a kid, and I'm still freaked out by the dentist. I just flat out refuse to go. Haven't been in years and years. There's just something wrong about having a person poking around (or drilling...) in any orifice, especially in my head. I just can't do it. So I commend you for being brave enough to do it at all!!!
I hate dentists because they always say there is something terrible going on in my mouth, when I feel perfectly fine and I don't think my teeth look all that bad at all.
Anyway, I cannot imagine how it is to be resistant the anesthesia. All good thoughts for your. And waking up during surgery? Wow. This is a tough thing to deal with. Good that you are aware of it and can take some measures, I presume.
My family is made up of all freaks who love going to the dentist. (You'll probably hate me now.) What I hate about the doctor? Those paper gowns. Hands down.
For me natural childbirth IS screaming for painkillers, but I digress....
Wow. Nothing like a ton of pain to make you floss! I know what you mean. I had a tooth drilled and after 4 shots, the doctor refused to fill me with any more novocaine. And I felt it. Argh. I've heard that people who react like you do can in fact be given anesthesia (knocked out) and have it done another way where you're at least asleep for it. Might want to ask what the options are.
Embee, thanks for the empathy. :) I wasn't genetically blessed with good, strong teeth, so I have to go. Waiting just causes more torture.
Thank God I have a good, caring dentist now, Lori! And I (and other family members) mention this "condition" when faced with a procedure. At least the anesthesiologist is aware we might not be fully under or stay under. ewww. Thanks for visiting.
Hate 'em too, Debbie. Hands down and butts out. :) I'm glad your freakish family doesn't have the phobia. I had all my kidlets' molars bonded when they were small and it helped cut down on fillings and such.
Angie, it all started way back in my childhood, when a dentist actually CHASED ME around the office, holding a large hypo filled with novocaine and YELLED at me! No wonder I'm the mess I am today when it comes to dentists. Luckily, L's second grade teacher has, in retirement (because she can't sit through the commercials on her soaps when she watches them in "real" time) become my dentist's receptionist and so it is somewhat calming to see her before entering the scary part.
Remind me not to tick off your boys. Hope this goes well. My dentist is good, but he is talking about a procedure on me that will be a bigee. Looks like I should have had braces when I was younger. Will hold off as long as possible.
Oren
Oh, poor you, Tut-tut. There should be laws against that kind of dental treatment!
Oren, I never noticed you had crooked teeth. I'm a charter member of the Chiuaua Teeth Club. Arf! (Yeah and it was J who had the appendix surgery wake-up, right before Jamboree. Glad his surgeon was on that same trip!)
I have never heard of being anesthesia resistant! Oh wow. How awful.
I finally found a dentist that I really like. I don't mind going so much anymore because he's quick and gets the job done right. But yeah - why do they make those stupid x-ray strips in such a weird shape? They almost hurt worse putting in and taking out than the dental procedure itself!
Yep, pretty scary when facing dental work or surgery, Melissa. :) Just glad I know to warn 'em now.
Eek! I feel for you, and I hope your appt goes okay!
I don't like feeling set up for failure, like the dentist will judge my habits and lecture me on flossing (or lack thereof) and the like. Ugh. But most of all, I HATE shots in the mouth. I can think of few other pains that make me cringe the same way.
Well, my dental woes have been chronicled extensively...
http://jimsuldog.blogspot.com/2008/01/teeth.html
... so I'll tell you why I hate going to doctors. It's because they give you a damn temperance lecture no matter you came in for.
Rather than clog up your commentary, I'll post yet another link. This will give you a good story concerning such things.
http://jimsuldog.blogspot.com/2006/01/wednesday.html
Bless you. Pain meds have no effect? *shudder*
favorite dentist quote: "i got most of the tooth out. i think that little piece will be fine in there."
REALLY?! and if it's NOT fine? I get to come back so you can dig around some more? Oh goody!
I hate that our dentists have a thing for stupid, blonde, well-endowed hygenists. boy1 & boy2 don't seem to mind though...hmmmm
When they don't clean their overhead lights and there's a dead bug or two and that's your view from the chair.
My dentist also listens to Public Radio from 15 years ago. Muzak would be a welcome change.
Ouch. You have my sympathies.
I guess I detest the stare. Whether it is from a dentist or a doctor, they both have the I-know-I'm-not-going-to-like-what-I-find-and-it's-all-your-fault, look that makes me feel guilty about all of life's woes.
Titty baby! LOL. That's a new one for me.
I actually love my dentist lol. They're great, and they do kids too, and they're so good with my kid.
Oh, and I finally added a follow widget :P
ooh! I'm sooo sorry for you! This happens to redheads too. They're not immune/allergic like you, they just need much stronger doses! Yikes! And sorry about the child birth! Been there, done that... 5 times now. No drugs. the last was emergency C-section, and I was out cold! The easiest delivery I've ever had... just hated the recovery! LOL! Hope you feel better soon!
Thanks, Janna. I WANT the shots, if they work. It went pretty well today. Got x-rays (that panoramic thing), a cleaning *ouch*...did I mention I have thin-enamel on teeth as well as they're sensitive??! Gotta go back Monday to fix a crown that's chipped and have a small filling done. Wahhhhhhhhh!
Suldog, thanks for "feeling my pain" literally. :) I read about your extensive dental work and it made me want to cry. I'll go read the other post now, although why I love torturing myself is beyond me. LOL
Jill -- RUN, do not walk, away from that igmoid "professional" immediately. Let the boys go oggle the Barbie, but you find you a real dentist! As if...leaving a piece in. eeeeeeek.
JyLnC, see above advice to Jill. If they don't clean the lights, their patient MOUTH equipment probably isn't sterile either. I feel faint!
Michelle, how utterly unprofessional. I went to a doctor ONCE for stitches in the knee when I was young and he was so rude. "Just lay back and shut up. I'm the doctor here." No ma'am! Never went back there.
LOL, Wendy. Y'all don't say titty baby up there in Noo Yawk? I didn't even think before typing that, it's so common here. (Guess y'all didn't have the childhood taunt either, then -- "Titty baby, titty baby, waaa, waa, waa." :)
Glad for your good doc, CC! Thanks for following. I'm gonna come do the same on your shiny new widget addition. :)
Thanks, giddy girl. I've always had the theory that genetics play a big part in anesthesia resistance. I'm like translucent white. Yuck! But them little Reds is gorgeous!!
I rarely go to the doc - I'm so danged healthy -- it feels like such a waste of time....and I detest the dreaded GYN visits - ugh ugh
I wouldn't mind dentists so much if they weren't so expensive! Well, except for those x-ray things, yeah - they cut into my wittle mouf
I have been told on too many occasions to count that I have no nerve endings in my head. That means no problems with the deadening(can't spell the other word). Glad it went well.
Oren
I know, Kat. All the poking and prodding and trauma, then you gotta pay for it!
LOL, Oren. You got a gourd head? :)
I loved my dentist with a passion, his name was Norman. He was handsome, gentle and very efficient, and never hurt me. But he retired and left me to the mercy of his successor, Charles. That didn't suit me at all, Charles just wasn't Norman. So I changed dentists and now I go to Dr Bob, who is handsome and funny, and has looked after my boys teeth ever since they were little... and he's great! I still don't look forward to dental appointments, but it really helps if you like your dentist.
Given the choice of going to the dentist and giving birth, I would happily do the latter every single day of the week. Yee GADS I hate the dentist.
I hate the feeling of giving over control to someone I don't know very well. Gives me an anxiety attack. Dentist or doctor...I don't like to go to either.
Sham, you're so right. Liking and trusting your dentist is essential. Glad you found a good replacement for your "first love." :)
LOL, Michaele! Hear ya.
And you too, Barbara. But I know if I put it off, it could mean more visits later. ewww
I always feel like such a wimp when the first shot doesn't work, and I have to ask for another one because my body is on the ceiling without. It's nice to know I'm not alone here.
More than that, though, I hate being trapped in the chair for an hour or more. It always makes me have to pee.
Deb, all valid reasons for hating that place!
ugh, I'm with you, Angie and don't they know you know when you can feel the pain?? What the heck!? But what's worse for me, I have a phobia to meds, sooo.
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