Thursday, November 17, 2016

Can't catch a break.

Yesterday I decided to call out sick from work. I've been self-treating a urinary tract infection, which is almost better, but mostly I simply felt I needed a mental health day. The past week has been hard for a whole host of reasons.

I decided that I'd go grab a taco salad for lunch at my favorite Mexican restaurant and then spend the afternoon at the public library. It was a nice plan until I got about halfway through my salad and suddenly felt a pain in my gums--kind of like when you get a hard piece of tortilla chip stuck up beside a tooth. But this was no tortilla chip. It turned out to be a giant crack (to the gum line) in one of the teeth that had a root canal this summer. I knew that the two teeth that had root canals were weakened and needed crowns, but I was putting it off until January as my dental insurance is maxed out until the end of the year. I already had to spend over $1000 out of pocket after the second root canal. Crowns are super expensive and I was trying to just be careful and wait out the year.

So I rushed to the dentist and got bad news: I'm going to lose that tooth altogether-it cracked in half--and even worse, I have to have an oral surgeon remove it. Once it's out, I'll have to wear a fake tooth in the spot for 6-8 weeks while the socket heals, and then they're going to have to crown the tooth behind it with a permanent bridge tooth attached to the crown. Even with insurance, between the oral surgeon and the dentist it's going to cost about $2000 more dollars out of pocket. There goes any Christmas shopping I'd planned to do, just like we missed out on our vacation in June because of dental expenses and the pain I was in. I feel so guilty about how much this is costing us. We keep having to dip into savings to pay for it all.


The dentist was very sorry. I embarrassed myself because big tears started flowing when he explained everything to me. He had to pull the broken bit of tooth off (thank goodness it's on the inside of my mouth so it doesn't show when I smile) and I trembled all over and cried as he did it. I was horribly embarrassed. I used to be a great dental patient, but a few years of bad experiences has left me with almost a phobia. At least now nothing hurts, and they said that if I'm very careful I can probably put off doing anything until the beginning of January. I have an appointment on Monday with the oral surgeon, but that's just for a consultation and to set a date to have the work done.

I just can't seem to catch a break. And I wish this shit year would just hurry up and end, already.

Here's a recent clip of John Oliver's 2016 season finale show, which sums up exactly how I feel about this terrible year. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!  (Warning....language.)





ps....I adore John Oliver. This whole show, from last Sunday, can be found on YouTube and is worth watching, especially if you're still reeling from our recent election and wondering how to get through the next 4 years. Inspirational.

27 comments:

  1. Well that sucks! I am really sorry. While you're coping with a UTI as well. If it's any consolation (and why should it be) dental care is just as expensive here in New Zealand, though our medical care is subsidised. I loved the John Oliver clip, thanks for posting it.

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    1. I don't understand why it has to cost so much! And it makes me mad because I try to take very good care of my teeth.

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  2. That's really awful for you. I've had a lot of (painful) dental work in the past and I know how expensive it is. But a healthy mouth and beautiful smile is more important than Xmas presents. In the meantime no more tacos!

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    1. I agree, Sue. My smile is my one vanity, because I've been told my whole life that it's my best feature.

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  3. Probably just when you thought you were getting ahead. We are the same as NZ. Dental is expensive here and for average taxpayers, without subsidy or a very long wait of perhaps years for public treatment. Our private dental insurance is also poor value.

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    1. We can never get ahead! Let us save up a little extra cash and an emergency WILL happen!

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  4. I am so sorry to hear the next bad news about your tooth. And just when You thought you might make to January.
    Despise going to the dentist. They have messed up my mouth reworking old work so much I try not to see a dentist unless I have too. And I must admit I have a really nice dentist now. It is just too mentally painful along with the physical.
    Take care.

    cheers, parsnip

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    1. I'm getting to the point I'm going to need Xanax to go for a routine cleaning. It's almost becoming a phobia.

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  5. John Oliver is English, but I've never heard of him.

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    1. Well, he lives here now. You should check out his show on YouTube--very informative and funny!

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  6. Oh dear Jennifer, you're really not having too much luck. Dentists and me don't mix, but I somehow wish they did. My teeth are a mess. As for 2016, it's been OK for us, but then we don't have Trump making our decisions!

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    1. I'm glad 2016 has been good for you. I had high hopes for this year, but from the very beginning it has sucked!

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  7. Teeth can be such a problem Jennifer. And although you suggest your smile is a vanity, your teeth are very important to your overall health. Don't feel too bad about the cost, just bite the bullet ( sorry about the pun) and pay up... Dental costs seem to be so expensive no matter where you live.

    Alphie

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    1. Yes, I don't understand why dental care has to cost SO MUCH. Or why a regular dentist can no longer do root canals or slightly complicated extractions anymore--it's always a referral to an expensive endodontist or oral surgeon.

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  8. I feel for you. I have had a lot of work on mine over the years. I have got 2 bridges…lost count of which teeth are crowns and recently had a back tooth out which left a tooth all on its own towards the lower back of my mouth and I kept biting my tongue, which was very painful for days each time. I have had a sharp bit of that tooth filed down a bit, and , fingers crossed, I haven't bitten my tongue again since. My grown up kids have much better teeth, and I wonder if it is the fluoride in toothpaste that helps. I have never heard of John Oliver either. Near freezing this morning, but glorious blue skies here ….(about 25 miles north of London. )

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    1. John Oliver is one of my favorite comedians. He used to be a regular on The Daily Show, but then HBO offered him a weekly show of his own. I find him hysterically funny!

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  9. That is the absolute pits. I'm so sorry for the pain -- physical, emotional, and financial -- and hope you can at least stop feeling guilty. You most definitely did NOT choose to go through this. And, yes, Fuck You. 2016 ... with a cherry on top!

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  10. If I win the British "Lotto" tonight I will pay for your dental treatment.

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  11. I am so sorry Jennifer. It is a leap year and an unlucky year.
    A very big hug to you.
    Greetings Maria x

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    1. And a big hug back, Maria. Thank you for your friendship. x

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  12. I'm here from Mary Moon's blog. I read your comment about your family and Thanksgiving and it made me sad so I came over to say I was thinking about you. With all that is going on in the world is awful enough without your family being unkind. I am sending you love.

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    1. Thank you. I actually went back and deleted that comment because I was embarrassed at venting like that. I appreciate your kind words---I'm not feeling very loved at the moment.

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  13. So sorry to hear about your dental problems Jennifer - nothing worse than a bad tooth - other than the bill at the end of the treatment.
    Have you noticed that there are no poor dentists!

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