The Dental Saga: A Rant and Public Service Announcement

~ JodiLea ~ 1 Comment

I got a thumbs-up from the surgeon yesterday! He said to keep doing what I was doing and see the other doc often. He prescribed 6 more pain pills (this translates into one day’s worth). California (and possibly other states) has this new database that tracks prescriptions written by doctors for patients getting pain meds. The surgeon said they will give him a “warning” if he doesn’t cut me off soon. What?!?

I was venting to my best friend (via email- still can’t really talk), and it occurred to me that I should copy/paste part of it for my Saga because I know my readers enjoy a good rant now and then.

What politician put this ridiculous database law into play? If you want to solve the opiate problem, don’t track patients getting legitimate meds. This will get you nothing. Go after the black-market dealers. They (meaning the government) always do this. Make a stupid law so people think they are trying to solve the problem, but the law does nothing except cause desperate people to hunt street drugs. I am a grandma. How many dealers do you think I know? None. Yet.

The dose I am prescribed does not do the job, not completely. It does keep me out of prison, however. I don’t know why someone would want to take this drug for “recreational” purposes. Tiny amounts certainly do not get you high. Personally, I do not want to be high. Just pain-free. I am a law-abiding, tax-paying citizen of this country. A country that develops and has the technology to provide effective pain blockers. So, why can’t I purchase any? Why am I tracked like a criminal and treated like a junkie?

The truth is, I am angry with the entire pharmaceutical situation. Let me explain…
My hubby has to take a drug with a brand name – very expensive. There is a generic form of this drug, but you cannot get it. His doctor prescribes the generic, but it is always substituted with the band name. Maybe you are a victim of this legal scam. A month’s worth (30 days) cost anywhere from $500 to $800. Your insurance can’t help you out because you are supposed to get the generic one in order for them to pay for it. He can get all the COVID vaccines he wants for free. I know I am not the only one seeing this injustice.

OK. I am done ranting. Now I am calm enough to think clearly and read one of my favorite scriptures from the Bible, which puts things into perspective for me. Yep. If you are not a Bible reader, try to stay with me here. I think you may be as surprised as I was that this is even in that 2,000-year-old book.

“But know this, that in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. For men will be lovers of themselves,  lovers of money, boastful,  haughty, blasphemers, disobedient, disloyal, having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness, betrayers, headstrong, puffed up with pride, lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God.” -2 Timothy 3:1-5

Does this sound a lot like how things are going these days? It does to me. If you want to read the words of Jesus on this subject, read Matthew 24: 3-14.

Some of you, my dear readers, may think I am on more drugs than I admit. It’s true that I don’t normally cite scriptures, but today is a very special day – the Memorial of Jesus Christ’s Death. You know, “Do this in remembrance of me?” At any Kindom Hall (all over the globe) will be the special annual celebration. If you did not receive an invitation, please know that all are invited to attend. More information can be found at: https://www.JW.org/

So, until I rant again – I hope you have a wonderful rest of your day and evening.

TTFN

The Dental Saga: A Second Week Rant

~ JodiLea ~ Leave a comment

It has been over a week since the surgery. I see the surgeon tomorrow (snow permitting). Yes, we still have freezing temperatures, even if the sun is out. The sun gave up for the day because dark and gloomy clouds quickly gathered up. Have you noticed my writing skills are lacking descriptive prose and humor? I have no patience for niceties.

HA! My patience is getting lower each day, and why? Pain. I still am dealing with pain because I am forced to ration my meds. My surgeon, of all people, knows exactly why and what kind of pain I am dealing with. Let’s pretend that extractions were not part of it. That I am “only” recovering from my jaw being cut into for the bone graphs, shaving the bone, and 3 new implants. Oh, and just as an aside, my TMJ did not like my jaws being pried open for hours and is still complaining. If you are lucky enough to not know what TMJ is like, then I will just summarize what the pain is and not go into details – someone is hammering an icepick into my ear drum on both sides of my head. Sooo, with all that trying to heal at once, I’m a bit crabby.

Sweet and Lovable
2nd Week of Pain

Crabby, I can camouflage fairly well – I mostly bite my tongue and just say things in my head. However, in week two, the emotional toll is increasing, and my eyes keep leaking, causing my nose to need blowing, which hurts (of course), and so it begins the pity cycle all over again. If you think that only a pregnant woman is overly emotional and slightly nuts, you are mistaken.

I gave myself a “day off” from wearing dentures today. They were making me insane yesterday because I could not control them, and they would move and stab me in my gums. I can’t talk with them or swallow medication because my poor tongue is confused by what has become of my mouth. Anyway, since they were soaking in denture solution all day and not in my mouth, my gums feel a bit tight. I don’t know if that is good or bad. I only know that it’s painful. All I can do at this point is rinse (gently) with warm salt water. It helps more than I care to admit.

I’m unsure if this post completely expressed my angst, but I feel better now.
Thank you for listening.

TTFN

The Dental Saga: Operation Healing

~ JodiLea ~ Leave a comment

I was never able to take a nap. Before I knew it, it was 8:30 pm and hubby went to bed. The first thing I did was take out the dentures – they were fixed in with denture goop. I rinsed them with warm salt water to loosen the grip before pulling them off my gums.

.The goop had helped the dentures stay in place. Unfortunately, it adhered to my gums enough to pull out stitches. Note to self – use less goop!

After a late dinner, I suddenly got hit with a chocolate craving. As an experiment, I took 2 Hersey’s kisses (melted), 1 tbsp of vanilla ice cream, and 1 tbsp of vanilla yogurt, and put them into a plastic glass. I microwaved all for 9 seconds, stirred, and nuked it for another 9 seconds. Stir and voila! It’s not fancy French or Swiss chocolate, but it was yummy enough for me at this point.

I got some great advice today – “Just take your pain meds and sleep until you’re better.” I plan to take that advice this weekend.

TTFN