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Post by letsconnect on Sept 17, 2005 11:54:27 GMT -5
I hope you can find the courage to make that call (or walk into their office, whichever seems easier . We're all thinking of you
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Post by freakout on Sept 17, 2005 12:00:15 GMT -5
Thanks!!!! I am really trying. I have a family event this weekend and I really do not want everyone harassing me about going to the dentist. It would be alot easier to say I have an appointment scheduled
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Post by letsconnect on Sept 17, 2005 12:26:42 GMT -5
I can imagine that would be a huge weight off your shoulders .
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Post by freakout on Sept 17, 2005 19:39:55 GMT -5
I did make an appointment!!! The only thing is I talked to one girl, then another, then I was told I hadn't been in since 2004, so I would need an exam and then time permitting begin treatment.
I have never cared for the receptionist at the office and the way she sounded there was no way I was correcting her that I was in, in 2005, let alone tell her about my fears.
Now the real fears kick in, my appointment is next Friday Sept. 23. It is in the middle of the day, so I can only hope i'm not too much of a basket case at work.
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Post by letsconnect on Sept 17, 2005 20:33:39 GMT -5
That's fantastic - well done !!! Pity about the receptionist, but the important thing is that you can tell your dentist about your fears . That is great news - hope you'll have a good time at the family event tomorrow
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Post by freakout on Sept 19, 2005 10:02:46 GMT -5
My family event was fine...I guess my dad knows not to mention the dentist as I lost my temper the last time he brought it up...I haven't told him I have an appointment.
I am not sleeping & I just want to call and cancel the appointment, but I haven't. My boss just told me he might have to go out of town, which would mean I would have to postpone the appointment...part of me wishes that happens, and part of me prays that it doesn't.
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Post by letsconnect on Sept 19, 2005 11:36:33 GMT -5
Good to hear the event went well . It might be easiest not to put yourself under too much pressure and take it one step at a time? If you're just meeting him on Friday for a chat to discuss your fears, and see if he can reassure you, there isn't really much to be scared of.
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Post by freakout on Sept 19, 2005 11:47:47 GMT -5
My appointment is for an exam and time permitting to start treatment. This dentist works at a fast pace, so I am sure he will want to do something.
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Post by den on Sept 19, 2005 17:42:22 GMT -5
I'm in there tomorrow - first time in, I'd say, 25 years!! I booked the appointment two weeks ago (after trying for three months to pick up the phone) then went away on holiday. Strangely enough, I didn't spend my two weeks in the sun worrying about what was ahead _ I was just relieved I'd crossed that first hurdle. Now of course, it's a different matter! I'm trying to convince myself that whatever happens tomorrow, I won't really be a part of it...
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Post by jamesy on Sept 19, 2005 17:53:10 GMT -5
Just from reading this thread at once, it seems to me that you've made some great strides in a (relatively) short amount of time. So good for you! Best of luck to you tomorrow. Whether he stops at just a chat or actually starts work, I hope it is a good visit for you. I am eager to know how it goes! -James
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Post by letsconnect on Sept 19, 2005 17:59:17 GMT -5
Den - that is fantastic. I hope you had a great holiday (sounds like it)! I'm probably more nervous than you are, lol - but he seems like a really cool guy judging by my e-mail correspondence with him in the past, so.... hopefully everything will go really smoothly for you ! Let us know if he's right for you - and BEST OF LUCK TOMORROW!!!!!
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Post by letsconnect on Sept 19, 2005 18:06:45 GMT -5
freakout - your informed consent is needed for any treatment, and if you don't feel up to it, SPEAK UP! Now, it may be that come Friday, you actually do feel at ease and want something done (sometimes, it can happen that the emotions you felt during previous visits simply return, and you may feel comfortable really quickly). But if that DOESN'T happen, there's no reason for you not to say "I just want to talk to you about some things I'm worried about". Oftentimes, dentists are quite booked out, and if he's running late, he might actually welcome the opportunity. Ultimately, you are in charge - you're paying for the visit, and unless you've booked a really long slot for some reason (which I doubt), there's no reason why you can't just have a chat and an x-ray. My appointment is for an exam and time permitting to start treatment. This dentist works at a fast pace, so I am sure he will want to do something.
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Post by freakout on Sept 20, 2005 7:44:01 GMT -5
Thanks! I actually passed another hurdle too. My boss has a property in Florida, he needed to book a flight to observe the hurricane damage. He wanted to leave on friday, but I reminded him about my appointment and he postponed his trip until Saturday. I could have just said nothing and rescheduled, but I knew I needed to try not to do that, even though I really wanted to.
I'm still not getting much sleep & my stomach is in knots. I feel ill everytime I realize my appointment is getting closer and closer.
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Post by letsconnect on Sept 20, 2005 9:43:15 GMT -5
Wow - that's great - fair play to you!! Have you tried those relaxation CDs they sell in bookshops? They can really help a lot to reduce stress, especially if you use them over a longer period of time (according to experts, for maximum effect, it takes about 30 to 70 days, with -ideally- twice-daily 20-minute sessions. But listening to a 20-minute CD just before going to sleep, while in bed, is a great start - especially if you have trouble falling asleep). So if you can get a chance to go past a bookshop or one of those new agey places, you may want to pick up one or more of those. Well done !!
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Post by freakout on Sept 20, 2005 9:51:54 GMT -5
Thanks!! I don't have trouble falling asleep, it's stay asleep. I wake up & start thinking about the appointment and toss and turn. I will try the tape idea however. Now I just have to stop thinking about it. I wish we were busier at work, then I wouldn't have to think about it during the day, but.....
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Post by letsconnect on Sept 20, 2005 10:09:44 GMT -5
They might also work for staying asleep (because you might feel calmer and more relaxed), so it would still be worth a try . There are also various "themed" relaxation CDs, and there might even be ones that are actually aimed at staying asleep, I don't know?? Mainly what they appear to do is have an effect on your brain waves (or something along those lines), so that you feel calmer. But there's a lot of different themes out there (things like increasing self-esteem, happiness, etc. etc.). I'm not saying they're a cure-all, but I've had a look at some scientific studies (as well as actual "user reports") and they do suggest that such CDs work really well.
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Post by freakout on Sept 20, 2005 11:07:30 GMT -5
Thanks I will give it a try. I hope it works, but I did pick up some rescue remedy that I have heard about, but I am a little leary of trying it. I will probably try looking for the CD first, only problem is it is so hard to find the time to get to the CD store....not one close by.
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Post by letsconnect on Sept 20, 2005 11:22:45 GMT -5
In Europe at least, they tend to be sold in bookshops rather than record stores, I don't know if the situation would be different in the US? I also don't know if there's many "New Age" type shops in the US, but they also tend to sell them. Rescue remedy has no contraindications that I'm aware of. There's more info here: www.bachflower.com/rescue_remedy.htm
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Post by freakout on Sept 20, 2005 11:44:27 GMT -5
I did try the rescue remedy!!! It really does help. One of my biggest fears in going on friday is that I will be extremely shakey when I see the dentist like I after I ran into him at the mall ( I was so shakey I couldn't drive until I calmed down) The rescue remedy seems like that would help alot. It really helped to relax me. Thanks!!!
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Post by letsconnect on Sept 20, 2005 15:26:43 GMT -5
That's great ;D!!! A lot of people say it works really well - so thanks for the feedback (for future recommendations)!! Let us know how you get on (I won't be around until late tomorrow)
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Post by freakout on Sept 21, 2005 14:16:56 GMT -5
I am as my name state freaking out 8-)Less than 48 hours until my appointment!!! I can't seem to stop thinking about it!!! I keep fearing the worst. Today is a real test, it is the last day I can cancel the appointment without being charged. I keep telling myself not to do it, because I would be back to square one, but oh how I want too
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Post by letsconnect on Sept 21, 2005 16:36:17 GMT -5
Sorry to hear you're so scared . What IS the worst thing that could happen on Friday? I feel that you may be putting an awful lot of pressure on yourself, when it's not really necessary to do so. You only want to see if he can do anything to help you with your fears . There really is no need to look further ahead than this little (or big, depending on how you look at it) step. You haven't actually committed yourself to anything. If you don't feel happy on Friday, you can always take a step back and start afresh. Be kind to yourself - you don't deserve to suffer in this way
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Post by freakout on Sept 22, 2005 8:41:29 GMT -5
I guess I am worried that I won't be able to tell him about my fears, and I will just say I'm OK when he asks. Or else I will be so scared I will be shaking like a leaf. I know the tooth on the bottom will either need a root canal or worse have to pulled and I only have ten left on the bottom.
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Post by letsconnect on Sept 22, 2005 9:00:22 GMT -5
There's nothing you can really do to influence if the tooth you're worried about can be saved or not. Hopefully, it can be saved - I'm keeping my fingers crossed, anyway ! Could you write down your fears and give him the sheet of paper, in case you can't find the right words, or the words won't come out? Shaking like a leaf is fine - it will communicate to your dentist how frightened you are. Non-verbal communication is often as effective as verbal communication, all you're doing is communicating *something*. How did he handle your fears after you had the accident? Was it easy enough to talk with him?
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Post by freakout on Sept 22, 2005 10:03:50 GMT -5
When I went to him after the accident I made the appointment and went the next day. I was scared, but in pain in other areas (sprained finger & cut up face) so I was focused on that. I also had no insurance so I knew I would have to figure out the financing before he could do anything. He took inpressions and then came in and said he wanted to extract the bottom teeth that day if I had time. I said I had the time but No! I knew I had been taking ibuprophen for the pain and I would bleed more, plus the financial aspect, but all I could say was No! He said he understood and asked if I was still a little Jittery and I said yes. I did figure out how to pay for everything ($2400) and had to wait two weeks to have the extractions done.
I was terrified, espescially after a relative who works in the field told me he was very good, however I had better get gas because the injections he would have to give to numb the roof of my mouth would be extremely painful.
When the day arrive my Dad took me, I tried not to let him see how nervous I was, but when I got in the roof I was so scared I could barely say two words. When the dentist came in he asked if I was ready to have some fun and I simply replied no not really, Holding my hands together as tightly as I could even though they hurt, I did not want him to see how much I was shaking. I guess he could tell so he offer me the gas, I didn't even have to ask. He said it would help me to relax.
When I get nervous I really can't say too much, I just get real quiet. It definately help to talk about my fears now, but tomarrow will be another matter.
Thanks for listening!!!
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