Emotional roller-coaster

Yesterday I went to see the dentist to see if he would do something about a wisdom tooth (I call it my "idiot tooth") that has been bothering me since last summer. I went to him then about it and he wanted to do fillings and give me gum treatments before he attempted the extraction. Things got put on hold when I was diagnosed with breast cancer in August.

The tooth has been acting up again, so I went to see him yesterday (after checking with one of my doctors - the plastic surgeon - to find out what to do to protect my implants). The dentist was AGAIN just wanting to do the easy stuff - fillings, etc. - and do the extraction after my trip to the castle. Now, that's not until April 24. I have the 6-8 week recovery time before I'd even think about sitting in a dentist's chair for any length of time. It would be June or July before I'd feel like having it done, if even then.

Hearing him tell me this sent me into minor melt-down. I didn't cry, but I almost did. I just let him know that I came to him last summer for trouble with that tooth and he put me off and I'm coming to him again for it and he's trying to put me off yet again. I told him that I HURT and that I am tired of dealing with it and I want it taken care of.

His main concerns are that I just finished chemo in December, and he wants to be sure my blood counts are good. Also, I have been on 1 mg of coumadin since my chemo-port was put in. He wanted to get an okay from the doctor who put me on the coumadin. So I had to call that doctor this morning and get her office to call the dentist. Now I have to go to my medical oncologist early tomorrow morning for bloodwork. I guess they're going to check the clotting factor as well as my counts and then fax a report to the dentist. I have an appointment for Thursday at 9:00 for the tooth extraction. I got the feeling that the dentist is used to telling patients what to do and having them passively accept it. And I used to be that way before I got the cancer diagnosis. I kind of think I scared him yesterday! His wife works in the practice too as the insurance person, and I told her how I felt. She backed me up when I talked to him. Poor man must have felt like he was being ganged up on! But it's just abso-*******-lutely ridiculous to make me keep waiting when I have a wisdom tooth with a big HOLE in it!!

So . . . . I came home yesterday knowing that I had at least one phone call to make and at least one hoop to jump through to get my tooth taken care of, and there is a message from the gyn's office. One of the ladies in the office had called to go over my benefits for my surgery. I thought of all the ladies here whose insurance denied the surgery, and I DID go into a snot-bawling melt-down over it. Bawled and squalled for a good half-hour.

Got up and called them first thing this morning. Good news: insurance approved the surgery and two nights in the hospital (but she said that the doctor could extend it with documentation of the need) and she just needed to tell me what my co-insurance part was and that they need it from me at the pre-op. Whew!

Then I managed to get the bloodwork scheduled and made an appointment for the extraction. I tell you what - that tooth fairy better bring me something REAL good after this!

CD

If I was you, I would seek a second opinion with another dentist. It is also a good idea to speak to your doctor, but you have enough on your plate without having to fight to get this tooth issue resolved. A different dentist might be more willing to work with the doctor instead of putting your through all these delays.

I know it's frustrating as I had to have a tooth pulled right before my hysterectomy and then issues with another tooth afterwards, but your dentist is only following the guidelines that he has to because of the cancer. He's protecting you and himself. They won't drill because of risk of infection so the filling option is out, and he sure as heck doesn't want you bleeding to death from the coumadin when he yanks the sucker which is why it's imperative that he get the ok from your doctor. Good luck with the extraction tomorrow.

s CD

You are not alone........I have dealt with a similar issue now for a few months.....i finished chemo in 11/04. Dr. wanted to wait 6 months for dental work. About that time, my CA125 started to creep up, so of course a reoccurence of my ovarian cancer seemed likely. I finally started chemo in Dec. of 05 and will be finished in April. Again, the Dr. is saying another 6 month wait.

It can get so very frustrating, but just remember that they are doing all of this for your own good.

in there and good luck with your surgery.

Hi Colorado Dreamer! I know its frustrating, but the dentist (believe it or not) is actually working in your best interest. Dental work carries with it a high risk of infection, so he has to have the bloodwork to make sure you have enough white cells to fight any infection. As for the coumadin, people do have to stop that a few days before dental work or they would bleed out. I have 2 of my kids with heart murmurs and they had to have ECG's and echocardiograms and a visit to a cardiologist before they were ok'd for dental work. A pain in the butt, but good in the long run. So, hang in there, its all for your good.
's and

Here's an update:

I went to the medical oncologist's office yesterday and had the bloodwork. I gave them the information so that they could fax a copy of the report to the dentist. Something must have been wrong with the phone lines because I and the ladies at the dentist's office (and my husband) called them numerous times to have them try again.

I was pre-medicated when I went in on Monday, so he did go ahead with some fillings at that time. He prescribed a stronger dosage of cephalexin for me to take after, and I've been taking that ever since, along with darvocet for pain.

The dentist went ahead and extracted the tooth, even though he didn't have the report in hand. I do know from what my doctor has told me that my counts are good, so that shouldn't be a problem. I'm also continuing the cephalexin to keep infection at bay.

I had very little bleeding and not a lot of pain either. He numbed me up pretty good and even gave me an extra injection after the injection because I was starting to hurt. It's pretty much worn off now, but the darvocet is keeping the pain level manageable. I had some swelling right after I got home, but I've been keeping ice on it (20 minutes on, 10 off) and it's going down. I go back on April 20 to have my new crown seated on the tooth next to the one he extraced.

I'm feeling better!

CD

Hi CD! Thanks for the update. I'm glad you're feeling better. Also glad you're on cephalexin.

Good to read the positive update. Don't forget to keep rinsing (when you've been given the go ahead) so you don't end up with dry socket.