Monday, October 4, 2010

Procrastination, my friend


Six months back, the filling on my pre-molars fell out. I should have got the cavity filled immediately, but April was a mad month. "I need to find a good dentist", I justified. But you don't exactly find a dentist unless you look for one. My tongue found something new to explore.
Then, the pain flared up. I couldn't hear myself think. I didn't trust myself to talk. Ibuprofen didn't help. Neither did clove oil. I passed the night in excruciating pain. And found myself a dentist the next morning.
Root-canal treatment was the official prognosis.
Why do we delay?

_____
A drabble is a story told in exactly 100 words.
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34 comments:

Kathryn Dyche said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Kathryn Dyche said...

I hear you . . . I often put off visits like this . . . you've reminded me I need to book an appointment with the dentist and optician. :0)

Natasha said...

@ Katheryn - I am a fine one to tell anyone, but BOOK THOSE APPOINTMENTS NOW!
The pain is not worth it.

Mary@GigglesandGuns said...

Put it off until it hurts. I thought that was the rule. :)

By the way I love that picture. t goes perfectly with the post.
Mary

Natasha said...

@ Mary- I did not know that. Now I do.

Incidentally, it is hard to tell, but the kid was laughing when I clicked that photograph!

Anonymous said...

Rayna - Oh, what a good question about procrastination! I wonder if the guilt of not doing something is better than the fear associated with doing something. And your root canal story is the perfect way to express it. Thanks :-).

Deb said...

Why indeed? Cause a nice walk in the park or a nice glass of wine or just about anything is more fun than the dentist. Although I just found a great woman who does the dental surgery like root canal. she is young enough to be my daughter and she is brilliant. Fear is gone.

Karen Jones Gowen said...

I hear this lecture whenever I go to the dentist... "If only you'd come in sooner this wouldn't be so bad." Dentists probably would be out of work without procrastination.

Anonymous said...

I don't put off the dentist as I hate any kind of pain in my mouth. I can handle other pain like a stubbed toe, but not a tooth ache.

Stephen Tremp

Natasha said...

@ Margot- you said it. Procrastination brings guilt, but that is easier to deal with than the fear of the unknown.

@ Deb- good for you. And you are right- almost anything is better than a visit to the dentist.

@ KarenG- am I glad I am not the only one!

@ Karen- I do hope this experiences gives me wisdom. It is so pointless, really.

@ Stephen- I can't bear the pain of a stubbed toe either. I can bear any kind of muscle pain (including labour), but nothing external.

Will Burke said...

Been there, and it cost me the tooth! Boo!

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Yeah, I did that once too. But only once! I learned my lesson the hard way.

Natasha said...

@ Will- considering the filling on the tooth fell out twice in six years, I am hoping this would end up cheaper.

@ Debra- as have I, I hope. But nice to know I am not the only one.

Stephanie Faris said...

EEEEK. I know my day is coming for something like this to happen, but so far, no root canals!

Aleta said...

Ouch! What is it about the dentist? I'll go to my regular doctor no problem, even the ears/nose/throat doctor - I'll go there in a rush if I'm not feeling well... but a dentist? Forget it. I think it's a childhood fear thing. Lol.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

That sounds like pure torture!!

Unknown said...

Ugh, hate going to those places. Would rather pull my teeth out with pliers myself.

Hope things go well for you.

CD

Southpaw said...

Yikes! Would the prognosis been any better had you gone sooner?

Jules said...

I wondered if you got that fixed. Sorry it led to a root canal though. :(
Jules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow

Plain Jane said...

About twice a week my husband reminds me we need to go to the dentist. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know. Now I have a sore tooth and we will be going soon...as soon as I find one.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

I narrowly avoided it once - and once was enough to teach me!

Doli said...

OMG.. hope you are doing better now! take care!

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

Hope you're feeling better! I try not to put off dentist visits...none of us like them, though!

Priya Shankar said...

Rayna! I have a doctors appointment that I have been delaying for a while. This post inspires me to make a move on that one... and fast!

Priya Shankar said...

Rayna! I have a doctors appointment that I have been delaying for a while. This post inspires me to make a move on that one... and fast!

Jane Kennedy Sutton said...

I’m so sorry, Rayna. I hope all goes well from this point.

Mason Canyon said...

Hope you're feeling better. I think sometimes we put off things thinking for some strange reason that they will get better on their own. LOL

Mason

Thoughts in Progress

Anonymous said...

oh no! Toothache is so cruel. Poor thing. Great the Commonwealth Games have started :o))

Natasha said...

@ Stephanie- and if you take care, there should not be any either. I blame only myself for mine.

@ Aleta- something about going to the dentist brings out the worst in you, doesn't it? Must be childhood fears reinforced by the books we read.

@ Alex- it is. I do think a toothache is the worst thing there is

@ Clarissa- isn't that going too far? Actually, the experience was rather good- but this one is a good dentist who went out of his way to put you at ease.

@ Holly- I am sure it would not have become a root canal treatment case, if I had gone to get the filling redone immediately after it appeared

@ Jules- getting it fixed.

@ Jane- that sort of describes me :-)

@ Diane- yes, once is enough to teach us, isn't it?

@ Doli- the pain has almost subsided now, so I am really happy

@ Elizabeth- you are right- the earlier they happen, the less painful they are likely to be

@ Priya- GO NOW!!!

@ Jane- thank you. And I am sure the tooth will be fine in time

@ Mason- wishful thinking, isn't it? But which of us is not guilty of it?

@ Niki- the Opening Ceremony was something, wasn't it? After all the muddle in the weeks leading up to the Games, I am glad it got off to a good start.

Tina said...

Oh I feel for you! How excruciating. I had my wisdom teeth out when I was 18. Swelled up like a chipmunk. Not fun. I hope this is easier to deal with. And just want to say I've missed my daily read here. I hate it when my responsibilities as a parent interfere with my online life...I remain your fan :-)

Anonymous said...

Poor you - I've done exactly the same. Learnt my lesson and now go for regular check-ups.

Natasha said...

@ Tina - family always comes first- I am glad you were able to prioritise.

@ Fiona - you bet I have every intention of doing so now.

Ann said...

Funny how we can find a good dentist when the pain strikes. Been there, done that. Was lucky and am still with the dentist who insists I now visit every four months!

Natasha said...

@ Ann - and that is a good dentist!

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