Death by Dental Visit.

First of all you must know that one of the ways Alan and I cope with or try and make it through some of the REALLY challenging aspects of our living as we do is to find the humorous side. "BLOG FODDER" is a phrase that we use with one another to kind of snap each other out of the "Oh. My. Heck. What do I do with this?" mode.

After this last couple of months though I'm feeling a bit done having interesting blog fodder for you all. Nothing personal - I'm just feeling a bit like the crash dummy and that I'd rather sit out for a while. Alas, we are still here so I'm strapped into the 'vehicle' called new experience.

Newest experience to share - DENTAL VISITS and WORK in Honduras.

This story is not for the faint of heart. Or the ones who get the willies reading about medical stuff. Heck I wish I could click the little "x" button and opt out but no - here I am. Your own personal crash dummy.

A tad bit of history for you to set the stage.

I don't like the dentist.

Forgive me if you are one. I'm sure I would like you in real life and in my intellect (or what's left of it) I KNOW that you do good things for me but frankly - I don't like you to have to be that close to my mouth.

I don't remember for sure when this phobia first manifested itself. I remember one particular dental visit as a young teenager that left me feeling like I'd had a watermelon in my mouth for hours and I'm guessing that's where it started. We switched dentists later and I had several years of decent dentists and a fabulous orthodontist, but still. I will forever call my parents blessed for paying for the priviledge of getting my wisdom teeth out surgically. As in all I remember about that appointment was showing up early in the morning, saying hello, counting backwards with the goofy mask over my face then waking up being escorted to the car by several assistants. Mouth full of gauze and the sensation of floating, I still was trying to say thank you as they helped me into the car because it had been so great for me. I do remember whacking my forehead on the window as I tried to lean out and wave. I'm sure drool completed the picture. Needless to say - THAT was the best dentist appointment ever.

This story is a tad different. I will warn you that there is more punctuation than is legal in this post. It just isn't possible to convey the feelings I'm having without it.

Three phrases for you.

Third world country.
Dentistry.
Filling that falls out.

D.R.A.T.

This was how last month started for me. I managed to lose a filling in one of my molars. Not sure how but it HURT - it felt like half my tooth was gone. In fact it made my whole jaw and face hurt. Meaning I couldn't ignore it like I would've preferred to do. My first thoughts were I have to EXPLAIN this in SPANISH????????!!!!!!!!!! (and maintain my composure but that's another subject) Followed by my husband's comment - BLOG FODDER. I tried not to glare.

So - bless other missionaries' hearts - they shared the phone number of their dentist and said buena suerte! I called with much fear and trembling but I made the appointment anyway as I would rather get it fixed than have my husband pull my tooth. Yee....haw.....

I arrived at the appointed time with the major nausea that follows me to all dentist visits. But shoot - I was somewhat looking forward to getting this fixed. As I was 'checking in' I was met by blank stares. The dentist I had made an appointment with was in San Pedro Sula. Grrr...BUT since they had me on one book in the office the other dentist lady said she'd check it out after her next patient.

HOLY COW.

I don't know if dentists have been lying to me for years or this one is just painfully truthful in her manner. It was bad. Lots of damage. Yes, the filling had fallen out but apparently there was major stuff happening underneath that one. The Spanish was flying so fast and the pathetic, panicking gringa in the seat was trying to focus on verb conjucation and vocabulary more than the actual PAINFUL pushing, yanking, poking, and general chewing out I was getting.

Can you say cry???????? Oh my heck. It was practically like being told your old and going to need dentures. Or better yet - pull them all. (!!!!!!!!) In Spanish. I now have some temporary something to see if it works for about 3 weeks then if so, she'll cover it over and fill it for good; but if not (!!!!), I may need something like a Root Canal or a Crown with a SPECIALIST!

AAAAAAAAACCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!! !!!!!!! And OUCH.

As I'm leaving and making an appointment for the rest of the fixin's I mention that I want a cleaning too to make sure things are taken care of and she says.................."Oh really, you don't need a cleaning that badly." (WWWHHHHHHAAAAAAATTTTT???) THIS does not help my general nerves in actually having dental work done HERE.

My face still hurts. And I'm mad. And I'm feeling old and decrepit. And I'm hollering at my kids to floss and brush within an inch of their lives. Apparently I have more cavities that need attention (her words were "minas de carias" (a mine of cavities...) hyperventilating me) but for now we're fixing the most desperate things. I BRUSH!! I FLOSS!! Ugh. It was only $35 USD but oh my heck, it hurts and I'm still trying to figure out how my mouth went from being fine just three years ago to being a cavity mine field.

Of course NONE of this happened when there was a dental team here that maybe could have looked at it (with US credentials no less) and explained in ENGLISH what's going on in my mouth. I hope my husband gets a job some day with good coverage because at this rate I'm going to need false teeth by 38.

Now - of course all of this military coup and governmental take over stuff is kind of overshadowing my little dental issues. We wound up having to be out of the country when I'd rescheduled the appointment and then couldn't EVER get someone back on the phone. I was wondering if they'd closed the office for a while. Last week I was in the town and went in and made a new appointment. Guess when??????????

Tomorrow.

I am a tad worried about what I'm walking into as the '3 week' fix she gave me has now been there for about 5-6. I feel like I'm walking into a mine field.

At least tomorrow will yield more blog fodder.............unless I crash really hard in which case God will give me that new body he's promised with perfect teeth.

'till then...
Faith