Some things don't mix

My mother had soft teeth that got cavities easily. My dad didn't. Guess who I took after. I have spent many hours with dentists. I probably have a season pass. Luckily, I have good dental insurance. I also have crowns on all molars except one hanger on which will likely get capped next year.

The crown on my lower left farthest back tooth had to be replaced. It's not easy to get there. I also have a small mouth, the kind that makes dentists cry. He looked at what needed to be done to that tooth, and told me to take a pain pill before I showed up for the prep work.

Yikes! That meant Pain, since dentists will say, "You might feel a little discomfort," not, "This will hurt."

So I took a Vicodin. I still have a few left over from my hand surgeries 4 years ago. Bad decision.

We had to change rooms because the first room only had adult-sized masks for the nitrous oxide. I have a small nose, too, and the mask will leak unless I use a kid's sized mask. How embarassing. He hooked me up, and there was air blowing in my face. He did something to the connection. I got really, really high. No complaints there, since I never felt the first shot. However, after what seemed like 3 hours and was maybe 10 minutes, I realized there was a Problem. I had to remove the mask and give up the gas. I love that stuff. It's the only reason I go to the dentist.

I had to rush to the bathroom. Let's say my stomach was feeling a little discomfort. I brushed my teeth, returned to the chair, and asked for the gas to be turned back on. I knew the drilling and gum work was going to hurt. The drilling hurt, so I had a second shot. I had to leave the room again and, well, puke my guts up again.

Third time in the chair, more gas. Two more shots. It just wouldn't freeze well, and the work took so long the numbness was wearing off. By this time, I was lying sideways in the chair with my eyes closed and white as a sheet when they weren't working on me. It felt like they had their boots and everything in my mouth. I was shaking, cold, then shaking, hot.

I guess Vicodin and nitrous oxide are not a good mixfor me. He finally finished the temporary crown work and told me if I need to return for any reason befor the permanent crown comes in - and I interrupted. I said, "I am not coming back. Not before I have to." He wasn't offended and I wasn't angry. I just hurt and wanted to go home. I looked so bad they offered to drive me home, but it isn't that far.

I came home, was discomforted again, and bemoaned the fact that I generally have a cast iron stomach. I have joked that I could have stomach cancer and not feel anything. Still, the second discomfort at the dentist's office produced blood, so I won't forget not to combine those two drugs again. I put on my "comfy" clothes and hit the love seat and reclined it so I could nap.

Molly, the older beagle, gently sniffed the crook in my arm, reminding me that I had a blood test earlier in the day. What a nose! Then she curled up on my side, with her head and front paws on my stomach, very gently. Baby, the younger beagle, climbed up on the tops of the seats and put her back end on the other side, which was six inches higher due to my having reclined my side. She put her front half dropped down the six inches so she could put her face against mine.

I napped about an hour, and then felt human again. Other than the red dots (pitachae? I forgot how to spell it) all around my eyes from "discomfort" yesterday, and some lingering soreness in my mouth, I am just fine.

I also had a very strange dream last night.

So today I can plan in my mind how to spend the check my broker George sent me. I will come up with hundreds of idea and enjoy all the thoughts, but then will likely do only practical things and save the rest. It's a curse I have. Still, I know some of it will end up in a travel fund :)