Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Feeling Down - Need a Little Boost

Today is a dark and dreary day, and for sure it matches my mood.  I've been suffering with a bad tooth for quite a few months, and finally decided it was time to do something about it.  My family doctor gave me an antibiotic to take in preparation for the extraction.  Ok, so far.  This morning was my appointment with a dentist.  He was a very nice, kind man and the office staff was great.  However, he said he could not take care of the tooth today, because I have been on an aspirin regimen as part of my diabetic program.  He did take X-rays, and then formulated a "plan of action"  complete with 4 options.  When I saw the proposed cost, I feel weak and thought I would pass out - he would pull three teeth, do root canal and crown on 2 and make two partial plates for the piddly sum of $4000.  I can't afford that, I told him.  So, showed me three other options and not one of them is under $2000.  And then the office call and the X-rays cost me $140 today.  So, I'm feeling like I wasted $140 and have nothing but pain to show for it.  And now I don't quite know where to go from here.  The bad part of it is that I need new glasses, and although my hospital insurance covers the exam, it doesn't pay for the glasses.  Please don't get me wrong, I appreciate the fact that we have hospitalization and it's a wonderful plan. And Rod's employer pays for it - truly a blessing in today's world.    But how, in today's economy, do people afford dental work?  If I liked the taste of alcohol, I would probably have a drink right now.  But I don't!  I could really go for a piece of chocolate (I am a choco-holic), but I would never stop at one piece and more than that isn't good for a diabetic!  I thought about having a good cry, but that would just give me a headache and make my eyes hurt.  So, I guess I'll just go to the sewing room and shut the rest of the world out.

Since today is "Climb out of the Rut" Tuesday, I need something to shake up my world a little.  So, when I came home from the dentist and went to change out of my good clothes, I put my bathrobe on instead.  Nothing earth shattering, but my chub is certainly all shaking!!  So much for climbing out of the rut.

2 comments:

Pat said...

I can relate to the dental situation as I have some very bad teeth...and a horrendous fear of the dentist as well as no dental insurance. *sigh* As for the glasses, Google the name Zenni Optical. I know many who have ordered their glasses online from there and they are VERY inexpensive and all have been very satisfied. (Even some folks who work for an eye doctor have ordered from there!) Hope you feel a bit less "down" tomorrow!

Nancy said...

I too can relate to the dental situation..although we have dental insurance it doesn't pay the best. I went for my last dental appt and was told I had to have a crown...I made the appt and started to save for the cost. When the day came they took another xray and I was told the tooth couldn't be saved..so I had them pull it..to the tune of $27...best money I ever spent. I don't miss the back tooth..and I got to move all that saved money to our savings... I also HATE going to the dentist but finally found one I LIKE!! And I think I like them because I go every 6 months to get my teeth cleaned and looked at and they now don't find anything wrong...before I only went to the dentist when I was pain..lesson learned..
And I am going to check out Zenni Optical like Pat suggested..