A delay on my dentures and a Mayo Clinic consult question

[Guest guest]

My GI doctor has refused to allow me to have my teeth taken out in my

dentist's office. He says that before he'll sign off on me that he wants me to

have a full examination and bloodwork statis done, and then that the

extractions need to be done under medical supervision in a controlled

environment with the proper anestheasia. He's very conservative, and I do

repect this approach, but it sure does prolong the time and paperwork that's

necessary to do it his way, not to mention the increase in cost!! He says that

because of the amount of analgesic medication that I've become accustomed

to, he says that proper sedation for the procedure will be tricky, and he wants

it done by a professional. He wants me to have a dental surgeon do it,

instead of a regular dentist. My dentist wasn't too thrilled about this change

in

plan, especially since he's already sedated me once without problems when

he did my last root canal.

Having had enough time to think more about it, I do understand my doctor's

concern, so now I'm booked up for the next two weeks with appointments for

x-rays, an EKG, bloodwork and a full physical, also the already arranged

bone density test tomorrow. All these tests have to be done first, and I also

have to have a consult with the dental surgeon before we go any further. So it

looks like won't get the denture work done until November, because we are

taking off for a week's vacation during my " birthday week " , as my husband

calls it. He always takes a week's leave around my birthday (Oct. 22), so that

we can take a vacation. All I have to do is chose where I want to go and pack

my bags. I haven't figured out where I want to go, yet............any ideas?

I just hope that my teeth hold up that long, the two molars on one side are

hurting more and more each day and eating has become quite an adventure,

just hoping that one of them doesn't fall out when I chew.....LOL! I'll be so

happy to have this discomfort gone and the problems resolved. If it gets much

worse, my dentist may have to do an emergency extraction with just a shot of

novocaine for those two, just to keep me out of pain. Today they've been

especially painful and I haven't even put them to use yet!

My second piece of news is that I have my consult with Dr. Lange at

the Mayo Clinic in ville, FL on October 25th. I couldn't believe how

quickly we got this arranged, especially since we were told that the doctor

was booked up until after the first of next year. When my doctor's assistant

called the clinic this week, initially they said an appointment couldn't be set

up

until next year. But then when the nurse found out who it was for, (me), she

came back online and said that he would make an exception and see me this

month. Apparently the discussion about my abnormalties that my GI had with

Dr. Lange earlier this year has intrigued him enough to want to see me. I'm

not putting any eggs into the basket yet, but it will be interesting to see what

this doctor has to say about my situation.

Since the appointment in ville is the day after our vacation ends, I

believe we will spend the night before the appointment in ville,

instead of making the 2 hour drive down that day.

For those of you who have visited the Mayo clinic for a consultation, how long

should I plan on needing? Were any of you required to be there for more than

one day? Did they do tests or anything that made it necessary for you to stay

longer? I imagine my GI will mail my CT films, or have me hand carry them,

but I really don't know what to expect. Does anyone have any suggestions?

With love, hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

South Carolina

SC & SE Regional Rep., PAI

Note: All comments or advice are based on personal experience or opinion

only, and should not be substituted for consultation with a medical

professional.