Still able to eat turkey

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

After weeks and weeks of delays and tests and appointments, the doctor and

dentists have finally set a date for my hospitalization for my teeth

extractions.

To refresh those who may not understand what I'm talking about, I'm losing

teeth at a rapid pace as a result of the malabsorption and bone loss from my

CP. It all suddenly hit the fan this year when the dentist found two loose

upper molars, then within a few weeks, two of my upper front teeth were

loose, and two of the lower ones in the front starting wiggling a few days

later!

Sadly, I banned corn on the cob and anything else that has to be torn with the

teeth in order to eat it. The dentist said that the damage was increasing and

that I would need months to years of reconstructive periodontal surgery to

correct all the damage being done. The other option was to have the teeth

extracted and dentures put in. After he detailed the expense and the

discomfort and pain involved with periodontal reconstruction, saying that I

would end up feeling like I was " married " to the periodontist because of the

amount of time I'd be spending in his office......I decided to go with the less

painful, yet irreversible choice of getting dentures. A consult with the

periodontal surgeon estimated the costs to easily be well over $5,000 initially,

with additional periodic work being necessary on a continuing basis in the

future. Knowing that my problems aren't ever going to do an about-face and a

change for the better, I just couldn't stomach the idea of spending so much

$$$ and time going through a series of highly painful dental procedures,

especially knowing that the bone loss will only continue. I've had enough

pain in these last three years, and certainly don't want to purposely invite

more!

Once my GI learned that I was having my upper teeth extracted, and that I was

planning to be put out for the extractions, he got involved and said that he

didn't want the sedation and procedure to be done in a dentist's office, but

that

it needed to be done by a dental surgeon with a qualified anestheasist in a

" controlled environment " .....such as a hospital. He is concerned about my

high tolerance for analgesics, what with my wearing the duragesic patchHis

directives transformed a relatively simple procedure into a major deal, and by

doing this, has tripled the original cost of it all, too! My dental insurance

only

covers $1,000 a year. A root canal with sedation earlier this year and a crown

already took care of that miserly amount, so this is all going to be at our

expense.

I guess " All I Want For Christmas Are My Two Front Teeth " , (and more), will be

my theme song this year.....lol! Fortunately the dentist said he can put a wire

in to keep the bottom two front teeth in place and I will only have to wear an

upper denture. I had my last impression done, (what a messy and foul tasting

ordeal that is!), this past week, and the surgeon plans to have me admitted to

the Hilton Head Hospital the week after Thanksgiving for the extractions. I

have to admit that I'm even feeling anxious about this.....anything involving

the

hospital now gets me in this apprehensive state. When discussing it with the

dental surgeon's nurse, I mentioned that I'd only be in the hospital for that

day,

so wasn't that considered an out patient? Her comment, " well, you certainly

don't know that for sure now, do you.....you need to be admitted " , didn't help

my anxiety at all!!! Silly to be upset about something this routine, but I just

can't help it.

At least now I'll be able to enjoy the food and food and more food that I'm

going to prepare for our Thanksgiving feast. I was worried at first that the

new

teeth would interfere with our plans. It's my favorite holiday and for this

dinner, I really love to go hog wild, cooking up huge batches of all my family's

favorites and then always adding in a new appetizer, a different twist to the

vegetables or salad and new dessert just for fun. It always seems I've made

three times too much food for how many people are coming, yet very rarely do

we have any leftovers that last any longer than the second day afterwards.

With 7 males in the family, it's no surprise that the refrigerator clears out so

quickly!!

I'll know the exact date tomorrow. I don't have any idea how long afterwards

that I'll be hurting or unable to eat, but have stocked up on jello, pudding and

soups to tide me through. I just hope it doesn't hurt for too long because I'm

not sure that there's any meds that can do a whole lot more for me, or even if

my doctors wil give me anything stronger. I meet with my GI doctor tomorrow

for an update/review from my Mayo visit, and need to discuss that, as well as

find out who he's found to be my new Pain Management doctor. My last

appointment with my PM doctor is also the week after Thanksgiving, and I'm

hoping that he'll write me two months scripts (as usual), before I'm thrown to

the wolves.

I'll keep everyone posted about what's going on as I know it. Hope y'all had a

great weekend, with even better days ahead.

With love, hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

South Carolina Rep.

SE Regional Rep., PAI

Note: All comment or advice is based on personal experience or opinion, and

should not be substituted for consultation with a medical professional.

[Guest guest]

Heidi,Sorry to hear about your dental difficulties,but yhis subject holds a

special interest for me.My daughter's teeth have deteriorated at a very rapid

rate(over the past 12-18 mo),and all dentists (we've been to a few)say they

have to pull them all,and since she's so young(21) they suggested a

hybrid-dental

inplants/dentures that will be permanantly fixed in place.She's having a hard

time conceding to the fact that they feel they can't save any teeth,and she's

scared to death of the procedure and the following pain.I August she had

three teeth out,and had a tough time with pain and nausea.She;s also insulin

dependant diabetic which is a major concern with dental implants.Any info on

this

would be VERY helpful to us in deciding the best route to follow.She's so thin

already,I don't want to see her lose any more weight because of her teeth!!!!

Thanks,anne