I have had problems with my teeth since young. Actually one of the dentists I saw in the U.S. flat out told me that it is largely hereditary, that I would have developed problems with my teeth sooner or later, that even if I were born and grew up here, the land of BEST DENTAL CARE IN THE WORLD, I would have had bad teeth. Long story short, I have had numerous root canals done back home when I was fairly young. I am pretty sure they were all painful since dentists back then seemed to not believe in anesthesia, and the patients assumed that pain was just part of the deal.
The only thing I recall now is that once the pain was so excruciating that my entire body tensed up, my hands clenched tightly into fists , and it took more than an hour for my hands to relax to uncurl themselves. When it happened, the dentist simply told my mother that I was too hyper-sensitive and she could seat me in one of the chairs in the waiting room until I could function normally again.
I remember feeling guilty about not being able to sustain the pain.
I only started remembering all these yesterday when I went through my first root canal here in the U.S.
I also recalled the first time I saw an American dentist for a, relatively, trivial tooth decay. When I winced because of a slight discomfort, she immediately stopped whatever she was doing, “Did it hurt? I am so sorry. Do you want a shot?”
I was startled by her genuine concern over a pain so minor that I laughed. I wanted to tell her how happy I was but I did not for fear that she’d think I had gone mad.
This time the pain started last Friday evening. It was not really pain per se, but more like a dull sore that made my skull chamber hum. All day and all night. I finally was able to see the dentist this Monday and was given the bad news that a root canal was necessary.
“Could I have the laughing gas?”
“Of course you could!”
Laughing gas + Novocain. I was set. No, I did not dream Britney Spears or even John Stamos. But, I did see colors, and patterns. Generally enjoying myself in such a legally drugged up state. All of a sudden, I saw bursting colors, and the straight lines in the patterns curving at the end and breaking into flowers with brilliant colors.
At first I could not pin point the sensation. Neither what nor where. The colors were ricocheting all over inside my head. Then gradually I felt it. It was emitting out of the spot where the doctor was sawing with an endo file. Gradually I realized that sensation that I was feeling? That sensation was PAIN.
I should say something, I thought.
I should at least make the noise, OUCH.
But I did not care. I could still see the colors bursting while the end of the straight lines curving upwards into a floral shape.
Maybe pain is normal. I thought. Maybe for a root canal, I am supposed to feel pain, I thought.
Bursting. Pain. Boom. Colors.
I could not make myself care.
Unfortunately I was not allowed to walk around hooked up to the laughing gas. As soon as the mask was removed, the pain became more and more acute. “Was I supposed to feel the pain?” I asked the dentist.
“Oh my goodness. Of course not!” she said apologetically, “Some people are hyper sensitive to these kinds of pain. You must be one of them. Why didn’t you tell me? I could have given you another shot. Do you want a shot now?”
I had missed the window of making this root canal a pain-free experience. Wouldn’t have made any difference then, I am guessing. The persistent pain seems to be what comes afterwards. For the rest of Monday and today, I live in constant awareness of the shape of my skull.
But no colors. No bursting flowers. Just blinding white behind my eyes when I squeeze them shut.
Can I have the laughing gas?
Andrea @ Shameless Agitator recently posted…Clinging
An exceptional sidebar picture today! I don’t know how the heck you do that but they’re always terrific.
I sleep in a gown much like that.
Mary Lee recently posted…Sunshine on a Cloudy Day
Where the hell are you? Did you get lost in the space/time continuum, or did I?
Wicked Shawn recently posted…You’ve Been Warned!
I am a complete pansy at the dentist. They would have had to knock me out to do a root canal.
Velva
P.S. There is nothing worse than a dull toothache (ugh). Feel better.
Velva recently posted…Wordless Wednesday
Oh my Lord! You poor thing.
Root canals are the worst and soooooo scary! You should have opted for the second shot of Novacaine for the road.
Jotter Girl recently posted…Can I get the “Yes Mom” app at the ipod App store
Yikes. I had a root canal and a crown done on the same day. It was most uncomfortable. Bad call on my part.
Jack recently posted…He Is Dying A Long Slow Death
Are you home from the waterpark yet? I need you to pry Elly’s two feet or less breadbasket secret out of her.
She won’t tell me and I’m going mad.
Also, in the proper spirit of this post I forgot to mention in my earlier comment that the last time I had a root canal the pain I was having the procedure for was so bad that the actual drilling up through my brain felt like sweet relief.
It was like a weird masochists dream.
dufmanno recently posted…The Lesser Of Two Evils
I wish laughing gas had that sort of effect of me. It actually makes me anxious and, when rarely offered, I just decline. That really sucks about the pain, although if they had numbed you up any more you would have gone home looking like botox gone wrong. That’s what novacaine does to me. Pain-free comes at a price.
The Sweetest recently posted…Ticking Walls- a Rite of Passage- and Creepy Future SciFi
Ok. You’ve successfully freaked me out RE: root canal. I’ve never had one…but I do have a filled cavity in one of my molars from childhood. I found out at my last appointment that the tooth had a crack in it and would eventually break, potentially resulting in a root canal, depending on *how* it breaks. Now I’m a-scared. ::hold me::
I so hate going to the dentist that I can totally relate to this. I remember the “Glee” episode with the “gas”– What a hoot.
Sorry about the pain afterwards. It’s so not fun. But I hope by the time you read this is will be completely gone.
Hang in there. jj
Well, that just sucks. Back pain makes you realize how much you use your back. Neck pain makes you want to lie down and die. But whole-skull pain? That must make you…well, I don’t know, but I don’t like what it probably did to your desire to continue being alive.
Hope you’re better.
Naptimewriting recently posted…The Pale King approacheth
Please don’t hate me but I’ve inherited the good teeth gene. However, winced at every word you said here. For this, even if I haven’t spoken to my dad in years, I feel like I should send him a thank you card.
OK, good. The feeling has passed. Hope your pain has too my friend.
Justine recently posted…A belated birthday letter to my 225-year-old
omg colors and lines bursting into flowers! i love the happy gas. i switched dentists based on this one factor.
i hope your pain is completely gone, baby girl. (((hugs)))
I have never had pain at the dentist ever, but I’ve always gotten novocaine. I can’t imagine what on earth a dentist could be thinking to not automatically give novocaine to every patient (except for the allergics and masochists and martyrs). Also, when I was in college I had a dentist who would give me laughing gas every time I set foot in his office. Loved it and loved him.
Diane recently posted…This Real Woman Doesnt Grill
I am a hypersensitive. I metabolize that stuff SUPER fast. I have learned to tell them WAY up front. Then I get lots of shots and have a numb face for 2 days:) So sorry for the tooth trouble. Ick.
Wildology recently posted…Tucker is finally here!!
WHAAAAAT? There is NO WAY I could have a root canal without medicine! No siree! I couldn’t help but laugh out loud when you were talking about how your hands clenched up and it took a while for them to unclench. Wow! Hey, I have a funny story… when I had my wisdom teeth pulled 10 years ago, I had Novacaine and laughing gas and yet I still felt the dentist cutting out my (impacted) wisdom teeth. Yet I had no control over my mouth. Somehow the lower part of my jaw went crooked, it became so slack that it just kinda slid to the left… and got STUCK! I couldn’t open my mouth or straighten out my jaw, so the dentist had to force it open, popping it out of place in the process! Now, to this day, whenever I chew, my jaw makes this audible and slightly disconcerting popping noise. My husband can’t stand when I chew gum. LOL!
So sorry it took me a while to get back to you after you left comments!! Hope you’re doing great!
Jen @ NathanRising recently posted…Flat-iron instructions for dummies
This is a painful subject for so many people. I have gone to a dentist so few times but by golly a couple times it was a very bad experience. So when you said you were going to see your dentist I shuddered and held my breath and already started feeling sorry for you. I can’t get myself to go and I need to. If laughing gas didn’t block pain for you, that is not a good incentive for me to go through that. Ugh. I can so feel your pain.
TechnoBabe recently posted…Luck And Love
Oh, don’t even get me started on this topic. And I raise my glass to whomever invented laughing gas, though it seems like a long time since I’ve been so lucky…
(Cool whip. Really. It works.)
BigLittleWolf recently posted…Is “Giving” Complicated
I feel your pain, Lin…I too have “bad teeth.”
I hope you’re back to normal soon!
Hugs,
Wendy
writerwoman61 recently posted…Rock It Science…Couch Curling for Dummies…
This post makes me want to try laughing gas. I mean, use it for recreational purposes. Is that bad?
Btw, I’ve nominated you for the Versatile Blogger award: http://beatofmydrum.com/?p=4184. I think your writing is a hoot and a half. I’m jealous of the witty way you write!
The Reason You Come recently posted…Versatile Blogger
Poor you. Tooth pain sucks. When I was growing up, novacaine was used only for extractions. All of my fillings were done drug-free. Years later, the first time a dentist offered me novacaine for a filling, I was so giddy with excitement, I considered going on an all-candy diet so I could get more cavaties.
Renee Fisher recently posted…Fullness
Oh, this is beautiful and dreadful at the same time. Hope it is better now, my lovely.
Wicked Shawn recently posted…If I Said I Want Your Body Now…
Oh no! I am so sorry that you had to experience that. It sounds awful! I just said a prayer that the pain would go away quickly!
Life with Kaishon recently posted…‘We shall draw from the heart of suffering itself the means of inspiration and survival’ Winston Churchill
I like the medical types who tout, “There’s never any reason for tolerating pain.” There are those and, when I find them, they earn my undying loyalty.
Feel bettah!!
Nance recently posted…The Scented Path
And I thought I was tough ’cause I bit through the pain of filling a cavity (the anesthesia only kicked in when the work was done… brilliant). Hope you’re better now – and hey, at least you got a legal trip out of it ;).
Lies recently posted…Happy Pi day!
That luaghing gas induced dreams sounds like the making of a Disney movie back when Walt was still alive.
Hope the pain is subsiding.
OMG. Mouth pain — is the WORST. You poor thing!
Andrea recently posted…Proud Mary
Oh my word. I HATE the dentist! No matter how much laughing gas or novacaine they give me, I always feel the pain too. You poor thing!
I am sure we are related. Rarely does a dentist look in my mouth without whistling. I’ve had enough root canals to put many an endodontist in a higher tax bracket. My sinuses infect my teeth roots, my roots infect my sinuses.
I’ve never had laughing gas. Not sure I have any possibilities left for needing it. You don’t suppose I could get it for a pap smear, do you?
Mary Lee recently posted…Every Bird a Nest
I can’t stand dental work. I want drugs. Lots of drugs. But just don’t give me novocain with epinephrine in it…That makes my heart feel like it’s about to explode. So yah, shoot me up with something good.
Take care!
A Vapid Blonde recently posted…The Dish’s Picks Of The Week 6
How on earth did you manage to make a post about a dentist skull fucking you be so abso-smurfly beautiful? I think this might just be the pretties thing of yours I’ve read. Or maybe I’m into masochism. You’re pick.
Elly Lou recently posted…Catch Me If You Can
*shudder* That sounds awful and vibrantly colorful at the same time. I’ve yet to encounter a dentist that would give me laughing gas! And when I had my wisdom teeth out at 16, I felt everything! It was horrifying and it makes me hurt just thinking about it.
I would happily play soothing music, light aromatherapy candles and massage you until you forgot you even had teeth!
That last part might be more for me that you, but we’d both still benefit!
SisterMerryHellish recently posted…Who Do You Write Like
Every visit to the dentist has the potential to turn the corner and end up in Marathon Man territory.
The laughing gas is the best drug ever invented. You want to saw my head off with a rusty butter knife? You go right ahead John Smith DDS! I don’t care anymore because I now know the meaning of life!!
dufmanno recently posted…An Uncategorizable Delight!!
If they knock you out now for wisdom teeth removal, I wonder why not for a root canal?
You know “Give Me Novacaine” is a Green Day song?
“Drain the pressure from the swelling,
The sensation’s overwhelming,
Give me a long kiss goodnight
and everything will be alright
Tell me that I won’t feel a thing,
So give me Novacaine.”
secret agent woman recently posted…How Honors students cut loose
Oh sugar that’s rubbish. Root canals are meant tobe absolute agony.
Like George Bush’s voice playing on repeat to a Metallica track whilst being forced to sit in front of an 8 hour marathon of the Kardashians.
Or something.
*hug*
– B x
The Barreness recently posted…Maybe y’all didn’t know- but it turns out I’m hot shit