The Root Canal

Today I went to the Endodontics's to have my root canal finished. I went thinking it would go without a hitch, just like the first part of it did. Well, for the most part it did, but I am here to tell you it was painful!

Because they recommended taking Ibuprofen 800 milligrams and the dentist was more than 20 miles from my house I decided to have my wonderful husband drive me over there. It is a really nice drive if you are the passenger. You drive on I-10 West around the Franklin Mountains. You can see just how big El Paso is, and you can even see into Ciudad Juarez in Mexico.

Now being the big control freak that I am, I have it all mapped out how I want it to go. Daughter's diaper bag is packed and ready to go the night before. I explain to the husband that at exactly 8:55 a.m. I want everyone in the car so we can drop our daughter off at the sitter and then head out. Does it go according to plan? Almost.

We did make it into the car at the correct time, but then the hubby decides that he needs his computer so he can do work stuff while waiting on me. He also almost pulls out of the driveway to go the wrong way. He first thought that he would be watching our daughter while I was in my appointment and that it wasn't all the way on the West Side of El Paso. So once we got this all figured out, it was almost 9:05, lucky for us the sitter is pretty much around the block from us. I get her inside where she does the whole "You can't leave me, I hate it here" screaming deal, which I am sure was for my husband's benefit as she never cries when I drop her off by myself. Then as we leave the neighborhood hubby decides that he should put air in the tire. So by the time we get all of this taken care of we are heading toward I-10 at 9:20 a.m.

I am almost in a panic, but I have also been using my "Mommy's Time Out" oil, so I know I will be okay. The receptionist has told me over and over that I must arrive 15 minutes prior to my appointment. But the traffic wasn't heavy and it was easy to find. That is a rarity for us because we usually get all turned around when we head over to the West Side.

Our conversation was a tiny bit what we would pay verses what the insurance would pay. We also discussed the pros and cons of Dollywood Verses Disney World. This coming from the recent price increase at the Disney Parks. I explained that I felt like when you compared the prices of a Disney Check to car payments or paychecks it made it seem like a terrible investment. I have also been to Disney as a pre-kid adult and wasn't too impressed. It was so commercialized and just not something that I would want to take my kids to. I remember it being hot and long lines. Now Dollywood I have also been to and I remember it with fond memories.

I went to Dollywood with my Grandparents on my Dad's side. They took my sister and I the summer that I turned 12. It was the last summer with spent with my Grandmother as she died the following spring. I remember my grandparents riding just about every ride with us and the shows. I also remember the second day that we were there we were cold after the water rides. I loved the Dolly Parton museum, even as a 12 year old. So I explained to hubby that yes Dollywood would be a place I would like to take my kids.

We arrived at my appointment and I feel the anxiety and yes, I have my "Mommy's Time Out" and hubby is laughing as I roll it onto my neck and arms. It really does work though. Paperwork filled out and then they call me back. The X-Ray was very uncomfortable and hard to keep in place and I drooled all over the place. Embarrassing and Gross!

The Dentist comes in and he is a very nice guy. We talk Ruidoso NM and Tennessee and then he gets started. I always hate the numbing shots they give you in the beginning, and I am fairly certain I started off with close to five, I lost count. So I worked through that pain and then the procedure started. My right eye had this weird twitch where it wanted to close and the left of my face was nearly paralyzed. At first I just feel pressure, nothing too bad and I keep my eyes closed so that I won't see the scary instruments.

I focus on calm thoughts. Thoughts of flying to Michigan to see my Mom and other relatives next summer. I picture the suitcase that will be large enough to hold all of our clothes and each of the kids with a little backpack, and I with my ACU bag. And then I start thinking of all the baking I will want to do there and how I will need another smaller suitcase so I can take my bread loaf pans and drying racks and two cookbooks and then PAIN! The dentist stops and says that it is odd that he could do one canal but I would still feel pain when he starts the second. Even more odd since I had all the classic signs of being numb.

None of this is any consolation and I'm already uncomfortable due to all the contraptions holding open my mouth in an uncomfortable position. So at least another four more shots and the pain was gone. It was harder for me to drift off far away the second time. I could only feel the silly things holding open my mouth and when I would open my eyes I would see needles or pins, not sure what they were, but they didn't look friendly.

Finally the entire thing was over and true to their word the entire process took two hours. The Dentist was kind enough to explain everything to me. He also explained that he would be giving me a cell number to reach him if I needed to. I was thankful for all the kindness displayed there.

I came out to the lobby with the left side of my face immobile and the right side of my face attempting to work properly. My husband loved that my left eye remained open even while my right eye was doing this weird half wink twitch. He told me that it was freaking me out in a funny way. I love this man, he always makes me laugh even when I can't feel half of my face. It was difficult for me to see out of my left eye for awhile also. It was open, but blurry. I am really glad that he went with me. Driving on I-10 makes me nervous on a normal day, I was imaging how much more nervous I would have been after that procedure.

Even after coming home I attempted to eat yogurt and that went okay, but it still took several hours before I could even drink from a straw. My daughter never took a nap, so I took ten minute naps where I would fall asleep but wake up to something being stuck in my face.

Now I am awake and waiting on the hubby to get home. He said I don't have to cook tonight so it is going to be either Subway or Taco Bell.

Both kids are home and my face feels more normal, but I can feel the pain trying to come back in my mouth and you better bet that when hubby is home to supervise the kiddos I will take a pain pill.

Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.