Home > Uncategorized > Surgery that I wasn’t looking forward to – UPDATES

Surgery that I wasn’t looking forward to – UPDATES

February 3, 2011

(Previous title: “That thing I’m not looking forward to happens tomorrow”)

8:00 am Friday, they’ll be removing one of my front teeth, cutting away the gums, carving out some degraded bone, assessing level of embedded infection, and grafting in some bone from some unfortunate critter.  Afterward, I’ll have a nonfunctional “cosmetic” fake tooth supported by fitted plastic.  (Not entirely cosmetic; it will allow me to talk normally)

In a few months, if all goes well, a titanium anchor, then some time after that, a new, functional tooth.

This may be an echo of the accident I had 6 years ago. Broke 4 teeth at the time, plus my scapula and generally bloodied and unconscious.  Regained consciousness in the ER.

Insurance won’t cover anesthesia; that $500 is on me.  I’m sorry, but I just can’t face this with local.  I have a serious case of the jitters.

It isn’t really anesthesia; it’s “twilight sedation”.   The milk of amnesia.

UPDATES:

  • Diane keeps saying; “Your face is so swollen!  It’s more swollen than before!”  I love you too, dear.
  • Bone invasion was much more extensive than they thought, reaching farther up toward the nose and also back into the palate.  They wound up putting in more bone than expected and we’re looking at 6 months instead of 3 before we can see about putting in an anchor implant.
  • Some things don’t add up and it’s worrisome.  Doctor said symptoms didn’t mesh with what they found and he isn’t sure what that was, so he is sending it to a University of Kentucky lab for identification.  He’s been doing this long enough to have seen everything so it’s like he didn’t want to say what he thought it was.
  • Next time doctor says “something for pain” I should make them specify.  Stronger is better.
  • DAY TWO: Pain abated, swelling quite extraordinary.  Consistent with other surgeries I have had, but on my face.  Trying to figure out how to remove/reinsert the prosthesis.
Categories: Uncategorized
  1. February 3, 2011 at 23:19 | #1

    Just had that done to remove a granulome(?) and have the tissue sample checked that it was not cancerous. Took 4 jabs of local anaesthetic, and left me with 12 stitches that get removed next wednesday.
    Wasn’t as bad as I had expected, and the pain when chewing has gone, I just have wound pain which will heal away. Haven’t seen the bill yet tho’ . . .

  2. February 4, 2011 at 02:03 | #2

    You know, the $500 is totally worth it. Being conscious for that seems like a horrible idea. Here’s to great dentists and a smooth operation!

  3. cindy Ropp
    February 4, 2011 at 06:36 | #3

    What is with insurance and anesthesia? They didn’t cover my daughter when she had wisdom teeth removed either. Seriously? You think someone should do that sans anesthesia? Seems the insurance company is about invoking trauma!

  4. James Kessler
    February 4, 2011 at 08:19 | #4

    I’d settle for a law that says that people who work for health insurance companies can’t get anasthesia for anything.

    Well I suppose unless the lack of it is going to cause them to die.

    Somehow I suspect they’d start paying for anasthesia rather quickly.

  5. February 4, 2011 at 10:47 | #5

    the patient is at home and resting comfortable after taking the antibiotic and a pain-reliever. Exit instructions tell him to “stay ahead of the pain”.

    Doc sent in a specimen for lab exam, saying there was extensive bone invasion, and symptoms do not mesh with evidence. I love when a professional person talks to me like I know something, and expected to be a member of the care team. Results on that might take awhile.

    Also, the expected recovery period has lengthened from 3 months to 6 months. We might expect the implant at that time. The prosthetic tooth fits well, we stopped by our regular dentist for adjustments.

    I’m sure when the Mister DOF is up and around, there will be more details, and much blog fodder.

    ~~love and Huggs, Diane

  6. February 4, 2011 at 11:15 | #6

    Bless your heart George. My very best wishes that the results of the test will be very good.

  7. dof
    February 4, 2011 at 12:26 | #7

    Thanks everyone I am awake and not enjoying myslef.

    I guess problem was worse than thought.

    Why do doctores think tylenol + codine is effective pain med? For splinter maybe.

    “I’d settle for a law that says that people who work for health insurance companies can’t get anasthesia for anything.”

    James that is awesome

  8. Karen
    February 4, 2011 at 14:27 | #8

    Hope you are doing better. Tom and a similar procedure done a few years ago. Scraping bone and sent to lab. Everything came out OK. His was from an old football injury. Very old.
    Take care, take drugs and fell better.
    Sis Karen

  9. February 4, 2011 at 16:32 | #9

    Glad to hear you are on the mend and fingers crossed the test results come back with no deeper issue.

  10. February 4, 2011 at 22:06 | #10

    Glad things are going reasonably well, pain management issues aside. :-)

  11. February 4, 2011 at 23:13 | #11

    Feeling for you. The pain went, in my case, after 4 days :-)

  12. Melanie Schaafsma
    February 5, 2011 at 22:24 | #12

    Get well soon, George!! Sounds like you’ve had quite the time…I hope this message finds you healing quickly and not in pain.

  13. February 6, 2011 at 01:39 | #13

    Vicodin, damn it! Why can’t they get that Vicodin is SO MUCH BETTER than that Tylenol crap? I mean, what would Dr. House do? Make them tattoo it on their hands! Yes, Tylenol + codeine may work for people who haven’t taken painkillers, ever in their entire lives, but not for people who have to deal with chronic or recurring pain. Silly doctors.

    Glad you’re recovering, tho!

    On the insurance co stinginess side, I don’t think forcing the employees to forgo anesthesia will work. CEOs are heartless and they’d just have morale-boosting meetings forcing employees to cheer for the policy. No, the rule should be that if they deny coverage for anesthesia, they have to undergo the same procedure as the patient BEFORE the patient without benefit of anesthesia. That would certainly cause them to fork over cash faster than we’ve ever seen.

  14. Chas, PE SE
    February 6, 2011 at 12:57 | #14

    Goeorge:

    Ow ow. Good thoughts from here going out to good guy.

    PS like the tool caddy.

  15. February 21, 2011 at 07:47 | #15

    Lab Results for the Biopsy came back as “Nothing to worry about”.
    There was a check-up this past Friday, saying recuperation is moving along as expected, and he returns for the next check-up in a couple months.

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