Health issues: don’t ignore them

[53' Stude]

Good Day folks. Today, went to dentist at 7:30 am. First time in 14 years. Cracked molar upper. Only front half is left. Getting it pulled next Friday. Modern medicine and correct anti biotic works wonders.

And I’m going to see periodontics dentist Put off my fear of dentists far far too long. With my great insurance; for molar extraction, x rays etc all I paid in full today was $72~


Please don’t end up like me; if you have fears or just don’t want to go, please do. I should have listened to mom 14 years ago.

As some or most know; I’m a jerk at times, and pretty rigid or just plain an expletive. Pretty ashamed that I never listened to family’s advice and didn’t go sooner. Least with how late fathers estate is coming along I can afford to pay cash to make anLOT of things way easier.

 

[ripcord]

Great advice.

I had a great uncle who on multiple occasions put off going to the doc with catastrophic results. In his fifties he developed a thyroid problem and almost died from low hormone levels. He was bloated and moved like a sloth. A few months on cheap thyroid meds and he was a new man. A decade later, he had a non-cancerous tumor in his groin area that he ignored for years and it got so big he almost bled to death on the table. He never really recovered.

 

[supton]

Wife's uncle died from a tooth infection. I am quite sure he was penniless at the end... but what is sad is that there were no less than 3 dentists in the family. At least one of them would have taken care of the problem, if he couldn't do the extraction I'm 105% sure that he would have paid out of pocket for whatever the oral surgeon needed. Nope, died from a tooth infection instead.

I'm getting good at putting off medical stuff myself. But it's mostly ignoring the doctor, I'm at least going in for the yearly visit.

 

[Dave Hess]

Definitely can understand why people don’t like going to the dentist.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Many people don't understand that dental health affects everything else.

You do need to find a dentist you like. I like mine now. Younger girl. She tells it like it is. Calls me an idiot if need be. I like that - no point in beating around the bush. Also told her not interested in any of these cosmetic things. Shining up my teeth won't help the other stuff. She is good with this also - she agrees I am beyond hope in that department.

 

[John105]

Good Day folks. Today, went to dentist at 7:30 am. First time in 14 years. Cracked molar upper. Only front half is left. Getting it pulled next Friday. Modern medicine and correct anti biotic works wonders.

And I’m going to see periodontics dentist Put off my fear of dentists far far too long. With my great insurance; for molar extraction, x rays etc all I paid in full today was $72~


Please don’t end up like me; if you have fears or just don’t want to go, please do. I should have listened to mom 14 years ago.

As some or most know; I’m a jerk at times, and pretty rigid or just plain an expletive. Pretty ashamed that I never listened to family’s advice and didn’t go sooner. Least with how late fathers estate is coming along I can afford to pay cash to make anLOT of things way easier.

Well I'll say you're man enough to share, what you believe will help others, and I respect that.

 

[53' Stude]

Well I'll say you're man enough to share, what you believe will help others, and I respect that.

Facts. Way too many years of jist not caring, etc and now I decided it had to be dealt with.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

What gets me is how selfish it is. Refusing to acknowledge potential health problems can also have a negative impact on the lives of those around you. Don't always take their presence for granted

 

[Averroes]

Good Day folks. Today, went to dentist at 7:30 am. First time in 14 years. Cracked molar upper. Only front half is left. Getting it pulled next Friday. Modern medicine and correct anti biotic works wonders.

And I’m going to see periodontics dentist Put off my fear of dentists far far too long. With my great insurance; for molar extraction, x rays etc all I paid in full today was $72~


Please don’t end up like me; if you have fears or just don’t want to go, please do. I should have listened to mom 14 years ago.

As some or most know; I’m a jerk at times, and pretty rigid or just plain an expletive. Pretty ashamed that I never listened to family’s advice and didn’t go sooner. Least with how late fathers estate is coming along I can afford to pay cash to make anLOT of things way easier.

Hope it works out well for you. Lesson learned. My wife works in the filed, so she's adamant about oral hygiene and care.

Interesting how much we put into preventative maintenance when it comes to our cars/bikes/boats/toys. Only the best for them, but for us, we skip, ignore and put off! Tis life.

 

[JeffKeryk]

After years of hard living and homelessness, once I got a job that had dental insurance, I started on a multi year dental recovery. I maxed out the insurance every year for years. I have maybe 6 crowns, I had cracked teeth (don't ask), all kinds of stuff. Today I get a cleaning twice a year and everything is good.

Dental work, all health care, can be expensive, but we only have one body. That new Snappy can wait!

Get 'er done @53' Stude. It's time.

 

[Dave Sherman]

Agreed on not ignoring things. About a year and a half ago, I noticed my hands were getting unusually dry and cracked, almost like a rash. Started going through lots of hand lotion, which helped, but it did not seem to be improving. When I started getting deeper cracks and little whiteheads, my wife finally convinced me to go see the dermatologist. Psoriasis. Triggers include things like harsh cleansers and chemicals. Well, it's getting better with treatment, but it finally convinced me to wear gloves when working on the cars. I'm sure oil, brake cleaner, gasoline, etc. finally irritated the skin enough it said "no more".

Wear gloves when you're working on cars. Trust me, it's not much fun and I still get flare ups.

 

[Al]

Thank you for sharing. As mentioned, dental health is of the most utmost importance. I actually do 3 visits per year. I only recently got dental insurance but I still chose to go to a great dentist outside the system. Wife and I have spent many thousands of $$ and it is so worth it. You are fortunate you did not suffer worse problems!!. After 14 years though, you likely will need serious periodontal work.

 

[doitmyself]

Well I'll say you're man enough to share, what you believe will help others, and I respect that.

Agreed 200%. Kudos. Thank you.

My wife has deep rooted fear of doctors and dentists, some of it justified. It's something we can only attempt to understand and definitely not armchair quarterback. Which reminds me of a Norman MacClean quote from one of my favorite books: A River Runs Through It.

“Each one of us here today will at one time in our lives look upon a loved one who is in need and ask the same question: We are willing to help, Lord, but what, if anything, is needed? For it is true we can seldom help those closest to us. Either we don't know what part of ourselves to give or, more often than not, the part we have to give is not wanted. And so it is those we live with and should know who elude us. But we can still love them - we can love completely without complete understanding.”

Note: I believe this quote would apply to @GON 's wife given his recent revelation of his garage storage management foibles

 

[Lubener]

Cracked molar upper. Only front half is left.

Interesting. I had the same thing happen about 25 years ago. My dentist who was a genious, keeping and using the remaining portion , created the missing portion with a pin inside and bonded it to the remaining portion. It looks and feels natural and is still in my mouth after 25 years. Saved me $$ from having a crown.
Today, I had my first filling in about twenty years. Truly blessed with good teeth.

 

[Cropduster172]

Many people don't understand that dental health affects everything else.

You do need to find a dentist you like. I like mine now. Younger girl. She tells it like it is. Calls me an idiot if need be. I like that - no point in beating around the bush. Also told her not interested in any of these cosmetic things. Shining up my teeth won't help the other stuff. She is good with this also - she agrees I am beyond hope in that department.

My daughter is our dentist. Cleanings, exams and fillings are free... family discount. Crowns and lab work we pay. It's a business and she and her business partner own two practices and they had to establish some SOPs for their business.
I had my first root canal a few months back but had to go to a periodontist as they have specialized microscopes that general/family dental practices don't and some root canals require their use..it was $1500 but I was charged $750 because the periodontist was a Penn Dental graduate like my kid, so I got the bro deal even though they didn't know each other directly.
In almost every case, your dental health and hygiene is a direct indicator of your overall health.

 

[50yr Street Mech]

Started taking MUCH better of myself once I retired. Have the time now. Turns out there were quite a few things out of whack. I earned that pension, and want that free money for as long as I can get it. I'll be 59. Things start going wrong with you in you're 50's. Stay on top of it. Saw way too many guys drop dead on the job from not taking care of themselves. Still thought they were in their 20's.

 

[wavinwayne]

I started actually taking my health seriously a few years back, and today I'm as healthy as I've ever been. I'm 52 and have aches from arthritis, but all of my blood work looks like it did in my 20s. Pretty much all I did was give up the booze I was drowning in.

 

[We're Metals]

Not much to add here, sorry you guys don't take care of yourselves.

In many larger cities, dental colleges will take 10%-20% the cost of typical in office procedures including cleanings. If you're tight on money this is a good option.

Works for Haircuts too!

 

[alarmguy]

You GOT to be PROACTIVE.
Ive posted extensively on this and need to update my cancer thread soon.
Gosh, you pay for health insurance, use it. Medicare too, it's a godsend.
Dont like doctors? that is an excuse inside your brain because you can see a different doctor.

I do get the dentist thing but you pay dearly for putting off the torture you get in a dentist office this one is a double edge sword.

Im not so sure what is the least pleasurable, getting treated for cancer or the dentist. But with thought, at least the dentist treatment ends in an hour at a time or less. Cancer SUCKS and one can never know what someone or a loved one goes through until they do.

 

[Cropduster172]

I don't get the fear of the dentist thing at all. Maybe 40-50 years ago but not currently.
I had my first root canal ever in April. I didn't feel a thing and I was in and out in about 1.5 hours.