Instead you have to go way out on some strip where they all are clustered, far from medical help (although you know they have equipment and training for emergencies); it was easier before they moved way out there and in a nice place.
What did me in many years ago was I had to have the deep cleaning where they go under your gums. I'm really sensitive, and I opted out of novocain because they have to give you a shot for every tooth. It was sheer torture; I got out of there and thought let my teeth go and get them all out, although that's not a good option either.
Maybe when it's time for you, you can break it up in easier pieces and try not to think of the rest. Get somebody good with novocain especially (one missed once and couldn't get it numbed right, I resisted, so even though I had eaten, he gave me a general and that is the easiest way to go. They won't do it now.
Then find somebody good for dentures and get some ready. Most people except those with top notch plans have to pay themselves - I did - dentures were $1200 or so with a discount for paying ahead. Now teeth were about $300 apiece for the "easy" ones. Mine were easy . Wouldn't know it by me.
Make up your mind to see it through as best you can. If you can't, you can't wear them and there's no law that says you have to. There are always ways to adapt, and I don't mean implants. To me, those would be a horrible ordeal, too. I never understood how my kids could waltz over to the dentist like it was nothing. They didn't have to go through what I did as a child. That's when it started, and my mom usually made me take the bus and go by myself, not always.
My psychology doctor was no help either. There's got to be somebody out there that can listen to your fears and help you take it in baby steps. And I used to hide my fears which takes even more energy and makes the apprehension even worse. Anticipatory anxiety. Freud had it, too. Never healed anybody either. Now I just tell them I always get anxiety before these things, it's built in; I have NO control over it. And then this surgeon who pulled at least 5 teeth over the years couldn't find my records and didn't remember me! How's that for me being a nobody? And the receptionist looked something up a few weeks before and said I last saw him in early 2015!
I hope I didn't add to your worries by my description. I got to thinking I didn't know because I didn't want to know or think about blood and gauze, etc., because I could have found out if I'd wanted.
You WILL get through it, and it's never quite like you imagine. Life just throws us some hardballs. When you get a chance if you get a chance or don't feel like it, how soon do you have to deal with yours? You don't have to do it all at once. I'm facing it too because I don't have a chance of total healing until they are all out AND six months for bones and all to really heal. I may never heal with my stomach problems; I try not to dwell on it and just do the best I can. At my age, I have to ask myself what I want to get better for? There's nothing left I really want to do or am physically able to do. But life has taught me to take pleasure in the least little thing, and I will still get hurt if something goes wrong with it. My plants destroyed. Little birds die or something kills them. I never know what I will get attached to next. Over and over and over but I still want to care for them; it gives my life meaning I don't get from my family which I have to accept the way they are. The ones I loved the most are gone except for a couple and one, my favorite and only granddaughter, moved away.
And for imperious, nasty nurses (and sometimes it's unexpected) I consider if I should go back there. I try to be rational about it and not burn my bridges with the doctors. And my ins said I should let them know, but it has to be really bad if I complain about them; it could come back on me or cause trouble for them, more likely the first. There sure have been several lately, on the phone, too, but there have been some super nice ones, too, or indifferent ones that at least don't give me a hard time about something. I told her she was pretty before the work, never do that but it was spontaneous and true when I really got a look at her face. Then I watched her with the doctor. Sometimes they can't help it and fall in love with them . . . .I really don't know what made me think of it as I was watching them interact. My psych nurse who retired, I suspected the same thing. In love with my psychiatriast who retired and died suddenly not long after that; she retired not much later, or it was just the way it fell out. How did I go there? I better clean up and go to bed. Nite and be good to yourself, let me know how it goes if I don't throw in the towel and get out of this house and town somewhere different. Too many shootings here lately, Chicago comin' here, taking over whole areas in town making them almost no go day or night, hard to believe. Yes, I think I will. Fed up with it all.
Sorry it's long again. People can skip over it. Oh no, her again lol. I could delete it all but I'll post it. If I had a cell phone like most people do now, I wouldn't be able to type so much
“Maybe when it’s time for you, you can break it up in easier pieces and try not to think of the rest.”
Sage advice. That’s what I try to do with each day. Take each project, each chore, each problem - one at a time. Otherwise, it get can get overwhelming.
No, you didn’t add to my worries ;) It won’t be for a while yet, since the dentists are not done nickel and diming me yet. However, NOW I am not so annoyed at them! Perhaps postponing this process is a good thing, LOL!
How is your daughter doing today?