The alarm went off at 6 AM
this morning – and I seriously considered texting the dentist office, and going
back to bed. I was tired, despite turning in early last night to make sure I
was alert for the early morning appointment. I hate going to the dentist;
I especially hate the painful teeth cleaning process, and the after effects
… but I want to keep my own teeth as long as I possibly can, so I bit the
bullet and left the house in plenty of time to make the appointment.
It was not enough time.
First, I stopped at the Safeway Gas Station, to replace the gas I burned on my Saturday Daytrip to Mt. St. Helens. The terminals were full, so I sat and waited for 10 minutes before I could gas up.
Then, when I arrived at my destination point (with some time to spare) – the building was fenced off: WTH So, I reached for the phone, called the number I have for the Dentist I use … and was given another address: back across town.
Apparently there had been a fire, and the business is “temporarily relocated” – temporarily, meaning they had been there for a whole year, and I had not been clued in: even though I had spoken to the talking head on the other end of the line for months setting this appointment up >:-P
Needless to say, I was not happy. I am not a morning person; when I have to be out and about early in the day, I want things to unfold smoothly without a lot of frustration.
I punched the new address into the GPS navigator app; and was led a looping chase through Longview that made no sense whatsoever. I finally pulled over, and called the dentist office again, asking for a physical landmark that I could see that would half-ass lead me to where the business was now housed. My ears were steaming and I was valiantly tamping my temper down when the receptionist said, “There really aren’t any landmarks that stand out – all the buildings are nondescript.” My tongue was bleeding as I bit it to keep from biting her head off. Finally, she said, “Look for the Daily News Building; that might help you.” OKAY … I know where that is – and if looks could kill, the Highlander’s GPS app would have been blown to smithereens.
I am not a morning person. I do not want to be dealing with frustrations before I am fully awake.
I finally reached the new locale – half an hour off schedule – walked into the office … and was told that the ‘temporary office situation’ has been divided into a downstairs office, and an upstairs office: “You’ll be seen upstairs: just walk around the building and up 2 flights of stairs – the door is clearly marked.”
((((Two flights of stairs?))))
I am 65 freaking years old, with a heart arrythmia. I turned my ankle on a hike Saturday afternoon – the last thing my healing ankle needed was a workout with 2 flights of stairs! I said, “You gotta be kidding me, right?” She was not kidding; she repeated herself.
It was raining, and there was no stair cover. And to top it off, the stairs were the carpeted see-though design some idiot thought was cute in the 1970’s. I looked at the thread-worn stairs and thought again of canceling the appointment: the need to keep my teeth override that justifiable thought. I hunched into the driving rain and climbed the stairs, praying to God I would not get dizzy and fall down them after the appointment. I have inner ear issues (all my life; docs call it ‘swimmer’s ear syndrome’) that cause vertigo when I look down: ladders and stairs that clearly show the cement platforms between flights … and the sidewalk beyond that, are not friendly aides: they are dizzying.
When I finally climbed the last stair and entered the office, a mask was ceremoniously flung in my direction: and my last nerve was seriously being poked – I flung it back, snapping that I couldn’t wear a mask, especially after climbing two flights of stairs with weak lungs and a misbehaving heartbeat.
I was politely (truth spoken about this exchange) told to wait outside: “Rules are rules; no exceptions.”
Monday, today, sucked: and it sucked waaay before the dental sucking apparatus was placed in my mouth.
I should have stayed in bed.
Once I was allowed back into the building, I have to admit the person who worked on my teeth behaved like a decent human being, and I relaxed as we joked while she worked. I was told I’d need to come back for two more appointments – I was also told I will need at least one crown replacement, and a back tooth pulled: I nodded my head while $$$$ wove in and out of my unsaid thoughts. Then, I paid my bill; apologized to the woman whose head I earlier bit off in frustration (the woman was forgiving and even graciously – or perhaps in self-defense 😉 – set up my next appointment in the office downstairs: whatever her reason, I am thankful); and mentally prepared myself to deal with the stairs.
I didn’t fall down the stairs. Thank You, attending Guardian Angel 😊
Driving homeward via Nichols Boulevard, lakeside; I noticed a huge limb had broken off an overhanging tree branch and was spilling the street.
Carefully skirting around the greenery overflow, the talking head on the radio waves, announced that a flood warning had been issued for the Columbia River areas: Longview is one of those areas. So, I drove out to Willow Grove, to check things out before parking at home.
I also took a look at the Viewing Platform, newly built at the Park, there.
Flood Warnings for Columbia River: https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/article/Forecasters-issue-flood-watch-for-Columbia-River-17237735.php
By then, the Novocaine had worn off and my numbed teeth nerves were coming alive with a vengeance – my lip was also smarting; it was swollen and hurting more than the torturing teeth cleaning I had undergone for two hours.
I was also fighting nausea – a side effect of the Novocaine shots (I had had 5 of them – two along the bottom teeth, and three along the upper teeth).
Novocaine injections feel like liquid fire when injected into my mouth, and I’m nauseous (sometimes I have vomit come up in the back of my throat – d.i.s.g.u.s.t.i.n.g.) for about 24 hours. I am told this reaction is rare … I don’t know about that; all I know is what happens to me.
I’m going to do nothing more tonight, except flop into Bob’s recliner; and mindlessly vegetate the rest of the evening, willing the pain and nausea away.
I should have stayed in bed this morning …
I go back again Friday, for more oral torture ;-)
