Arthritis, housework and new teeth

Next week is Valentine’s Day and my newlywed son and daughter-in-law have been working on gifts for each other for weeks. She kept asking me what he was planning for her, but I didn’t remember what he had told me. Luckily she convinced him to tell her that he wanted to get her a computer of her own. It turned out she didn’t want that. I’m not sure what he is planning now, but I may have forgotten again so that I can’t answer is asked. She got him a bicycle. I think that is really funny because he hated the bike I bought for him when he was 6. He was convinced it was trying to kill him. I sold the bike and he learned to ride on one belonging to one of the neighborhood children.

I am proud of the fact that they are thinking about each other and making plans. My son never had the benefit of a role model in how husbands and wives relate to each other. The only time my ex-husband got me a valentine, it was a candy heart. I was going to a doctor to lose weight at the time. It was back in the days when it was still legal to prescribe amphetamines. Here I was seeing the doctor once a month, taking my speed every day and measuring every bit of food. He couldn’t understand why I was upset about the candy heart! I had to keep the damned thing for months before I dared to toss it out for fear of hurting his feelings. I would have been happy to get a card.

This morning my fingers are barely working, but at least I feel like I have a reason other than it just being the morning stiffness. Our Oreck vacuum cleaner stopped picking up stuff the other day. I had just replaced the bag too. I have always been the type to take things apart, so after determining that it was not a blocked debris tube the other day, I brought the machine down to my room and tore it apart. Just inside, I found the remains of a ball the dogs had destroyed, the insides of a stuffed toy and a bunch of bedding from the hairless rat’s cage. It’s a good thing we have about 5 different vacuum cleaners so that we can use another to clean up after the dogs. They play very roughly with their toys. There always seems to be stuffing from some toy lying around on the floor. This house has literally gone to the dogs. I can’t complain too much. My room has “stuff” the birds have thrown out of their cages on the floor. I have to vacuum at least every other day. I’m glad I decided on laminate flooring.

I have been holding my breath waiting on two packages this week. I get most of my prescriptions by mail. The cost is much better that way. I get a 90 day supply for the cost of purchasing 60 days worth at the pharmacy. I waited a little too long to order so I have been out of blood pressure medicine and Prozac for several days. I sent my order by priority mail and requested 2nd day return delivery. The tracking information shows a scheduled delivery date of Feb. 12. I don’t think the process has been speeded up at all! At least it does not appear that I was charged the extra $10 for the faster shipping. The other package contains some gadgets to help people with arthritis. Since I don’t have a kitchen downstairs, I fill 2-liter bottles with water for coffee, tea and soup. Even though those bottles have been opened before, they are difficult for me to open. One of the tools I bought will help with that. It also opens pull-tab cans and plastic bags. I am tired of opening things with my teeth. With the luck I’ve had with my teeth lately, I’m afraid that pulling the seal off the Folger’s can will cost me a chunk of a tooth.

I had the impressions done for my partial plates the other day. It was a little messy, but they got good impressions. I was peeling that stuff off my lips for hours. I go back March 6 to have some teeth filled and have my first fitting. I am looking forward to getting those false teeth. I can’t decide whether I want a steak or some sushi for my celebratory meal. It will be good to eat without having to swallow whole pieces of food again. This is just another thing that makes me feel like I am turning into my mother.

A Problem with Some Teeth!

I know I have bitched and bitched about pain. It is my constant companion, but there is something else that seems to go along with aging that is driving me nuts-my teeth!

When I retired it was impossible to keep my dental insurance. The cost was ridiculous. Last year when insurance election time rolled around, there to my amazement was affordable dental insurance. The timing was perfect. I’d paid the full price to have a couple of teeth extracted the year before and knew that I had some other problems brewing. Instead of going in for an exam and planning the work, I just went to the dentist for emergencies. My dentist stopped me during one appointment where I supposed to have another extraction and wanted to do a comprehensive exam. I got really pissed, but after thinking about what she had suggested, I went back. After having the exam, she recommended 5 root canals, plus some fillings. I refused the root canals. To have one performed would cost me about $600 per tooth. That’s only the first part. Then the tooth has to be crowned which would cost another $600 per tooth. I’ve gotten decay under a crown before and the tooth ended up being removed, so why would I pay $6000 to risk that? To have the teeth extracted is about $130 per tooth and 2 partial plates around $1000. Which way would you go?

Now I’ve had 7 teeth removed since October. I have 4 molars left and none of them mesh. I have to chew with my front teeth. I brush them about 5 or 6 times a day! I want an apple so badly! I want steak! Everything I eat is liquid or soft.

I decided enough healing; I am ready for the partial plates. I called to make the appointment and they tried to schedule me for fillings. I told them my priority is to get some teeth back in my mouth, and then I will get the fillings. I just hope we don’t get into an argument when I go in.

I am a little worried about getting used to the dentures. I will probably be biting the inside of my mouth for weeks. I just can’t image what it will be like to have the roof of my mouth covered. I shouldn’t be concerned. My one sister has had full dentures since the age of 31. The other sister, ‘Z’ had an upper partial plate. I think part of the reason she got it was to correct her overbite and close the gap in her front teeth. Boy was she pissed when her new teeth had a gap! It wasn’t as big as the one in her real teeth, but she felt she deserved a perfect smile. She also had a hypersensitive gag reflex, but the dentures never seemed to bother her. So all of my worries should be allayed, but if I didn’t have something to worry about, what would I do all day?