The crazy dental drama that happened in Utah was the beginning of the end for my 2009 Utah experience. It was awful. Probably the most pain I've ever been in. I remember my roommate Kristin and our friend Dave walking into my room, seeing me curled up in a ball on the floor, leaned against the post of my bed moaning and rocking back and forth from the pain. Like really? That is so uncalled for.
Long story short, I got the culprit of the pain extracted and had a drain put in to monitor the infection that had set up shop in my tongue, jaw bone, teeth, lymph-nodes, chin, sinuses, etc. So attractive. I mean who DIDN'T want me at that point?
Flash forward a couple months later. I noticed on Friday a piece of bone had been sticking out of my lower jaw through my gums inside my mouth and the pain was getting worse by the day. I was kind of surprised because it had been happening since the surgery, but the bone slivers usually fell off. Not this one. This was a bone soldier ready to fight. Oh joy.
The pain became unbearable, so mom and I woke up early this morning and decided to call the Oral Surgeon in Utah who did my surgery. He told us I could drive up and he would fix it, or my other option was to see and Oral Surgeon down here immediately because he was worried about it. So I picked up mom at work and we went to mom's Oral Surgeon, who we've become friends with over the past couple procedures mom has provided him with. He is seriously so funny, but that dry humor. I love people who are hilarious but have no idea. Plus he's really cute, which is always a plus when going to the doctor.
So he checks me out. It's a simple bone spur that can just be knocked off in a couple minutes. Sweet-lets do this.
Mom leaves the room, and I suddenly become the five year old who wants her mommy. That's not really a stretch considering there's not much I want to go through without my mom.
I look at the Dr. all worried...
"You're going to numb me right?!"
"For the love Nicole! I'm not evil!"
He gets me all numbed up, which for me is usually the worst part. I just hate it. So I'm laying there while he digs, chisels, and scrapes my jaw bone. Really? Could ya throw a girl an ipod or something to mask having to hear this?! My hell would it never end?! Through the gauze and fingers in my mouth, I ask, "Are ya sculpting The David in my mouth or something?" I'm praying, then I start talking to my dad in my head, singing through the hymns, and about 3 verses into "A Child's Prayer" I hear the Dr. say, "Hand me the size 15 chisel...this is the biggest bone spur I've ever seen." Followed by, "Oh wow this is big...oh geez..." Hence the singing got louder and louder. At one point I notice I've somehow grabbed Eli the Dr.'s Assistant's hand and am squeezing with everything in me. Sorry Eli. So about 20 minutes of that, and we were done.
Eli gives me a weird look and laughs at my eyeliner that is now leaving black streaks down my cheeks, onto my neck. Aren't I a picture waiting to be painted? The Dr. looks at me and we breathe a heavy sigh together, and smile at each other as he explains to my mom how bad the bone spurs and ridges of my jaw are, the follow up appointments, and the surgery I'll need to get my jaws completely smooth. Apparently it's hereditary and I get this lovely feature from my mom. Thanks Sharon. Love you tonssss. (Just kidding, I really do. Crappy jaws and all.) He kind of gives me this puppy dog "that sucks" look and I blurt out, "Geez! Where did we get our crappy teeth?! Are we BRITISH or something?!" The room erupted in laughter. I didn't think it was THAT funny. I wasn't gonna go on the road with it or something...I was serious. Where do we get these teeth?!
Ugh teeth, you should be on The Hills. You create so much drama. You should be wearing a glittery string bikini, dating a boy with a partying problem, spending your weekends getting extensions in your hair.
Anyways, so we go out to the lobby to pay, and my hands get a little sweaty knowing I have no health insurance at the moment, wondering how much this is gonna be.
"It's free honey. On the Doctor. He really likes you and your mom, so don't worry about it."
And then I cried. I can only imagine how much it would have been, and if he only knew the break I needed in my life right now. Things could be so much worse, I always try to remember that, but really...I needed that today. I still can't believe it. Last years Oral Surgeon of the Year, is really just a talented, nice guy, wanting to help. I guess not every doctor is from Grey's Anatomy...thank goodness.
So I come home, shovel some food in my mouth, take 2 vicodin, and fall into bed. Note to humanity: When I take Vicodin, I don't get sleepy. At first I get the giggles, and I can't stop laughing. Then I get really talkative and can't stop talking. My mom has nick named me, "Chatty Jaws." Endearing. At some point, the sleepiness kicks in, but it really is ridiculous how long it takes. So after calling my Aunt to talk, my Grandma to talk, Jason to talk, texting Jess, texting Stacey, and texting mom in the next room, mom crawls in bed with me.
I'm like, "Mom I can't sleep sleep with someone else in the bed."
"I'm protecting you."
"From what?"
"Yourself."
"Why?"
"Your vicodin antics. I'm making sure you don't call China to "see how they're doing", or end up sleeping on the floor, or get into a giggle fit, or gosh knows what else you do on Vicodin."
She knows me so well.
I already feel a lot better. It could be from the Vicodin, but it's relieving knowing I'm taken care of now. And I know that Doctor was a tender mercy given to me from Heavenly Father. I needed it today, and that weight of money I felt on my shoulders was relieved. So here I am in bed, ready to watch my future husband Cory Monteith grace the TV for another season of Glee, with my little puppy Pixie asleep by my side, a bottle full of water, a jaw healing, and a smile on my face.
Thank You Doctor for another job well done.
