Atypical & Awesome “An Eye-Tooth and a Mouthful”

So tonight, I decided to post a very rare night blog as today was indeed- a day. I had major dental work done so I am in recovery mode. There are a few things I’d like to share with you.

First, I have extensive dental work that needs to be done after years of neglect and living in “survival mode”. For over 18 years, I took steroids to help manage symptoms of my very disgusting form of dysautonomia. I say disgusting because for many years it robbed me of a decent quality of life and even tried to take my life a few times. While the steriods helped they destroyed my teeth.

Fast forward to my body and mind healing in many ways but being left with residual effects of serious illness. I have been working my tail off for the past twelve years and my life went through massive and often great and blessed changes. But those teeth- they did not fare as well. Last year, my teeth hit a crisis point with multiple teeth cracking and one even falling out! In a period if three to four months.

I had to bite the bullet and see a dentist. God (i have no other way to explain it) sent me to a sweet young female dentist about 15 minutes from my job. She is wonderful. We devised a plan and with much delay and finagling on my end- phase 1 took place today.

I have never been so glad to know Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) as I was today. The very skills I teach clients, I used today. The dentist even stated she was impressed how calm I was when she had to give me injections in the top part of my gum. There was a time in my life this woukd have never happened without putting me to sleep first. I am very grateful for the coping skills I have developed.

I still have more work to get done but my teeth already look much better. I look forward to eating Thanksgiving food with my family and smiling for pictures. Whew- today was a doozy but we did it!