Toothache

[Clara]

I have been waiting for 19 weeks to have this procedure done

19 weeks!!! YOWZA!

Sorry, on another group I just had to put up with a 3 page rant on how everything would be perfect if only the US had a nationalized health care system like the "ideal" one that Great Britain has. I think the wait for my last dental surgery was 2 weeks.

I'm going to stop before I get too far into political territory.

Actually the problems stem from the fact that NHS funding has been cut from dentistry and so most dentist are now private, leaving very few working in the NHS....and NHS dentistry unlike regular healthcare is not free at the point of use unless you are a child or pregnant. People die in the US because of how much they do or don't earn. The NHS ain't perfect but I know what I believe is more civilised.

[Graye]

I understand what you are saying about British dentists. But with their very basic pricing structure you pay nearly as much as if you go privately without insurance anyway for the more basic treatment. We have stuff done in France now, even privately it balances out much cheaper than the UK and is of high quality.

I think SarahJane is now out of her dentist's hands and reliant on hospital waiting lists. I've been thinking about her for a few days and so glad she at least has a date. I agree about making a bit of a fuss to try to get a cancellation in the meantime. It must be so draining to be in pain all the time.

[SarahJane]

Well now that I am on first name terms with the cinsultants secretary (having mithered her on a daily basis for a while ) I may just do that. I would be able to go in at short notice as my employers are aware of the pain I have been in lately. So its defo worth a try!
Thanks everyone for letting me have a whinge and a moan...... sometimes when the pain is awful I dont know what to do with myself. Anyone who has experienced toothache will know exactly what I mean.
Today it is not too bad...... except when I sneezed earlier!

[Ellendra]

People die in the US because of how much they do or don't earn.

There are dozens, if not hundreds, of programs in the US to help people who cannot afford health insurance on their own. Having been in that position myself recently, I can honestly say that the biggest obstacle is more often a lack of willingness to bother with the paperwork, and not a lack of available help.

[the.fee.fairy]

Glad to hear that you have an appointment SarahJane.

I do sympathise, if you read some of the posts from me about this time last year, i was in the same position. Metronidazole is horrible stuff! I had loads of it last year and then again a month ago when i had another abcess (my teeth are not in good condition after years of dental phobia...). i really can't think of anything i did to keep the pain away either - i was really ill for a while because it hurt all the time. I#m allergic to codeine, so the only things i could have were ibruprofen and paracetamol, and i was taking the daily maximum dose.

I hope that the op goes well, you'll feel so much better afterwards! The day after mine, i suddenly realised that there was something not quite right- the pain had gone!

I'm thinking of you
x