December chitchat

[agate]

In WA state people who found dentures too pricey could get a better deal by going to a dental school for them. I did that sometimes. Yes, you got students but they were being carefully supervised, and I felt that they did a good job. Is that ever a possibility there?

[Prot]

A good question. I had to find out.


can dental treatment in the UK be done at a dental school.



Yes, dental treatment in the UK can be done at dental schools! Many dental schools and hospitals offer free or low-cost dental treatment provided by undergraduate dental students. These treatments are usually supervised by experienced dental professionals to ensure high standards of care2.
However, there are some limitations. For example, complex treatments like dental implants or advanced gum problems might not be suitable for students and may require referral to a dental practice3.

[jingle]

I just called my dentist and asked that my appointment tomorrow (Tuesday) might be changed to Wednesday. It's changed. I love my dentist - I've been his patient since 1993.

[agate]

Tim, I had a really good experience--a couple of them--at dental schools. One was a vocational school that had a denture clinic, specializing in making dentures. The denture they made for me lasted for over 20 years and I never had a problem with it. The other was at a dental school connected with a local community college in WA state. I forget what I used them for but they were very efficient and helpful. Things may be different in the UK but they still must have dental schools with students who need to get experience. I didn't mind because I wanted to minimize the expense.

jingle, it's great that you love your dentist. I've had a series of dentists who were lovable over the years and a couple who weren't so lovable. I try hard to hang onto a lovable one.

Some dentists and oral surgeons really don't spark joy though. I was referred to an oral surgeon for 3rd molar extractions once, and he began our first session by saying, "Let me tell you right away--my patients go through hell."

At least he didn't pretend.

[Prot]

I had a dentist while at prep school who'd tell you about dastardly dentists while giving you gas! I had dental phobia anyway, and that just added to it!!

[Virginia]

Speaking of dentist, I have an appointment with mine on Wednesday. I just made it earlier today. I just thought it was going to be raining and I dreaded being out in that. Tonight the weather gave an alert for Wednesday that included 1 to 2' inches of rain but says very high winds are expected. I am having to drive myself and now I am very concerned.

[Prot]

Please keep safe.

[agate]

Virginia, I hope that weather alert will turn out to be wrong. Is it an appointment you could get away with rescheduling?

I gave a lot of thought to rescheduling the dental appointment I have today but I'm going ahead with it. I've done that a few times already and don't want to become a problem for them, with too many cancellations. Sometimes it's been the dentist doing the cancellations, and I figure I can get away with cancelling sometimes. Same-day cancellations are frowned on, and so I try to cancel well enough in advance so as not to be too much of a nuisance for them.

Sometimes I lecture myself by reminding myself that I do have MS and I'm not so young any more, and after all, there are situations that are difficult for me, and the world is just going to have to understand that and deal with it.

[Snuggles2]

Hi all,

I have been busy lately. We finished the hardwood installation in the upstairs bedrooms and hallway last month. Although the installers put draping up to try to contain the dust I still had to dust the walls/ceilings in those rooms and the furniture in the rest of the house. I love the new floors, they look so nice. I am having a bit of a time getting area carpets for the rooms. In the past I ordered a piece of carpet from a carpet warehouse and had a person come to the house to cut the carpet and bind the edges. I liked this because I could pick the color/type of carpet and customize the size to what I needed. So I ordered a piece of carpet from Lowe's and it came quickly but I am having a difficult time getting the carpet binder to come out. I understand he is very busy but he ignores my texts and calls and when he does answer he is very vague on when he can come out and says he will call me. I need to get this done so I have room for my kids to sleep when they come home for Christmas. Argh!

My hubby and I have also been under the weather with coughs. My hubby had bronchitis and it lasted about 6 weeks and he still has a little cough left. I have had a cough for about a week now. They said they don't really do anything for viral bronchitis so you just rest and wait the cough out. I feel fine even though I have a cough. I just hope I am not sick for Christmas as I was last year. Those darn grandkids and daycare spread all kind of germs!

I do have my Christmas decorating done. I am waiting for my youngest son to come home next week. He likes to cook/bake so we will bake cookies then. I have grocery shopped trying to get most of the ingredients I think we will need. My hubby also has our gift shopping done. We are simplifying it this year and gifting money and a small gift to my kids and an outfit and one toy to the grandkids. We don't buy each other gifts since we have most of what we want. I am looking forward to the holiday season this year. What are others doing for the holidays?

I do have several doctor appointments this week and next. It seems like they all bunch up. I saw the dermatologist this week and see the urologist (bladder botox), pcp and video visit with the neurologist next week. I will be glad when next week is over and done.

I hope everyone's dentists appointments go well.

Have a nice day,

Snuggles

[agate]

Hi Snuggles,
So good to have news of you! I hope that the carpet people will come through for you in a timely way. It sounds as if you're staying busy with plans for family get-togethers, and it should be nice to be providing a situation where people will enjoy the season together.

Too bad about the bronchitis. Antibiotics helped me during the times when I had it but it sounds as if they aren't being prescribed any more. There has been a lot of concern about overuse of antibiotics because the bugs were starting to figure out ways to survive in spite of them.

I'm back from the dentist. That was mainly a cleaning but it turns out I need to have a crown on a molar. As it is the only molar left in my lower jaw, it's not a tooth I want to lose. Otherwise the news was good, and that is always a relief.

[Virginia]

Hi Snuggles, so nice to see you. Glad the house is turning out good, but it is my understanding it does take as lot of work after it is over, just trying to get rid of some of the dust.

I am sure you will be excited to have all your family home. That is what Christmas is all about.

Sorry you and hubby have had coughs. I expect they will be gone by Christmas. At least I hope so. Have you been cooking and freezing any good food lately.?

Well, I am going to cancel my Dentist appointment tomorrow. We are due to get 1 to 2 inches of rain and also very high winds. My brother called this evening and something has come up with his wife and she really needs to see a doctor as soon as she can. He wants to go with her so there will be 2 sets of ears.

I told him I would drive myself. He has had so much stress and is not well himself. He said I would add to his stress because he would be worried about me laying flat on my face on the wet cement. He told me I can't walk well in good weather conditions, and if a strong puff of wind blew me sideways I might fall or if I was walking into strong wind and rain he said it could knock me down. I didn't want to add to his stress so I agreed to put the appointment off until next week.

[agate]

Bravo for you, Virginia! Soldiering on is all very well but maybe not so good an idea for someone with MS.

I don't know about other people but I for one never know when some part of me will give out, and when something gives way (vision, for instance, or a leg) it happens very fast. Easy to fall then.

[Virginia]

That is so true Agate. I was nervous about this outing before my brother called and asked me to cancel it. I need an alternative way to get to and from appointments. I think it is always hard when you have someone you totally trust to take care of you, and then you have to rely on a stranger to do the same thing. I just never thought I would need anyone I guess. Why did I think I was invincible? How stupid of me.

[agate]

I'm watching a neighbor make this kind of adjustment, and it's painful for her. She gave up her car because she was denied a driver's license due to health reasons, and now she's making arrangements with neighbors who are still driving--offering to pay for their gas, etc. I don't know if that will work for her or whether she'll have to think of something else but I can see how hard an adjustment it is.

I guess it's always good to have a Plan B at the ready when it comes to transportation, and maybe a Plan C as well. I haven't gone the Lyft/Uber route yet but understand it's often an option now, and some medical insurance seems to cover Lyft or Uber rides. I haven't tried that but you might want to look into it.

If there's a service that one of the MS organizations could usefully provide, it would be easier transportation arrangements for people disabled by MS to get to/from essential appointments. There is one (or was--it may have been discontinued) for getting people to/from neurologist appointments and MRIs but that's the only one I've heard of.

They could set up a stable of volunteer drivers or maybe even paid drivers.

Back in the 1970s, before there were so many paratransit systems in cities, I volunteered as a caller for an organization that set up rides for anyone who needed essential medical transportation in the area. Often the people needing rides were dialysis patients but there were other disabled people, often living in the suburbs (of Boston) who had no easy access to transportation. I called the volunteer drivers to find one each time someone needed a ride. So far as I could tell, that system was working. There could be something like that for people with MS, it seems to me, but maybe it's just not feasible. It would have to be organized at a local level, with each community setting up its own network.

I haven't thought this through and am probably dreaming of some better world that is just impossible but I do wish that needed transportation could be easier. Many buildings aren't set up for easy handicapped access, and not much can be done about that without rebuilding them, but at least it could be easier to get there and back.

[Prot]

I am lucky in that my daughter usually ,a granddaughter occasionally , takes me to things like hospital appointments. I don't know whether you have a fear of falling,I certainly do. It's knowing the likely consequences that creates the fear factor.