Chapter 201 - Dental Matters

Did I mention that someone at our last PD group meeting said that he had had sedation during dental work, and he was affected by it for months afterwards - no clarification, just "crook", not very informative. On the Friday we cast our ballot at the pre-poll location I had an appointment with the dentist our GP had named as for "poor people", presumably because they accept the government's chronic patient subsidy scheme. I doubt the "poor people" description because, after my recent visits to ask questions of dentists, that particular one has the largest, most comfortable waiting room in town. Their charges are not in keeping with the poor either. Anyway, after having a clean & check up of my teeth I asked whether a PD patient with her problems could be treated there under sedation or anaesthetic. No, too dangerous, risk of high speed drills penetrating the tongue & gums, other dentists in town have allocated periods at the local base hospital. I was referred to another dentist. A few days later I visited the other dentist. Yes they do such procedures at the hospital but when I pointed out that she would be unable to climb the two flights of stairs to get to the dentist's rooms for an examination, the receptionist must have noticed my concerned (frustrated, angry) expression, she pointed through the upstairs window to the building opposite "The dentist over there does such procedures and there is a lift." Over the street I went, to find two chair lifts attached to the stair rail. Upstairs the receptionist was very helpful, except they have no appointments available for such hospital procedures until next year. It seems the hospital provides each dentist with something like a 1 hour window once a week (month?). I made an appointment for only a discussion and cursory examination on 1st November, $200 at appointment time. The receptionist took me out to the stair well where I was shown how to operate the chair lifts. A few days later I took her into the building, had her go upstairs on the lifts, asked about the chronic patient system (OK with them) and down again without any great stress. So we have learnt that at least two local dentists are able to do work under anaesthetics (well, the patient that is) and the "poor people's" dentist is just as expensive as any other. Why in stuffing hell can't our GP provide advice of this nature, not just prescriptions for pills?

She has not complained about pain. Only about her off times. Since replacing the noon dose of Stalevo with Madopar CR the tingling in her scalp has gone and only sometimes is she bothered by tingles across the shoulders. She seems much less stable than some months ago. Usually daily she uses the Circulation Booster on her feet. Only occasionally does she ask for the tread mill.

She has been much at work on embroidered & quilted pot holders and a table runner, all requiring a fair amount of hand work finishing off the borders.

We seem to be halfway between friends a decade older & younger. I can see ourselves becoming more like the former, less like the latter, in our comings and goings. I am going through cycles of depression, easily recognised from experience decades ago, which I hide from her, for knowing such will not help her. As it is, when I comment on holidays the younger friends are frequently enjoying she says "I'm sorry to be a burden to you. Would you like to go by yourself?" Such a holiday would be so terribly lonely. We just need periodic interruptions, visits to us, occasional shopping trips & the like to keep me above the ripples, waves, of life. For instance friends, of the younger variety, came for lunch on Friday, left after 11pm and I would have enjoyed their company for another day or two. Afterwards, Friday felt like a doorway cut out of my existence, clear, bright and separate. I need more of them, I don't know about her. I want to exit from our local photo group because after some 4 or 5 years I find it as challenging as taking the garbage bins out each Friday. I have another activity to more than take its place. She doesn't want me to quit because perhaps she sees that I need external activities.