Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Whatta mess, and Happy Holidays to all...


This was started on the day I had the broken tooth removed...

To bring you up to date,  the other day I was enjoying a delicious, soft brownie treat (without nuts). I heard a crunch, then immediately noticed a foreign object in the brownie.  It was the remains of a cap, and the top of a back tooth was missing.  Next day, I made an emergency trip to my dentist to see if he could glue it back on.  Diagnosis was: the post was loose.  He pronounced it a total loss, because the underlying tooth cracked to the tip of the root.  And he had no suggestions as to why this would happen while eating a nice, soft, brownie sans nuts.  Then he referred me to the oral surgeon for its removal, the following day.  Oh, great...

Needless to say, I was not looking forward to the extraction, having lost two other back teeth for the same reason.  Because of that, and other ongoing issues, I found myself writing this note in bits over the next week.  When I went to the oral surgeon for the extraction, I wore my denim leggings, black tights, black turtleneck and ballet flats.  Nothing overly feminine...well, maybe the shoes.  Not exactly presenting as female, but definitely as androgynous.

I'm back from the dentist now...with all the pain you might expect from a tooth extraction.  Whatta mess.  You know what I wore, see above.  I was pleased that the oral surgeon (female) and assistant (male) both used "she" and "Miss" often, once I was seated in the chair...it was my first time with both of them.  I did hear "he" from the assistant early on, so I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I was clocked...but hearing appropriate pronouns the rest of the time sounded nice nonetheless...   I wonder if they had a little "discussion" when they both left the room at the same time?  Guess I'll never know for sure.

The next day, as I was driving in the antique car, I stopped in at the tire store where I bought its new tires.  The guy who waited on me said "I remember your car, Ma'am.  How can I help you?" I asked if they would be able to check the tire pressure for me each spring, after the weather warms up, so I don't drive on underinflated tires.  "Certainly Ma'am, and there will be no charge..."  That's great news...I didn't want to have to buy a compressor!

My follow-up visit to the opthalmologist went well a couple days ago.  (In case you missed the complete story, read my blog titled "The past couple weeks",  dated December 2.)  The Posterior Vitreous Detachment and associated torn blood vessel have healed, and the vitreous fluid has partially cleared. He wants me to be seen again in 6 months by a local eye doctor.  But did you know that you can have freckles (you know, like the freckle-faced kid) INSIDE your eye?  I didn't either, but I have one, which he found in his very thorough exam.  It will bear watching in the future.

And I found that I also have something called occasional "painless ocular migraines?"  Never heard of those, either!  But a symptom I've noticed in that eye since this incident occurred, was given that diagnosis.  No meds are needed for it at this point, but we'll see what the future brings.  (I'm having another of those "migraines" as I write this...ugh.)

My own issues notwithstanding, I'm wishing each of my readers a wonderful Holiday Season, and a very Happy New Year...better days are coming!   And to put you in the mood for some Christmas snow, how about a picture from the March 2009 archives, of an Amtrak Acela blasting through Odenton, MD on the Northeast Corridor, kicking up enough fresh snow that the rest of the Acela trainset disappears.


For those of you with extra sharp vision, you might notice that the locomotive number (2009) is the same as the year the picture was taken...enjoy!

Hugs,

Mandy

10 comments:

  1. Like they say...too soon old...too late smart.
    Getting old sure has its physical burdens but it beats the alternative. My dad has been 39 years and my mom followd 21 years ago. I miss them every day.


    If your cracked tooth impeded your eating your best solution may be an implant and crown. I had my cracked back upper molar pulled yeaterday and it was a long stretch in the chair.

    Good luck with the eye. You start off with 32 teeth but only two eyes.

    Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you. Keep on dressing and enjoy your time.

    Pax
    Pat

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    1. Pat,

      Fortunately the missing tooth doesn't affect either appearance (the vanity thing) or efficiency (eating.) So with the likelihood of absurdly high prices for implants (I probably will get a quote, just for kicks), I'm most likely to let it ride. I'd rather save that money for the future, in case I lose another tooth that is more visible or affects eating.

      Eyes will, as you say, get full attention at all times. Vision affects so many facets of life, that problems in that area must be attended to first, and fully. Fortunately, the current issue is becoming less of a problem as it continues to heal.

      Dressing time has been very scarce since late last summer. If carburetor issues on the antique get resolved, I'll be making a solo run with the antique to a car show some distance from home in April, requiring at least three nights away from home, and giving Mandy a chance to make an appearance.

      I'm looking forward to that...now I hope it happens.

      Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

      Mandy

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    2. Let me wish you a happy and healthy New Year.
      It seems we are on somewhat parallel courses.
      Yesterday I was back to the perio to get the stitches out. In three months he can open the implant and put in a post for crowning.
      In the eye department a few days ago I woke up in the middle of the night and there were bright light flashes to the right edge of my right eye. Very weird. It happened again that night and when we looked up the condition it looked like some version of PVD.. since we will be gone for 3 weeks I had to visit the opthamologist. He said that it should resolve itself but that if the floaters get worse,(I only have a few small ones) then I have to hustle back.
      I am still tired all the time but I am not packed and will be on the auto train tomorrow. I have some clothes so I hope I can do some time on the train in a skirt and heels.
      Pat

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    3. And the same good New Year's wishes back to you!

      Very interesting that we both are on parallel courses...eventually I need to schedule a dentist follow up to see if I can get a firm price for an implant...

      Regarding my eye issue, it was the outside edge of my left eye with the flashes, but the outside of your right eye, and I had "yellow lightning bolts as well as millions of black dots," which sort of created a fog. That scared me and got me moving.

      The retina specialist said I had also experienced the condition previously in my right eye, and it obviously cleared up on its own, leaving only floaters, with only opthalmologist supervision. No retina specialist consultation was needed back then. Difference was that it didn't tear a blood vessel.

      Just pay attention closely on your trip. If you get a fog in there, or lose the sight in that eye, you should see an ER down there immediately. Don't wait to go home...take your doctor's phone number along, so they can consult if necessary.

      Based on the events in my life over the last six weeks, you'll most likely be fine!

      Have yourself a wonderful trip...even with the extra excitement. And I hope you get to spend some femme time on the train...

      Mandy

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  2. It's always good to hear how well you are accepted as Mandy as you get on with everyday life. Wishing you a great 2016. Sue x

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    1. Hi Sue,

      First, a Happy New Year to you...and hopefully some relief from the skin issues which you've been dealing with. You will continue to be in my thoughts and prayers!

      Though I haven't commented (yet) on your Sparkle post, it was a wonderful read. And your pictures are fabulous...Sue may not appear often, but she's pretty, as always...

      Being in Mandy's "Winter Doldrums" is no fun. But at least I can sometimes be seen as female in my androgynous presentation. That helps a tiny bit. (I feel so bad for you with your skin situation and am amazed that the doctors can't do something to help.)

      Looking forward now to April, with a possible "first Mandy trip of the year." We'll see if it happens.

      Meanwhile, be safe...

      Hugs,

      Mandy

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    2. Thanks for your good wishes, Mandy. It's very sweet of you. I look forward to your continuing adventures. Sue x

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  3. this must have been the year of the broken tooth. i just went though the same thing last week. only no cap involved. my dentist is a big salvager but there was nothing left to fill. * sigh* so i pushed to get a appointment fri afternoon after the dentist to extract the remains. turned out it had a curved root almost rams horn like so the surgeon earned his money.

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    1. Hi Diana,

      Sorry to hear of your bout with the dentist. A curved root sounds painful! Are you going to try for an implant to replace it? I probably won't but I sure would like to get a price estimate - I've heard they are almost prohibitively expensive.

      Hugs,

      Mandy

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