The blessing in the emergency

I've been battling tooth issues for months, and the delay in my UK treatment made it a real ordeal. The persistent pain and inconvenience were a daily struggle. It took a toll on all aspects of my life. I couldn't concentrate without a fight, constantly diverting my thoughts from the pain and discomfort.

I consulted a UK dentist, initially considering private treatment over NHS. Yet, the £3200 price tag gave me pause, prompting me to explore other options as I had to relocate.

During a subsequent visit to a different dentist, the dreaded X-ray was on the agenda. I must admit, it's not for the faint-hearted, especially with a painful tooth. The first dentist was incredibly patient, but the second was efficient. She attempted the X-rays and informed me that she would have to reschedule us if she was unable to complete the procedure on the second attempt.

Although it was painful, I mustered the courage to proceed. The X-ray revealed what I already knew - the tooth had to come out, a standard procedure for a first-time dentist visit.

She administered anaesthesia, though it proved ineffective due to the infection. Prescribing antibiotics, she then directed me to the receptionist, who arranged an appointment for the 25th of October, despite my request for an earlier date due to the fact that the month was just beginning.

After picking up the prescribed medication from the pharmacy, I returned home, where the emotional weight of it all became overwhelming. Music and prayer provided solace during this difficult time

I started taking the antibiotics as prescribed, and things got a bit better, but I had to be on painkillers. I would take painkillers in the morning and at night before going to bed. Even though this was safe, I was worried because one can get addicted to painkillers.

On a fateful day, the 13th of this month, my phone rang, and to my surprise, it was the dentist on the line. With a sense of anticipation, she revealed that my appointment for a root canal treatment was scheduled for November 5, 2023. I agreed to the date, but as soon as we hung up, confusion set in. I couldn't shake the feeling that my tooth extraction appointment might have been shifted or mixed up with the root canal booking.

So, I decided to dial her number again and asked for clarification. To my astonishment, she told me they had no record of any appointments. I insisted, "But I have a booking set for the 25th of this month, and I even have the appointment card right here."

She replied that on her end, there were no traces of these dates. Annoyed and in pain, I pleaded for my appointment not to be postponed further, but her response was rather nonchalant. "Do you want to book the date or not?" she asked. I hesitated, trying to make sense of this scheduling mess, and the call abruptly ended.

In a bid to resolve the issue, I called her back once more. This time, she proposed another date, the 30th of this month. I agreed, though not without lingering dissatisfaction. The fact that she failed to apologize for their error made me feel bad. 

As days passed, my toothache grew steadily worse. It lingered like a relentless shadow, and I resorted to stronger painkillers, which had an unusual side effect – hallucinations. Over three nights, I found myself in a surreal world of animals with bizarre shapes, even though I didn't own any pets. I remember seeing a big animal with spikes on its head and a big dog sitting next to me.

On Friday, desperate for relief, I took another painkiller, but the pain intensified drastically. I experimented with various home remedies, but they offered little solace. By Saturday, I was running a fever, weakened, and plagued by a relentless headache. Despite these struggles, I managed to eat, hoping for a miracle to alleviate my pain.

As the pain subsided slightly, I turned to photography as a distraction, taking photos for my blog, even in those images, my smile remained elusive – a clear reflection of the stress I was enduring.

Throughout the weekend, I was hindered from enjoying even a moment of calm by the persistent toothache. As my body temperature progressively increased, it became apparent that an abnormality had occurred.

After we got back home, I tried to ease the ache by having a relaxing bath and taking more pills. My hand got slightly burned while I was filling my go-to hot water bottle with hot water due to my disorientation from the constant pain.

With a heavy heart, I retreated to the living room, dialling my niece for a bit of distraction. But even our talk was useless due to the constant toothache, so I was left sitting there in excruciating pain, hoping for relief that would never come.

I was unable to fall asleep that night, and the agonizing ache did not go away. Crying was still a luxury I could only dream about; I was just waiting for the pain to stop. I resorted to prayer in the midst of my pain, pleading with God to intervene and grant me even a brief period of calm, restful sleep.

When I did fall asleep, it was only for ten or twenty minutes before the pain startled me back to consciousness. I felt like I was stuck in a transitional state, on the verge of pain and sleep.

My endurance reached its limits; the pain had become unbearable. At around 5 in the morning, I summoned the strength to call the emergency NHS 111 number. Speaking was a struggle, but I managed to convey my distress, and they promptly scheduled an emergency tooth extraction for me on a Sunday by 12.

We prayed to God that the procedure would go well before we left for the clinic. We arrived early, and I was called in ahead of schedule. The doctor, with reassuring words, administered anaesthesia, and in less than 15 minutes, the offending tooth was extracted. I left with post-extraction care instructions and a letter for my regular dentist.

I couldn't help but feel a profound sense of relief and happiness. I share this story because when my original appointment was canceled and rescheduled, it tested my patience. I initially allowed frustration to creep in, but I reminded myself that sometimes, we just need to wait a little longer. Unexpectedly, this dental emergency turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Plans were made, but it was God's plan that ultimately prevailed.

Looking forward to my upcoming dental appointment, I've diligently followed the recommended care instructions. I had a wonderful Sunday, with a peaceful night's sleep to crown it all.

Now, about my outfit: I opted for a white blouse from Uoozee, featuring ruffled wrist ends for a touch of subtle yet classy drama. Originally intended to be paired with a skirt, I changed my mind and matched it with hand-made heels from Xinzirain and pink floral hand jeans.

You can buy my Flared Sleeves Bow-Embellished Falbala Solid Color Lapel Blouse using the discount code "Melody" for a 15% off your order. I wish you a fantastic Monday and a productive week ahead. And if we're not already connected on Instagram, let's change that – it's high time we followed each other. Thanks for reading!