Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Wednesday: Dental Appointment and a New Blouse

Today, I spent the morning preparing myself for the dental appointment, both mentally and physically - I checked my blood pressure in the morning (it was good), I took my blood pressure medication, I remembered to take the medical clearance given by my doctor with me, etc., and I presented myself at the dental clinic at 11:00 a.m. exactly.  I was asked to wait a little bit, which I was glad to do as it gave me a few minutes to read my prayer book.  Then, I was called in, seated on the chair where I waited a little longer (I always remember reading something Erma Bombeck wrote about how sitting in the dentist's chair was just about the only time she got to actually sit!) and was finally seen by the dentist.

He studied my charts and checked my mouth and, at the first opportunity, I asked him what exactly were we doing today.  I said I was told I was to have a deep cleaning and I was surprised by that because I thought I'd have the extractions done first.  I also said I didn't want implants and bone grafts.  He said he understood and agreed to do the extractions first.  So, today's appointment turned out to be another examination!

He prescribed another dose of antibiotics in preparation for the extraction of the tooth in the upper right jaw (a molar).  I am to start taking the antibiotics one day prior to the extraction, which is scheduled for next week, Thursday (dentist will be away over the 4th of July holidays).  It sounds like we are doing one tooth at a time, which is fine with me.  Less stress to my system, I believe.  I remember that the last time I had a tooth extracted (about 9 or 10 years ago, as daughter was still in high school) it took me several days to recover from the swelling and the pain.

I am feeling much better about my dental procedures, now.  I guess I could have saved myself a lot of mental anguish had I spoken up at that first visit, but I am not very assertive when it comes to such things.  In fact, I found myself apologizing to the dentist for refusing the implants, today, and he ended up assuring me that I had nothing to apologize for, that he will recommend what he thinks is best but ultimately, the decision is mine to make.

It was a bit cooler, today, and I contemplated running a few errands, since I had the rest of the afternoon free.  Instead, I came home, had some lunch, and then, started to sew my blouse.  After I machine sewed the bias bindings to the armholes, I began to experience some visual distortions - I call them "dancing white lights" but my eye doctor called them ocular migraines.  I used to get migraines when I was younger and the visual distortions used to precede the headache.  Later, however, I would get only the visual distortions without a headache.  I haven't had one in years, though, so, I got a bit worried when I experienced one this afternoon.  I stopped the sewing and lay down on the sofa.  The visual distortion lasted only a couple of minutes, but I rested with my eyes closed for about half an hour.  There was no headache.  I really don't know what caused it, but I think maybe it was because I was stressing so much about the dental appointment?

Later, I finished sewing the blouse.

New Lace Blouse

It is a very simple and plain blouse, but I like it.

There was a length of lace left over so I hemmed it and made a scarf with it.  I can wear it as a regular, straight scarf or tied into a bow:

Scarf to Match


It can be pinned to the blouse to dress it up, a bit more:

Blouse with Bow

It is a dusty beige-pink color, but I can wear it with a black or white skirt.  That is one more unfinished project completed!  Woo hoo!   Only some dozen or so unfinished projects left to do!  But I am thinking of making myself a black blouse, so I didn't put away the sewing machine.  I have some black fabric in the stash, but they are mostly remnants from other projects and I don't know if I have enough for a blouse.  I will take a look through them this weekend and see.

Today, I am grateful for:
- Dental procedures have been sorted out!
- A new blouse and scarf to match!

- The visual distortion was short-lived
- I didn't get a migraine headache
- Emails and phone calls from friends; video chatting with daughter

Wednesday's To Do List:
- Dental appointment - DONE (New appointment made)
- Finish sewing the blouse - DONE
- Finish cleaning the bathrooms - DONE
- Clean the litter box - Will do before going to bed

Thursday's To Do List:
- Office
- Bank
- Pharmacy
- Dust and vacuum living room and dining area.
- Water the front garden 

How was your Wednesday?  Do you have unfinished projects or works in progress as some people call them?  Are you like me, starting new projects before finishing ones already started?  Or are you someone who finishes one project before starting on another? 

31 comments:

  1. I really like the fabric of you new blouse. Was the lace fabric hard to sew with?

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    1. Thank you, Live and Learn. It was my first real attempt at sewing with lace, but it wasn't too hard. I sewed the lace to the lining, first, and then, sewed everything together.

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  2. I don't know whether to be infuriated for you that once again nothing was done at the dentist's (did you have to pay for the visit again?) or happy for you that it seems that he is agreeing with what you wanted to do and will get it done at the next visit. One could argue that he could have very well taken the tooth out right away (I've always been given antibiotics AFTER the extraction, not before) but then again with your health history, maybe it's not a bad idea. I see that you're going to the pharmacy today, and I was going to suggest you don't delay on that, seeing that you've had problems with getting your Rx filled up in time in the past :) Plus, I have no energy today so the infuriation will have to be tabled and I'm gonna have to be happy for you then. Darn it, I live on being outraged :)

    I envy your sewing skills! It must be so rewarding to be able to make a garment for yourself.

    I had one of those ocular migraines earlier this year, and it scared me as well, but I read up on them and it didn't seem to be too worrisome if you only get them rarely. Still, the WebMD site states to mention the episode to your doctor.

    I hope you have a great Thursday, Bless!

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    1. LOL, be happy for me, Nathalie. I'm happy he didn't do the extraction before I went on the antibiotics. So far, I haven't had to pay for the office visits! I even asked and was told there was no charge! Maybe it is the one thing the insurance covers?

      Yes, thank you for the reminder to tell my doctor about the eye and vision distortion. I probably would have forgotten!

      Hope you, too, are having a good day, today. :)

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  3. I am glad your dental appointment went well and that you were able to speak up to assert your wants/needs. I often feel paralyzed in situations like that which leads to me just avoiding those appointment for FAR longer than I should, or just allowing things to happen that ultimately I did not want or even were harmful to me. Ugh.

    The blouse is lovely! I don't think it is plain at all, although I am very conservative when it comes to clothes in many ways. All that lace would more than make up for the simple cut and lack of other embellishment. :) Anyway, it's lovely and the scarf is a great idea, too.

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    1. Thank you, Laura. I feel the professionals know more about these things than I do and therefore, I should be guided by them. But then, again, I really don't want a whole bunch of extra procedures done, especially if I don't have insurance to help pay for them! I might live to regret my decision, but I think the bare minimal is all I can handle right now.

      Thank you regarding the blouse, too. I, too, like plain blouses. I did wonder whether to add sleeves, but there really wasn't enough fabric leftover for sleeves, so I thought sleeveless would be fine.

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  4. Lovely blouse. I love the colour. You are so very talented to be able to make your own clothes.

    I am so happy that you have the answers you were looking for and you can be prepared for the procedures ahead. Hopefully, the ocular migraine is a one time occurrence.

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    1. Thank you, Susan. Having patterns with sewing instructions are very helpful! I can manage a basic garment with them. My mother, on the other hand, could sew any item without a pattern! She'd just look at a picture or something I used to sketch out for her and she'd sew it!

      Yes, I, too, hope I won't start getting more ocular migraines. I wondered if I was dehydrated, too, and made it a point to drink more water, yesterday. I will be seeing my doctor in a couple of weeks' and I will be sure to mention it to her and see if I need to be seen by my eye doctor sooner than scheduled.

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  5. Congratulations on calming yourself for your dental appointment and I am pleased for you that it went well. Shame it has to be delayed by another week but there you are.

    Goodness you certainly did not need an ocular migraine so glad that passed. My first thought was floaters but that usually occurs only in one eye.

    Your dusty beige-pink blouse is so pretty. I would wear just as it is without the bow.

    Usually I finish whatever I start around the house but I do have to be in the mood and feel energetic. This morning I caught up on the ironing but not sure that counts!

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    1. Thank you, Sandy. I am not in actual pain from the teeth, right now (just have to make sure I chew from the other side!), so waiting another week isn't too bad. At least I feel better about what will be done.

      Yes, I'd probably wear the blouse without the bow, or maybe the scarf as a regular scarf and not a bow. But, if my daughter likes the blouse, I told her she can have it and she likes bows. :)

      I think catching up on the ironing counts! :)

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  6. Re:implants. Are you going to have trouble chewing?

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    1. Marylynn, good question! I don't think I'll have trouble chewing, because, right now, the teeth that will be extracted are broken off at the gum line and I am able to chew without them (although, right now, I am chewing from the other side!). Eventually, I might need to put in a partial denture (or I'll just live on smoothies and soups!)

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  7. You might eventually need to have something to keep the other teeth from moving into the space that is left and loosening.

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    1. Yes, the dentist did bring it up and we did discuss it at the initial appointment. At the time, he was saying he recommended the implants to getting a bridge, because the bridge would require planing of the adjoining teeth and thereby weakening them. I don't know. I'm probably being short-sighted; it might be that I might live to regret my decision to go without the implants But for right now, a bridge and weakened teeth seem less of a risk than bone implants.

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    2. I meant, "bone grafts and implants"!

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  8. I love the blouse! It is very pretty.
    Wishing you the best with your procedures!

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    1. Thank you, Anne. There are a few tiny flaws in the blouse, but only I know about them so it doesn't matter. ;)

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  9. Another week of waiting is something you could probably do without Bless, but on the plus side, you're booked in, you know exactly what's happening and from the way your post reads you and your dentist seem to be on a more even keel.

    I absolutely love everything about your blouse, the colour, the material, the style and the bow, which looks gorgeous pinned on.

    Hope you don't experience any more flashing lights. I'm sure it will be connected to getting worked up about the dentist. xx

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    1. I don't mind having to wait for another week, Suzanne, as I am not in acute pain. Now that I know what procedures will be done, I feel much better about things. This gives me a little time to prepare some soft foods - soup, etc. to have after the extraction, too. I'm pleased with how everything is turning out with the dental appointments.

      As for the blouse, I don't know why, but photographing it on the cream colored sofa has suddenly suggested a cream colored skirt to go with it! Maybe something with pink flowers on a cream background. I could tie the scarf around my straw hat and wear it to pick those garden flowers we were talking about. What do you think?

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    2. Oh yes! The bow would look lovely tied around a hat. Now I want my hat that I'm going to buy in my imagination to have a ribbon on as well :). Xx

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  10. The blouse is really pretty - I love that shade of pink. It's good to read you are making progress with your dental appointments. X

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    1. Thank you, Jules. :) I'm pleased with how the blouse turned out and how the dental appointments are coming along. Now, if only that mammogram referral comes through, I'll be happy!

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  11. That is a beautiful blouse. I don't know how the colours work through the screen, but I think that colour would look good with blue, brown and purple as well. You are so talented! Lyssa Mx

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    1. Thank you, Lyssa. Yes, the blouse will go with brown, grey, and maybe blue.

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  12. SO happy you got the dental appointment set up.. and dentist was nice with your decisions.
    The blouse is so pretty and love the scarf. So fun to finish a sewing project. Have a great weekend.

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    1. Thank you, Judy. Yes, things seem to be falling into place, nicely. Hope you are well, too. Do you have any plans for the weekend and holiday celebrations?

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  13. I'm glad your dentist appointment went well. I am so afraid of the dentist - terrified - I have to take anxiety meds before I go to even cope. I hadn't gone for many years and needed a lot done. I was so glad I found a good dentist. The whole office are women and very understanding. They don't push, work with you and understand people with fears. I almost cancelled my last one but I went and was happy to find nothing wrong - I don't have to go back until January! Such a relief! I'm glad you're getting it sorted.

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    1. Sharon, I am so glad you found a dentist you like and who understands and works with you. Glad you didn't need any additional work done and don't have to go back until January! I don't have a fear of dentists, as such (my stepdad was a dentist!), it's just that when they recommend I do over $10,000 worth of procedures which are not covered by my current insurance I get a little concerned!

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  14. That blouse is beautiful! You did a great job on it and I love that you have the scarf too. Praying for your upcoming dental work. Be blessed my friend!

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