Blatant plea for sympathy

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Ruth B
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Re: Blatant plea for sympathy

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People are far too quick to force their opinions onto others. I never wanted children, I knew this when I was a teenager, and it never changed. The number of times people would tell me I'd feel different when I got older, well I'm almost 50 and still waiting to feel different. I was lucky, my husband was 10 when his youngest brother was born and it left him with an ingrained feeling of not wanting to go through it all again (I want to say an ingrained horror or dislike, but that isn't accurate, he has nothing against children he just hates the thought of having to live with one again).

Tiggy and Freyja are booked in for a week today, I'm dreading Freyja being in there with out me, she is virtually unhandlable, if they keep hold of her she is likely to freeze up (she was so scared last time she actually crapped on the vets table), but if they let go as they tend to with the other cats as they turn to get something, she could well be off and hiding, trying to catch her would be a nightmare for them and for her. Tiggy is a question mark, she will be fine in there, but I am dreading what they might find, particularly as she is still active and seems full of life, but she is so skinny now and rather wobbly on her back legs, sometimes she shakes herself and falls over, and sometimes does it in places where she falls off things. I saw her throwing up yesterday, something she does every day or so but I often only hear not see it, and the way it was straining her hips looked like it might cause her to hurt herself. I know I will give her as long as she seems happy to go on, but I hate the thought of her suffering. Of course there is also the other concern at the moment, if her time is up I want to be in there and holding her at the end so the last thing she know is love, and of course with Covid I don't know if I will be able to.
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Re: Blatant plea for sympathy

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Unexpectedly our vet rang back lunch time, the specialist had got back to her immediately.

Four weeks absolute rest, trips to toilet in a sling supporting the back legs, no more than 15 minutes lead walk. For 4 weeks, then check progress. I have plans to dismantle our bed and put the mattress directly on the floor, but there's not much I can do about the sofa other than pile stuff on it every time we go out. Needless to say it's evening walk time and he can't understand what he's done wrong ...

Before I ring the vet again Monday, does anyone know what pace puts less strain on knees, walking or a light trot? I would have thought a light trot but am I wrong? If I'm right, I will have to walk very fast!

Thank you Chatters I'm sorry it's a little off topic but your support is making an enormous difference to me, and I feel a little closer to you all for having shared something of us other than our wonderful kitties!
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Re: Blatant plea for sympathy

Post by booktigger »

I'm the same Ruth, I think having to babysit from the age of 13 and having to plan seeing friends round my mums shifts put me off kids for life. Good luck for next week.

Fingers crossed for getting through the next four weeks
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Re: Blatant plea for sympathy

Post by Mollycat »

Ruth I'm sorry I missed your last one. Your Freyja sounds a whole lot like my Molly, as much as I'd love to know if we really need to keep her on potassium she will only go in for life or death situations. Our vets make an exception for end of life, it probably helps that they have a garden where you can opt to say goodbye. They also did home visits, before all this kicked off. I wish my first and second had been with them, Boo was handled so beautifully.

Wishing you all the best for them next week and hoping that day is far away in the land of normal.
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Re: Blatant plea for sympathy

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Ruth B wrote: Fri Oct 16, 2020 7:25 am At least some bad news has been ruled out, we'll be keeping all fingers and paws crossed that it can be cured by controlled exercise and time.

I too sometimes look back and wonder what happened to the old me, but I wouldn't want to be back there again really. Comfort and contentment are very underrated, so many people keep saying 'you need to get out of your comfort zone' or go on about 'ambitions and targets, and having to better yourself', I always wonder what is wrong with being content with what you have. Although I will admit, given the chance, i would have the body I had 30 years ago back, slightly better eyesight, far less in the way of aches and pains in the joints.

In the end, I've a roof over my head, food in the cupboards, no major debts, and a husband and three cats that love me, we may not have been on holiday since our honeymoon, but that is more a choice than being forced on us, and neither of us suffers any real vices except coffee and chocolate. Things could be far worse.
Hi Ruth. Hope you don't mind me adding a lighter note. Some years back, when self help books were all the rage (Feel the Fear and do it anyway?) no thanks, fear is a way of telling your body it's definitely not the way to go!) a friend lent me a very funny book called '101 things NOT to do before you die!!' i.e. you don't have to watch that arty film, bungee jump off a cliff, walk the Great Wall of China. It struck such a cord. What I do find in old age is the burden of loss grows ever more heavy, and I would love to wake up with the feeling of youthful excitement and hope. But of course, the past is where we thought the grass was greener, but if we went back and peered over the fence .. we would find a field of cowpats and very grumpy looking bull! Ah well. Better go. As I no longer have any cats, by rights I shouldn't really be on here.

Issi
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Re: Blatant plea for sympathy

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Don't be daft Issie, of course you can still be here despite not having cats, the forum is about sharing experiences which you can still do
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Re: Blatant plea for sympathy

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I have an ever lengthening list of things I intend never to do - mountaineering and potholing amongst them. There can be great pleasure in adding things to the list, and considering how much money and time you have saved - I don't want a luxury yacht, to go on a space flight, or a round the world cruise - several million pounds saved at a stroke!

How is the dog today? Sophy, my papillon, tripped over my shoes at the bottom of the stairs this morning and for a while I feared she had put her back out again. She seems fine now, so I am hoping we have dodged it this time, but I have emailed the osteopath to see if he is still working, just in case. Daft really - I am coping with mild joint pain all over, including tennis elbow from falling and whacking it a few weeks ago, and it never occurs to me to seek help for myself, but the merest hint of a limp in the animals and I am instantly after the first appointment available!
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Re: Blatant plea for sympathy

Post by Ruth B »

Don't be silly Issi, you are welcome here anytime, you may no longer have any cats (don't speak too soon, you may be inviting someone to arrive on your doorstep), but you still have a wealth of experience and that is just as important as having a cat, if not more so.

Bungee jumping and sky diving are definitely on my 'not to do' list, as I heard it put, 'only a fool jumps out a perfectly good plane'. There are things i would love to do but know i never will, like visiting some of the ancient ruins around the world, my fear of insects means I shudder at the thought of what I might encounter. However I know there are still things I can think of doing, a visit to Orkney to see their heritage sights is one that is on the cards, for some point in the future. It is just a case of being realistic.
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Re: Blatant plea for sympathy

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Issi, all cat lovers are part of the community. We all have time between cats, before cats, wishing we had cats, fearing the heartbreak all over again, too old for cats, too young for cats, in the wrong home for cats, and the million and one other catless situations. I must admit after the last couple of years, when the time comes I can see myself taking a break from animals, if only to take stock once more of who I actually am. Besides if you want to think that way it's a cat forum and my dog shouldn't be on here taking up threads!
fjm wrote: Sat Oct 17, 2020 11:32 am I have an ever lengthening list of things I intend never to do - mountaineering and potholing amongst them. There can be great pleasure in adding things to the list, and considering how much money and time you have saved - I don't want a luxury yacht, to go on a space flight, or a round the world cruise - several million pounds saved at a stroke!

How is the dog today? Sophy, my papillon, tripped over my shoes at the bottom of the stairs this morning and for a while I feared she had put her back out again. She seems fine now, so I am hoping we have dodged it this time, but I have emailed the osteopath to see if he is still working, just in case. Daft really - I am coping with mild joint pain all over, including tennis elbow from falling and whacking it a few weeks ago, and it never occurs to me to seek help for myself, but the merest hint of a limp in the animals and I am instantly after the first appointment available!
I like your list of things to avoid, mine begins with bungee jumping and anything to do with two-wheeled motorised transport, and after that I would have to think.

It's just occurred to me I have never introduced Snoopy, mostly because he isn't a cat. But he does wash his face like a cat and was brought up by and with cats - OH was clearing out an abandoned camp 9 years and 10 months ago, casually nudged a box and finding some resistance opened it, to find a four week old puppy inside, abandoned and left to die in early December. By coincidence that night he was due to pick up a kitten. So we have no idea what's in him and don't really care, he's just a Snoopy. Spaniel size, terrier type, sniffer and digger. Maybe we could pay off his vet bills by putting him out to work as an earthquake rescue dog?

He had his first attempt at a 15 minute lead walk, aborted in 30 seconds when OH pointed out he won't poo on the lead, then luckily we bumped into some friends and stood around for 20 minutes chatting while dogs sniffed around or sat quietly. Sling ordered yesterday came this morning for the stairs, Yumove on order, and instead of dismantling and storing the bed and sleeping on the mattress on the floor we have also ordered an adjustable ramp. My job today is making a new collar and lead in one so that his going out having fun collar is separate - he associates his harness with going somewhere in the car which means fun (except the vet) so it gets him super excited.

Actually got some helpful info from the Crufts website about what activities put the most strain on joints, I don't think walk or trot matters but I have a hunch pulling on the leash is probably very bad, maybe even a light "canter" is probably better than pulling? A kind of lollopping canter was the pace he seemed most comfortable with when at his worst and it makes sense, it's relatively easy to keep the weight off one back leg at that pace if you "lead" on the opposite fore. Do we have anyone with a tripod dog who can offer any observations? Or am I just fishing for any hope that I don't have to literally keep him on the leash? He doesn't go on it for weeks and months at a time so this (at the risk of sounding like a spoilt brat) is actually really hard!
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Re: Blatant plea for sympathy

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Snoopy with his buddy Boo
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Re: Blatant plea for sympathy

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I thought I had introduced The Dog properly but maybe it was one of many comments recently I have started to write and discarded. Name's Snoopy, anyway. Spaniel size, terrier type, face just like a bearded collie.

So we're getting used to the new system and although changes are hopefully temporary it's still useful to note them as likely to end up back again some time. Our bed has been dismantled and the mattress is on the floor, even though there is a ramp on order. We have started YuMove, let's see what difference that makes.

Snoop is getting used to a lot of new things. He now wears his harness even to go pee, and I have sewn a handle onto the back of it to hold his speed in check and the sling to support his back end all in one hand going up the stairs. He is finally using the longer lead with a bungee section, and doesn't pull as much on it. I take opportunities to stand and talk with other dog owners to give him longer outdoors even if he's just mooching by my side. He still has to have a ball in his mouth at all times though! And he is taking his metacam and yumove very well.

As for me, the 3 offending teeth are gone, the 2 that were wobbly are fine but the one from the lower front, aaaiiiiiiie!!! It was out Monday, I am still on max dose codeine and waking up in the night at dose time, today is the first time I've made it past 3am. Hurts just as much as it did when it was in a flare-up and still in my mouth. But pain or not I have to go back to work Monday.

Sniper1 - is there any positive news for you? Any news at all?
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Re: Blatant plea for sympathy

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Hope your mouth feels better soon and you can get a decent night's sleep. Is it an abscess, or bruising from the extraction?

Snoop looks very comfortable curled up with the cat, and it sounds as if you are all adjusting to his new (but hopefully temporary) normal. Dog walking natters are one of the pleasures that remain even in these strange times - I had a lovely one yesterday with a woman I haven't seen since the start of lockdown. She was thrilled to see Poppy so much better, and I was amazed by the improvement eight months of loving care had made in her little rescue dog - no longer a fragile, anxious creature on high alert for the next danger but sleek, solidly muscled, with the unmistakable air of a dog who knows her human will take care of things and she can relax. A very happy encounter all round.
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Re: Blatant plea for sympathy

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So glad to hear that Snoopy is doing well and taking his treatment in his stride (all be it a rather restricted stride).

Did your dentist warn you that that front tooth might give extra problems, if not it might be worth calling him, teeth that are extracted leave a hole that fills with blood and scabs over, as long as that happens it should be fine, if the scab comes off and the blood drains out you get what is known as a dry socket where all the bits at the bottom of the root area are exposed and they really don't like it. A dentist can normally put something in to help it heal properly which also takes a lot of the pain away. There may be other reasons for the pain, but it is probably worth a phone call.

My own dental appointment got cancelled, someone in my husbands office was sent for a Covid test the day before we were meant to have it and the dentist decided to play it cautiously and when I phoned about an hour before the appointment time said he would rather cancel than take the risk. As it turned out the woman tested was positive, but as the office is socially distanced and they all wear masked only the two closed to her were sent for tests, they have both come back negative. While it was annoying at the time, it was probably for the best, dentists are having it hard enough at the moment without risking having someone ring up to say they tested positive just after an appointment. So my tooth still has a big chunk of over the counter temporary filling in it, it isn't hurting most of the time fortunately, just the occasional twinge when I have something too hot or too cold go near it. New appointment booked for early November, but with another dentist that has started at the practice, While I'm dreading not seeing my normal one i didn't want to wait another month for an appointment with him, and it may be a good thing, if all goes well it will start building my confidence and trust in him which might be useful in the future, being limited to one dentist has its own draw backs.

Finally onto some good news, a successful trip to the vets yesterday evening. I managed to get Freyja into the carrier with only minor injury to myself, I didn't quite get hold of her right first time when scruffing her which meant i got hissed at and she managed to lash out as I readjusted my hold so I could pick her up safely. Three good scratches to the hand and several nicks to the forearm, but a small price to pay to have her safely boxed. So boosters and health check completed for another year, and by the time we went to bed she was just about over it and trusting me to fuss her again, today she is fine and back to her normal self. Tiggy also went and had a follow up check up, and the vet couldn't find anything to be concerned about this time. Whatever had caused the swelling in the abdomen seemed to have gone down. Tiggy had had a bit of an upset stomach several days before her last check up so I can just hope that it was just that her insides were a bit swollen from it. I do wonder if she is going to be one of those cats that goes from scare to scare for a long time. So some more Bisolven for when she needs it and some solution to clean her ears out as they tend to give her some problems, but all good news really.
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Re: Blatant plea for sympathy

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No abcess fjm, no dry socket I don't think but just hellish pain all through the bone from the left side of my chin all the way through the right side of my jaw up into my ear drum and temple. It's just as bad as when the tooth was still there, only instead of a couple of days flare-up this has now been 5 days solid. I did speak to the dentist yesterday who asked a lot of questions to see if it was infection or dry socket but I don't think so. Opioid painkillers are all that touches my pain and ironically they trigger vile histamine, this time my hands looked like they had been attacked by killer bees. I'll spare you all the pictures. I think the answer to the pain as well as the urticaria is histamine and there is research backing this up. I'll happily explain all about histamine if anyone's interested, it's a little bit complicated but might be of interest to anyone having a tough menopause for example or weird symptoms from rashes and migraines to tummy upsets and difficulty concentrating and remembering things.

Ruth, well done getting Freyja in without too much damage! and nice to know they have both been checked over, isn't it a little window of peace of mind. Must admit I wouldn't dream of trying Molly without a reiki session now I know the difference it makes.
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Re: Blatant plea for sympathy

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A little update

Dentist has put me on a course of antibiotics but I can already feel the infection is loosening teeth on the other side now and my feeling is we will need to get to the "root" cause of bone loss and infection. This could get painful and expensive.

As for the dog we thought things were going really well, until his regulation 15 minutes on the lead yesterday got rained on and when I took him out for his lunchtime widdle the leg was just as stiff and non weight bearing as it was before we started Yumove and Metacam. Maybe he can be ok but only when the weather is dry. Added problem despite cutting his food by half, reducing his exercise from 2+1 hours running around free to 2x 15 minutes plodding at human pace means he is visibly fatter, I would estimate he has put on around 2-3kg on a 17kg dog and with 11 days still to go before his next appointment. OH feels optimistic, I don't share that feeling.

Always think positive? This morning Molly buried her head in my hand and stayed there purring for a good 3 minutes :o
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Re: Blatant plea for sympathy

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Gentle massage and physio may help keep the dog's leg from seizing up - check with the vet first of course. And I really feel for you about the prospective dental work - bad enough having to go through it, without being impoverished by it as well. All this and Covid too...

But Molly being cuddlesome is definitely a bright spot!
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Re: Blatant plea for sympathy

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Just rang the vet to check if any changes to appointments and the answer is not at this stage - so that's good.

It's a crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy life!
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Re: Blatant plea for sympathy

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I phoned to pay the vet bill this morning, and we discussed the feasibility of just hibernating under the duvet till April...
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Re: Blatant plea for sympathy

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Oh is that an option? Could I make it until the end of February? I have a birthday with a 0 on the end and a wedding in March. I'd like not to miss those, ideally!
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Re: Blatant plea for sympathy

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I could go with hibernating until March as well, but not until after next week. I'm still keeping my fingers crossed that my dental appointment will go ahead next Tuesday even though we are going into another full lockdown.
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Re: Blatant plea for sympathy

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Hope so for you Ruth, the whole toothache problem is new to me but I really understand it now! Surely they will honour yours if they now have the required PPE and you already have the appointments. Let us know.
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Re: Blatant plea for sympathy

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So for two days Mollycat has been refusing all or most of her food and after 4 tiny little furballs Monday has delivered thick liquid brown stuff out of both ends, the only difference between them being the smell. I was just grateful it wasn't yellow this time and kept a close eye on her. She seems to perk up in the evenings and crash again in the morning but today was going well ... then the dog started this morning, out 3 times for the back end and two deposits on the carpet from the front end in less than 3 hours. Which has set the cat off again, hunched up clearly with stomach cramps and half a dozen visits to stink out the bathroom.

So ... does anyone know of a bug going around? Molly doesn't go out so it can only have come in with the dog, who currently on the lead and hasn't been digging or playing with the ball for 3 weeks. Hasn't eaten anything that isn't either given by us and also eaten by us or proper dog treats in a packet from people we know and trust. Worms ticks fleas and vax all up to date on dog, cat untreated and unvaxed indoor only, no fleas. Cat is feeling rough and off her food, dog is not, both have D&V. Cat appears to be feeling cold, her ears are a little bit cool but nothing drastic. Any bright ideas welcome as to what this could be!
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Re: Blatant plea for sympathy

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I guess it could be a lot of different bugs, and they can be carried in in any number of ways. The only advice I can give is the normal, try and keep them hydrated and let them just eat little and often if they want to.

When I was at Poly I did a microbiology module as part of my degree. One assignment we had was to go around the Polytechnic buildings sampling areas for a certain bacteria commonly found in the human gut (It won't take much imagination to work out how it gets from the gut to areas of the Polytechnic). We tested all the most likely places, taps surfaces and door handles to the ladies and gents toilets, as well as things like lift buttons and banister rails. Most of which were relatively clear, the toilet areas were actually some of the best/cleanest result. The worst areas by far were the coffee bar and refectory tables. I would guess it was a case that the amounts of bacteria originally transmitted were similar across most of the surfaces, but the longer between washing your hands and touching something meant that the bacteria could breed on your hands, and then the few that were transmuted to the tables could breed quickly feeding on the bits of spilt food and drink. It was the type of experiment that has been brought back to mind with the current Covid situation, washing hands well and often, can work wonders.

I hope both Snoopy and Mollycat are feeling better soon.
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Re: Blatant plea for sympathy

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Thanks Ruth I remember some similar findings of more germs on staircase hand rails than a toilet seat. And it's a good point about the animals, just so odd to have started in the one of all of us who can't go out and therefore mix and catch things that way.

Racking my brains for something both animals have eaten and neither of the humans has - a tin of sardines, a tin of tuna, and Felix pouches. Tinned fish after the start of it, narrows us down to the Felix pouches, if it's a food source. I have to pop out for cocodamols anyway, I think I'll be picking up some alternative food for Madam while I'm out there.
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Re: Blatant plea for sympathy

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No operation for the dog, both animals now clear of d&v. Dog up from 17.9 to 20.6 kg in 4 weeks despite food being halved so now begins the long work of gradually increasing the exercise again and shedding the extra before that has an impact on his health too.

Lots more dental work and another course of antibiotics for me. Starting to understand people who hate getting old.

Ruth how are your teeth doing?

Sniper1 how are you doing?

How is everyone?
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Re: Blatant plea for sympathy

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That's good news that the animals are better - less so on the dental work. I have been feeling creaky and achey and completely lacking in get up and go of late - I think partly the shorter days, and partly the sheer unrelenting grind of dreariness and Covid. But a friend's first grand child arrived safely at the weekend, which is happy news, my animals are all OKish, which at their age is pretty good, and there is not much wrong with me that is not fixed by a couple of paracetamol and a warm bath, so I really should not complain. Doesn't stop me longing for blue seas and warm sunshine and a cold beer and sand between my toes, though...
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Re: Blatant plea for sympathy

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So glad to hear that the D&v has cleared up, and that no surgery is needed for the dog.

I've been to the dentist this afternoon, and while i thought I was seeing the new one, they were both there and while the new dentist saw my OH (he only needed a check up, his teeth are in good condition), my normal dentist saw me. The latest filling I had put in was almost out any way, if I hadn't seen him I think it would have needed replacing today or tomorrow anyway, and I must have done a good job at cleaning the socket when I had to put t in each time, he gave it a quick clean out with dental picks and a bit of cotton wool and put a nice new lump of Glass Ionomer in it for me. We both agree that it is one to try and crown when things are more back to normal next year. At the moment they are trying to manage with out using the high speed drills etc. as it means a lot more work sorting the surgery out for the next person, when you think about the way those drills spray water around, they are the perfect tool for spreading the virus, so managing without is the better option where possible.

I have to admit he has managed wonders with my teeth considering the state they were in when i started going to him, currently I have 4 crowns on teeth where there was virtually nothing to put a crown on, as long as the root is good he will build up a base using filling material and then fix the crown over that. I know I'm not ready to try and have root canal work done and it does seem to be going out of fashion a bit, so on one premolar where there wasn't even enough tooth for him to build up and crown he has made me a complete tooth above gum level with filling material.

My only worry is that if I ever get mugged they will realise just how much gold i have in my mouth.

Mollycat, I really hope you can get yours sorted and be pain free soon.
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Mollycat
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Re: Blatant plea for sympathy

Post by Mollycat »

Oh dear Ruth, thank goodness you've got there and it sounds like you have managed things very well through the challenges of the last months.

I am frustrated by the teeth themselves being pristine - I have two fillings which have been there for more than 30 years, nothing else - but bone loss means desperate measures to save them will ultimately be for nowt. So as soon as the right upper started to swell and loosen, in my mind those are going to follow in the bite marks of the left, and be gone. And yet for 6 months I was trying so hard to save the wobbly one on the left!

Yes they were apparently not allowed to open for most of the last months, even when the right PPE became available. The whole thing is going to end up having health consequences for many people for years to come.

Fjm yes it is all getting a bit wearing now isn't it? Lovely for your friend's first grandchild but must be so tough not being able to be there and cuddle, I mean what a world to be born into. How are babies going to fare with learning about people's expressions, when everyone other than their parents is masked? Again, we will be feeling this for many decades after it's done.

Dog has been off the lead for the first time this morning and as expected running around like a loony. Bumped into a lovely lady with her 4 greyhounds and wonder how people cope with more than two animals when humans only have two hands. Certainly those 4 all want their turn and if there isn't a free hand they snuggle and headbutt and whine. It's lovely to be loved though. I call them pineapple-heads, if you've ever seen a large group of greyhounds all with their heads up and ears pricked, you'll know what I mean.
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Ruth B
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Re: Blatant plea for sympathy

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It sounds like my teeth and yours are the opposite ends of the spectrum, my are horrendous above gum level with all but my 6 front lower teeth being heavily filled or crowned, but pretty much fine below gum level, while your teeth are fine and it ts the bone going that is letting them down. My mother had a condition in her later years that meant even a good tooth could go brittle and break off and there was nothing she could do about it except have the roots removed and a denture. There is so much more that goes on with teeth than most people realise, and no matter how well you look after them sometimes you draw the short straw and things go wrong. Do they know why your bone is going and is there anything that could be done if the dentists were open. Implants are something I looked into once and while horrendously expensive per tooth i know they can now do dentures on them and only need to do a few implants per jaw, and they will do bone graphs to hold the implant in place if the bone has reduced too much. Not a quick solution, but possibly a long term plan for both of us.

I have to admit, when they announced the new lockdown starting last week, i had the horror of thinking that the dentists would have to shut again and i wouldn't get it done. The surgery looked really good, they had taken the opportunity to do a bit of refurbishment and repaint everything. I guess when they had to shut was a really good time to do it.
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Mollycat
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Re: Blatant plea for sympathy

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Yes it is Ruth but yours are the same as my partner and my ex. Dentist says there is nothing sinister and it's plain old gum disease. I went through some rough times a few years ago, at times I was quite capable of not getting dressed for more than a week at a time and as you can imagine dental care wasn't on the agenda. I was blessed with great genetics and sadly abused this fact, so now I have to pay the price. At this stage it's the back both sides top only and the lower lot are solid, but we do have to take some action now to prevent it getting too much worse.

I had high hopes, all those years ago, when it was first announced that they could grow your own spare tooth from stem cells. Hurrah, I thought, by the time I get there it will be so simple, drop a few stem cells in the hole and let the replacement grow! The only snag was that they couldn't program or predict what tooth it would be, and a big fat molar where an incisor should be would be to say the least inconvenient. But 15-20 years later and where are we now, apparently nowhere!

We do feel a lot more settled now a decision is made about the dog though, and everything else feels much more manageable now.
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