As I mentioned in the previous post, I was preparing to get a root canal. I had received 2 opinions from two dentists, and according to both, without a doubt, I definitely needed a root canal. They based this decision on solid evidence like multiple x-rays, including my complaint of intense pain for one night. Thus, I had to simply accept that fact, prepare myself, and pray.
Wednesday came and I was prepared. I prayed for God's blessings on the day of my dentist visit everyday, starting from the day I found out. So yesterday morning, I prayed one last time before I drove out to the dentist. Here's some background information: I have this immense fear for dentists, specifically. Since my aunts are dental assistants/hygienists, they have always done my dental work since I was young, but for some reason, if I felt pain or discomfort, I would have to deal with it since they never used any anesthetics. So pretty much, my experiences at the dentist weren't at all delightful. So as I grew older, I was never "forced" to see the dentist, thus I stubbornly never went on my own will (which definitely has changed now!). So whenever I enter a dental office, sit on that chair, or see any of the appliances and tools they use, I get really nervous and fear-stricken. On the day I went to get my first x-ray, I remember breaking out in sweats JUST from getting x-rays taken! So I knew the only way I'd be able to maintain my composure (WITHOUT the use of anti-anxiety drugs), was to pray for God's blessings. So yesterday, when I walked into the dental office, I was completely amazed at how calm and at ease I felt. The place actually looked like some kind of spa, so clean, nicely decorated, and relaxing. Even as I laid in the chair, I felt so peaceful. There was a narrow window in front of me where the light shined through, and I could see a beautifully landscaped neighborhood right outside. Who knew, right? God, of course!
And that's not even half of His blessings that day... After I settled in, and it was time to perform the root canal, this lady in a white coat turned out being the sweetest and most humorous dentist I've ever met! So she went ahead and prepared all the materials for a root canal, topically numbed my gums, injected the anesthesia (which was completely painless!), placed the elaborate set-up in my mouth, specifically designed for a root canal procedure, and started drilling. :) After a few minutes of drilling off all the cavity (which was more than a whopping 50% of my tooth), she stopped and had some kind of revelation... she made sure to clean out my tooth as much as possible, and then told me news that made my day -- After drilling everything out, she saw the possibility of SAVING my tooth because although my cavity was huge, it didn't extend as deep to the nerve. However, to confirm, she needed me to describe to her clearly how the pain started and how long it lasted, and any other detailed descriptions of my experience. So she undid the whole set-up on my mouth to hear me out, and after I told her my story, she confirmed that my nerve was simply irritated when a piece of the doritos I ate probably penetrated a sensitive part of my gums, and got even more irritated when I tried to suck it out! Haha! Turns out, she was even happier to be able to save me from a root canal because she believed I was too young for that. In fact, she said if I were older, like in my 30's or 40's, she'd probably just go for it like originally planned. I still had to get a crown, though, because a filling wasn't sufficient enough to seal the entire tooth, but the most important thing is that I was able to keep my nerve!
As she continues to undo the process, and continue with the crown, I sat in the chair, praising God for his goodness and glory. I felt His presence there the whole time, and I couldn't thank Him enough for being there with me and watching over me. This definitely isn't a common event for people with root canal appointments, and my aunt was definitely surprised and pleased to hear the wonderful news.
So here I am, adjusting to my new crown and clean AND fully functioning tooth! Oh, and I've got a week's supply of Vicodin I have NO use for! Praise the Lord! All I prayed for was a "successful" experience with MINIMAL yet endurable pain, and what did God give me? NO pain. God is simply GREAT, isn't He? :)
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Health Concerns & God's Love for Me
It was discovered yesterday, 10/3/08, that I'm in need of a root canal, as well as the extraction of both my lower wisdom teeth. I saw the dentist and was prescribed antibiotics and analgesics. Could it be that the flare-up of my lupus is directly connected to the possibly infected nerve in my gums?
My health is constantly running through my mind, and I never stop searching for answers and/or explanations. So far, within the past month or two, I've gotten 2 eye infections, followed by fevers and a flare-up of lupus, and now my dental problems. Could they be connected? Or am I over-analyzing my symptoms and reactions?
As of now, I'm currently taking my corticosteroids to calm the flare-up, and so far, it's been working wonders, and I feel in tip-top shape... that's including my constant hunger as a side-affect from the prednisone. Besides that, today is actually the first day I woke up feeling completely NORMAL and "disease-free." Usually, I'd have a couple aching joints here and there or simply just a desire to not get out of bed. Besides the medicine, the only explanation I have for this phenomenal feeling is God and His wonderful love for me. Last night, after Initium, Long and I took the time out to read God's word and also get to know more about each other, spiritually -- for the first time in our relationship. We were fighting fatigue, but we still devoted time to Him. And surprisingly (or not), we rested well, and awoke well... Praise the Lord. :)
One day, I know He will heal me. I'm not sure when, and I need not know how (thanks to Pastor Kinchen's enlightenment), but I trust in Him. For me, it's so hard to NOT analyze every medical aspect and detail of my health, but every day, I'm learning not to worry and just leave things like this in God's hands, and trust in His love for me...
My health is constantly running through my mind, and I never stop searching for answers and/or explanations. So far, within the past month or two, I've gotten 2 eye infections, followed by fevers and a flare-up of lupus, and now my dental problems. Could they be connected? Or am I over-analyzing my symptoms and reactions?
As of now, I'm currently taking my corticosteroids to calm the flare-up, and so far, it's been working wonders, and I feel in tip-top shape... that's including my constant hunger as a side-affect from the prednisone. Besides that, today is actually the first day I woke up feeling completely NORMAL and "disease-free." Usually, I'd have a couple aching joints here and there or simply just a desire to not get out of bed. Besides the medicine, the only explanation I have for this phenomenal feeling is God and His wonderful love for me. Last night, after Initium, Long and I took the time out to read God's word and also get to know more about each other, spiritually -- for the first time in our relationship. We were fighting fatigue, but we still devoted time to Him. And surprisingly (or not), we rested well, and awoke well... Praise the Lord. :)
One day, I know He will heal me. I'm not sure when, and I need not know how (thanks to Pastor Kinchen's enlightenment), but I trust in Him. For me, it's so hard to NOT analyze every medical aspect and detail of my health, but every day, I'm learning not to worry and just leave things like this in God's hands, and trust in His love for me...
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Thursday, October 9, 2008
God works, even through dentist visits...
As I mentioned in the previous post, I was preparing to get a root canal. I had received 2 opinions from two dentists, and according to both, without a doubt, I definitely needed a root canal. They based this decision on solid evidence like multiple x-rays, including my complaint of intense pain for one night. Thus, I had to simply accept that fact, prepare myself, and pray.
Wednesday came and I was prepared. I prayed for God's blessings on the day of my dentist visit everyday, starting from the day I found out. So yesterday morning, I prayed one last time before I drove out to the dentist. Here's some background information: I have this immense fear for dentists, specifically. Since my aunts are dental assistants/hygienists, they have always done my dental work since I was young, but for some reason, if I felt pain or discomfort, I would have to deal with it since they never used any anesthetics. So pretty much, my experiences at the dentist weren't at all delightful. So as I grew older, I was never "forced" to see the dentist, thus I stubbornly never went on my own will (which definitely has changed now!). So whenever I enter a dental office, sit on that chair, or see any of the appliances and tools they use, I get really nervous and fear-stricken. On the day I went to get my first x-ray, I remember breaking out in sweats JUST from getting x-rays taken! So I knew the only way I'd be able to maintain my composure (WITHOUT the use of anti-anxiety drugs), was to pray for God's blessings. So yesterday, when I walked into the dental office, I was completely amazed at how calm and at ease I felt. The place actually looked like some kind of spa, so clean, nicely decorated, and relaxing. Even as I laid in the chair, I felt so peaceful. There was a narrow window in front of me where the light shined through, and I could see a beautifully landscaped neighborhood right outside. Who knew, right? God, of course!
And that's not even half of His blessings that day... After I settled in, and it was time to perform the root canal, this lady in a white coat turned out being the sweetest and most humorous dentist I've ever met! So she went ahead and prepared all the materials for a root canal, topically numbed my gums, injected the anesthesia (which was completely painless!), placed the elaborate set-up in my mouth, specifically designed for a root canal procedure, and started drilling. :) After a few minutes of drilling off all the cavity (which was more than a whopping 50% of my tooth), she stopped and had some kind of revelation... she made sure to clean out my tooth as much as possible, and then told me news that made my day -- After drilling everything out, she saw the possibility of SAVING my tooth because although my cavity was huge, it didn't extend as deep to the nerve. However, to confirm, she needed me to describe to her clearly how the pain started and how long it lasted, and any other detailed descriptions of my experience. So she undid the whole set-up on my mouth to hear me out, and after I told her my story, she confirmed that my nerve was simply irritated when a piece of the doritos I ate probably penetrated a sensitive part of my gums, and got even more irritated when I tried to suck it out! Haha! Turns out, she was even happier to be able to save me from a root canal because she believed I was too young for that. In fact, she said if I were older, like in my 30's or 40's, she'd probably just go for it like originally planned. I still had to get a crown, though, because a filling wasn't sufficient enough to seal the entire tooth, but the most important thing is that I was able to keep my nerve!
As she continues to undo the process, and continue with the crown, I sat in the chair, praising God for his goodness and glory. I felt His presence there the whole time, and I couldn't thank Him enough for being there with me and watching over me. This definitely isn't a common event for people with root canal appointments, and my aunt was definitely surprised and pleased to hear the wonderful news.
So here I am, adjusting to my new crown and clean AND fully functioning tooth! Oh, and I've got a week's supply of Vicodin I have NO use for! Praise the Lord! All I prayed for was a "successful" experience with MINIMAL yet endurable pain, and what did God give me? NO pain. God is simply GREAT, isn't He? :)
Wednesday came and I was prepared. I prayed for God's blessings on the day of my dentist visit everyday, starting from the day I found out. So yesterday morning, I prayed one last time before I drove out to the dentist. Here's some background information: I have this immense fear for dentists, specifically. Since my aunts are dental assistants/hygienists, they have always done my dental work since I was young, but for some reason, if I felt pain or discomfort, I would have to deal with it since they never used any anesthetics. So pretty much, my experiences at the dentist weren't at all delightful. So as I grew older, I was never "forced" to see the dentist, thus I stubbornly never went on my own will (which definitely has changed now!). So whenever I enter a dental office, sit on that chair, or see any of the appliances and tools they use, I get really nervous and fear-stricken. On the day I went to get my first x-ray, I remember breaking out in sweats JUST from getting x-rays taken! So I knew the only way I'd be able to maintain my composure (WITHOUT the use of anti-anxiety drugs), was to pray for God's blessings. So yesterday, when I walked into the dental office, I was completely amazed at how calm and at ease I felt. The place actually looked like some kind of spa, so clean, nicely decorated, and relaxing. Even as I laid in the chair, I felt so peaceful. There was a narrow window in front of me where the light shined through, and I could see a beautifully landscaped neighborhood right outside. Who knew, right? God, of course!
And that's not even half of His blessings that day... After I settled in, and it was time to perform the root canal, this lady in a white coat turned out being the sweetest and most humorous dentist I've ever met! So she went ahead and prepared all the materials for a root canal, topically numbed my gums, injected the anesthesia (which was completely painless!), placed the elaborate set-up in my mouth, specifically designed for a root canal procedure, and started drilling. :) After a few minutes of drilling off all the cavity (which was more than a whopping 50% of my tooth), she stopped and had some kind of revelation... she made sure to clean out my tooth as much as possible, and then told me news that made my day -- After drilling everything out, she saw the possibility of SAVING my tooth because although my cavity was huge, it didn't extend as deep to the nerve. However, to confirm, she needed me to describe to her clearly how the pain started and how long it lasted, and any other detailed descriptions of my experience. So she undid the whole set-up on my mouth to hear me out, and after I told her my story, she confirmed that my nerve was simply irritated when a piece of the doritos I ate probably penetrated a sensitive part of my gums, and got even more irritated when I tried to suck it out! Haha! Turns out, she was even happier to be able to save me from a root canal because she believed I was too young for that. In fact, she said if I were older, like in my 30's or 40's, she'd probably just go for it like originally planned. I still had to get a crown, though, because a filling wasn't sufficient enough to seal the entire tooth, but the most important thing is that I was able to keep my nerve!
As she continues to undo the process, and continue with the crown, I sat in the chair, praising God for his goodness and glory. I felt His presence there the whole time, and I couldn't thank Him enough for being there with me and watching over me. This definitely isn't a common event for people with root canal appointments, and my aunt was definitely surprised and pleased to hear the wonderful news.
So here I am, adjusting to my new crown and clean AND fully functioning tooth! Oh, and I've got a week's supply of Vicodin I have NO use for! Praise the Lord! All I prayed for was a "successful" experience with MINIMAL yet endurable pain, and what did God give me? NO pain. God is simply GREAT, isn't He? :)
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Health Concerns & God's Love for Me
It was discovered yesterday, 10/3/08, that I'm in need of a root canal, as well as the extraction of both my lower wisdom teeth. I saw the dentist and was prescribed antibiotics and analgesics. Could it be that the flare-up of my lupus is directly connected to the possibly infected nerve in my gums?
My health is constantly running through my mind, and I never stop searching for answers and/or explanations. So far, within the past month or two, I've gotten 2 eye infections, followed by fevers and a flare-up of lupus, and now my dental problems. Could they be connected? Or am I over-analyzing my symptoms and reactions?
As of now, I'm currently taking my corticosteroids to calm the flare-up, and so far, it's been working wonders, and I feel in tip-top shape... that's including my constant hunger as a side-affect from the prednisone. Besides that, today is actually the first day I woke up feeling completely NORMAL and "disease-free." Usually, I'd have a couple aching joints here and there or simply just a desire to not get out of bed. Besides the medicine, the only explanation I have for this phenomenal feeling is God and His wonderful love for me. Last night, after Initium, Long and I took the time out to read God's word and also get to know more about each other, spiritually -- for the first time in our relationship. We were fighting fatigue, but we still devoted time to Him. And surprisingly (or not), we rested well, and awoke well... Praise the Lord. :)
One day, I know He will heal me. I'm not sure when, and I need not know how (thanks to Pastor Kinchen's enlightenment), but I trust in Him. For me, it's so hard to NOT analyze every medical aspect and detail of my health, but every day, I'm learning not to worry and just leave things like this in God's hands, and trust in His love for me...
My health is constantly running through my mind, and I never stop searching for answers and/or explanations. So far, within the past month or two, I've gotten 2 eye infections, followed by fevers and a flare-up of lupus, and now my dental problems. Could they be connected? Or am I over-analyzing my symptoms and reactions?
As of now, I'm currently taking my corticosteroids to calm the flare-up, and so far, it's been working wonders, and I feel in tip-top shape... that's including my constant hunger as a side-affect from the prednisone. Besides that, today is actually the first day I woke up feeling completely NORMAL and "disease-free." Usually, I'd have a couple aching joints here and there or simply just a desire to not get out of bed. Besides the medicine, the only explanation I have for this phenomenal feeling is God and His wonderful love for me. Last night, after Initium, Long and I took the time out to read God's word and also get to know more about each other, spiritually -- for the first time in our relationship. We were fighting fatigue, but we still devoted time to Him. And surprisingly (or not), we rested well, and awoke well... Praise the Lord. :)
One day, I know He will heal me. I'm not sure when, and I need not know how (thanks to Pastor Kinchen's enlightenment), but I trust in Him. For me, it's so hard to NOT analyze every medical aspect and detail of my health, but every day, I'm learning not to worry and just leave things like this in God's hands, and trust in His love for me...
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