You know it’s going to be a memorable day when the nice dentist you met five minutes ago, looks at you and says… “Amelia, I’m not going to sugar coat it. This will be the most painful thing you will ever experience in your entire life … like cutting off your own finger.” Then, proceeds to tell his assistant and my Step-Dad, what they were about to see could be quite horrific and if they felt like fainting, they should just lay down on the floor.
After eleven days and ten nights of unimaginable pain stemming from a tooth infection/abscess which had been brewing for several years, I was about to have my largest, lower right molar pulled from my jaw. WITHOUT anaesthetic.
Was I nervous? Yes. But what I was more so, was exhausted.
Day in day out pain had taken it’s toll. The previous dentist who came and performed a modified tooth canal on this very tooth just over a year ago, told me he wouldn’t be coming to help this time, so I had to locate another physician. Fast. Only problem was, as many other housebound /MCS peeps will attest to, THAT, is no easy task. There are barely even a few, if any dentists, who are willing to accommodate chemical sensitivity, let alone show up fragrance-free, set up a make shift dental surgery in a kitchen and go without using anaesthetic.
I was worn out by the pain of the infection and the search for a dentist.
I begged for reprieve. I cried out to the heavens. I sobbed until the tears made the throbbing worse and then I rocked to and fro, moaned and whimpered instead. I couldn’t sleep. It was impossible to place my head on a pillow without making it worse.
Barely able to consume watered down puréed carrot through a straw, I lost weight. And because I wasn’t tolerating shower water, I could only sit in an empty bath clutching the right side of my burning head and bathe from a saucepan filled with warm, twice filtered drinking water.
No matter what I did the pain rolled in thick and fast. I couldn’t catch my breath. I couldn’t think straight.
Physically I was spent. Emotionally I had nothing left to give. Even still, I was about to edure a level of pain I couldn’t even fathom.
I was grateful to have my Step Dad there for moral support and I knew I had friends sending me good vibes from around the Globe.
But when my dentist instructed the room to prepare for the worst. What was becoming clear, I was going to have to dive deep and locate a magnitude of strength, like I never had done before.
With no options up my sleeve, no life coach to guide me through, face to face with a ominous pair of dental pliers and no Hollywood ‘Stunt Double’ to step in and bare the brunt, all I could thInk to do was sit and prepare myself. I closed my eyes. I took a very deep breath.
There in that quiet place, I saw a vision of my Future Self and she was looking right at me.
”Shift your gaze” she said.
She said these three words with such fervor, such authority … instantly, I obeyed. I withdrew my attention off the circumstances around me, the pain, the fear, the extraction in my kitchen without anesthetic I was about to endure and … placed it intently on the horizon.
I remembered all the biggest dreams I had for my future and I remembered all the reasons why I deserved to make it through this procedure and claim my best life.
I had books to write and beaches to run on, I had belly laughs, heartfelt hugs and strolls in Central Park to feast on … a fairy tale romance, long held dreams come true, it was all there … fun, friendships, creative pursuits and the highest expression of me too.
My Future Self vision grew so big and glowed so bright, the very sight of it outweighed the suffering I was experiencing in the moment.
I felt an unmistakable courage begin to emerge within me. A type of strength and resolve I hadn’t felt before. I knew then and there I would be ok.
My Future Self looked in my eyes. Smiling, she squeezed my hand. “You’ve got this” she said. And with her unwavering belief in me, she pulled me through.
Maybe you’re facing a challenging situation right now.
Maybe life is asking more from you than you have to give.
But before you decide it’s too much. Before you give in to the fatigue, that panic or uncertainty … BEFORE you go THERE, why not do what I did instead?
Shift your gaze from the circumstances around you to the brightest future you can imagine up ahead. Remember all the reasons WHY you deserve to make it through the thing you’re facing and claim your best life. Your Future Self knows you absolutely have what it takes and now it’s time, for you to believe that too.
P.S If you’d like to learn more about this tooth extraction and all of the five dental procedures I’ve had at home, you can. I’ve written a 2 PART BLOG SERIES which includes all the things I’ve learned, how I found the right dentist for me and personal advice and product recommendations too. PART 1 is HERE.
P.P.S If you’re facing some challenging circumstances right now and you need a dose of hardcore inspiration … hang in there, because I’ve got you covered for that too. Go HERE.
I’m facing something similar allergic to local and air in the hospital but they will only do my extraction in the OR won’t come to my house. How did they decide to go without local? They are going to try another type of local with me but i’m scared I will have anaphylaxis to it.
My whole face is tender and I’m concerned the infection has spread.
Hope you’re feeling better
Hi Ana,
Sorry to hear you are having to deal with your own challenging tooth situation.
I tracked down samples of all anesthetic options (& all other dental materials used in my procedure) and tested myself using kinesiology/muscle testing.
It took me 12 months to locate a dentist who was willing to come to my house. Some my ask you to sign a waver etc
You need to do what’s right for you. Do you own research. Ask lots of questions. You may also consider a written plan/protocol that both you and your dentists can agree on PRIOR to your procedure. I’m not sure where you live, but many counties/states have MCS HOSPITAL GUIDELINES. You may have to search online and print up a copy for your doctors. Don’t assume they know about it.
Thinking of you and sending good vibes and speedy healing!
A xx
Ana, here’s a link to my EI/MCS Info & Support Page. It has a link to some Australian Hospital Guidelines.
http://www.ameliahill.com/eimcs-info-support/
I found this post because I just had a molar extraction without any anesthetic. I have extreme hypersensitivity to all of the “caine” anesthetics I have tried, so have done all of my work without it for 15 years.
It does hurt to get drilled, but it’s not intolerable and I try to go to the dentist often enough that things don’t get too bad. Now I live in a foreign country where they have refused to do work without anesthetic, or use another drug I am okay with, so a small problem got worse. Dentists here wanted to do more things than necessary, and said they would only do it if I had general anesthesia. Flew back to USA and my dentist there pulled the one tooth and fixed the others with no drugs.
Filling the cavities hurt, but, honestly, pulling the tooth didn’t hurt at all. My father drove me there and the dentist suggested that he take his hearing aids out so he wouldn’t hear me screaming, but I didn’t even wince. I had endured 5 weeks of severe pain and frustration trying to get help where I live, to no avail, and pulling that tooth out was nothing but relief. It’s healing well, and my U.S. dentist also wrote a letter to show dentists here that I really can do work without anesthetic, and to email him if they had more questions. Love, love, love my open-minded dentist. Would’t have flown 5,600 miles otherwise.
Glad you’re doing okay now too.
Hi Anna,
Thanks for sharing your experience! I’m so glad to hear you have found yourself a fantastic & understanding dentist.
After speaking with many dentists myself, most have never attempted a non anaesthetic procedure so are not open to it. It can be a traumatic event for all involved.
Some dentists I spoke with would consider it if I signed a waiver etc (this is also because of MCS concerns).
Fortunately I found a dentist with self confidence who knew he could handle it.
Thanks for reading my post & I wish you all the very best,
A
Ha ha, I just found this thread again. I’m now in Thailand to get more work done. They were going to give me some twilight sedative, but they’re moving their operating room and can’t. The wonderful dentist agreed to try working on me with nothing, and as of today, we’ve gotten all the huge cavities filled. Then I talked to the surgeon, and I managed to convince him to try to pull two more teeth with nothing. They have already had root canals so it won’t be too painful. My only other option was full anesthesia, and that’s too dangerous and expensive and unnecessary for me. I am over the moon that he will try! He just made me promise that I won’t blame him if it hurts, ha ha! I’m also going to film it so I have proof to show other dentists in my country that I can handle the pain. It only takes seconds to pull it and I know I will do great! I’m so relieved!
Research oil pulling. It helps with abscesses. Takes the pain and infection out
Hi Rebecca, thanks for that.
I used to oil pull daily but I lost tolerance to all oils a couple of years ago, so I am unable to continue it. But yes, it can be a great help!
I had a bad reaction to a local anaesthetic many years ago so have not used a local for any procedures. I also had a root pulled out and as he pushed the forceps up I could hear the breaking up of the root but the strangest thing was that I felt quite euphoric. The whole procedure took less than 2minutes.
I’m chemically sensitive. I found a compounding pharmacy. If my dentist tells pharmacist name & dosage of local anesthesia, it can be made without preservative which lm allergic to, eyes etc.Also dye free benadryl taken before & after procedure might be helpful. Talk to Dr. & Pharmacist.
Hi Phyllis,
Thanks for sharing your experience. I have a great compounding chemist too. I also arranged several vials of different types of anaesthetic including preservative free varieties so that I could Ters myself on them. It can be a bit of an effort to arrange but it’s all doable.