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B/c a lot of patients fear the dentists. High use justifies the expense. Very few fear the OB/GYN so low use does not justify the expense? Just my thoughts, no evidence to back it up. Also maybe a licensing issue.
I have had at least 1 exam per year for 50+ yrs, not counting my hospitalizations for various "female " issues." I have had good and bad docs of both genders. No pattern.
But can anyone tell me why it's easier to get sedated at a dentist's office (which we go to 2x a year) and which is much simpler and not as scary? But the pelvic exam, it's supposed to be grin and bear it? Ok, maybe not grin.
Come to think of it, I CAN call up dentists' offices all over the place and ask if they offer sedation, they would give a resounding "Yes", but if I try to call about these women's health specialists, they're afraid of lawsuits and stuff and deny me because I'm not already their patient? Inconsistent. :?
I think, honestly, it's because anxiety about dentists offices is more socially known and therefore socially acceptable.
I hate the dentist, going there is nothing but pain for me. I feel like dentists are sadists, right up there with the Marquis de Sade. I have PLENTY of dental insurance, and WANT major gas, meds, drugs, and anything else to numb the inevitable pain of the dentist. Compounded by the fact that I never go, so of course, when I do go, it is even worse...BUT...what the F...dentists tell me they don't use gas for routine cleaning and exams...WTF do they know about my pain? Nothing about it is routine...so if you have as much pain as with a pelvic exam as I have at the dentist, my comment about therapy was cavalier, and I apoligize...but still, I don't equate a voluntary procedure with rape, and that is my own personal issue...
So, I screen dentists, and if they want my cash...they better pony up with the meds.
I think, honestly, it's because anxiety about dentists offices is more socially known and therefore socially acceptable.
I think this touched on something. If I was to say, "I'm afraid of the dentist" (which I'm not...most of the time, I actually like going there and feel like a new woman after the cleaning and polishing - yeah, I'm wierd like that...I sometimes dread the bill, but that's another story), some people would say "Yeah, me too, it's common"
If I said "I'm afraid of flying", I'd hear alot of "well, isn't everybody!" (Actually, I only dread dealing with the TSA, but that's another story too)
But if I say I can't go through with a pelvic without being drugged up, then I need help first and foremost. (okay, I've read your apology, Jasper, I'm being kinda facetious here!) Maybe because about 50% of the population won't know that fear in the first place, the rest are tougher and don't have the vaginismus issue, and the remaining few haven't spoken up yet either.
For most people a pelvic and pap is over in about a minute, if a dentist could do that he would have less people asking for drugs. I realize that you feel you need to be drugged and I'm not saying you won't find a Dr to give you them, but a Dr. that gives you a drug without seeing you first is not a Dr. you want to trust. The dentist that you go to, before you were a patient and had never been to his office did he prescribe an anti-anxiety?
I hate the dentist, going there is nothing but pain for me. I feel like dentists are sadists, right up there with the Marquis de Sade. I have PLENTY of dental insurance, and WANT major gas, meds, drugs, and anything else to numb the inevitable pain of the dentist. Compounded by the fact that I never go, so of course, when I do go, it is even worse...BUT...what the F...dentists tell me they don't use gas for routine cleaning and exams...WTF do they know about my pain? Nothing about it is routine...so if you have as much pain as with a pelvic exam as I have at the dentist, my comment about therapy was cavalier, and I apoligize...but still, I don't equate a voluntary procedure with rape, and that is my own personal issue...
So, I screen dentists, and if they want my cash...they better pony up with the meds.
I've had really good luck with dentists. And since I always put stuff into my mouth, it doesn't feel wierd to me. They've all been great and made me feel good about myself. The worst recent dental experience was a root canal and crown, but I only wanted Novocaine for it. It was hard because I had my mouth so far open for the longest time. My jaw was tired but it didn't hurt otherwise. The bill was the hard part!
I only had one sadistic dentist. It was a time when I got some discount for anyone on the list, and he was on it. It cost only $15 for the x-ray, exam and cleaning (in the late 90's), and he was the only one in the office. No office manager, no assistant or hygenist, just him. He kept scraping that thing (whatever it's called) on my gumline, had a vicious, sadistic gleam in his eyes and just kept at it, hurting my gums, telling me "your gums are bleeding"...gee, I wonder why. But, luckily, I've had good dental visits before and since, so he didn't instill dentalphobia in me. I just learned that sometimes things like that are cheap for good reason.
And on that same token, maybe I had some really bad luck with that particular doc and nurse who did the pelvic (or tried to? whatev) I really didn't know what was in store for me when I went to that clinic complaining about that burning. I thought, I'd just describe what was going on and maybe get some cream for it or something. I wasn't prepared for something so invasive. For my current problem, since I've googled it, I definitely know that a pelvic will have to be done, but I still have the phobia from before. They treated me so bad.
For most people a pelvic and pap is over in about a minute, if a dentist could do that he would have less people asking for drugs. I realize that you feel you need to be drugged and I'm not saying you won't find a Dr to give you them, but a Dr. that gives you a drug without seeing you first is not a Dr. you want to trust. The dentist that you go to, before you were a patient and had never been to his office did he prescribe an anti-anxiety?
Hmm, I wish I could answer that about the dentist, but I've never needed it from a dentist. Only Novocaine for more involved procedures. I'm never afraid there. I just know about it because dentists always put it in there ads about the laughing gasses and other sedation methods.
The other orifice, I'm really not used to having pried open and peered into like that, and instruments holding it open. Even with k-y. Good point about the duration of it, though. It's just hard for me to even get started.
So, first I'll go to my usual doc. for a recommendation (I'm not having him do it), then I'll try to score a lil sumthin from him, if the answer is 'no', I'll get a ride to his associate and either get really drunk or take a couple of sleep aids before getting to the waiting room.
I have a gag reflex when things go in my mouth...so that is part of my problem with dentists. And once I went to a dentist, in severe pain...and he TAPPED with a metal instrument on the tooth that hurt..I practically had to be peeled off the ceiling...and I hate those witchy, Mamas..."you know you need to brush, and floss" like, yeah...I know, and I don't need to be treated like a bad kid. I am PAYING you to clean my teeth, so shut the f up. Not paying for a lecture on the fact that I am "bad"...
I think my issues with dentists started when I had braces, severe pain for years. Constant ache. I think some people react to pain diffferently, and my mouth must be filled with nerve endings or wired different than other folks. Does not help much that I had someone "help" me lose a few front teeth. So, I have a bridge across four of my front teeth, and the rest of my teeth are not in too great of shape either...I don't even think about eating ribs, chicken, corn on the cob, apples, biting into anything is severe pain for me, so I don't eat sandwiches, hotdogs, anything that I have to bite. All food has to be cut in small pieces. I definitely don't chew gum, or eat any candy. And forget about hot drinks or cold drinks. Only lukewarm drinks. It is my "cross" to bear...at least it helps with the diet.
Last edited by jasper12; 08-18-2011 at 10:29 PM..
Reason: edit.
When I worked at Whole Foods this guy would chew valerian root. It looked like a twig. He said it calmed him down quite a bit and also helped him with back problems because he claimed it relaxed his whole body. I'm no doctor or anything like that, so talk to your doctor or a naturopath or homeopath before you try it, but I always thought that was interesting. Is valerian root where they get valium from? I dunno?
I have a gag reflex when things go in my mouth...so that is part of my problem with dentists. And once I went to a dentist, in severe pain...and he TAPPED with a metal instrument on the tooth that hurt..I practically had to be peeled off the ceiling...and I hate those witchy, Mamas..."you know you need to brush, and floss" like, yeah...I know, and I don't need to be treated like a bad kid. I am PAYING you to clean my teeth, so shut the f up. Not paying for a lecture on the fact that I am "bad"...
I think my issues with dentists started when I had braces, severe pain for years. Constant ache. I think some people react to pain diffferently, and my mouth must be filled with nerve endings or wired different than other folks. Does not help much that I had someone "help" me lose a few front teeth. So, I have a bridge across four of my front teeth, and the rest of my teeth are not in too great of shape either...I don't even think about eating ribs, chicken, corn on the cob, apples, biting into anything is severe pain for me, so I don't eat sandwiches, hotdogs, anything that I have to bite. All food has to be cut in small pieces. I definitely don't chew gum, or eat any candy. And forget about hot drinks or cold drinks. Only lukewarm drinks. It is my "cross" to bear...at least it helps with the diet.
That kind of draws a parallel to a pelvic exam with vaginismus. It's incredibly painful.
Quote:
Vaginismus, sometimes anglicized vaginism is the German name for a condition which affects a woman's ability to engage in any form of vaginal penetration, including sexual intercourse, insertion of tampons, and the penetration involved in gynecological examinations. This is the result of a reflex of the pubococcygeus muscle, which is sometimes referred to as the "PC muscle". The reflex causes the muscles in the vagina to tense suddenly, which makes any kind of vaginal penetration—including sexual intercourse—painful or impossible.
So I think maybe it's related. When someone is trying to get into your mouth or vagina and your body keeps freaking out, that makes the whole process much more difficult. And if you have an impatient doctor, that makes it ten times worse.
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(okay, I've read your apology, Jasper, I'm being kinda facetious here!) Maybe because about 50% of the population won't know that fear in the first place, the rest are tougher and don't have the vaginismus issue, and the remaining few haven't spoken up yet either.
