Be pro-active with doctors and any medical procedure

[Dennis Vogel]

I came close to having very serious problems and possibly a diabetic coma or worse after having oral surgery yesterday.

I've been going to a specialist doctor / dentist (he is also a medical doctor) to have implants put in for missing teeth.

Yesterday the dentist had to put me under (he has an anesthesiologist) but before they put me under they wanted to draw some blood. Why I have no idea.

The young lady who was doing the drawing was new to this and was being helped by another older lady.

I'm not good a looking at needles so I looked away. She was having a hard time and hurting me a little and everyone has to start somewhere so I didn't mind that much. But it was taking a long time. When she stopped I looked and could see that the syringe she was using was very large. Make the "high-sign" with your thumb and middle finger and that's about how big around it was. And it was about 5.5 inches long. That's a lot of blood. I'm guessing at least 500 ccs.

Then she came back and did it again. I don't know how much blood she took the second time but it also took a while.

As she was drawing the second time I was going into shock and told them so.

(Years ago I gave blood at the Red Cross for a friend. They thanked me but told me I should not give blood again. It took an hour to release me).

The dentist came in and I told him I was in shock. He said I would be okay after he put me under.

The surgery went well and my son Brian drove me home about 10:AM.

But I was not feeling right. I was hungry but limited to liquids or very soft food so I had a cup (half scoop) of protein power with a little unsweetened cocoa mixed in. In about 20 minutes my sugar dropped (that little amount of sugar should not have harmed me) and I was weak and needed to eat something else. I kept eating off and on the rest of the day but never felt right.

About 10:PM last night I had a hard-boiled egg and that helped for about 20 minutes.

At 11:PM I almost passed out. When I felt a little better I got out of bed and took my blood sugar level and it was high.

I figured I needed something else and had a banana and that helped. But it was 2:AM before I got to sleep. (I like to get to bed about 9:PM and usually get up about 4:AM).

My sugar stays around 80 to 100 all the time. It will spike some after something sweet but always comes down.

When I got up this morning my sugar was 120. It's always about 80 in the morning.

I have to think all the blood they took did something to me. I don't think it will be permanent and I'll be back to normal in another day or two.

As Ray has proven by simply being here after 4 years of terminal cancer, be pro-active with doctors and any medical procedure.

[GaryK]

I agree with you Dennis; you really have to watch yourself with doctors or any so-called experts.  Everyone I know is in it for the money.

I have to get a dental implant too.  They are going to charge me $4,500 for one tooth.   

Agree also Dennis and John.   

Once had a dentist tell me this in response to my question of why his 'procedure' was so expensive:

"how else am I going to pay for my pool?"

He thought his response to my question was *cool and funny*........he didn't think MY response was very cool and funny though.

Take nothing for granted........even their wisdom.

[Dennis Vogel]

This dentist lines us up Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

For two implants and not the teeth it cost me about $3500.00.

He rotates through three operating rooms and spends about 20 minutes in each. He operates from 8:30:AM to 4:PM.

You can do the math.

[arion]

Glad your o.k. Dennis.  Your situation reminds me that I need to be even more thankful for being in good health and still having a full mouth of teeth.  Had a lot of cavities of course with the mercury fillings when I was a kid (probably fried my brain and that is why I'm so nuts...heh) but I haven't been to a Dentist in over 20 years and the last time I saw a doctor was 10 years ago in preparation to donate a kidney so I've got a lot to be thankful for.

[eggi]

Hi Dennis,

I hope you'll be ok. I just don't understand why they took so much blood. Did they use a syringe for elephants? I'm glad it didn't go worse. You are right though, can't be too careful. Just to balance what has been said here. Many doctors have both expensive studies and equipment to pay for, but that doesn't mean they have to 'swim in money'! We are blessed to know some doctors who are very good at what they do and they don't care about money.

God bless you,
Eirik

[doug]

Dennis, Hey!

I read your post this morning and have been praying for you all day and am sure many others have also.  I take it you're getting back to normal?

In the same line as John  -  I treat doctors the same way I treat churches... don't have anything to do with them. I have only used them for "first-aid".  So I also agree with you to be proactive.

In 2010 I also needed muchoo work done to my teeth and for what I wanted to have done would have cost me the minimum of 18,000 anywhere here in the states.  Those quotes were just a "pipe-dream" for me.  Then I started checking out Mexico in earnest and after extensive research and phone communication I found an excellent dentist in Tijuana. (I know what you are thinking... it sounded very scary to me too). While hiking the A/T someone called me snaggle-tooth and that tripped me out so I was willing to take the chance!  And it has been very well worth it!

His office was in the interior of T/J and not at the border where all the "carnival" shops and doctors are.  I was where the "locals" went and many other people from the states.  The dentist spoke English, had a very personable staff, and treated me with respect.  For 6,000 I got quality porcelain veneers top and bottom, a root canal, tooth extraction, stud with tooth replacement, two permanent bridges, mercury filling removal and x-rays.  I was even picked up at the San Diego airport and taken across the border to a nice hotel near his office!  Can't beat that with a stick!  I was there 7 days and 6 nights (Ray would like me for my description of a day!) I still like my "hollywood smile" and wouldn't give it back for nothing!

If any of you guys and gals would like more info... drop me a line.  I'll be glad to share my experience in any way I can.

[Samson]

Hi Dennis,

Sorry to hear about your bad experience with the overly large needle and too much blood drawn. Hope your gonna be okay. These professionals sometimes treat their Patients like a piece of meat or like We are some sort of experiment to them. Perhaps, that's why I dread the idea of having to rely on Medical Doctors, Dentists and the like. After all Were(Your) the Customer, We(You) should have the majority input as to what their going to do with you. Perhaps that's why they try to keep you naive as to your options. Since We are the Customers, I guess We have to ask lots of questions and not agree to let them do whatever they want and think We need, another experience of Evil to deal with.

I hope for the best regarding the outcome with your Dental procedure.

Kind Regards, Samson.

[acomplishedartis]

This dentist lines us up Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

For two implants and not the teeth it cost me about $3500.00.

He rotates through three operating rooms and spends about 20 minutes in each. He operates from 8:30:AM to 4:PM.

You can do the math.

It might be too late to say it. But a lot of people come to Cancun for dentist procedures. It's cheaper and there is good options regarding very professional and well intentioned doctors (at list for the ones I personally know about). Plus you have some days to enjoy the turquoise blue water. (and visit me,     ups, too late.

I have a lot of kin in Morelia city (in the center of Mexico) whom are dentists.

Sometimes is the doctor fault, other times the system itself and other times small mistakes (out of everyones control) turn into bigger ones.

I will be praying for your recovery.

Moises

[Dennis Vogel]

Thank you everyone - I've been feeling really bad since Tuesday.

But a few hours ago the stitch's came out and most of the pain is now gone and I don't feel nearly as weak.

Hopefully I can get some sleep tonight and get some work done tomorrow.

[lilitalienboi16]

Hey dennis, thanks for sharing your story!

This is something I really enjoyed reading and empowers me with new perspective on a field I hope to be very much apart of some day.

God bless and I do pray your condition returns to normal.

Love,

Alex

[eggi]

Glad you are feeling better Dennis!
Thanks for publishing the new article! It was great!
Praise God for all!

Eirik

[ez2u]

John my mother told me about the red cross selling cigarettes to the service men, in ww2 way i was about 8 years old   about 50 years ago  she had a low opinion of their organization.    my thoughts on doctors is also very low  that all i am going to say  i have done a lot of holistic healing   which works for our family

[eggi]

How do you feel now Dennis?

Eirik

[Dennis Vogel]

It will take a few more weeks to get 100% well Eirik. Thanks.

I'm pretty sure my problem was from the anesthesia. A young lady I work with had a similar experience. She was okay after the first time they put her under but after the second time a week later she was messed up for about another week. It took nine days for me to stop feeling like I was going to pass out.

[eggi]

It will take a few more weeks to get 100% well Eirik. Thanks.

I'm pretty sure my problem was from the anesthesia. A young lady I work with had a similar experience. She was okay after the first time they put her under but after the second time a week later she was messed up for about another week. It took nine days for me to stop feeling like I was going to pass out.

Oh boy, Dennis. That doesn't sound good. I'm glad you are on your steady way to recovery.

God bless you,
Eirik