A second reckoning

  My lower-left wisdom tooth started to hurt a little more than a month ago and when I went to my regular dentist to see about getting it removed, he said that it was too deep to retrieve normally.  He recommended me to see a dental surgeon at the local big hospital and provided me with a letter of introduction.  After an initial meeting and CT scan last week, I had the first surgery of my life just a few hours ago.<p>

Wow, let me tell you, the efficiency and accuracy of Japanese hospitals is something to write about.  The procedure was so streamlined using a swipe card that carries all of my medical information provided to the hospital initially, so much so, that it follows you until the time for billing and meds.  Next, the local anesthesia provided to me in around 5 doses allowed me to "feel" the whole procedure and be conscious of what was going on without any pain at the beginning.<p>

  Now, I have a special situation in which my molar was (1) not straight up-and-down and (2) sitting right next to a nerve.  The dental surgeon attempted to pull the whole tooth out, but found after I said so that when he did, the nerve shot out a bolt of marginal pain through my jaw and neck.  So, he decided to saw pieces of it off, about 2/3 of the tooth, and after consulting with me and my wife (me still on the operating chair), left the root in.  He explained to us that the remaining part of the wisdom tooth should naturally push itself up and within six months after X-rays, we can decide if it needs to be pulled out completely or if it can just stay in.<p>

  Like me, my tooth is a stubborn one, but it is also protected by strong bone.  We have very good bones in my family, down to the marrow, and so, we heal and recover very well normally.  I'll have to go back next week to get my sutures out, but the entire experience seemed encouraging.  What I mean is I tried really hard to endure it and the surgeon did he upmost to remove what he could.  Everything went as smoothly as could be expected.  Although the technical procedure was rough, the doctor had briefed us that it might be beforehand, but that we wouldn't know until in the middle of it.  The nurses were also very encouraging during the whole thing.  My wifey was even allowed to watch from the side to cheer me on and translate for me when needed.  What an endeavor!  But I felt so encouraged all the way through and I know that my Mom's and Momma's prayers helped from where they were.<p>

  As the feeling in my mouth slowly returns, I have one single thought that I'm holding back on until the feeling returns completely.  That is, what's for dinner?<p>

  BTW, because of the amazing and simple health insurance coverage for all people in Japan, I paid less than $50 for the whole deal, meds included.  I hope that in the States we can elect a leader who can re-establish such a system as Medicare for all that would cover everyone the way we are covered here.  It makes for a much less stressful ordeal in terms of finances and peace of mind.