Don’t forget to look after your physical health when you are mentally ill

Because of my mental and chronic illnesses, I didn’t go to the dentist for 2 years. I finally went last month, after receiving several reminders to make an appointment. I also received a mildly threatening letter from the dentist informing me that my family would be dropped from the surgery register if I didn’t make and keep appointments. Ooops! So I hurriedly made an appointment and got one for 29th December at 5.15pm. It was a dark evening. The dentist was not happy with me…. He told me off for told me not looking after my dental health… in a professional way off course. He was not interested in my protestations that I have fibromyalgia and depression amongst other symptoms. He told me that I had a badly infected, rotten tooth that had to be cleaned, filled, and needed root canal treatment in the near future. Now, I have not had root canal treatment ever my life, but I have friends, who have had it done. The impression that I have of root canal treatment is that it’s painful and very expensive. As I also have chronic gingivitis, I then told him “Take it out”. He nearly gulped down his own teeth. “Take it out?” He then went on a long explanation about why I should keep my tooth. I must admit, I wasn’t listening any more. I said politely, “Please extract my tooth”. A few days later my tooth was extracted.

So what have I learnt… I must look after my general health in addition to treating my chronic and mental illnesses namely Fibromyalgia, CFS/ME, Depression and Anxiety, IBS, SAD etc…..