We are not amused

[hummingwolf]

While I have derived amusement from voice mail recordings in the past, today's voice mail experiences have struck me as sadistic. While waiting for someone to tell me that no, I still don't have any dental benefits at all, what does the managed care organization's system keep telling me all about? Right--the importance of dental health. Bastards.

I did find out that Howard University's got a dental clinic, which is a heck of a lot easier to get to than Baltimore. Unfortunately, they aren't making any appointments till the 21st. The only other dental clinic anyone could tell me about is out in the middle of nowhere, apparently impossible to get to by public transportation and probably surrounded by tobacco farms.

Well, at least I found out about something local, even if they aren't taking appointments for a while. (That's better than last time I tried to get dental care, when I only heard about the nowhere-clinic.) The woman at the dental society was concerned that I might have a big problem, though, and suggested going to the ER if the pain isn't gone quickly. I'm really not a fan of emergency rooms.

Gah. If anyone knows of local dentists who might take pity on the penniless, please let me know ASAP.

Comments

[nalidoll.livejournal.com]

One of the advantages of ERs, though, is that on top of immediate care, they often have social workers on hand who have better access to "what is available out there" lists than we do... and if you ask nicely they can *sometimes* get you in to those places faster because it is a "follow up".

[hummingwolf.livejournal.com]

That would be an advantage, but I've never actually managed to talk to a social worker at an ER. Though I've heard of sightings of such creatures, they remain elusive in the wild.

[nalidoll.livejournal.com]

I find that asking to speak with one, and then becoming somewhat less coherent when I am delayed in this, makes one appear more quickly. Asking *a lot* of questions that only a social worker might actually have answers for, of everyone who steps into range, also helps in motivating more people to seek one out for you.

I have to fight my natural "I don't want to be a bother" inclinations, but I do what I must to get things taken care of.

[hummingwolf.livejournal.com]

I have to fight my natural "I don't want to be a bother" inclinations

Heh. Based on past experience, I'd have to say that if I actually get myself to an ER, it'll be because my "I don't want to be a bother" inclinations have disappeared entirely.

[nalidoll.livejournal.com]

Often, my going has more to do with people around me deciding they are going to drag me in because they are tired of pretending they believe me when I say "I'm fine. I'll manage. I'll be okay..."

Now and then I actually make the decision on my own because I find that I am having trouble doing one of the basic fucntions necessary to pull off pretending things are fine: walking, breathing, swallowing, seeing...

[hummingwolf.livejournal.com]

Wait... you mean swallowing is considered important? Huh. Learn something new every day.

[nalidoll.livejournal.com]

So I was informed.

I have some people in my life who are pretty pushy about these things. I hold my ground on others, though... such as "But it is only *one* arm. The other one is still working."

I think they broke me down on the swallowing thing when I couldn't eat for three days. I was weakened by low blood sugar and they took advantage of the fact.

[pnksaph.livejournal.com]

I wish I lived closer and had local dentist knowledge.

::hugs::

[hummingwolf.livejournal.com]

Even the people who do live nearby don't seem to have much dentist advice. It's more than a little frustrating.

::more hugs::