It was bad. Really, really bad.

I mean reallllllly, realllllly bad.

I didn't really want to mess around with it, but they pretty much insisted on having a cleaning before anything else. And the Italians have some sort of pressure hose to do that with. Like sand blasting. Seriously. And then the metal claw. And then more sand blasting. And it hurt a lot. Like she was digging to China through my mouth.

At this point having oral surgery was sounding good because at least I'd have something for the pain. Except that they originally talked about one extraction and one root canal.

Next week.

Hell, to the mother-effing NO!!!!

So we went with the two extractions (thought I only needed one - how fun), today. OK. Fine. Mentally preparing myself.

Out comes the novacaine needle. I didn't want to see it, but I did by accident. Those things are HUGE!!!! Telling myself to hang in there - all downhill from here. No biggie. You can do this. Be strong.

He goes in. OWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!! OK, more novacaine needed. And more. And more. The other dentist comes in. Two of them with pliers and what not, pain so bad I'm moaning, sweating and my blood pressure is off the flipping charts. (I constantly was setting off the alarm so they just muted it.) More novacaine. No go. More. More. More.

All told? 14 shots. And I felt every one. And felt both teeth. Both very stuck, very stubborn teeth. On the very, very back of my left lower jaw. Never mind that my entire jaw and tongue are completely numb.........I still felt everything and it was more painful than anything else in my life. Worse than anything I could even imagine. But there was no turning back, so we just plowed ahead. Like I had a choice.

Finally, we're done. All sutured up and cleaned up...only to realize the time....and that the post pharmacy closed five minutes ago. So no pain meds. You don't want to know what I said at this point. We went anyway to see if there was anything to be done. Nope. Gotta wait til tomorrow. *more cuss words* We only have a clinic, not a real hospital.

I had Thomas go to Burger King so he and Bella could get themselves dinner and to get me a strawberry shake.

So I'm eating a strawberry shake, sort of, out of the right side of my mouth with a spoon. Some of it even gets into, and stays in, my mouth. Mostly. I took Motrin because the swelling is probably going to be seriously awful. They sutured up my gum with gauze inside. The taste and smell of bloody gauze is beyond disgusting!!!! It's like rotting water buffalo. Only worse!

I go back on the 18th to have the stitches removed, and we figure out what comes next. I know we'll be hitting the maximum yearly benefit cap before too long, but that's just too bad. I'm done with waiting and I'm done with the Army BS paperwork. If we gotta pay, we gotta pay.

My mouth and jaw are so sore. It's been a real bitch of an afternoon....

Oh. And yeah. I got my period. Life is so unfair sometimes.