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Strictlyinkblot

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Strictlyinkblot

I know I haven't been posting much on here, I've had a lot on my mind but you've all been in my prayers.

The good news, I've found my community. Its one I've known about for years but hadn't considered until this year. I've had my live-in and sent in my papers and references. The next step is a psychological evaluation. I've slowly been letting people know and come across some interesting reactions but on the whole positive ones.

The (kinda) bad news. Obviously as I've shared before I've been working on reducing my debt. Everything seemed to be going well until this week. Part of a tooth broke off (I'd only been to the dentist in September, grrr!) so I made an emergency appointment with a different dentist to get it checked out. The person checking my teeth happened to be an orthodontist. While we were waiting for the local anaesthetic to kick in so he could fill in the tooth he diagnosed me with a really bad cross bite. Basically my jaw is badly out of alignment. This can cause a whole host of health problems including migraines and other issues I suffer with.

It can be treated and while it may not cure me it would almost certainly make a big difference. So what's the bad news? Treatment is very expensive and takes a long time. I'm probably looking at £3000-5000 sterling and 18 months. I had hoped to be able to enter if not next November then the following March.

I'll know more when I have a full assessment done. I really don't know what to do.

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Strictly: CONGRATULATIONS on moving forward with your community! I will certainly keep you in my prayers. Please keep us updated over the course of your treatment. Is there any way your community would let you enter as long as your treatment was finished at the end of the postulant year (or just for the first initial period when you are not yet on their insurance)?

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Strictlyinkblot

I don't know. I've emailed the community but I haven't heard back yet. And thanks, its both wonderful and scary.

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[quote name='Strictlyinkblot' timestamp='1353009638' post='2510705']
I don't know. I've emailed the community but I haven't heard back yet. And thanks, its both wonderful and scary.
[/quote]

I bet! If you need a good patron saint to pray to, ask for [url="http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=104"]St. Apollonia's[/url] help. She's the patron saint of dentists and all things tooth or mouth related. Also, St. Jude Thaddeus is a good one to go to if you are in a desperate situation.

Regardless, CONGRATULATIONS on finding your community!!!! So exciting when you find the one that you feel the most draw to. I will pray that you can get things straightened out (in more ways than one) and be able to start formation as soon as possible. :yahoo:

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CONGRATULATIONS! That is wonderful news.

I will keep you in my prayers. Dental work can be unfortunately expensive. Is what you need not available on the NHS?

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Totally Franciscan

I don't know, but it sounds like you might need another opinion. These orthodontists can find things out of the blue that are not really much of a problem for people, but it brings in lots of $$$ or euros for dentists. If you are having problems with migraines, as you seem to imply, then I would get another opinion from a different orthodontist in a different office. These guys seem to stick up for each other in the same office.

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Congratulations on finding your "home" in Religious life.

Being an RN, I have a couple of pieces of advice. #1 get some dental insurance. Some do not even have waiting periods, and even if it only saves you a couple of thousand, it will be worth it. 2nd, [b]Get a second or even 3rd opinion.[/b] Not all of these orthodontists agree, I learned this with my kids.
Best of luck!

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Congratulations on finding your community!
I agree with getting a second opinion. I'm not sure about how feasible this might be for you but if you had the money set aside for the treatments could you enter before the treatments are finished?

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[quote name='Strictlyinkblot' timestamp='1353001876' post='2510618']
I know I haven't been posting much on here, I've had a lot on my mind but you've all been in my prayers.

The good news, I've found my community. Its one I've known about for years but hadn't considered until this year. I've had my live-in and sent in my papers and references. The next step is a psychological evaluation. I've slowly been letting people know and come across some interesting reactions but on the whole positive ones.

The (kinda) bad news. Obviously as I've shared before I've been working on reducing my debt. Everything seemed to be going well until this week. Part of a tooth broke off (I'd only been to the dentist in September, grrr!) so I made an emergency appointment with a different dentist to get it checked out. The person checking my teeth happened to be an orthodontist. While we were waiting for the local anaesthetic to kick in so he could fill in the tooth he diagnosed me with a really bad cross bite. Basically my jaw is badly out of alignment. This can cause a whole host of health problems including migraines and other issues I suffer with.

It can be treated and while it may not cure me it would almost certainly make a big difference. So what's the bad news? Treatment is very expensive and takes a long time. I'm probably looking at £3000-5000 sterling and 18 months. I had hoped to be able to enter if not next November then the following March.

I'll know more when I have a full assessment done. I really don't know what to do.
[/quote]
[quote name='TIWW' timestamp='1353016156' post='2510784']
Congratulations on finding your "home" in Religious life.

Being an RN, I have a couple of pieces of advice. #1 get some dental insurance. Some do not even have waiting periods, and even if it only saves you a couple of thousand, it will be worth it. 2nd, [b]Get a second or even 3rd opinion.[/b] Not all of these orthodontists agree, I learned this with my kids.
Best of luck!
[/quote]

TIWW, this is a very good idea. Here in the US, we have something called Delta Dental that doesn't have any wait time. I don't know if it is available to UK citizens but there might be something similar where you are, Strictly. It does make me wonder why no one else caught this. It had to be a problem that manifested over time not just in a matter of months. I would encourage a second opinion also.

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Strictlyinkblot

Thanks everyone. I certainly intend to get a second opinion both from my doctor and another orthodontist. MM, I'm ashamed to say that I've avoided going to the dentist unless absolutely necessary over the years so that's probably how it was missed. For years I've been going back and forward to specialists about a medical issue and each time I was told there was nothing wrong and a few weeks later I'd be back at the doctor needing antibiotics (although thankfully I've only needed antibiotics once this year for it). The research I've done would indicate that a misalignment of the jaw can be behind it which would make sense.
But I'm going to wait for a month until I've got my head around it and had the assessment from another orthodontist. Its hard for me to know whether to be upset at thought of something else holding me back from entering or happy that the migraines and other issues have a cause that can be treated.

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[quote name='Strictlyinkblot' timestamp='1353026285' post='2510900']
Thanks everyone. I certainly intend to get a second opinion both from my doctor and another orthodontist. MM, I'm ashamed to say that I've avoided going to the dentist unless absolutely necessary over the years so that's probably how it was missed. For years I've been going back and forward to specialists about a medical issue and each time I was told there was nothing wrong and a few weeks later I'd be back at the doctor needing antibiotics (although thankfully I've only needed antibiotics once this year for it). The research I've done would indicate that a misalignment of the jaw can be behind it which would make sense.
But I'm going to wait for a month until I've got my head around it and had the assessment from another orthodontist. Its hard for me to know whether to be upset at thought of something else holding me back from entering or happy that the migraines and other issues have a cause that can be treated.
[/quote]

Oh, dear! I know how that is. When I had health insurance in 2010, I totally forgot to go to the dentist before my health insurance was discontinued (because I quit). Now, it's been so many years since I had a cleaning. I really want to have one done but I cannot afford it. I was thinking about signing up for Delta Dental since it is offered through my credit union but it's $15 every month and, since I have no stable source of income, I cannot commit to signing a contract. The other alternative for me would be to utilize a coupon I see in the newspaper every now and then that is a $99 special at a local dentist for cleaning, x-rays, and consultation. I'm just worried they'll find something more and want me to pay an enormous amount. The coupon cannot be used if you have to have more work like cavity fillings, which I know I'll probably need. I had a filling done when I was 19 (my only one) and it's been 10 years. It needs to be redone because it is incredibly stained (porcelain). I keep my teeth pretty clean but nothing can replace a dentist. :(

Edited by MaterMisericordiae
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Strictlyinkblot

I'm going to start praying to St. Apollonia today. St. Jude and I are old friends. Thanks for all the prayers, I really need them. I've had an email to say that my papers arrived at the monastery. Now I need to sort out the psychological assessment. That'll be interesting.

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