Medical Professionals

I have been doing a bit of reading over the past few weeks, trawling through all the 'what to do before you get pregnant' lists out there. I think much like any pregnancy advice (or any advice on anything really) you have to take what you need, what works for you, use some common sense and leave the rest.

One of the things I decided to follow up on was the suggested dentist visit. I hadn't been for a couple of years anyway, so I figured I didn't have anything to lose. Well. I booked in a check up last week, was told I needed my wisdom teeth out and to please go get an x-ray taken. I left the appointment feeling like I had no choice, but after speaking to several other people I came to the decision that I would leave it until they gave me trouble. I did however keep my follow up appointment to look at the x-rays. Before this appointment, I was sent off for a second x-ray, as my roots were close to the nerves. At my appointment, I saw a different dentist, the one who does the actual removal. He had me in tears within five minutes. I see enough online, know enough people that you are going to come across people who will shame you for the choices you make for your baby. I had actually expected I might be pregnant before this started! This guy basically told me if I didn't get my wisdom teeth out before I get pregnant, that when my teeth do give me trouble, that the effects of general anaesthetic will seriously harm my baby. He couldn't however give my a good reason for needing them out. I've not had any trouble with them so far. So after speaking to several other people working in dentistry, I am again comfortable to go with my decision of leaving it until they bother me. It might take 3 years, or 30, or I might never have a problem. The only problem they have caused is to majorly stress me out, and that was not really the fault of my teeth, rather an abrupt man who thinks he can walk over others.

On the obstetrician front, I think I have found the most appropriate doctor in the Launceston area, Dr D. Unfortunately, she is very busy and only in her clinic one day a week. My GP sent through a referral as I asked, but speaking with her office, she won't see the referral for another week and even then, doesn't have a free appointment until December! Not to mention the fact that I can't find out if she has actually had any patients with SCI either. The receptionist told me that the other doctors in the clinic have the same qualifications, which is all well and good, but quite frankly I'm more interested in their experience. I have emailed my spinal consultant from rehab and asked him if he can find out anything about an OB who might actually know something about SCI. My other thought at this stage is to see if I can find someone in Melbourne. It means I have to fly interstate, but realistically, whoever I end up with here is probably going to need someone to consult with anyway! So if I can get in to see someone in Melbourne in the next couple of weeks, then have them involved as a consultant, that's probably not a bad way to go.
I just think if it takes me 4 months to get in to see someone with my private health cover, what the heck would I be up against in the public system?

So the search continues!