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That's why it's been way, way too long since I've been to an ob/gyn. Thanks, Ann, for making me look forward to next week's appointment...
OK, OK, I'd pick the dentist...
I have commented on just about every post here since I found out about you, and your amazing writing talent.
That was a girli post.
There. I have commented.
End.
Joel Libava
{Thank you for sneaking me in on your sidebar. You have lots of class.
We must meet at one of these Social Media events, one day.}
For one, the metrics around pain threshold manifestations from visits to each type of licensed healthcare provider are lacking, and certainly no head to head benchmarking studies have ever been implemented by self-proclaimed movers and shakers - nay - gurus - in the healthcare industry.
And even if there WERE acceptable metrics demonstrating returns on pain between both groups, who dare suggest that the quantity of pain experienced by one individual is less than the quality of fear experienced by another?
I defer my ignorance to Blue Spoon, who probably has a white paper on this very matter.
I'm not sure where I fall on the topic in question, but I want to state that you are the only person I know who could get so many men to comment on such a post!
I have not found the right gynecologist and i just don't think I ever will but as I get older, bolder, and less reverent it is more fun.
First choice? Dentist. Its warmer.
Off-topic: did you know there is a teeny little smiley face at the very bottom of your page, just beneath the copyright symbol? Did you do that purposely?
Back on-topic: I used to like the dentist more, because I've had a run of mildly awkward gynecologists. (I'm always thinking, "What they're doing here is exactly what a molester does, except they're telling me they're checking for uterine irregularities, not Donald Duck.") But now I have a dentist who thinks that when my gums bleed heavily, it means I'm on my period. And he'll shout it across to the hygienist while admonishing her "Not to worry." So it's almost like suffering a bad dental and gynecological appointment at the same time.
I discovered your beautiful blog pretty recently and I'm glad to see so much humanity, deep thoughts coupled with humour and "lightness".
For this one, I think that the underlying debate is about how and when you want to give access to your "true" inside. But well thought I don't think that dentists and gynecologists know the truth of the world! So even if they have the power to make you "open" for them, and that's why I think it is difficult to say which one we dislike less, they touch only like a superficial intimate.
So, let's relax and give to see what we decide to in .. blogs, for example!
Intellectually, I know they've only got a few chances a year to make their point, and they're sick of treating patients who ignore their advice. But what they're actually doing is aggravating the cycle by laying it on too thick.
Now I can sit down in the chair thinking, "Well, at least I'm not at the gynecologist." Thanks for that.
[scurrying away, trying not to blush]
So, how do we treat the after effects of these discomfort-fests? Chocolate and benzodiazapines? Loud movies where many men die? Complete immersion in a Thursday Next novel?
And by the way, I think Christian offers the ultimate male response when he says.... "Now I can sit down in the chair thinking, 'Well, at least I’m not at the gynecologist.' Thanks for that." Coffee sputtered out of my nose at that one....
Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha - *choke* *gasp* (falls to the floor)
Not the case. He fell into it.
Fell into it? Yeah, the man said he was looking for security and after his research decided being a dentist was his best bet. Not really falling into it, but I let that go. His other choice was a mortician.
I think I had coffee sputtering out of my nose about 10 times when I read your post and everyone's comments! How funny!
I have permanent bars on the back of my teeth after wearing braces 3 times in my life - I said that's it. Put the bars on. I get so much s**t, EVERY time I go to the dentist for having them. Oh honey, these bars, they are not really great for flossing and your teeth. Oh honey, I understand why you want them but they make it tough. I go an extra time a year for my cleanings because I have these bars. SHUT UP and JUST CLEAN my teeth for heaven's sake. The bars aren't going anywhere! DAMN!
The gynecologist, not fun, but normally over in a matter of short minutes. Not my ideal way of spending my day. But, no lectures.
I vote oddly for the gynecologist visit. I cant' believe I just said that. But after much thought and consideration - yes, that's the way I'm voting.
But the most space-invading doctor is definitely the shrink!
Is it their primal urge to help women colliding with a deep layer of collective unnamed masculine guilt?
Men...wanna shed some light on this examination?
No one likes going to the dentist, but even more would we dislike and suffer if we didn't have good ones. A dentist I know personally told me that I was one of the few patients she ever had who keeps his eyes open throughout the procedures. It's true that I like to try and keep track of what's going on and keeping my eyes open keeps me engaged even while I am trying to dis-associate from the pain.
I have liked them a lot less since they started demanding payment at time of service instead of trusting us to pay the bill.
The dentist is always telling me I brush too hard also. What? I tried so hard to take care of my teeth that I wore off my gums! Why didn't they give tooth brush lessons in school and warn us of the danger of over-brushing? Safe sex but not safe brushing? Soft bristles!
Visits to the urologist, which I hate despite the fact that I like the doctor just to chat with about non-urology stuff, cost only a $20 co-pay.
Ah, the joys of our health care system.
When she says...
"For this one, I think that the underlying debate is about how and when you want to give access to your 'true' inside. But well thought I don’t think that dentists and gynecologists know the truth of the world! So even if they have the power to make you 'open' for them, and that’s why I think it is difficult to say which one we dislike less, they touch only like a superficial intimate."
.. she raises a key point. The truth is that I'm way more exposed on this blog than I am in any exam room. And that's probably true of a lot of us who write personal blogs. Thanks Claudia, for furthering my thinking!
Desarae
http://www.dveit.com
I will dread the dentist more. My anxiety is greater and the pain inevitably is greater at the tooth man.
My other appointment, while unnerving, is rarely painful and done with a midwife that is like a second aunt to me.
Exposure in and of itself, remains awkward. :)
First of all, HILARIOUS post.
I have had this discussion in my head many times, and I tell you I would rather get a mammogram or visit the GYN every week than go to the dentist once a year. I hate the pain, but worse, I hate the judging - the judging actually makes me avoid going. Also, its impossible to zone out - in a mamm or gyno visit - you can go somewhere else in your head - but not at the dentist, there is NO avoiding thinking about what they are doing in there.
Also funny - Jim Sutton in your comments links to the Straight Dope website - and I recognized the question about dentist suicide right away - my sister asked that question about ten years ago on that site - Terey Allen. How random is that :)
Keep making us laugh-
-Lisa
Unless they're trying to make some sort of X-ray-based diagnosis, why in the Sam Hill do they need to keep doing them? To keep up the payments on the X-ray machine?
1 appointment with the dentist usually leads to a lot more!