Okay...so having focused on putting my life back together (mental health, finances, relationships, spirituality - not that I am done with any of those things - just that they have been focused on and healed somewhat) that last thing to get focused on was the fact that I had not been to the doctor or the dentist in about 10 years. I went to the doctor about 2 months ago. I was not so scared about that cuz I have taken up working out (almost addictive style) since I was a year and a half sober...lost 70 pounds and quit smoking too. I knew whatever was discovered was going to be better than had I not done all those things. I was a bit scared that I might have liver damage - more scared I might have something else which is not a gay disease but one that definitely has ravaged the gay community. Anyhow, I got a clean bill of health.
This morning I went to the dentist. It was kind of embarrassing cuz they ask how long it's been. I was like "Oh God...I don't even know. Over 10 years....?" Well, my mouth was a mess with tartar and the scaling was probably worse than the scaling that has been done on the colliseum. The hygeinist and dentist both stated "God must have been with you for there to be such little problems though after not being to a dentist in a decade." The worst thing was the start of gingivitis which would have turned into periodontal disease had I put this off longer and 1 tooth that I will have bonded tomorrow (which I knew was cracked cuz I could feel it).
When I was drinking, my motto was "Everyone's gotta die sometime." I also didn't care if I was killing myself. Of course being in recovery this long, I figure "Holy crap! I'm gonna live now. Hrmmm..." So....I don't know if any of you are like me in that you have treated your body like crap for years and now are scared what the outcome of that might have be but definitely hit the doctor and the dentist and don't wait until you are 4 years sober. It's funny that the dentist mentioned "God watching over" me. I do feel that way and I know it's just a silly dentist visit but it does encompass my entire recovery.
God is watching over me. God led me to recovery. God gave me my life back. I am super grateful to God for having a healthy body after all I did. I NEVER thought I'd be saying that. I guess praising the Lord is normal right AFTER you are done at the dentist! LOL!
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Keep coming back. It works if you work it. So work it. You're worth it!
When I was drinking, my motto was "Everyone's gotta die sometime." I also didn't care if I was killing myself. Of course being in recovery this long, I figure "Holy crap! I'm gonna live now. Hrmmm..." So....I don't know if any of you are like me in that you have treated your body like crap for years and now are scared what the outcome of that might have be but definitely hit the doctor and the dentist and don't wait until you are 4 years sober. It's funny that the dentist mentioned "God watching over" me. I do feel that way and I know it's just a silly dentist visit but it does encompass my entire recovery.
God is watching over me. God led me to recovery. God gave me my life back. I am super grateful to God for having a healthy body after all I did. I NEVER thought I'd be saying that. I guess praising the Lord is normal right AFTER you are done at the dentist! LOL!
Oh Lord PC, ...
You just hit a little too close to home ... ... ... Very close in fact ... ... ... My Drs appt. is in a few weeks for a physical ... I am 4 1/2 years sober (in and out of AA for about 17 years) ... I haven't been to a dentist in 10+ years ... AND my 'motto' was exactly the same as yours ... AND I am super grateful to God for watching over me ...
WOW ... you sure we're not brothers ??? ... ... ... well, I'm not gay, but you are so damn close to you being me ... ... ... WTF? ... Sorry, I lost it there for a second!!!
Pappy
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'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
Well congrats on a clean bill Of health... Great news!! I'm about to do the same thing.. Been a few years since I've had a physical. I, too, lived by the live fast, die young sort of mentality.. Haha then I realized that I'm 36 and my body started to rebel lol!! A real turning point for me was when my 'prayers' to not wake up in the morning changed to prayers that I would.. I could feel real damage being done to my poor body. The few times I did see a dr ( a requirement for prescription for birth control), I always requested to not get bloodwork done ( I'm sure in the back of my mind I was scared of the results, but I told myself this was due to a fear of needles...). I'm looking forward to being totally honest with my doctor about my alcoholism and getting the appropriate testing done. I look at it this way... At least now I can be aware of and receive treatment if needed for any damage done. Another form of 'cleaning house' haha. My teeth I'm a nut about, so I've never neglected to see the dentist, but they could sure use a lil whitening haha.. That'll have to wait til I quit smoking:)
It took me over 7 years before I saw a dentist, again. And another 5 years after that before I got a physical. So I know a thing or two about procrastination. But like you said earlier, all is well with me. So keep that momentum going.
-- Edited by Mr_David on Thursday 6th of September 2012 01:29:18 AM
This is the same stuff Im contemplating recently. I havent had my teeth done in 3 and a half years and I got my psychiatrist to order a bunch of bloodwork for me which Im doing in the next day or so. I quit smoking and drinking a long time ago and Ive been eating a certain way... Had some epiphany a while ago that if I kept going the way I was something not so good could happen. Im confident my appointments gonna be good though, I looked like a street hobo in 2010 and now theres no sign of it. Gotta be careful.
Thanks for sharing and glad you are healthy. I have been going to Doctors steadily for some time, but the fact that I got a good rating for a term life insurance policy a few years ago really made me feel good, I know they look for any and everything.
Like they used to say in Ohio, God watches over children, fools and drunks.
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Rob
"There ain't no Coupe DeVille hiding in the bottom of a Cracker Jack Box."
