It's just That I Don't Like Pain...

the old metal fillings on my back tooth are breaking down, and the dentist I saw on Saturday decided that the best thing to do is a root canal and put a crown on it. it's not that I'm nervous about the procedure itself - I have 3 fake teeth already - but I'm just dreading the pain that's going to happen in a few hours. so I'm grateful for the Valium he prescribed - I'm gonna need it. never mind the $2000 I have to fork over that I don't have (believe me, that's painful enough), but I have issues: a) I never seem to numb all the way, no matter how much novacaine they shoot into me, so I get to feel my tooth being broken apart. and hear it, which is an added bonus. wonder if they'd let me put my earphones in during the procedure? and then 2) I have tmj issues and my jaw doesn't open very wide on it's own. which means they have to force it open and hold in place with a bite block. that being done for over an hour means severe headaches and migraines for the next week. which all adds up to awesomeness. sigh. good times ahead....