Author Archives: Regina Garvie

Dentist!

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So today we finally got to go the new dentist and get that second opinion on Belinda’s teeth! It went very well. You may recall that Belinda saw her pediatric dentist six months ago and he said he saw two little shadows of cavities that needed to be watched, but that was all. Four months later, she went to a new dentist and they said she had FOURTEEN cavities. I was shocked because her oral hygiene is excellent. I asked if any of them were shadows that might remineralize and he said no, they all needed to be fixed, and schooled her about brushing her teeth properly. As if she doesn’t!

So we got the insurance to approve a second opinion, but the place we were referred to had a two month wait, ugh. But today was the day and we went there and everybody was so NICE! Long story short, the dentist said yes, she does have seven cavities, but that’s it. He showed us the difference between the ones that need filling and the others that may remineralize. He totally believed that Belinda brushes and flosses. He looked at her teeth and said it was probably due to changes in what she drinks, which totally checks. After growing up with mostly water, she started drinking Starbucks and H Tea O, plus drinks at the coffee shop she works at. He said that even if it’s not a sugary drink, it can change the mouth to an acid environment for hours afterward. So Belinda is supposed to floss twice a day now, keep using the prescription toothpaste, and either brush her teeth or swish with water after those kinds of drinks, or cut back on them entirely.

He said it wasn’t from the reflux, hooray! He explained what the enamel would look like if it was that, and showed how her cavities weren’t the same. He said that her old dentist probably was watching these areas, but the acid and sugar environment in her mouth changed everything all at once. The last dentist didn’t even explain about the enamel differences. I’ve been thinking it was the reflux all this time!

Anyway, we scheduled two appointments to get them filled. And then I made first appointments for me and for Sarah because we really like this place! Belinda and I both went out to the car with big smiles on our faces. Everybody there was just so nice and geniune. A great experience!

Bed time 2

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So Dr. Cosby had to get on some hideous online website to submit the request for the adjustable bed. And when she put in the insurance carrier, it said they didn’t accept that insurance carrier. Even though our insurance carrier told us to use them! So, I have to call insurance and see what to do next. Like Dr. Cosby said, at least we started early!

Podiatrist

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Today Belinda and I went to the podiatrist to discuss her foot pain. I believe her arches need more support due to the Ehlers-Danlost, and the podiatrist agreed. He talked to us about different types of custom arch supports and we are going with one that she can wear in all her cute shoes! She got her feet measured and the arch supports should be ready in a few weeks.

Bed time

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Today we went to see Belinda’s PCP, Dr. Cosby. She is in a new location and it was very nice to see her! We talked with her about a prescription for an adjustable bed, so Belinda can have that in her dorm room. We already sent the requests to the college from the DC doctors, but the durable medical equipment request needs to come from her doctor in Oklahoma. I told her which one the insurance company told us to use, and she’s going to take care of it!

Virtual and Tulsa trips

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Belinda had to work this morning. Somehow she didn’t see the internist visit in Tulsa when she gave her boss her schedule for the week. I also had an appointment to see the internist for the first time. We attempted to change the appointments but they couldn’t do it until months from now, so we realized that Belinda could do a virtual visit. I could not since it was my first visit.

Ben drove me to Tulsa and we got to the doctor in time to sit in on Belinda’s virtual visit with the doctor. It was her first time doing virtual with this system and she did great! Belinda updated the doctor on how she’s doing and how the medications are helping with the allergies. It sounds like everything is going well. After she logged off, I had an exam for myself. She said that I also have Ehlers-Danlos and MCAS, which explains the pains and things I’ve had for decades. It was so good to be listened to and heard.

Belinda has one more appointment with this doctor just before she goes to college in August. I also want to set up an appointment for her with her pediatrician, since that will end when she is 18.

Time is going so fast all of a sudden.

Freshman Connection

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Belinda, Ben and I went to Alva today to do more things for Belinda’s upcoming college year. We went to all of her classes, just to let her see where they were. We also did some things at the financial aid office and the housing office. Everyone is always so nice and helpful.

We went to the student accommodations office to find out what we need to do to have Belinda in an adjustable bed in the dorms. They said we needed a letter from her doctor. I emailed the clinic in DC and the lovely Jill sent that letter back to us super quick! The letter outlines how the adjustable bed is necessary for her health. They also added a paragraph for Belinda’s insurance, in an attempt to get the insurance to pay for or help pay for the bed. I need to contact them soon and cross our fingers!

I’m going to miss her so much when she’s in Alva, but knowing we’ve taken care of everything ahead of time makes me feel better. More things will come up, of course, but I’m hoping this helps her to focus on schoolwork and on having fun!

Dentist

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Belinda went to a new dentist on Monday. Her pediatric dentist left his practice in November, and Belinda had never been to another dentist in her entire life. Since her insurance didn’t have that office in the network, we decided to go to a new dentist entirely. We chose one just over the river in Mustang. They’re all very nice and everything seemed fine…and then they said that she had TWELVE CAVITIES. Well, obviously I was very sus of that information, since Belinda is great about oral hygiene. She always brushes twice and day and flosses once a day. Now, I knew that her pediatric dentist had said she had two shadows that needed to be looked at, but now, four months later, there are TWELVE?? I asked a lot of questions but the dentist seemed positive. He also said that these had been there for at least two years. Um…no.

So on the way home I was talking about second opinions and that’s when Belinda wondered aloud if it could be from the achalasia, like acid going into her mouth. I hadn’t even thought of that. How awful.

I went home and got on the achalasia parents’ facebook group and some people there said their kids had the same issue. I still contacted insurance about a second opinion, just to be sure, and they’re supposed to get back to us early next week about that.

If it is acid, I’m hoping that pepcid that the allergist and internist want her to take will help with that. And I am thankful that we’re finding this out now, before things get worse. We’ll just have to do whatever it takes to protect her teeth.

Another thing to be thankful that it happened before college, and before she’s 18, so I can handle it all without extra difficulty.

Allergy Testing

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Belinda had her allergy testing today. She has been not taking her antihistamines in preparation for this, and she’s been having a rough time with spring allergies. So today we found out what gives her the most trouble. The worst of the worst turned out to be elm pollen, which is fun since our house is surrounded by elm trees.

The nurse pricked her skin with different allergens, making Belinda’s back match the grid on a chart. After that, she took the ones that did not have much affect and injected them into her arm with another grid pattern.

So the doctor is having her take two zyrtec every day, along with two pepcids. Both target different types of histamines. Now back to the internist in Tulsa!

Allergist

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Yesterday Belinda went to the allergist! This is Dr. U.G. and it was the first time she saw him. Everyone in the clinic was super nice. Dr. U.G. discussed her diagnoses with us and then ordered several tests. Then we went to the DLO place for a blood draw and a urine test. They also gave us some stuff to do a 24 hour urine catch, which I’d never heard of before. We are waiting until Monday since she will be home all that day. We have to keep it in the refrigerator(!!!) all(!!!) day!!!! I don’t know how I feel about that. My eyes are being opened to all kinds of new things.

He told her to stop taking the antihistamines for now, and in two weeks she will come back in for the actual allergy testing.

After the appointment and DLO testing, which was in Edmond, we took the Interstate north and went to Enid that way. She had a proctored test for Spanish at Northwestern that afternoon.

She said she was going to do schoolwork, but instead she fell asleep and slept for fourteen hours straight. I am so glad! Since she started working at the coffee shop she hasn’t gotten as much sleep as usual. She said that she estimated she had gotten about 25 hours of sleep in the last five days. It’s taking a toll on her too, she’s overwhelmed by even little things right now. I need to remember to treat her with kid gloves.

Ben still hasn’t found a job. It’s so difficult because he can’t even take a small job in the meantime, or Belinda might lose her Soonercare insurance. I know it’s his neurodivergence that makes it hard for him to really go after it with everything he’s got. He has a hard time with rejection, and putting yourself out there like this takes rejection.

Sarah is living with us now, through the end of the school year. I am so glad she is here.