Second opinion

It's a good thing I brought mum to the endodontist today. As it turns out, not one but several teeth require root canal therapy. Mum is the kind who takes great care of her teeth and visits the dentist regularly. Several years ago, her dentist recommended her to make a bridge instead of dentures.

Trouble is, the bridge is a really long one supported by teeth that are not very strong to begin with. It's like building a long suspension bridge supported by few shaky pillars on a weak foundation. To cut the story short, her bridge is now shaky and the good teeth are weak and inflammed from the overload. Hence she's suffering from so much pain. It all makes sense now.

The specialist painstakingly removed the bridge and treated the root canal of an infected tooth today in a 2-hour procedure. Mum will have to make many more trips over the next few weeks. We're not looking forward to this but it's the only remedy now.

I'm mad at her previous dentist. He should have known the consequences. Today the specialist discovered more problems that have surfaced due to his shoddy work. They're all giving way now and she had to destroy the bridge that cost so much to build.

I'm glad mum went my dentist who referred us to this endodontist. I've learned that when it comes to health matters, it always pays to seek a second opinion.

When mum started going deaf in her left ear several years ago, she went to a ear specialist. He poked around abit and waved her off, saying there's nothing to worry about. He even joked "You must admit you're already old. How long do you want to live? Soon you won't be able to hear on both sides." We left the clinic feeling upset.

Mum can be quite persistent when it comes to solving her health problems. Somehow, this time she felt resigned to fate, thinking that maybe the doctor was right. She's getting old.

When she finally went deaf in that ear, her doctor friend was alarmed. Old people don't just go deaf in one ear. She made an appointment for mum to see a ENT specialist. It was there when we discovered she had a 3cm tumour growing in her head. If the ear doctor had paid more attention, she would be in a much better shape today.

15 years ago, I went to a gynae because I started spotting for no reason. Out of convenience I went to one in my office building, to a doctor I had never seen before. It was there that I discovered I was pregnant with SK. He said the pregnancy was unstable and suggested an abortion. I was appalled and immediately went to my own gynae for a second opinion.

My gynae gave foetus and me a clean bill of health. And how true it was. I had an easy pregnancy and delivered a bouncy baby 9 months later. I'm glad I sought a second opinion!