Cathy Classics by Cathy Guisewite for February 18, 2013

Whether it’s for exercise or to go out and be sociable, your problem is motivation, Cathy!What a weekend! It was long and draining, but the good news is…Lil’s cheerleading squad is a NATIONAL CHAMPION!!!!The competition was Cheersport, which is the world’s largest cheerleading and dance competition and this was their nationals. Over 900 teams competed, there were close to 20,000 cheerleaders, and there were 5 arenas of almost non-stop cheerleading. So I’m very proud that her squad won national first place in their division, Level 1 Small Gym. :-)On a more somber note, my neurologist’s office called this morning, and since I haven’t been there in almost 5 years, they can’t just bring me in for a quick appointment and treatment. They seemed pretty unhappy that I haven’t been on any MS drugs or been to any doctors to monitor me. So now even if I do go to him, I’ll have to discuss my choices and argue about whether I will be on a drug or not. Sigh…@hendelca – I’m so sorry about your friend and everything you’ve been through since. I really hope you’ll come here to vent, escape or just enjoy the company of friends. ((hugs!))@GretchensMom – That totally sucks about your teeth!! :-( I agree with others that treatment should be better now compared to your last time. Either way, I hope it all goes speedy and better than expected! ((hugs))

Congrats and good luck lightenup.

I just hope that if Cathy DOES go out tonight, she at least changes out of her sweatsuit and into something more appropriate to “mingle with destiny” in!!!!!

lightenup: Don’t let the doctor give you too hard a way to go. If you haven’t really needed to see them before now, why spend time and money unnecessarily? But hopefully everything will be okay with them attitude-wise when you finally do get in to see the doctor.

Hi, rgcviper!

Hello and Happy Monday fellow “Cathy” fans. Hope everyone had a really nice weekend!

Thanks to all my special “Cathy” friends for your kind words of encouragement! I really appreciate it!!! I’ve got an appointment to go back to the dentist this Thursday to have half my cavities filled and (half) my crown work done first (the other work will follow in a couple of weeks), where I’ll talk to her more in-depth regarding the “urgent need” for a new root canal to be done on the exact same tooth that I had done back in 1989. If antibiotics take care of infections in other parts of the body, why can’t it take care of this one? (B/t/w: I didn’t see my regular dentist last week; I saw her partner, who isn’t as familiar with me and my history like my regular dentist is.) If an antibiotic CAN clear the infection up, then why rush into this? Why not just take a watch-and-see attitude instead? I guess I’ll know more a few days from now.

Teresa: I looked the endodontist up that did my root canal all those years ago and he’s still in business but I don’t know that I’d want to go back to him. I’m not only 23 years older than that first time I had this procedure done — so is he. I don’t know if he’s up-to-date on the newest dental technologies or if he’s still doing everything old-school. Given my horrible experiences as a child, I’m a really HUGE chicken where dentistry is concerned so I want someone good, someone gentle, to take care of me now so that it doesn’t hurt quite as bad. So if I HAVE to do this yet again, I think I’ll go with my dentist’s recommendations regarding this new guy, who’s supposed to be really good at what he does.

hendelca: Glad to know there’s someone else out there like me that’s also having such major dental problems — despite all your best efforts otherwise! It’s a real bummer. Meanwhile, if you can get root canals and crowns done for around $600.00, you’re lucky. The 4 cavities and crown work I need to have done right now is going to cost $1,592.00 — not counting the root canal work . . . and there’s no telling how much THAT’S going to cost! To be quite honest, I’d be VERY surprised if it were under $2,000.00! But I won’t know for sure until I schedule that endodontal appointment (that is, if my regular dentist still thinks I need to see him for this procedure).

Hi Cathyites!! Congrats to Lil!! Remember lightenup — you are the customer here (I had to go thru hell to get the cancer treatment I wanted, but I’m glad I did it). MOM — I too just had a root canal done and it was absessed (sp?). I had virtually no pain, but I did take antibiotics for 10 days before and a couple of days after the procedure. I have also had a root canal with no numbing at all and it really wasn’t that bad — I did it because the first one I had was so horrible when they stuck the needle in to numb me that I wouldn’t let them give me anything for several years afterward. I’m ok with it now, but it’s good to know that it really isn’t that horrible to do it without.Hendelca — you ARE really lucky to get the work done for so little. My crown was over $1,000, I’m not sure what the root canal cost. My own dentist did the root canal, so I didn’t have to go to a special endodontist this time. Great relief!!

Yup—the trusty [eye-roll] should just about cover it.

Congrats, lil. That’s a big accomplishment!

HI, MOM. Hello, Clan.

hendelca so sorry about the bad things that have sadding you hugs to i’ll keep you in my prays. Hi lightenup good wishes to you and great going lil. Hi to the best cathy clad anyone could ask for.

I don’t no why this says robin hanson instead of kittycatpaws ???