AIBU to be agonising over my behaviour?

[MurkyMo]

I 'll try and keep this short. I have an ongoing tooth problem for over 2 years which no dentist seems to be able to help me with. After decay was ruled out recently I did extensive research and I think I have the probable cause. So off to my dentist with this all printed out for them to say yes that could be it, let's get on with the treatment.

Of course I now realise that you can't just diagnose yourself and then expect the dentist to prescribe something and then do the work you suggest. But during the consultation I got a little frustrated, not angry, more exasperated. I'm autistic by the way and was so sure I was right about the tooth I couldn't understand why a medical professional wouldn't even give me their opinion on my theory. They did say that it was beyond their scope, not their speciality etc... I accepted this and agreed to a referral to the appropriate specialist.

So during all this the dental nurse slipped out and the practice manager slipped in. Today I'm wondering if this was because the dental nurse though I was going to blow a fuse or something and thought the practice manager might be the better person to be there for it. I didn't blow up but I was probably a bit more animated than your regular patient would be.

Now I did email them the next day and say please pass on my thanks to the dentist for their patience and good advice so have I absolved myself??

Oh God! I can't stop thinking about it. I feel like never going back there ever again! Aaaaargh!!!!!!!!

Dentists are trained to be compassionate and understanding. They’re also meant to practise patience centred care which means you’re allowed to ask them about possible diagnosis and share your theories. Don’t worry.

I suspect the manager came in to assess if things were getting heated. This is standard practice.

However given the length of your issue, have you consulted another dentist?

Yes I've been to other dentists and an endodontist. It's all very long and complicated but started off with a dentist missing decay in a tooth in a check up, then when I found it 6 weeks later and went back and a filling was done but decay was left underneath it. Ended up with root canal treatment before the decay was found. I won't give you the long saga but it's been a nightmare and I'm still in pain

Thanks for your reassurances.

I'm not surprised you're close to losing your rag after all the incompetence you've had to contend with. Don't give yourself a hard time, it all sounds incredibly stressful. I really hope it properly resolved soon.