Female discrimination is unfair. I had a dental implant placed and what followed is tremendous heartache. Always a happy woman, I became sick from a delayed diagnosis that nearly took my life.

My story begins December 2002 when I had my surgery. What came after were many second opinion consults, post-op surgeries and a torment of suffering. My pain compounded as my surgeon told me to quit coming in and just wait a year. This horror multiplied more as his staff referred to my pain as being in my head.

Because my surgeon is very prominent and was quick to dismiss me, I felt like I had no-where to go. I tried to see other doctors but was told it was psychological and to calm down.

Being at a loss for what to do, my pain only increased and I ended up in a state of shock. The severity frightened me as it radiated into my neck. Desperate, I tried again to find relief. I became a robot going through my days with a new routine walk to the liquor mart. So strung out, I found myself counting change to buy “my fix.” I was reduced to a bum.

As my nightmare continued, I went to see my surgeon five more times in addition to seeing ten other doctors. I was passed off, put off and forced into seeing him again on July 26, 2004. When I told him I still had pain, he told me I always did this to him and he didn’t have time for it. To top it off, my own general dentist called to wish me luck in finding another doctor.

Precisely it is what I did. What I had to do to find someone to help me is an outrage. I left the state. This caused me great hardship. Had my surgeon addressed my pain, I feel this wouldn’t have happened.

My pain ended in Spokane. Luckily my aunt helped me locate a specialist. My first appointment was on September 7, 2004—and is the day my prayers were answered. He listened, but more importantly, believed me.

My implant was ex-planted on October 29, 2004. A long standing infection was confirmed. Alas, my pain had origin.

I’m not sure how much longer I could’ve managed this problem. I was misdiagnosed as mental, not a genuine person in pain. This caused me an unduly amount of suffering, and I’ll be forever grateful to my aunt and the surgeon who cared enough to help me.