News Taffy

Procrastination is very much part of human nature but procrastinating about some things can lead to serious consequences. You will be fired if you don’t complete your tasks at work in a timely fashion and the IRS will slap a fine on top of your taxes if you pay late. When we procrastinate about our health, we risk waiting until it is too late to fix or cure the problem.

As much as I promote good health and taking care of yourself, I am not immune to procrastination. Last week, I finally had my last wisdom tooth removed though several dentists throughout my life had nagged me to no end to have the procedure done. I am sure my current dentist celebrated.

Why did I wait so long to have the tooth removed? Why does anyone procrastinate? Too often, we are frozen by fear. I certainly was. I had my first wisdom tooth removed at 40 and it was weeks before I could chew without pain. Fear of pain, of being out of control, of finding something worse than you expected can lead to putting off procedures or tests, sometimes for years like I did. If you have fears, you should discuss them with your health care provider. He or she may be able to reassure you or you may even find there are new procedures that are less uncomfortable or drugs that work better.

We tell ourselves “I’m too busy right now” or “I can’t fit that in my schedule”. We fool ourselves into thinking there is plenty of time before we finally have to deal with the problem. Unfortunately, that kind of thinking can lead to a much more serious problem or complication than it was in the beginning. Realizing that my wisdom tooth could become seriously infected while I was traveling or that I could also lose the tooth next to it was what finally motivated me to have it pulled.

The most wonderful thing happened after getting that darned tooth pulled - I have recovered much more quickly and with far less pain than last time. Sometimes the time we spend dreading something is worse than the actual procedure. I also feel a tremendous sense of relief. That tooth will never cause me trouble again. I had a friend who needed a hip replacement but he kept putting it off for all the wrong reasons even though he was in a great deal of pain and could no longer ride his horses. Finally he broke down and had surgery. Afterwards, he felt so much better and was able to return to riding. He couldn’t believe he had waited so long!

If you have been putting off something you know you should take care of, I hope this inspires you and gives you some courage. Take that first baby step and set up an appointment. Find out your options and make a plan. Once the task is done, I bet you feel a sense of accomplishment and relief, just like I have.