Stitches Removal: Registered Nurse?

Could a registered nurse be satisfactorily qualified to
remove the stitches I had put in for an apicoectomy?

In nine days I am scheduled to have them removed at the
endodontist who did the surgery, but I would rather not see
him again.

The endodontist wrote me a prescription for a supply of 800
mg Ibuprofen and some Percocet. I did not request the
Percocet. I even asked if it was really necessary. He said
it may or may not be. His assistant subsequently said to get
it, explaining I didn't want to wake up in the middle of the
night in terrible pain and not be able to get to the
pharmacy for hours. At the pharmacy I asked if I could just
get part of the Percocet prescription filled. I didn't want
more than I might need. I am frugal and don't like to waste
money; also, I don't like drugs in general. I also asked if
there was any difference between 4 tablets of regular, OTC
200 mg Ibuprofen and the prescription the doctor wrote. The
pharmacist said they were the same stuff. I have a big
bottle of ibuprofen at home and asked for just the percocet
prescription to be filled. The pharmacist said s/he was
required to call the doctor to omit the ibuprofen. The
doctor's office told the pharmacist I could not omit the 800
mg ibuprofen. I spoke with the doctor's office subsequently
and what I feel an illogical response ensued, amounting to
IMO paranoia about prescribing percocet to potential drug
addicts.

I have an abscessed tooth. X-rays from yesterday at my
regular dental's office and today at the endodontist
document it. My root canal of several years ago failed.

I won't waste money and do not have it to waste, anyway.
Given the conditions, I turned down the prescriptions, went
home, and am now loaded up on the recommended dose of
Ibuprofen using my OTC supply. But I sure would like the
percocet as a backup. I think it's outrageus that this
doctor would sacrifice good pain management on the basis of
utterly unfounded suspicions. I paid his office nearly $1400
(credit card, and for the full amount) on the spot, with no
insurance papers or collection to deal with, for this
procedure. And this is how I get treated?

I think I can do better.


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