I did it! 4 wisdom teeth gone. If I had to sum up this morning’s procedure, i think “unpleasant” works better than anything else. It was fairly unpleasant.
The oral surgeon was fantastic, very nice and soothing while fast and able to explain what was happening. It was funny that they put a pulse monitor on me early on when I was still nervous and my heart was racing. Over the next ten minutes when they left me alone, I played with it, trying to slow and speed up my heart rate to mild success.
The worst part of the whole experience (so far anyway) was getting the anesthesia. Holy cow that hurt. When I had my root canal done a few years back it was a couple of shots and that was it. No big deal. This time, it must have been at least 6 different shots and I felt every single one of them. I usually am pretty good about shots, they don’t bother me much. But oh my God the last two were horribly painful. Two shots right on the top of my mouth. I involuntarily let out a little moan after the first one and my eyes watered all by themselves. The oral surgeon was very kind about it but I was mad at myself as I was trying to be tough and not show anything. Oh well. I’ll be happy if I never have to get that shot again. It was only a few seconds but I have to imagine that is what it feels like to be stabbed…in the top of your mouth. I was terrified that she would have to do the bottom to. Thank goodness she didn’t.
About halfway through I started to have a tiny bit of regret that I didn’t just get knocked out for the whole thing. There wasn’t pain while she was pulling my teeth out but there definitely was pressure. The worst part of all though was the sound. I could hear the teeth cracking. And the drill was, again, unpleasant. Especially because she kept telling me to let her know if I felt a sharp pain which immediately put me on edge, waiting for a sharp pain (never happened, thank goodness). By the fourth tooth, I don’t know if it was because I had finally relaxed or if it was a reaction to the anesthesia but I’m pretty sure I blacked out for a moment or two because all of a sudden she was done and I had to reorient myself to where I was.
After the procedure, the dental assistants kept asking me questions and I tried to answer but even now, two hours later, I still can’t talk. My entire bottom jaw is still numb. You should have seen me try to take my first pain pills. Very amusing. It’s hard to swallow a pill if you can’t feel it in your mouth.
Unfortunately, the anesthesia started wearing off on the red line as I was coming home making for a very uncomfortable trip. I just took oxycodone and some other things though so hopefully it will go away soon. It was fairly embarrasing to ride the T home because with the swelling and the gauze in my mouth, I look like a chipmunk and I know people were staring but what can you do, right? I just listened to Michael, my go-to comfort music, all the way home.
So I now have the day off. Can’t really eat or do anything but am not sick so I don’t want to sleep. I guess TV is the answer. Gee, I wonder what I can watch again? 🙂 Actually, I wonder if laughing will hurt?
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Three Months\' Time 