Whiggin'
Tomorrow I'm to have my wisdom teeth pulled, only the two top ones as they are the only ones that grew in. The itemized list for the procedure calls them "complicated tooth extractions." That doesn't sound very promising, does it?
The reasons are one is more or less sideways and the other has roots that most likely have pierced my sinus cavity.
The dental surgeon looked at me during the evaluation and said "You're very fair, expect substantial bruising."
Since I've know this day was coming, I've made the mistake of mentioning it to people and have been regaled with all the possible horror stories that teeth extraction can cause. Of course, there have been people who have said they had no problem and things went fine but it's the horror stories that have stuck in my head.
I don't like pain. I don't respond to anaesthetic well. To get a tooth filled, it has taken anywhere from 5 to 7 needles to freeze the area and then I have still had twinges as the dentist worked. I had a lump removed on my left arm and even after a half dozen needles, only about 1 inch square froze. If the scapel went outside that zone, I felt it. And let the doctor know I could feel it. I have never had any type of major surgery and have never been unconscious. Being put under by whatever gas they use requires an actual anaethesiologist. My life is suddenly going to be placed in someone else hands. I hope to gawd they are a morning person because the surgery is at 8:20am tomorrow morning. They fuck up on the gases and TBIT become a weathy single man. I don't want to be unconscious because I don't want to be helpless.
All day long these thoughts have been circling like sharks in my head. What if I'm allergic? What if my normal low blood pressure causes some weird problem? What if a tooth breaks and the doctor has to dig it out? What if some facial nerve gets severed? What if I do something embarrassing while out cold? What if my face turns purple with bruises and swells up like I have grapefruit stuffed in my cheeks? What if the area gets infected? Can you imagine how gross it would be to have a mouth full of pus? And have it running down the back of your throat?
And on top of all that, I'm going to miss opening night of Snakes on a Plane!!!!!!!
Needless to say, I'm not in a very positive frame of mind.
On the plus side, removing the teeth might mean less headaches caused by changes in air pressure but that's not guaranteed...
Posted by Marmy on August 17, 2006 10:17 PM
Comments
As my former tai-chi sifu once said, "Relass", which was his accented way of saying, "Relax". I had my wisdoms pulled years ago and am still normal (or at least I think I am), it was painless and stress-free. The only things you'll need to remember is to apply ice to your face after the operation (keeps the swelling down) and to avoid most solid foods for a while, learn to love soup and overcooked ramen.
Ganbatte neh!
Posted by: wN at August 17, 2006 10:45 PM
No horror stories here..you will do just fine.
Posted by: uber at August 18, 2006 10:09 AM