On Thursday I had my wisdom teeth extracted. Check out the goose egg of swollen jaw in that photo. I’ve got another one to match on the opposite side too!
I’m generally pretty confident when it comes to dental procedures as I’ve had many many hours in the chair getting filling after filling due to my extraordinarily soft enamel, but for some reason I had some serious apprehension about this one.
I’ve never gone under anaesthesia before, and the fact that I wasn’t getting the full-on KO but opted instead for the less expensive and more alluringly-named twilight sedation, well, those technicalities didn’t matter. Really, when it all boils down, I was scared of getting the IV inserted, scared that the dentist was going to leave some tiny but agonizing shard of tooth in my fresh wounds, that my jaw was going to be so tender and swollen that I was doomed to live chipmunk cheeked and sore-jawed for the rest of my days.
A touch melodramatic? ME?! Never!
Amazingly, it turned out ok in the end and I have yet to die a terrible wisdom-tooth based death.
First off my dentist was awesome. If anyone in or around Brisbane needs a dentist, I highly recommend Dr. Greg Morton at Queen Street Dental. Unlike most dentists that I’ve met and done time with, he’s an actual person and not a condemning robot/jerky boss who is deeply offended at the honest confession that you occasionally miss a day of flossing. Dr. Morton and I didn’t discuss flossing but I bet that if we had he’d be like, “Well Shilo, you really gotta try to do it every day it’s pretty important” and not “OMFG YOU FORGOT TO FLOSS ONCE WHEN YOU CAME HOME LATE AFTER A NIGHT OF DRINKS? WELL DON’T COMPLAIN TO ME WHEN ALL YOUR TEETH FALL OUT AT 40″ like some other dentists I know.
The one major downside of the whole visit was that I was obviously the last appointment of the week right before an office remodel. I arrived in their lobby at the same time as the drywall delivery and when we left, the Mister and I had to snake through offices covered in dust-protective plastic sheeting. This in itself was’t a big deal as neither the Mister or myself are affronted by the sight of tarps, but I think the office bustle may have caused my dentist or his staff to be hasty as they failed to give me a script for pain meds. Crazy talk, I know!
The Mister thinks it was a purposeful lapse, meant to deprive would-be pill poppers the knowledge of the delights of narcotic prescription drugs. I fully acknowledge that pain med abuse is ridiculously rampant these days. I worked in NYC bars for 3+ years. Ever try to have a conversation with someone on Vicodin? It’s nearly impossible as they’re too annoying and you’ll explode before they actually get around to their point.
Anyway, I get it. I understand. The doctors and the dentists these days, they’re hesitant. They don’t want me to become an annoying pill junkie. Which I appreciate! thanks guys! but seriously, you just forcefully pulled multiple teeth from my jawbone. Can I get something a little stronger than a foot rub?
Ok ok, the truth is, they gave me something and apparently it was strong, but I only got 4 of those somethings (I have no idea what as I was sedated AND everything has different names here in Oz) which kept me good up for the first, uhhh, hour after the anaesthesia wore off but the rest of the day and the entire next was not the best scene.
Think crying moaning pain monster.
By Saturday morning the Mister was clearly convinced I was suffering needlessly and went to the local chemist and tough-guyed or sweet-talked them or something and came home with some sort of painkillers that contained Codeine.
Sweet, beautiful Codeine.
Within an hour of taking my first two, I had showered, walked to the grocery store and cooked myself lunch; an incredible feat after the energy and ability levels of the two preceding days.
I was also able to finally really appreciate the awesome get-well balloon bouquet sent by my friends Kylie, John, and Rebecca. I LOVE balloons and they knew it and delivered.
Thanks guys for checking off an item on my list. You’re awesome friends, sorry it took me three days to say it.
It’s been a slightly slower start than I hoped for, but today amid many chores and errands I took time out for a snack and in the process crossed an item off my list for the first time this year.
I somehow muscled up the courage to eat it straight, snot-like texture aside.
Wild-grown fruit is totally worth the hype.
