Seven years ago I had 1 of my 4 wisdom teeth extracted.
I have been advised to get all 4 of my impacted wisdom teeth removed years when I was still in college. But I've always put it off.
When I finally decided to do it years after I've graduated college, I only wanted to do 1 and said that I will just come back to do the rest. That was my plan, getting them removed one at a time. Even though I know I should have done it all at once. But my thinking was, if I do it that way, then I can still eat using one side of my mouth while the other side is healing. Well, I know it didn't seem logical. But for me, it made sense at that time.
I have been advised to get all 4 of my impacted wisdom teeth removed years when I was still in college. But I've always put it off.
When I finally decided to do it years after I've graduated college, I only wanted to do 1 and said that I will just come back to do the rest. That was my plan, getting them removed one at a time. Even though I know I should have done it all at once. But my thinking was, if I do it that way, then I can still eat using one side of my mouth while the other side is healing. Well, I know it didn't seem logical. But for me, it made sense at that time.
I got another recommendation to get it removed 2 years ago. This is the 3rd dentist to tell me to remove it, I grumbled to myself. I told them, "ok, I'll go see that oral surgeon. I think it's time to do it anyway." But that didn't happen. Months after I had agreed to see the oral surgeon, I was diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer. So I had to take care of that more than anything else, and yes, before deal with my remaining impacted wisdom teeth.
Now here we are, almost 15 years after I was first advised by a dentist to get 4 of my impacted wisdom teeth removed; and 7 years after I got 1 of the 4 impacted wisdom teeth removed. I was still going to put it off, if it didn't hurt for over a week. Why a week you say? I would have gone sooner but had conflicting schedules. I was able to make an appointment for consultation. I just didn't think that I would get the extraction date on the same week. But I think overall that was good. It gave me a very short window to change my mind, and to put it off again for God knows how long.
So, I got my 3 wisdom teeth extracted today! 😬 So far so good. It did take a while for the gas to relax me. I could hear my heartbeat on a monitor beeping so fast. I felt like I was fighting the gas. The nice lady who escorted me to this room told me to relax. Another person, whom I have met 2 days ago at this office was there too. The oral surgeon is not in yet. The two advised me to relax and think of something I can relax to. They said, "think of the beach." In my head, I was trying to find something that might work better. I love the beach, but it doesn't seem to be working for me at this time. It was funny when I started to think of bags! Oh, how much I love bags. It seems to be working. But not fast enough!
I can hear the 2 people stepping away and talking in the background. They are not that far, but I could tell they were just by the door. Probably waiting for this laughing gas to work. It's still not working. Well, at least I could still hear the monitor indicating my fast heart rate. I tried to hold my breath to see if it's really mine. I heard the monitor beep to be at a slower pace. I breathed again, normally this time. The monitor indicated a faster pace again. This was starting to be annoying. I was telling myself to relax. I might really be taking so long. But it could be that I'm being too impatient that 2 minutes could feel like 5 to 10 minutes for me.
I hear the 2 coming back. I apologized and said, "I'm trying to inhale it as much as I can." The lady, who I unfortunately don't remember her name, help the mask and make sure it stayed in place on my nose. She gently pushed it a bit closer to my skin, this time it made it slightly air tight since the mask was a small rubberlike opening attached to a tube. I was trying to inhale it as much as I can again. Deep breaths, deep breaths, I kept telling myself. The doctor came in right around this time and started to asking me questions. I gave him the correct answers and said, "sorry if this gas is taking so long to take effect on me." I believe this time I heard him say, it's ok just keep breathing in and out." I started to feel something different and realized, I think it's working. I hear the 3 people talking now. Talking about what's going on in Texas. I can still hear them and can comprehend what they are saying, I told myself that maybe it's not working. I felt that I was slowly losing it. The battle that I've been trying to win. Trying to fight this gas, I didn't want to fall asleep. Then I hear the doctor ask me, "Can you hear me?" "Yes," I responded. He followed, "I'm going to put alcohol on your arm, it's going to feel cold." "Okay."
I can hear the 2 people stepping away and talking in the background. They are not that far, but I could tell they were just by the door. Probably waiting for this laughing gas to work. It's still not working. Well, at least I could still hear the monitor indicating my fast heart rate. I tried to hold my breath to see if it's really mine. I heard the monitor beep to be at a slower pace. I breathed again, normally this time. The monitor indicated a faster pace again. This was starting to be annoying. I was telling myself to relax. I might really be taking so long. But it could be that I'm being too impatient that 2 minutes could feel like 5 to 10 minutes for me.
I hear the 2 coming back. I apologized and said, "I'm trying to inhale it as much as I can." The lady, who I unfortunately don't remember her name, help the mask and make sure it stayed in place on my nose. She gently pushed it a bit closer to my skin, this time it made it slightly air tight since the mask was a small rubberlike opening attached to a tube. I was trying to inhale it as much as I can again. Deep breaths, deep breaths, I kept telling myself. The doctor came in right around this time and started to asking me questions. I gave him the correct answers and said, "sorry if this gas is taking so long to take effect on me." I believe this time I heard him say, it's ok just keep breathing in and out." I started to feel something different and realized, I think it's working. I hear the 3 people talking now. Talking about what's going on in Texas. I can still hear them and can comprehend what they are saying, I told myself that maybe it's not working. I felt that I was slowly losing it. The battle that I've been trying to win. Trying to fight this gas, I didn't want to fall asleep. Then I hear the doctor ask me, "Can you hear me?" "Yes," I responded. He followed, "I'm going to put alcohol on your arm, it's going to feel cold." "Okay."
The last thing I remember is when the oral surgeon placed the IV in my vein for my general anesthesia. It pinched a bit when he placed it in. It also looks like that spot going to bruise.
The 😷👨⚕️ oral surgeon was right when he said, "it's like a light switch has been turned off then turned on in matter of seconds." I woke up thinking we were just about to start. And then I heard the tech/assistant/nurse said, "Hi Miss Ainee, we are all done. You can go home now." I was skeptic for a bit. But she helped me get on a wheelchair. I was going to protest and say that I can walk. But when I tried to get out of the dental chair, I realized almost instantly that I was a little bit groggy. So I let her assist me to the wheelchair without protesting.
Chris was in the waiting room. A designated adult has to drive me to my appointment and must stay during the whole procedure and drive me back home. Fortunately, my husband was available to accompany me for this appointment.
I was being wheeled out of the room and passing by the door facing the lobby when I finally saw Chris. He was advised by the same lady advised him that she will bring me to the car. Chris was close to the entry/exit door. I was thinking we will be going the same way, when I was wheeled towards to my right which leads to the door located at the left side of the building. I shortly realized that it could be because that is where wheelchair ramp would be. Right at this point, I was trying to snap out of whatever was making me struggle to think straight. It was a losing battle. But I just realized more how stubborn I was.
We reached the car and I got on the front passenger seat. "Watch your head," said the lady, while I was getting in the car. I don't remember now if I said good bye. But I'm sure she knows I'm still kind of out of it. I will try to remember to say good bye when I see her next time. In about a week, I will be back for a follow up.
First thing I did when we got home was drink water! I was so thirsty. As you know, I was told not to eat or drink anything, not even a sip of water, after 12midnight the night before my surgery. I was also given instructions to take my medicine including the pill I needed to take before the surgery with just 4 oz of water. If you have a measuring cup, check how much is a 4oz of water looks like. It's not a lot! I had to make sure that I got all my medicines in my tummy with that 4oz of water. It's a bit of a struggle but I was able to do it. That is why I was so thirsty. I also took advantage of this to drink my protein shake so that I won't feel as hungry later. I was instructed to only eat soft foods for 2 to 3 days.
If you haven't gotten your wisdom teeth removed, and had some fear or worries. I urge you not to worry so much. I've heard of so many nightmare stories about how painful it was or terrible it was. But even yesterday, I had people tell me about their horrible experience. I think that's why my anxiety level was a bit high. I know they meant well in telling me and they were really sharing their own experience. So I didn't take it as to them trying to scare me. I know that if anything they were trying to prepare me. Getting your wisdom teeth removed is not like a walk in a park. I can't say that their experience or mine will be what you will be experiencing since every experience is different. There are also risks in doing it just like any other extractions and/or surgeries. Risks that will be explained to you. However, I want you to know that my experience today was far better than what I had imagined or heard from other people.
To be quite honest, what made me go through with it is my own health and well being. I was afraid that waiting too long could result to one day that one or most, if not all of these teeth would be rotten or infected because of my negligence and for procrastinating. I would highly suggest to listen to your dentist if they have any recommendations of getting your wisdom teeth removed.
I am just glad I finally did this. I'm sure my dental hygienist will be so happy to see them gone, when I go see her for my next cleaning. That's 3 less teeth for her to worry about!
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