So this one time I got my wisdom teeth out. Honestly, I have been dreading doing it for years, but it got to the point where I could feel them pushing up against my other teeth and my mouth hurt all of the time. I knew it had to happen. When it was scheduled I had recurring nightmares about it for weeks. With my anxiety and the complete lack of sleep, I was a wreck before the surgery. When you tell people you're getting your wisdom teeth out they grimace and go on to tell you their own version of the same horror story. I cannot tell you how many I heard. Waking up in the middle of the surgery, the pain, the sickness, the weirdness when you're waking up from the anesthesia, the bruises, and even choking on the gauze and actually dying. I heard it all. I had never had an IV or been under anesthesia, so naturally with my anxious little self I assumed the worst. And we all know how much I hate going to the doctor or dentist (which now also includes the oral surgeon). I was a mess when I found out my mom wouldn't even be able to be back with me when I was waking up (something I was taking comfort in because I always got to tell kids their mom would be there when they were waking up from surgery during my internship). I was even more of a mess as they placed the IV and tied my hands to the chair (why do they do that?!). Luckily, it didn't take long for the oral surgeon to come in. He had the nerve to ask me how I was doing! I had tears silently streaming down my face, I had tubes and wires attached to me, and I was tied down to a chair! How did he think I was doing?! I am really ever so thankful the anesthesia literally only takes a second to kick in. When I woke up my mouth hurt but not terribly. I just wanted ice and water to drink. I did not lay back in the chair they put me in. I sat up and looked around using my hands as ice packs. I felt like I was there for forever, and I just wanted my mom. When I went home and got some food, water, and ice packs I was fine. My mouth still didn't hurt all that badly, my cheeks swelled a little but not a ton, and I didn't get sick. I wanted to go out and do things! Little did I know the first day isn't the worst. One of my cheeks swelled a ton (to me). It was not nearly as bad as a lot of people so I still count myself lucky, but it was pretty large. Four days after the surgery the bruises showed up. Big, yellow, nasty bruises. Now that I have stopped taking the pain medication (it made me feel like I was underwater all of the time) my jaw hurts to open it. I guess I should have expected that when the oral surgeon told me I had one of the smallest mouths he's worked on. So, overall, the experience was not as bad as I anticipated, and I may have overreacted at certain points before the surgery. Sorry, mom and dad for having to deal with me. But, with that being said I am ever so glad I never have to do it again. I cannot wait for the day when my mouth feels good enough again to open up wide and gobble up nachos. Until then....
