Yo dudes! I am officially human again! The bane of my existence is GONE.
Seven years ago, I started having random toothaches. Always in my back molars. Several rounds of antibiotics, an extraction or two, a couple prescriptions for vicodin - the pain always came back. A number of dentists told me I needed my wisdom teeth extracted. However, dental procedures were never very high on my mom's lists of priorities, so before I was 18, I wasn't really given the choice to have it done. All the dental work I had between 14-18 was only done because I was a bad girl in state custody at the time, and they require shit like healthcare and what not. The only plus of being in the system, I guess.
When I dd finally turn 18 and was responsible for my own health care, I was working random restaurant jobs that didn't provide insurance. I paid out of pocket to have some fillings done, but that was all I could afford. When I finally got really good dental insurance, I started taking care of things. But by that time, I had periodontal infections so bad that I needed to take care of that first. By the time that was done, I'd met the benefits cap for my dental insurance for the year. When the next year rolled around, I left that job and subsequently lost the insurance. Again, the wisdom teeth fell by the wayside.
Until, as you know, a few months ago. I've detailed my plight with those fuckers ad nauseum here, and I'm sure you'll agree that it's nice to know this is the last time I'll ever have to talk about it.
I had it done at my regular dentist's office, with only novacaine for anesthesia. I was far less afraid this time than I was for my last appointment (the one that couldn't be done during pregnancy). I'm not entirely sure why it scared me less this time. Maybe I was just finally and truly ready to be DONE.
The novacaine shots are a bitch. I don't mind the regular ones, but the ones that stick into the top of your pallet BLOW. Fear not, though, if you face the same thing...it's an intense pain, sure, but it lasts less than a second and then you don't feel a thing.
I'm still nervous that I'll feel them digging in to get the teeth, but within five minutes, the first two are gone and I didn't feel anything but pressure. I do understand now why they put people to sleep for the procedure - the pressure and the sound of the drilling to break the teeth into pieces is a disgusting, disturbing, and unnatural feeling. I'm sure it would really freak a more squeamish person out.
Anyway, twenty minutes and five pain in the ass teeth (he took a broken molar, too) and I was done.
I was given a prescription for Vicodin and sent home. I needed the Vicodin the first day, but wanted to switch over to Tylenol #3 as soon as possible so I could nurse again. Now I'm two days after the procedure, and I'm way swollen, but not in much pain at all.
So now I'm not pregnant, not in teeth agony...I am HUMAN and myself again!
Moral of the story? Take care of your fucking teeth, dude. Or, at least, if you're planning on getting pregnant and don't already have wicked good insurance, save a couple thousand first and get all your teeth shit taken care of before hand. I would not wish the last four months of my life on ANYONE.
Except maybe a Republican.
Hooray for no wisdom teeth! And welcome to the wisdom teeth removal sans happy drugs club. :)
Posted by: Hope | February 07, 2009 at 05:21 PM
Good news!
Posted by: Kristin | February 09, 2009 at 01:59 PM