Minus Teeth, Added Wisdom?

My wisdom teeth appointment began at 11:45 AM this morning. It was an experience, I'll say that. When the doctor gave me novocaine, I got very shaky. Did you know it isn't just novocaine in that shot, but that it's mixed with adrenaline? I waited about ten minutes for it to be fully numb (my shaking left during that time) and then the doctor began.

I had expected the drilling, but I was unprepared for the noise. Although I had brought a CD player, the high-pitched noise drowned the music coming out my earphones. My ears are very sensitive to high pitches anyway, especially with constant Tinnitis (ringing in the ears). I found myself wincing at the pain in my eardrums more than what they were actually doing in my mouth. Fortunately they altered drilling with yanking.

And then there was the unique cracking sound of splitting tooth as they tugging on my head. That bothered me a tad, but certainly not more than the dead weight of a numb tongue in my mouth most of the day.

They spent the most time on the tooth devoid of a cavity crater. When we were done (about 1:00 PM) he told me I had monster-sized wisdom teeth and that I had definitely had oral surgery. I concur--I heard him tell the nurse he was hitting the back of the jaw bone trying to get the first one (left) out. I have dissolvable stitches in my mouth. I left the office with a script for Vicadin I'm hoping not to use.

So, how am I doing?

First, my numb lips faked me out. They gave a sensation that I was drooling everywhere when I actually wasn't. And then the blood came. And came. And came. About four hours after leaving the office, I opted for tea bags.

The post-op sheet says, "Biting on a moist tea bag may be of benefit." So I changed my gauze again and stuck a bag in the front of my mouth as far as it would go. Jim looked at me with it half hanging out and chuckled. "You're supposed to put it over the extraction site."

Whoops.

I waited a bit longer for the new gauze to do it's job and then changed to tea bags about an hour later. Are you ready?


I look pretty good, eh? Love them strings.

Know what I discovered? I'm not fond of Lipton tea. Uck. It kinda burns my gums, but it must be doing something good. Instead of getting blood on my tissues, I'm now getting tea and little clots. And now that my tongue feeling is finally starting to come back, the tea bags let me keep my wounds covered while talking out of the front of my mouth. I wonder if this makes my family happy or not...

And I've discovered a hazard to these tea bag. Little ND thinks they are toys and tries to play with them when nursing. I'll have to watch out for that. I have some hoop earrings that are out of reach when she's laying down. I could tuck the tea bag strings in them and look super doofy.

So here it is, about 8:00 PM and my jaw is still numb--though feeling is matriculating back in to my outer cheek. My bottom lip is returning too. I'm right on top of the Ibuprofen and ice packs, so I'm still feeling OK. I'm not sure what the night will bring, but that's OK. God is with me and I'll make it through. After all, I've had six kids in natural childbirth, right?

We'll see...

To any of you who said a prayer for me, thank you. Please say some more for speedy recovery without complications. Thanks. :)