Monday, April 09, 2007

Nuthin' But the Tooth

Ah little blog, how I’ve missed thee.

And even though I still have mouth-ache, life is back to normal whether I’m ready for it or not. So back to blogging.

So yeah, had the tooth out on Thursday morning. I hate to admit that this is the second tooth I’ve had removed from my mouth in the past year, but I’ll admit it. I should be the poster child for going to the dentist when you’re young and stupid and don’t have any money. Just go people, or you’ll turn out to be me.

Before when I got my tooth out I was at a fancy place, with lots of fancy people helping. I had little pain, surprisingly little and was hoping that this would be much the same way. Alas, it wasn’t. My dentist runs a small shop, he sends me out for most of the work he does on me, in fact, he’s never really worked on my mouth at all except for a cleaning or two. So I was apprehensive about going there to get the tooth out.

And apprehensive I should have been. This was my dental nightmare. Hygienist comes in…first day for her….fabulous. Dentist comes in “So, we’re pulling top left right?”

“Um no, bottom left”

“Yup, okay then”

Gives me one shot of Novocain, I knew I was in trouble. The fancy place must have given me 1,000 shots of Novocain. I never felt a thing.

So he leaves me in the chair to sweat it out and watch The View. Painful enough ya? He comes in, nice hygienist lady holds my hand, and this guy starts shakin’ the tooth. Hard. Back and forth back and forth, I thought my jaw was going to break. I’m whimpering in the seat, and he keeps pressing harder and harder, with all the force of the universe, I think I’m going to die. “Almost there” he says. And I felt it, I felt it all and I knew I was in trouble when it hurt through the Novocain. Once done he says “all done” and sends me home.

No direction, no prescription, no “Don’t smoke or drink through a straw for 72 hours. No exercise for 72 hours. Don’t clean it with a brush for 4 days.” None of this what I know to be important information for preventing dry socket, more painful allegedly than childbirth (luckily I’ve never had dry socket). Nuthin.

Well thank the lord for the fancy place who had given me more than my fair share of vicadin that I never needed, cause I went home and started munching down. It hurt so so so much.

Next day…hurt. Next day? Hurt. Day after that? Hurt.

Today when I called just to make sure I’m not dying he says “Well I could give you an antibiotic which would really help, but you know, you could get a yeast infection”. Oh phew, because that would be way worse than having my whole head ache and bleed…good point dentist man. Mind numbing pain over a slightly itchy Suzy? I’m so glad you made that decision for me. Argh.

So here I sit, with a bottle of ibuprofen I call my best friend, determined to keep moving and get past this thing.

The point of this? Always go to the fancy place. Always.

4 comments:

Kate said...

Dry socket sucks it big time! I got it, but didn't know I had it ... seemed strange that I felt pain through the Vicodin, but I thought it was normal. I figured out on a Saturday that I had it and had to find someone to drive my sorry ass to the burbs to get it fixed over the weekend. I hope you never get dry socket and that you feel better soon!

Our Man In Chicago said...

You can't see me, but I've got my hand curled up and pressed against my mouth the way they do in movies when they're hearing something scary.

I have a lovely dentist, and I'd be happy to give you her number.

Hixx said...

Kate, I can't imagine the pain of the dry socket. It's my greatest fear.

Scott...I actually do like my dentist, he's just a little...well...blunt.

smussyolay said...

somehow i must have not read your blog for a few days. oh my dear god in heaven oh lord a-mighty god.

that is horrible. i'm so sorry. yeah, i've got the cold shivers going right now, and i'm pretty sure it's not just the snow.