I am going to write all of the details, mostly because this is my personal scrapbook and I want to remember so I can look back on it. So don't feel pressured to read the whole thing!
So here's the story: Dr. Zahner gave me a medication to take an hour before my appointment. It made me very loopy and very tired. When I got to their office, they numbed the bottom of my mouth and put me on the nitrous oxide sedation (laughing gas). This nitrous oxide sedation was a little mask that I had to wear over my nose and then breathe through my nose the whole time.
When they started the actual surgery, I was very calm, very tired and very relaxed. I had both of the bottom teeth taken out so they did the tooth on my left side first. It was a piece of cake. It went very well and did not take as long as I expected it to. I felt no pain at all. I was aware of the doctor moving around, and I could here them talking, but I really wasn't focused on what they were doing. They took a 2 min break in between both teeth and I just laid there, very relaxed.
Then they started the tooth on my right side. This was a lot more complicated, as Dr. Shawn had a hard time getting it out. It hurt so bad; I've never been in so much pain before. It was so painful that I started crying and didn't even realize that I was crying until Dr. Shawn wiped the tears from my eyes! (I have such a wonderful dentist office!) At that point, they had to stop and numb my whole right side again. I was very anxious and restless, and Dr. Shawn could tell. Part of this was because as I was crying, my nose got stuffed up so I started breathing through my mouth instead of through the mask. I didn't even realize this until Dr. Shawn told me this while we were waiting for my mouth to get numb again. After a few minutes passed, he started up again with the tooth. He was able to get it out, although it took a lot of force. Honestly, I won't be surprised if I get some bruises on that side. I was very restless the rest of the time, and there was still some pain it just wasn't as bad as before. Once he told me it was out, then I was able to rest a little bit.
I have been taking advil every 4 hours. They are helping a little bit, but I am very sore and still have some pain. Mom gave me vicodin to help me sleep last night, and I was able to get some good sleep. I did have to get up to take some more about 2:00 this morning. Now I am back on advil every 4 hours. My jaw is a little puffy/swollen, but it is definitely not as bad as I expected it to be. Dr. Shawn did say that the pain will probably be the worst today, but I'm hoping that it won't be!
I've just been sitting on the couch, reading my nook or working on my knitting. I am hoping that the pain will be lessened enough today for me to go to young group tonight. We will see!
