So I'm getting my wisdom teeth removed...

[protege]

Whatever you do, keep those sockets clean. From what I understand, if they get infected...it's rather painful!

I got all of mine taken out before I left for college. At the time, I'd had hernia surgery the month before, and since the hospital screwed up by giving me too much of the knockout meds...I couldn't get knocked totally out this time. My mouth was numb, but let me tell you. You *don't* want to be awake during this surgery. Trust me--I saw everything going in and out, plus I felt most of it

That wasn't the worst of it though. Since I was a bit sleepy, my father would come in so often to change the gauze in my mouth. One time, one of the stitches got caught in it...as Dad was trying to change it I couldn't scream...so I did the next best thing--I punched him. Hard, and in the face...enough to knock him across the room

Seriously though, I found that soup and milkshakes were awesome. Well, that and Jello

[AdminAssistant]

Saltwater is great - but be careful when you swish! You have to tilt your head back and to the side and just let gravity handle it.

[jedimaster91]

I was a dumb dumb when I got mine pulled and went to lunch at Logan's with the family afterwards. Couldn't chew worth crap and I had to physically place my lips on my Sprite glass to keep from dumping it all over myself. I think I ended up eating soup, but I didn't have much of an appeitite the first day or so. I also didn't get knocked out for the procedure; just numbed up real good and they put me on nitrous oxide (laughing gas). That was good times. My face was pretty swollen for about a week or so, but luckily I wasn't in too much pain after the first day. I only took the Percocet at night to sleep maybe three times. Of course, I was an easy case. None of mine were impacted and only the bottom ones had broken through the gum.

[Broomjockey]

Quoth protege

My mouth was numb, but let me tell you. You *don't* want to be awake during this surgery. Trust me--I saw everything going in and out, plus I felt most of it

I dunno. I wasn't knocked out. I had the local injection, nitrous, plus a sedative (I wanna say Halcyon, but I don't think that's right...), and I spent most of the time laughing. I remember the surgery pretty well, actually. I remember about 20 minutes collective of the 24 hours after that, but the surgery itself I still have. I guess mine were impacted, though they didn't hurt. And the only thing I really felt was the pressure they had to use to crack the teeth in to bits before pulling the pieces out. I tell yas, my doc was *awesome.*

[JLRodgers]

Awake during it? Hmm... maybe it was the type I had but the dentist said (when I asked) "oh, no, we knock you out" in a way that made me think "oh, my god.... what are you going to be doing to me that you apparently made sound all nice and fluffy?!?"

And knock me out they did.... when they tried to wake me the first time (I say first as I was sitting in a chair, they woke me and I fell out of it and had to be helped up).

[AdminAssistant]

They knocked me out completely - and I say it's the way to go. Although, they gave me laughing gas before they put in the IV (I guess cuz some people have needle issues?). But I have difficult veins, and I was so stoned I couldn't properly make a fist to help them find one. It was hilarious.

I woke up sitting upright in the chair, and the nurse was able to walk me out, but they had to keep pulling my head up. They got me in the back seat of the car, I slept the whole way home (my dentist sent me to a guy in Memphis, he said he didn't trust any of the local people, and that office didn't have the facilities). Then Mom kept me on the couch so that she could keep an eye on me, rotate my ice packs, wake me up for my medicine (doc put me on a pain pill/tylenol/motrin regimen), and such.

[tropicsgoddess]

Some pudding, jello, soup for starters, at first it's hard to open your mouth wide, but once you can get on to eating more normal foods, something like pasta or noodles. Oh and definitely do your salt water rinses, dry socket or infections are a serious bitch to deal with.

[BookstoreEscapee]

I had mine out when I was 18...on New Year's Eve.

I didn't have too many problems, except the pain meds made me sick. I was in the basement watching movies but I almost threw up, and after that I moved to my parents' room and watched TV from my mom's adjustable bed so I could be closer to the bathroom (I didn't actually throw up...I came pretty close, though). I tried the meds one more time later (I don't remember what they gave me), when I had a little more in my stomach, and while I didn't get as nauseated, it still made me feel queasy. Luckily the pain was mild enough that I was able to stick with Tylenol after that.

As far as food...jello (cherry!), ice cream, mac and cheese, pudding.... Soup is good but make sure it's not too hot. The surgeon sent me home with a can of Ensure, which my mom made into a milkshake. I don't think I'd have wanted to drink the Ensure by itself, but mixed with ice cream it wasn't too bad. Ice cream makes everything better.

Yeah, I was asleep long before midnight that year.

[Mr. Rager!]

For me the actual surgery was painless. They knocked me out.

Healing on the other hand. Listen to what the Dr has to say about the taking care of your wounds. LISTEN! I didn't listen and one of my gums swelled up so bad that I couldn't close my mouth so I had to go to the doctor. Then he jammed a needle into my gums (without numbing me up) and drained them. It was one of the most painful experiences of my life.

Oh, and I liked ice cream. Any flavor. My mistake was getting the rocky road though... (nuts).

[BookstoreEscapee]

Quoth Fashion Lad!

Oh, and I liked ice cream. Any flavor. My mistake was getting the rocky road though... (nuts).

Yeah, one ice cream caveat there...no stuff mixed in. (Which is fine with me cuz I like my ice cream smooth and unadulterated )