Having Complicated Oral Surgery Thursday...

[angeleyes]

Ok, you all know I have been dealing with an impacted/infected wisdom tooth. I was at the Dentist again this morning, they can't seem to get the infection under control...it is spreading into my throat and they said if I don't get it out regardless of the infection it will affect my breathing passage...

Now, I have had Wisdom teeth removed, but they were easy removals. This one is being done under a general so I'll be knocked out and he has to dig out a cyst and the roots are wrapped around my jaw bone..... this surgery all while the thing is infected......

What am I going to expect when I wake up? (Other than the obvious: pain).

[Ryan_TBP]

I had pretty major oral surgery, although it was different than yours. Mine had a year's worth of prep work from an orthodontist, as well as a year's worth of recovery work.

I had mine done at a hospital, under general like yourself. They cut both upper and lower jaws completely through (and off), re-positioned them, and then wired them back into place. I was wired shut for six weeks after the surgery, and had two days of hospital time immediately following it. I'm not sure how major yours is, but I can give you a rundown of what happened for me.

I was a little nervous about being knocked out, but that part was pretty easy. When I had my wisdom teeth out, they used an IV in my arm to do it, but at the hospital it was just some nasty-smelling gas mask. I remember everything beforehand - mostly just a lot of waiting. The mask didn't go on until I was ready to go to sleep. They told me to take a deep breath and I was out.

When I woke up, my wife and mom were there, and I was awake for about a minute to wave, but that's about it. I guess they then moved me to my room, where I was just up and down all night. I hadn't felt any pain yet, just tightness from swelling I suppose. Whenever I woke up, it seemed like a nurse was already there, and usually asked about my pain; "On a scale of 1-10, how much does it hurt?" is what I remember most. Once I got above a six, I'd get a shot of Demoral and be asleep for another few hours. My hospital time was spent sleeping, and peeing from all the damn fluids they pump into you.

After the first day, I was much more coherant and just starting dealing with recovery, and trying to eat with a closed mouth. I'm sure yours will be different from here on out. My surgery lasted for about 4-5 hours if I remember right, so the first day was just filled with sleepiness, but not much pain. After I went home, I just took some tylenol w/codeine for any pain, which only happened a few times. I heard it can make you nauseous, and I didn't want to puke while wired shut and choke (I was pretty paranoid). My guess is that it'll hurt a bit more, and you'll swell a bit more, than your wisdom teeth removal, but not a whole lot more. They'll give you some good stuff to knock any pain down anyway I'm sure

About the only side effect, which they told me about beforehand, is a small amount of parasthesia in my upper lip. Basically the nerves never reconnected right or whatever, and I'm numb there now. It doesn't happen often, and usually comes back within a year or so (although it can take up to seven years I've heard). My surgery was about 2.5 years ago, and it's still there. At first, it felt like novacaine with a fat upper lip, but now it feels pretty normal. The only time I really notice it is eating and shaving.

Hopefully that helped some. I'm sure it'll be different for you, but for me the worrying was worse than going through with it. I found other problems besides the pain that pissed me off much more. Now that it's done, though, I'm glad.

[wdsguy]

The pain should pass in a couple of days. I had strep throat after my surgery which kinda sucked. But just get some painkillers and you will make thru it fine :-)

[CDSmith]

If you have to be on pain killers for any length of time, take a fibre supplement with them. Those Tylenol 3's with codein can really bung you up!

[wyldblyss]

Sounds like they may be digging out some infection...so expect a good amount of pain (if you don't experience it great, but be prepared). You might also have extra large pockets that you will have to make sure to keep clean. You most certainly will be on antibiotics to try and get rid of that infection. It might be resistant to the antibiotic you are using now but I am sure they will send a sample of it to the lab to get an idea of what antibiotic would work on it best. Swelling...dry mouth...maybe a dry socket. Stock up on small bags of frozen corn or peas..they work really well, actually better than ice packs in my opinion.

[bjs24]

Once the infected tooth is out the pain will be less than you are dealing with right now so it will seem like a relief but I would be more concerned with your infection and the fact that its not being cleared up by your antibiotic. My guess is they will start you on an IV drip antibiotic before you go into surgery to help with the infection. It will probably be rocephin and that wont bother you.

The worse part about the whole experience will be inserting the IV and it just feels like a bee sting. Not to long after that you wont care what they do to you

[zanycash Pete]

Ouch! I hear you! I have been through worse than that myself, try not to think too much about it. Just go get it taken care of!
Good luck!

[angeleyes]

Originally posted by -R-in-V-
I had pretty major oral surgery, although it was different than yours. Mine had a year's worth of prep work from an orthodontist, as well as a year's worth of recovery work.

I had mine done at a hospital, under general like yourself. They cut both upper and lower jaws completely through (and off), re-positioned them, and then wired them back into place.

Mine will be nothing that severe but I have been informed that resetting my jaw may be a last resort but it has felt like my jaw has been wired shut for almost a week now. I have only been able to eat soup and mushy rice. (Which still hurts) I appreciate the input and I hope to god they don't have to crack my jaw open. I can take any kind of pain, but mouth pain I have a major issue with. They already have me on 10 mg of Hydrocodone every 4-6 hours as needed and it's working less and less so I started alternating with Motrin 800.

Glad to know you are feeling better though!

[MinX]

And ive been winging about half a tooth which fell out. Hope it all goes well

[rowan]

As others have said, the pain you'll feel for a short time after surgery is probably far less worse than the ongoing pain of infection... I had an infected wisdom and the throbbing pain was so bad I was almost fainting (which has only actually happened once in my lifetime). When I got the tooth pulled it was a HUGE relief. I know you're doing a lot more than getting a tooth pulled, but it's the same deal really. Good luck!

[Basic_man]

I didn't known that.. sorry mate!

[Tom_PMs]

Best of luck to you, angeleyes.

Some good natural fighters are Garlic and also Lemon. Sounds to be past time for that stuff though..

Surprising that good old Penicillin wont get the infection.. Have you had lots of fancy super-antibiotics in your life so that now you're resistant? That kind of thing is scary to me, which is why I've never had anything but Penicillin. Luckily it's always worked the couple times I've needed it *knock wood*

Be prepared to fast for a solid day at least before going under gas. And good pain killers afterwards For me it was prescription Orudis (can get over counter nowadays) since I'm allergic to Codeine.

Anyway, best of luck

[NikKay]

Originally posted by -R-in-V-
I had pretty major oral surgery, although it was different than yours. Mine had a year's worth of prep work from an orthodontist, as well as a year's worth of recovery work.

I'm having this same surgery done next month. I've had braces for 2 years now, and I'll be having upper and lower jaw surgery done on August 10th... which means no Internext for me this summer!

How different do you look? I have some complications eating and with jaw fatigue, but the biggest thing I'm looking forward to is my new face!

[strobi]

Got 6 teeth drawn 1,5 week ago. The general will amaze you for sure if you've never done one! It's one hell of an experience! (not scary thought.. don't worry). But prepare for some seriuous recovery afterwards... Jaws heal very slowly.

[strobi]

Originally posted by CDSmith
If you have to be on pain killers for any length of time, take a fibre supplement with them. Those Tylenol 3's with codein can really bung you up!

hahah! for sure!! I was high all the time! Took four 600mg fuckers/day (codeine) and four 600mg paracetamol and 2 other painkillers/day.

[angeleyes]

Originally posted by Tom_PM
Best of luck to you, angeleyes.

Some good natural fighters are Garlic and also Lemon. Sounds to be past time for that stuff though..

Surprising that good old Penicillin wont get the infection.. Have you had lots of fancy super-antibiotics in your life so that now you're resistant? That kind of thing is scary to me, which is why I've never had anything but Penicillin. Luckily it's always worked the couple times I've needed it *knock wood*

Be prepared to fast for a solid day at least before going under gas. And good pain killers afterwards For me it was prescription Orudis (can get over counter nowadays) since I'm allergic to Codeine.

Anyway, best of luck

Nope, I have only been on antibiotics 3 times in the last 8 years I believe. I don't get it.

[Tom_PMs]

Well, just take it easy and keep a good attitude
Tooth infections can cause all sorts of problems. Like you take a medicine and it wont help anything because your body is fighting the tooth to the exclusion of all else.

But make sure you fast before the gas, dont think you can cheat! When I woke up from gas once while a nurse was already walking me to a bench, I was so goofed up. I just sat there and cried, and I wasnt in pain, I wasnt sad, I just couldnt stop crying, it was so fucked up! LMAO And I had "cheated" by having ONE swallow of water the night before.

[ZanyCash Larry]

Take the pain killlers afterward

[Ryan_TBP]

Originally posted by NikKay
I'm having this same surgery done next month. I've had braces for 2 years now, and I'll be having upper and lower jaw surgery done on August 10th... which means no Internext for me this summer!

How different do you look? I have some complications eating and with jaw fatigue, but the biggest thing I'm looking forward to is my new face!

Well, my dad's a dentist, so mine was to fix a problem waiting to happen I guess. I didn't really have any issues going up to that point, but both him and my orthodontist agreed that problems were on the way - better to get it done earlier than later is what they told me.

I was told the look of my face would change quite a bit, but overall I'd have to say it really didn't I guess I could have been worse going into it, which would have led to a more drastic change. There's a program on Discovery Health I think on this they replay every couple months. I had it on my old Tivo, but it's gone now. It was pretty cool to watch what they did.

Email me at ryan at ranks dotcom if you have any specific questions