So after almost two years of come-and-go pain and fear-caused postponement, I am finally getting my wisdom teeth pulled out on Saturday. They are all four impacted, two bony and two soft. Yuck!
Do you ladies have any tips and advice in regards to post-op recovery?
What are some "soft foods" I should be eating besides yogurt and applesauce?
Thank you, and keep your fingers crossed that I don't get nervous and cancel the surgery once again... :)
Geez, I had mine out about 16 years ago, but I remember I ate a lot of applesauce and mashed potatoes from KFC. Maybe I had milkshakes too. Can't remember. But I do remember I couldn't drink from a straw for awhile and I had major chipmunk cheeks for what seemed like forever (especially in high school).
Mashed potatoes Pudding Jello Soup (after a couple of days, you're "allowed" to eat hot foods again) Ice cream (again, wait like 2 days b/c of the extreme temp)
I understand your reluctance. I had 2 of mine taken out 4 years ago and I never went back to get the last 2 removed.
The main piece of advice I have is: make sure you eat as much as possible before taking the antibiotics and painkillers. I got so sick because they wreaked havoc on my stomach. I know it's difficult to do and you probably won't want to eat anything especially right after the procedure but you really need to.
Good luck! I'm hoping to finally get my last 2 removed in September.
ugh - so sorry you have to do this - I am such a chicken!
I ate apple sauce - they have some with cinammon in it that is actually good lots of yogurt - i love the whipped yogurts mashed taters my mom made me a broc / cheese soup that is creamy jello / pudding lots of shakes - i made everyone that came over bring me a banana choc shake from jack in the box but they don't make them anymore.... pasta salad after a few days
The thing that probably helped me most was this (well something close to this):
I bought 2 of them, tied them around my head - like under my chin to the top of my head - (yes i'm sure I looked like the sick dog with the bandana in the old cartoons, if you know what I mean, but I digress). I kept one in the freezer & used one ALL THE TIME. It really helped with my swelling & I didn't have the chipmunk cheeks everyone warned me about.
My other tip is really, take it easy. I had mine done on a Friday & went back to work on Monday like it was no big deal. Mine were all impacted, and to be honest, it kinda was a big deal. So don't be too hard on yourself if you have to take pain meds or don't feel right for longer than you (or anyone else) might think is acceptable. I think as women we expect too much of ourselves & don't allow ourselves to heal. Just my 2 cents!!!
Good luck - get some girl movies & kick back & rest!
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Who do you have to probe around here to get a Chardonnay? - Roger the Alien from American Dad
Gosh I was soooo out of it when I got mine pulled there were some complications so they put me on very heavy medication, I didn't really eat much but snack paks!! Everything will be fine with you it's not that bad. My boyfriend was in recovery with me and he said when I was waking up I kept on smacking my face yelling about how having something stuck in my teeth I totaly don't remember. good luck!
Oh, all four of mine were bony impacted. I had mine out when I was 16 (sidenote: my then-boyfriend told me that he refused to be seen in public with me until the swelling went down. What a loser!).
Anyway, I ate lots of sherbet and jello. I was doped up on percasets, so I don't really remember a whoe lot except I was really, really craving pizza and when I was finally allowed to have it, it took me over an hour to eat one slice.
this might sound really dumb/ignorant, but how do you know if you have to remove your wisdom teeth? (i guess i could go to a dentist, but i haven't been to one and don't plan on going unless i'm in unbearable pain) do you even HAVE to get them removed? what's the deal with these things?
I had mine out in January of 04; all impacted, two bony two soft. I didn't have any chipmunk cheeks or anything like that. I think the thing that helped me the most was that I literally took my painkillers every hour on the hour until they were gone. I didn't want to feel a thing and I didn't! I ate a McDonald's milkshake as soon as I got home (and some more the next day). Later that night I had soup. I was able to eat mostly normal stuff the third day, albeit very carefully!
It's really not as bad as many people make it out to be (if you take all the meds ). I am in no way a drug abuser, I'm just a wimp and really didn't want to feel any pain if I didn't have to.
this might sound really dumb/ignorant, but how do you know if you have to remove your wisdom teeth? (i guess i could go to a dentist, but i haven't been to one and don't plan on going unless i'm in unbearable pain) do you even HAVE to get them removed? what's the deal with these things?
Usually the dentist takes X-rays of your mouth/jaw and can see if the other teeth are being crowded by your wisdom teeth. Not everyone has to have them removed, some people never even develop them! I had to have mine out b/c they would have moved all of my other teeth around and made them crooked. I also have a really small jaw, so that made it worse for me when I had them taken out (as far as swelling and bruising).
As far as post op care goes, do exactly what the doctor tells you and remember to flush out the holes with the little syringe thing they give you. Its gross, but necessary. Good luck!
Not everyone has to have them removed, some people never even develop them
And some people have extras! I was born with *eight* wisdom teeth. I have had two removed, at different times (upper right and lower left) and the other two came in later - fortunately neither of them had to be removed - and two more are still back there, under the gums (not causing me any problems).
The worst thing about it? Dentist humor...which leaves much to be desired. Before I had any removed, EVERY time I had an X-ray done, I heard, "Eight wisdom teeth! You must be really smart!" Ahahahaha, you dentists should do standup. ~wince~
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"Good taste shouldn't have to cost anything extra." - Mickey Drexler
EXACTLY 24 hours from right now, I will be sitting in my oral surgeon's chair. He's actually pretty dreamy, so that's kinda fun. :) I'm not really all that nervous about the surgery - I'm just afraid of the pain afterward and recovery.
Well, tonight, I'll be hitting up Blockbuster for some dvd's and the grocery store for yogurt, pudding, ice cream, and mashed potatoes.
I'll report back on Monday! I'm hoping to be back at work.
It's true, not everyone has to have them out. My friend's denist said that if you are over 25, getting your wisdom teeth pulled could cause more harm than good. Basically if your wisdom teeth aren't bothering you, and you're over 25, don't get them pulled.