Remember that last post, how I bravely declared that “they can take my wisdom teeth, but they can’t take my spirit?”
Lies—my spirit is completely crushed.
Just for the record, I think getting one’s wisdom teeth removed is a very bad idea—especially if there is nothing wrong with them in the first place. I mean, so what if my teeth were getting crowded and growing crooked? I could’ve moved to England and fit right in.
As it is, they’re gone—out of my mouth—never to return. I’m not in horrible pain so much as utter discomfort. I can’t open my mouth wider than one finger; my breath is atrocious; I’m too scared to wash my face for fear of dislodging the CLOTS (nastiest word of my life), so now I’m breaking out like a teenager; and I smell like an old man.
{Which I can’t figure out, really—I mean, sure, I’m disgusting right now, but I’m not sweaty! I’m not working out! Why the BO? Why do I smell like an old man? Is it because all I do is lay in bed, and that’s what old men do? So now I’m becoming an old man? I took a bath yesterday (I hate baths) and scrubbed those geriatric armpits with all my might (which isn’t really saying much, considering how weak I am right now), and it worked for a while, but today—return of the old man stench.}
Anyway, yeah. It’s pretty gross around here right now.
Oh, what? You don’t believe me? Heh.
I’m not kidding.
Poor Kyle thinks it’s grand fun, though—he wishes I’d get teeth pulled every Friday, so he could have long weekends all year ’round!
Trust me, though: It’s no walk in the park.
So far, I have consumed:
-5 cups apple sauce
-2 cups soup
-1 wheat cracker (dissolved in 2nd cup of soup)
-1 cup mashed potatoes/gravy
-1 glass apple juice
-1 sugar-free fudgecicle (removed from stick and eaten by spoon out of a bowl, which is no way to eat a fudgecicle, if you ask me)
-lots of water
That is my total food intake, swallowed whole, as of Thursday at 7:30 p.m. For three days’ worth of consumption, I don’t think it’s a very healthy sum of calories, but I can’t even fathom eating any more, or anything different. All you folks who were eating burgers and fries the day you got your wisdom teeth removed—you’re either lying, or I’m a big wuss. It’s Sunday, and I’m already dreading school on Tuesday. How do people get this procedure done and get right back to work?
So far, the worst part of my ordeal was last night (End of Day 2), when I knew I had to eat to take my medicine, but I had no appetite whatsoever. I forced myself to eat a cup of applesauce with my pill, but when I rinsed with salt water afterward, I very nearly threw it all up. I was so nauseated last night that I started to cry, because 1) I hate throwing up, 2) I didn’t think I’d be able to open my mouth wide enough for the vomit to come out, and 3) I just knew that throwing up would give me dry socket [and dry socket gives me nightmares].
Thankfully, the Good Lord saw fit to answer my prayers, and I did not throw up.
But seriously, the salt water rinses are nasty. I gag every time.
I’ve attempted brushing my teeth twice now, and both times have been pretty much fruitless. I am too timid to venture back very far to the teeth that are closest to my wounds, which are the most important areas to keep clean. Hopefully tomorrow will be better—who’d’ve thought I’d ever be complaining about not being able to brush my teeth?
But then, isn’t that how it always goes? “Don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone.”
Anyway, maybe someday I’ll be able to overcome the discomfort and write about something other than how miserable my wisdom teeth have made me, but…for now…
…it’s all I’ve got.
p.s. A huge thank you to everyone who sent uplifting thoughts, comments, and prayers my way this weekend! They’ve helped—if nothing else, they remind me that lots of you have gone through this before, and I can survive. RatalieNose sent out a call for prayers, and my friend Christal even brought me treats and a magazine to help buoy my spirits. You guys are the best.
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