Let’s talk about dry socket.
Once upon a last fall, I had kidney stones (and before that, appendicitis!), and people told me that I’d gone through some of the most excruciating of human experiences. You know, save child birth. Well, those people lied. Or they omitted the truth when they didn’t mention that my collective pain history — every minor ache and major trauma — could be trumped by one small hole in the back of my mouth when I sneezed the day after surgery.
One sneeze. Days and days of pain.
When I went to the dentist yesterday morning, I had tears in my eyes. They’d been there since Saturday night, when I sat like a lump on Ari’s couch trying not to cry through our Law & Order Marathon. I spent the next few days puking, either from pain, or from the levels of Vicodin my doctor was telling me to dump down my gullet. Two Vicodin and two Advil every four hours. Sweet god! There are tweakers and junkies hopped up on less!
But even on vomit-inducing amounts of drugs, I was still in agony. Walking became pretty much out of the question, as did sleeping, talking, or typing. So I sat, very still, with an ice pack glued to my face.
Then yesterday, the doc snipped open my stitches, pried apart the socket (eew), and shoved some strange smelling gauze in there. Clove oil and… what, Balm of Gilead? Because last night, I slept for more than two hours consecutively. Today, I walked, and rode the subway, and ate! Macaroni and cheese!
Behold, a mighty miracle has been worked!
The good news is, it looks like I’ve been spared any residual numbness. But in the spirit of good science, I’m not calling off the experiment. You know, in case it’s just too early to tell and all.
It is much too early. Plus you need to rule out environmental factors so you need to kiss some NYC people, some Dallas people, some Prague people. Also, you have to make a point to not take your sensations for granted. Make it a personal rule to keep good kissing habits part of a regular routine of good health. Yes, I know you’re single, but are we detail people here? Honestly.
Phew! Fish, who knew that such a small thing could cause so much trouble. I hope that you are on the mend. They say that bad things happen in threes.. Surely it must be time for something great to happen to you. Hang in and by all means continue the experiment. Nothing makes you feel better like a really great kiss.
You told the internet we stayed in and watch L&O on Saturday night! We are the most platonic non-lesbians ever.
Oh no, I have never had dry socket, so I didn’t know how bad it could be until I read your post. I’m horrible because I’m pretty sure my husband had dry socket when he had his wisdom teeth pulled, and I’m pretty sure I called him a… wuss. Major groveling needed on my part now that I know he wasn’t just looking for attention.
Oh, I so feel your pain! I had a dry socket when I had my wisdom teeth out too! They put that stinky cloth in mine too and it left a horrible taste in my mouth every time my tongue got anywhere near it! Get better!
Oh Fish! I too have endured the pain of not one, but TWO dry sockets (I was allergic to the gas). Cowgirl up, though, the worst is behind you! Now you just have to endure the perpetual smell of wet dog food in your mouth (at least that’s what I equated it too). Feel better!
Yowzer. My eardrum popped two weeks ago, but I think you get bragging rights with this one. Feel better.
Ewwwwwwwwww!!! Strangely your mention of clove oil brings to mind “Marathon Man” – “Is it safe?”
Happy(hopefully quick)healing!
Wait until he takes our the gauze. nastiness like you’ve never seen…or smelled. And its from your mouth! just close your eyes and it will be over soon…
Actually, my dentist changes the gauze daily for me. Isn’t that sweet? He changed it this morning and it didn’t even smell. Except of cloves. Which isn’t so bad.
As dreadful as “dry socket” sounds, you made me chuckle more than once while reading your tale of pain and torture. Good luck with the experiment. All in the name of science!
I had dry socket, too. It was horrible and I took EVERY pain pill I was given to get me through it. I didn’t know you weren’t supposed to use a straw…somehow they forgot to tell me. Biggest mistake ever.
I was also warned about the nerve issue but nothing bad happened.
Hope you are feeling better soon.
Good Lord! I thought having my nose cauterized and packed was bad…you win!
OH NO! So sorry to hear. I hope this is over very soon.
Having had my wisdom teeth out when I was 13, I can’t remember all of the pain, just the extreme swelling and my refusal to see my best friend due to my embarassment over said swelling.
That said, ow!! I hope that you continue to feel better and soon are restored to having no tooth pain…but you know, if in the interest of science you must continue your kissing experiment, then, by all means, keep on with it. Science must progress after all!
I know your pain! I had two dry sockets when I had my wisdom teeth removed last year. It’s miserable. The worst part, besides feeling like you have the worst hangover of your life coupled with the worst tooth-ache of your life was when the doc used these tweezers to jab the gauze strips into the holes!
Man, I feel for you. I’ve since learned to never, ever, underestimate tooth pain. I think it’s magnified because it’s so close to your brain. I briefly contemplated death just to put myself out of my misery. It is THAT bad, people.
(Don’t worry, I said BRIEFLY!)
I definitely understand yor pain. broke my jaw 3 years ago, shattered most of my teeth (17 extractions then implants, and 9 root canals for crowns). i spent one whole week (everday for 5 days) at the endodontist’s. And I still can’t feel my left cheek……….at least my lips are OK though. good luck.
Hey I was there too! The internet should know that it was a lesbian L&O orgy. No, Stabler though. That might have cured the pain.
Seriously though, between this and the flooding…I hate to think that these are your last days in Manhattan!
****. That just made me really sad. I still can’t believe it.
and why, whenver there’s something different going on in your mouth, does your tongue just have to go over and check it out. i hated that.
Heal well!
this gave me the shivers….
I had two wisdom teeth removed last Friday. I go today to have my stitches removed. I was worried about the dreaded dry socket and was wondering if I had one (because I forgot and used a straw Saturday for about 2 minutes) but didn’t know it. After reading this I am sure that I don’t have one! To my husband’s horror, I didn’t even have to take my pain pills (demerol in pill form, yummo!).
Ouch! I’m glad I steered clear of straws when I had my wisdom tooth out. I still have one in my head- it can stay, I don’t mind!! I have a broken collarbone right now, tho. Vicotin and Darvocet along w/ an anti-inflammatory. ugh. X-ray on my site!! Still in a sling, still in pain. waaaaaa
That’s nothing…I had all four wisdom teeth taken out last May, then proceeded to get dry sockets in both lowers for three plus weeks…I had three rounds of the clove oil strips, but they work miraculously!! I wouldn’t wish that pain and discomfort on my worst enemy!! Good luck!
Dry sockets are the worst thing ever! I got two of them after drinking beer out of a bottle. At least they didn’t have to squeeze out the nasty junk in your socket like they did in mine – not fun, not fun at all.
Aww, I COMPLETELY empathize Fish! I had dry socket after my oral surgery too and it was horrible! Yay for that yummy smelling, God-sent packing they put in. Hope you feel better soon. I also wanted to comment on your big move to Dallas, but I was too shocked to know what to say. I admire your courage and strength so much. Just reading about it terrified me…my roommate really wants to move out of the city (of Baltimore) at the end of June and it’s been completely traumatic for me to even consider it. I’ll look to you as my inspiration…haha(no pressure!) Good luck in the Big D
I have had a dry socket too. I feel your pain. And can still taste that icky gauze, 12 years later. But that is what I got for having my appointment on a Friday, just before lunch, on the day his vacation started. I was NOT a happy camper.
Found this article today.
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – An Israeli woman accidentally bit off part of her boyfriend’s tongue during a heated French kiss, an Israeli hospital that reattached the tongue said Thursday.
Nahariya Hospital said in a statement the man, injured while “passionately kissing his girlfriend,” was discharged after the operation and advised to sip iced drinks and “avoid wet kisses” until the stitched wound healed.
It’s still worth the risk!
I’ve had several major surgeries and stayed awake through all of them out of my choice.
I don’t take painkillers because they make me so pukey.
Dry sockets ARE the worst pain I could even imagine. It’s worse than migraines, which the dry sockets usurped as King of Pain.
That sharp ache that just doesn’t stop.
My dentist said: “Okay, I can shove gauze down there or I can write you a new prescription for pain pills- what will it be?”
“How long will this go on?”
“Another day, maybe 2″
“No thanks. I’ll just get past it”
The idea of more pain pills or having him shove gauze where it was so tender and achey totally made me gag- you are much braver than I.
Wow, I had dry socket this fall in 2 teeth and you summed it up really well. So sorry that you’re having to go through that, because it’s terrible. it does get better! I promise!
I had surgery on some bad gums I inherited. Very painful, but the person I wanted to see I had to look in good shape for, so the periodontist tapped the puss out of my face. He called it cellulits. I can again see the dimples in my cheeks.
Ugh I had a dry socket too and that gauze tastes about like what I imagine battery acid would taste like. Bleh. Sorry you had to go through that!
Next time I would rather see Dr. Killpatient with a case of Rabbititus.
My Mom had dry socket and swore that it was WAY WORSE than child birth. So now you’ve already experienced the worst pain ever and the whole baby thing will be a breeze!!!