kitto daijoubu!
Sep. 21st, 2010 02:52 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
topazeraHey internets! Guess what? I have four less teeth than the last time you heard from me! Since I involved you guys in the process before, I thought I'd give you an update. Despite my somewhat dubiously reasoned misgivings (What if I need those teeth when I'm 80!") and the fact that I kept telling people I might back out last minute, I went through with my orthodontist's recommended plan of getting my four premolars out yesterday. As will probably be a surprise to no one, the stress leading up to the decision and the appointment was the worst part (so far, knock on wood).
Pretty much since this was suggested to me a month ago, I've been fretting on and off about it. It felt like such a grave choice, to volunteer to give up these teeth. And also, to volunteer myself to get hooked up to an IV. When I had the consultation, I stressed that fact enough to have the (very nice) oral surgeon label as "an acute needlephobic" patient and give me a prescription for a topical anesthetic patch to numb my arm right before the surgery.
While YAY, that lead to an extra hour of sweating bullets (literally sweating, XD, though not literally bullets) yesterday morning, as I put on the patches and proceeded to imagine needles being used on me in those spots. However, it did mean I got a lot of the flipping out (and I mean that, there was lots of holding my arm like it was broken, hand over my inner arm as if to protect it. While crying. XD) done in the privacy of my own home. The drive there was used to psych myself up with Arashi (THEY HAVE SO MANY SONGS FOR THAT, THANKS WE CAN MAKE IT AND ATTACK IT AND HOW TO FLY [selected for the "Dare hitori hitori ja nai" line] AND KITTO DAIJOUBU!). The TV in the waiting room was then showing FOX NEWS (ugh, seriously? probably the last thing to keep people calm before an appointment) so I also watched performances on my ipod and I have to say, even compared to hearing their voices, seeing Arashi's faces was good medicine!
Unfortunately it was easier to distract myself, when brought into the room the nurse tried to engage me with a series of inane questions to keep me talking but it's not that absorbing when you both know neither of you cares about the conversation. However I was actually kind of proud I limited myself to shivering and taking deep breaths… until the doctor actually came in and we got started, then I got a little worse. Luckily a very nice nurse was not only assisting him but also held my hand as I unevenly breathed the nitrous because I was edging in on hyperventilating and had sad little tears stream down my face as I tried to hold my arm straight. XD Thankfully I only remember them sticking me twice before they got it and I only heard about a minute of their conversation before totally going out of it.
I woke up to a mouth full of gauze and four very freaky holes in the line of teeth. I stumbled out of the place with some assistance from my mom, still a little out of it though insistent that I needed to thank that nurse for the hand-holding. XD So far recovery at home has been treating me pretty well, I spent the first eight hours just reapplying gauze and ice packs and trying to drink both water and soup in between periods of unconsciousness. But miraculously since then, there has been barely any pain accompanying my discomfort! They gave me a prescription for vicodin but right now I'm not even on advil anymore. XD I've slept a lot and I still am having trouble negotiating all eating but so far, it's not so bad. Even last night, I felt surprisingly normal as long as I didn't try to eat anything or talk. It IS really freaky to have the teeth gone though, I haven't even looked in the mirror yet.
So yes! I mostly wanted to document this experience to tell myself in the future that I can make it through (:D) these things, even if I'm a terrible patient in the moment. It's really a good thing I haven't yet had to face serious injury or illness.
Also in fandom-related news, I've mainlined the first season of The Vampire Diaries and have a lot of thoughts on it! Not deep thoughts, don't get too excited. But maybe I should wait and post those when I catch up on the second season and can discuss things with people without fear of spoilers? :)
(Someone teach me how to make gifs so I don't keep stealing other people's. XD)
Pretty much since this was suggested to me a month ago, I've been fretting on and off about it. It felt like such a grave choice, to volunteer to give up these teeth. And also, to volunteer myself to get hooked up to an IV. When I had the consultation, I stressed that fact enough to have the (very nice) oral surgeon label as "an acute needlephobic" patient and give me a prescription for a topical anesthetic patch to numb my arm right before the surgery.
While YAY, that lead to an extra hour of sweating bullets (literally sweating, XD, though not literally bullets) yesterday morning, as I put on the patches and proceeded to imagine needles being used on me in those spots. However, it did mean I got a lot of the flipping out (and I mean that, there was lots of holding my arm like it was broken, hand over my inner arm as if to protect it. While crying. XD) done in the privacy of my own home. The drive there was used to psych myself up with Arashi (THEY HAVE SO MANY SONGS FOR THAT, THANKS WE CAN MAKE IT AND ATTACK IT AND HOW TO FLY [selected for the "Dare hitori hitori ja nai" line] AND KITTO DAIJOUBU!). The TV in the waiting room was then showing FOX NEWS (ugh, seriously? probably the last thing to keep people calm before an appointment) so I also watched performances on my ipod and I have to say, even compared to hearing their voices, seeing Arashi's faces was good medicine!
Unfortunately it was easier to distract myself, when brought into the room the nurse tried to engage me with a series of inane questions to keep me talking but it's not that absorbing when you both know neither of you cares about the conversation. However I was actually kind of proud I limited myself to shivering and taking deep breaths… until the doctor actually came in and we got started, then I got a little worse. Luckily a very nice nurse was not only assisting him but also held my hand as I unevenly breathed the nitrous because I was edging in on hyperventilating and had sad little tears stream down my face as I tried to hold my arm straight. XD Thankfully I only remember them sticking me twice before they got it and I only heard about a minute of their conversation before totally going out of it.
I woke up to a mouth full of gauze and four very freaky holes in the line of teeth. I stumbled out of the place with some assistance from my mom, still a little out of it though insistent that I needed to thank that nurse for the hand-holding. XD So far recovery at home has been treating me pretty well, I spent the first eight hours just reapplying gauze and ice packs and trying to drink both water and soup in between periods of unconsciousness. But miraculously since then, there has been barely any pain accompanying my discomfort! They gave me a prescription for vicodin but right now I'm not even on advil anymore. XD I've slept a lot and I still am having trouble negotiating all eating but so far, it's not so bad. Even last night, I felt surprisingly normal as long as I didn't try to eat anything or talk. It IS really freaky to have the teeth gone though, I haven't even looked in the mirror yet.
So yes! I mostly wanted to document this experience to tell myself in the future that I can make it through (:D) these things, even if I'm a terrible patient in the moment. It's really a good thing I haven't yet had to face serious injury or illness.
Also in fandom-related news, I've mainlined the first season of The Vampire Diaries and have a lot of thoughts on it! Not deep thoughts, don't get too excited. But maybe I should wait and post those when I catch up on the second season and can discuss things with people without fear of spoilers? :)
(Someone teach me how to make gifs so I don't keep stealing other people's. XD)
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2010-09-22 02:08 am (UTC)in other news that icon is of one of my FAVOURITE JEREMY MOMENTS there are so many but that is at the top *_*
no subject
Date: 2010-09-22 02:09 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-22 07:08 pm (UTC)When trying to think of how to express my feelings, Jeremy really was the first thing to pop into mind! HE ALWAYS MAKES ABOUT FIVE SIMULTANEOUS FACES. YOU HIT MY HAIR AND FACE AND MY CLOTHING AND I'M DYING.
bwahahahaha I DID IT. I really DID IT. And it was magical. I couldn't tell if I was about to pass out from joy or from entering an epileptic fit and I think that's just what Jun wanted. ♥♥
no subject
Date: 2010-09-22 02:25 am (UTC)It's the only show from USA I'm following right now.
no subject
Date: 2010-09-22 07:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-10-07 03:07 am (UTC)In other words, I'm happy for you, happy that you were able to come over your fear and go ahead and do it. Congratulations. I hope that you never have to go through this ever again, but if you do have to for whatever reason have to go under, you can do it, and it will all be okay.
/End of creepy stalker comment. Hello, I'm Jessie.
no subject
Date: 2010-10-12 12:55 pm (UTC)Aw, thanks for much for your kind words. It almost felt like I didn't overcome my fear since I was so nervous leading up to it but I guess it's the end results that counts! :) I certainly hope I don't have to face down a needle again any time soon (or really any time but that's too much to ask for) but it helps to have had this good experience!
Hello! Stalking is perfectly welcome, I'm flattered to be stalked! We can be friends if you want, then you won't feel like a creepy stalker? :)
no subject
Date: 2010-10-12 03:58 pm (UTC)And the end result is what counts, and here's to wishing and hoping you won't have for many, many, many years to come.
Also, sure~! friends are amazing~ :)