h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I've never had to think of my reaction to having an operation before. Thankfully the one I'm going in for isn't for something scary, like a cancer - it's the removal of my two right hand wisom teeth, as the bottom one decided to grow in at the wrong angle.

However, having had the pre-op assessment today, I have to admit that I'm actually afraid. I know the odds of a reasonably fit, healthy 25-year-old not coming back round are slim, but it doesn't stop me being afraid. There's also the slim possibility of losing the feeling in my jaw. Again, slim. But scary.

I'm going to have to be on a trolley, have the 'count to ten' from the anesthetist, wake up a few hours later and be in pain for at least a week. It shouldn't be big deal - it could be for something life threatening and complicated - but it is.

I guess it doesn't help that I have no discomfort in my teeth (far from it - I go once a year for a check up to be told I have one of the best sets of teeth in the practice) so, right now, the risks seem to outweigh the benefits. In the future, however, having a big gap that's impossible to brush or floss will of course go wrong.

I'm still going to go ahead with it, of course, put on my usual bright and happy face, but gods am I pleased that Mr Vip will be there.

On the plus side I'll have a week off so I might even be able to get some of the subbing and ACEing done that I've been too busy to do of late. Let's hope, eh.

I've had the exact same a) talk b) operation c) for the exact same problem

You'll be fine.

Oh, my conscious brain knows that. It's just haveing a hard time convincing my subconscious. Stupid brain. Thanks, Clive.

My brother too he had the operation spaced out over a few weeks left side one week - right side the other. We both inherited mum's small jaw. We all thought he was nuts, dragging it out like that but it seemed to work for him.

As for the "week off"... I won't lie, it'll hurt. So prepare to be a) a little spaced out on pain killers b) unable to move your jaw.

To this latter point, I can recommend purchasing several boxes of Complan from Tesco, you get about 4 sachets of a nutritional drink per box and they cost about £3.

It's all you'll feel like or able to eat for a few days after.

I recommend the chocolate and the vanilla.

My two lower wisdom teeth were attempting to grow out sideways into my throat. When they threatened to impact the teeth to the side, my dentist took one look at my x-rays, and said "they're coming out."

I (and my brother) had all four out because with both lower teeth gone, the upper one has nothing to buttress it, so they said it's kind of useless. Better off without it at that point.

When I had my four molars out at once it was recommended that I had them out in two goes, but I thought that was a terrible idea! Having them all out at once worked for me. They were only molars though, under a local.

Nutrient sachets - that's a rather good idea. Mr Vip said a similar thing, that moving his jaw was horrid after his. We've got a good stash of co-codamol/paracatamol and hopefully that'll help keep me feeling human. It's not going to be pretty though.

I sympathise, Vip.

I've had a few minor operations and each time I was totally scared. I remember the first time, where I'd probably have hopped off the bed the very last moment hadn't it been for all the tranquillizers they had given me in advance.

just chill and you'll be fine

I concur. You'll be fine but better after than before.

Thanks, guys.

Have some and think about having healthy teeth for decades to come.

Be afraid. Be very afraid

Oh, you'll be fine. There will be some pain. I won't go into the discomfort I suffered when I had a wisdom tooth removed at Manchester School of Dentistry, but there you go. You get what you pay for, and I paid nuthin... except several nights of broken sleep from the excruciating agony and a fear that I was about to overdose on paracetamol.

Oh, I said I wasn't going to go into it, didn't I

Did I mention that I died four times on the operating table? If that happens to you, run away from the light. Trust me. You'll see something that looks like Blackpool Tower - that's the thing you should go towards. Much better to spend eternity doing the slow-slow-quick-quick-slow to the sounds of Victor Sylvester

Cheers Gosho... I think.

I'm all stocked up on drugs so it's just a matter of just getting down there and doing it! Still got to wait another day though... *sigh*

Bah, it looks like it's got to go on hold. I've got to complete a qualification with work and the only day the induction (which I'm not allowed to miss) takes place is on Friday, the day after.

I'm waiting to see if there's a space free on the induction for the other qualification I've got to do - if so I can just do the quals the other way around and manage to get my teeth out before that kicks off.



*waits for a call from her boss*

Wahoo! There wasn't a space on that one, but she managed to pull some strings and get me on an induction for the original course at a defferent time.
Admittedly the location hasn't been decided, but according to the admin there's a few Midlands people so it looks like I won't have to travel to London. Yippee!

Thank goodness! I was starting to think this would all get rather complicated.

Pull some strings - is that a dentistry joke?

No.... should it be?

I think the string Clive's pulling has one end attached to a tooth and the other to a doorknob.

Ah! Now I get it. Never let it be said that Vip is slow off the mark. Not where she can hear them, anyway.

Thankfully I never employed that trick with my baby teeth so the thought of it never camr to mind.