Vicodin, Demerol and Halcyon - Oh My!

Though I'm not generally afraid of the dentist - I've already had several procedures in life - I was certainly feeling trepidatious about having four wisdom teeth removed yesterday. I had been told, somewhat erroneously, by another dentist that two of the teeth had their roots in my sinuses. Yikes! I already have serious sinus and allergy troubles as is, so the mention of a "perforated sinus" was NOT reassuring.

So, by the time I was sitting in the dentist's waiting room, I was a nervous wreck. Irritable, defensive and on the verge of tears - cue the Halcyon, followed by a very reassuring chat with a be-yarmulked dentist in the office. Much better! The last thing I clearly remember is chatting with Alison and someone in the background mentioning Demerol - then poof! The sedation was allegedly "conscious" sedation, though there are only two moments I remember: one tooth, on the bottom left, coming out easily & thinking it was strange to feel one's tooth being slipped out of the gum as though it were a snug shoe removed at the end of the day; and my dentist having me in a headlock. My bottom right tooth had deep and splayed roots, thus making it more difficult to remove - hence the headlock. In both instances, I quickly drifted off again and felt no pain.

Apparently, I said goodbye to the Dentist and staff, though I all I remember is being told to lie down a little while. There was a bit of excitement in the hallway necessitating my sitting down before actually fainting...rather than walk down to the car, I was wheeled down and somehow shoved into Alison's car.

The rest of the night was pretty miserable and bloody, though I'm in much better shape today. I didn't go to work, which I must say is awesome. Y, though often a pain in the ass, was thankfully understanding.

I've kept my teeth, but don't know what to do with them now. Gild them? Gild them and make them into earrings? Morbid and cool. Perhaps.