Never had anesthesia - what to expect (wisdom teeth removal)?
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Anonymous
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I have a bit of a phobia of anesthesia - it terrifies me. I'm finally having my wisdom teeth removed to prepare for braces but am really frightened. What can I expect? Would love some feedback.
Thanks! |
Anonymous
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First of all you should tell the dentist in advance that you have this phobia. They may want to give you ativan, which would help a lot. There is no need for you to go into this in fear.
The anesthesia they use for dental work is fairly light. Its not like the anesthesia they use for major surgery. You will go to sleep very quickly. And when they wake you up you will be loopy for an hour or two but good kind of loopy. They won't let you drive, so just enjoy the little high. You won't feel a lot of pain at that point either, the pain will start to kick in when the anesthesia wears off. But it isn't terrible pain. The most important thing for you to do is discuss this in advance with the dentist. You may want to schedule a consultation with him just for the purpose. He will walk you through what is going to happen and work with you on your anxiety. |
Anonymous
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I was terrified when I had my wisdom teeth out. People told me horrible things about the anesthesia and how it makes you act crazy.
It was no big deal in the end. I was not in pain from the operation (a little sore, but it wasn't bad), and the anesthesia wasn't an issue either. I don't remember falling asleep (I was afraid that I'd be "pulled" under), and when I woke up, I was in a bed area outside of the surgery room. I couldn't talk because my mouth was packed with gauze, but I waved to the nurse and she came over and told me that the surgery was over and what time it was, and that I should rest some more. In a little bit they took me outside to the car via wheelchair. It was foggy but I was never *not* in control of my body or scared or anything like that. |
Anonymous
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9:36 -- my experience exactly. I was stunned when I woke up, cause it seemed like only seconds had passed. I guess you don't dream under anesthesia?
As I was going under, I was watching my heart rate monitor and I started echoing each beat. "Boop! Boop! Boop!" I went to sleep with the nurses laughing. 
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Anonymous
| I am the PP. Another thing is that I heard that anesthesia makes you sick. This is not true. I just felt a little groggy the first day- but none of the medications or anesthesia made me feel nauseous or out of control or anything like that. |
Anonymous
| Sorry, I am the PP, I meant I was 09:36. |
Anonymous
| I had my wisdom teeth removed without anesthesia. Maybe this would be an option? |
Anonymous
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Anesthesia CAN make you ill but I was told that is not the norm.
OP, I had my wisdom teeth out this summer. It was also the first time I had been under, like you. It was not a big deal. I was so thankful as I had been terrified. I woke up, didn't even realize time had passed, went home and slept and read on my Ipad. No biggie. Now I feel like it is something I will not be afraid of in the future. Hope it goes as well for you. |
Anonymous
| The anesthesia used for wisdom teeth is more like a twilight sleep than real anesthesia. It doesn't have the same risks or side effects. |
Anonymous
| I freaking love anesthia! You fall asleep instantly, and you wake up not remembering a thing. The procedure did not hurt at all, not even after I woke up. It is a pretty easy process. |
Anonymous
Anesthesia meds can make people feel sick (its a known side effect) so they usually give anti-nausea meds before people wake up to decrease any side effects they may have. To answer another PP, I have (unfortunately) had surgery several times and have never dreamed while under anesthesia. OP, the anesthesia they usually use in an oral surgeons office puts people in a "twilight" sleep. You'll probably wake up pretty quickly and not feel groggy for too long. It's the same type of sedation they use for a lot of medical procedures that don't require general anesthesia (endoscopies). I would recommend making ice packs out of a 50/50 solution of rubbing alcohol and water. The rubbing alcohol wont allow the water to freeze completely, so they conform well to the face. Alternating heat and ice (20 min of each) can sometimes speed up the healing process. Good luck! |
Anonymous
| Yes,not to scare op but I got pretty horribly ill (vomiting) after having my wisdom teeth out. Other than that, the surgery was a cinch and anyway, what's a little puke btw friends? Ask your dr about anti nausea meds as pp suggested. |
Anonymous
Not necessarily. And as to whether you can do it without general anesthesia, it depends on the wisdom teeth. Mine were all huge and fully impacted, so getting them out was no easy task. I also had four of them, which not everyone has. Nausea's definitely a side effect, and many people (me included) often get emotional as a side effect. It was really weird. Stock up on lots of ice cream/frozen yogurt! |
Anonymous
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Definitely tell the doctor ahead of time. I remember getting my wisdom teeth out...they put the mask on your face and you start counting or something and literally the next thing I remember was asking the nurse when we were going to start and learning it was already done...easy as pie.
Definitely stick up on cold soft foods. I drank a lot of milkshakes. |
Anonymous
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My teen son was hilarious after he had his wisdom teeth out...he loved those drugs, for certain! It didn't take long before he was back to normal, though...maybe an hour? He was not sick at all afterwards, in fact, the oral surgeon's instructions were to stop somewhere on the way home and get him a large coke, have him drink it, and then give him something soft to eat as soon as we got home. He said that routine keeps most of his patients from experiencing any issues with their stomach after the sedation. He had a much, much better experience than I had 30 years prior, when I had my wisdom teeth removed.
Good luck, and don't worry!! |