Boh-Gay!

Means, no teeth in Hokkein. My newest nick name.

So let me begin by saying that if you ever find yourself at a party and you don't know anyone and you desperately need a ice-breaker line, try asking people about their wisdom tooth extraction.

So far, everyone I have spoken to, had an interesting story to tell. Here's a summary of the stories I have heard so far:

Toe - Took out all 4 because the dentist is cute and she wanted to spend time with him (just like Secretary Pig; my girlfriends are super "hiao"!) She didn't tell me the actual experience (of the extraction, not the dentist!) until after I got mine removed because she didn't want to scare me. (She said it was plain godamn awful!)

Toi - Took his out in a public hospital in Malaysia to save money and he was in pain for weeks after because it was a bad job. He suggest I beg my dentist for this particular painkiller known for treating acute gout & severe pain - Arcoxia.

The Man - Took out his first 2 in a atas private clinic and paid over a grand for it. He said the dentist took 3 hours and comforted him every step of the way. Since it was painless (before and after), he used his 5-day MC to play Playstation at home and then he went and remove his remaining 2 wisdom tooth in a cheap heartland clinic for half the price; and unlike his first procedure, the heartland dentist yank it out in 30 mins and he was in acute pain for weeks after.

In short, I conclude that when it comes to wisdom tooth extraction, you get what you pay for. So, please don't stinge if you don't want to suffer!

The Boss - Said the pain is the WORST she ever knew. She had to travel for work 3 days after her extraction and she was in such a bad shape that she has to go beg a local doctor to give her the strongest painkillers that country can offer.

The Security Director (SD) - wins hands down with his story. He said he was in the military that time (not Singapore NS. He's from an Africana country so it's hardcore) and one of his team mates was a dental student and looking for a guinea pig to practise his new found surgery skill on. SD stupidly agreed to allow him yank his teeth out and it was such a blotch job that the dental student had to, midway during the procedure, went and get help because the tooth broke into many pieces and things got super complicated. To make things worse, SD was not allowed to take painkillers after the extraction because they were in the middle of fighting a war and no one was allowed to sleep or take medication so he had to endure the excruciating pain throughout his time in service. What a hero!

My story ain't so bad in comparoson. It began with chauffer service by the The Toe who picked me up from my house early that morning, drove me to eat breakfast (my last meal is toast with vegemite and egg) and then she dropped me off at Gentle Dental (don't you love this name?). My dentist, Dr. Q, is indeed a gentle sort of woman. She greeted me chirpily while prepping me for surgery. She first covered my eyes (most important step) and then she applied a numbing gel to the gums. Next, she gave me a SERIES of injections around the impacted area - which was quite painful, I must say - afterwhich I cannot feel a thing. She then clamp down on the offending tooth, got the nurse to hold my head and shoulder down and the yanking started.

Now I have had quite a number of awful experiences in my life, like brazillian waxing, being thrown down a waterfall, being thrown out of a plane, falling from climbing and so on - but my friends, wisdom tooth extraction has got to be number ONE on the list of awful life experiences. It's not painful but you can feel every jerk and every yank as SOMETHING IS BEING PULLED OUT OF YOU.

After what seems like eternity, I finally hear a snap - the NERVES broke!!! Is it finally over?

"Hmm, it didn't come out clean," Dr Q said.

(I should have gone for GA!!!)

And so the search for the missing piece begin - machines whirled and more yanking ensued. Dr Q finally got the remaining piece out. She told me that I can relax now - for 5 mins before she start on the bottom tooth. (Yes, there was a next one).

Anyway, that was 4 days ago. Surprisingly, the recovery wasn't so bad. I'm off painkillers after the 1st day. I later found out why I didn't need them - according to Toi, he only took 1/3 of an Arcoxia 120mg pill when he tear a ligament. I took one whole pill on the first day and after that, I feel.... nothing.

*hugs tiny packet of Arcoxia*

Here's a pictorial of my journey to recovery..


The stuff I need to take 3 times a day
& my 5-day MC which I didn't utilize (grr!)





First day meal - oatmeal in bed



  

Oatmeal at work - Starbucks "Perfect" Oatmeal
(It sucks!)

Yet again, oatmeal at work - "home-made" Quacker Oats
(bearable)

A change - Chicken Mushroom soup from Cedele
(yawn)

Next, Clam Chowder Manhattan from Spin's
(double yawn!)

And as I am typing this, the office is having a Mooncake Party in the pantry and everyone is overdosing on snow skin, baked skin, shanghai skin, chocolate truffle infused skin, white lotus what-nots. They keep cajoling me, "Frou! Frou! Come eat with us!"

Can someone please melt me a piece of mooncake??!