Going to Sleep and Yet Again Underwear

When Big I was around seven months old, I had to have surgery to get my wisdom teeth taken out.  I had no room in my mouth and two of them were impacted completely, the other two partially impacted.  They hurt, and I had no other option other than to get them out. 

I had teeth taken out when I was a kid.  My orthodontist recommended I get five baby teeth extracted to make room for the adult teeth coming in.  I also had to have four permanent molars taken out because (you are never going to believe this) my mouth was just too small to accommodate all those teeth.  They needed to fix the overcrowding before they could straighten things out. 

So prior to having my wisdom teeth removed, I had been put to sleep for surgery twice.  That did absolutely nothing to ease my fears about being put to sleep for my wisdom teeth removal. 

It's different when you have a baby, someone who depends on you.  At the time of my surgery, I was still nursing Big I and that was troubling for me too.  What if something happened and I didn't wake up?  She would be out her mother and her food source.  I was an absolute wreck. 

The day of the surgery, I remember the oral surgeon and the nurses watching me above their masks and I remember telling them that it was really important that I woke up again because I had a little girl.  I also started laughing and told them that the oxygen thing they were putting over my nose was never going to fit over this nose.  I was starting to feel a little silly at that point. 

I don't remember much about going home after the surgery.  They had given me versed, a drug that knocks you out and gives you amnesia.  My sister said the surgery took only 20 minutes and that she knew it was over because she heard me crying and moaning from the waiting room.  Yeah, not one of my finer moments, but I don't remember it so there. 

I do sort of remember being helped walk to my sister's car by my sister and a nurse.  I kind of remember repeatedly asking my sister, "How long did it take?" and "What time is it?" to the point that she was ready to open the passenger door and shove me out. 

My Mom is a nurse and she was shocked when my sister arrived home with me because I simply could not walk on my own.  The two of them helped me get up to bed and several hours later I woke up and wondered how I had gotten home. 

And then I saw Big I. . . and it was one of the happiest moments of my life.  Getting wisdom teeth out isn't a major surgery or anything, but there are always risks. They always make you sign those papers saying  you won't hold them responsible if they kill you.  My Mom handed her to me and I just remember crying because the stress was just gone. 

With two kids, my fear about having surgery is multiplied.  Mothers are very good at imagining the worst possible scenario.  I probably shouldn't have watched Gray's Anatomy the other week because one of the patients was allergic to general anesthesia and they had to keep him awake during open heart surgery. 

"How do we know I'm not allergic to general anesthesia?" I asked my husband.
"You're not," he said. 
"But how do you know until they give it to you?" I said.
"You're not," he repeated.

This mother may appear calm on the outside; but inside I am starting to freak out a bit.  Maybe when I meet with the anesthesiologist on Thursday, he/she can clue me in on the underwear issue which might make me feel a little better.  Funny that it's the underwear issue bothering me more than a drill going through two of my bones, huh?  I guess I'm only officially freaking out about things over which I have a tidbit of control.  The other night, I checked my visitor stats and saw that someone was searching for "can I wear underwear during surgery" and guess who is now the #1 Google search for that very issue.  After Monday, I'll be able to answer this very important question for all of you.  Aren't you all relieved?

I can't even tell you how much I just want this over with.    

Comments

[[Mat]]

hang in there, BBM.

[AdamR]

Not sure there's anything I can say that I have a thousand times before, but cmon now, seriously, how many teeth did you have to fit that mouth? :D

See, now you have to get better soon to slap me silly.

Oh, and you are *not* allergic :)

[Black Belt Mama]

I'm trying Mat. You guys are all going to be relieved when there are guest posters next week.

Adam: Too many. I had five baby teeth pulled to make room for adult teeth. Then I had four permanent molars removed because they couldn't all fit in my mouth. Then I had four wisdom teeth taken out because they couldn't fit in my mouth. 13 total, and not a bit of fun.

[Lisa]

I know it sounds silly, but I agree - the underwear issue would be my biggest concern too. LOL But I don't think it's a one size fits all kind of answer. I think some surgeons and/or hospitals have different policies/processes, etc. So, even if you get to wear yours, someone else with a different surgery or a different surgeon or at a different hospital may have to go commando.

[Christopher_39]

This is a very timely post. I'm going to the hospital tomorrow morning as my sister is having a baby via C-section. I'm going to have to ask her if the underwear bothers her!

[sizzle]

i'd focus on the underwear too if i were you. the other stuff is just too big!