१५ नोव्हेंबर, २००५
What I'm dreading today.
I've got another appointment with the oral surgeon. This time I'm taking the IV-sedation -- as opposed to the novocaine/nitrous combo I had for that tooth extraction two months ago. Today, some sort of metal screw will be screwed into my jaw, while I'll be in some strange mental state the like of which I've never experienced. I have never let a doctor manipulate my consciousness and don't like the idea at all. But that extraction was harrowing, and the doctor told me that IV-sedation is what he'd advise a family member to have. You know, doctors have to give you all the information and let you decide, but the main thing you want to know is what they would decide. Anyway, for now, I can't eat or drink anything. I need to teach my class at 11, and I've never had to deal with a public speaking situation where I had to be utterly thirsty throughout. Maybe my students are reading my blog and will make a special effort to do most of the talking today.
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I feel for you, Ann!
I have had much dental work done and had the same concerns about the IV-sedation. Yet I was very glad I went with it. Not only were the "experiences" less harrowing, as you put it, but the pain following was less, I'm guessing because I was so incredibly stressed etc. during the procedures themselves.
Dental work, pfghh! Within just over a year, I went through massive and ongoing dental work and then a tough and(a protracted and complicated) childbirth. One guess which memory makes me shudder more, almost six years later (and not just because one of them resulted in my beautiful son) ...
Hang in there ...
Missing the word "pregnancy" after "tough" ...
That IV stuff fools with your memory. When I had my wisdom teeth removed, I went home to watch a video I had rented. When it was over, I hit rewind and watched the whole thing over again because I literally didn't remember 80% of what I had just watched. It's like that "lost time" that alien abductees experience.
No, I don't believe in alien abductions.
You'll be in a dazed semi-conscious state similar to that in which David Lat has likely been walking around for the past 48 hours. ;)
To a speedy recovery!
Knoxgirl: About that "lost time" -- so -- what? -- should I go ahead and do something I'd otherwise regret? Or really, what should one do in that condition? I assume most people would lie around and watch television, right?
Comment over on RLC's blog! He may bond with your state!
How to put this?
Hmmm.
On one of the occasions, the experience brought up sufficiently resonant memories from late teen/early twenties days that I hung out and listened to particular types of music form that era. Just floatin' away, until I slept ...
If you get my drift ...
Do something that would normally make you feel guilty afterwards!
Where's the Althouse Man when you need him?
Perhaps Steve Martin will ride in, clad in leather, on his hog and sing: "you'll be a dentist. You'll have a talent for inflicting pain. ugh."
Seriously. Healing thoughts/prayers your way...
stay away from the chili dogs with onions and hot sauce before you go under - good luck -
Ruth Anne: Don't worry, I have someone to help me. They won't let you have the IV-sedation unless you have someone there with you the whole time. And the oral surgeon's pretty kindly.
If the IV sedation is anything like what I had with knee arthroscopy, it's quite pleasant. When it was over I woke up and hollered at the anesthesiologist as he was leaving the suite, "Nice drugs!"
The best thing about it in my opinion is that they bring you up and out of it very quickly. There isn't a long spell of grogginess and nausea, at all. Within less than an hour, you feel normal. I walked home -- probably not the best thing for my knee (which was also full of novocaine) but at least shows you how normal I felt.
Depends on the meds used. If it's propofol, aka Diprivan, you'll wake up pretty quickly and without particularly prolonged side effects. They'll probably throw in some Versed (midazolam) to prevent anxiety - and that will produce the amnesia. Do whatever you want for a few hours after the dose, you won't remember it.
Tai chi, meditation, and other new age techniques have been known to obviate the need for IV sedation.
Best wishes with your implant.
Since when are Tai Chi and meditation 'new age'.
Tai Chi practice stretches back to the Wu Tang (not the RZA version, the actual chinese version from about 1000 years ago).
Meditation has been practiced for millennia longer than that.
If by 'new age' you mean annoying white folk bastardizing, appropriating and commercializing ancient practices in an attempt to be spiritual rather than religious than why didn't you say so.
We are supposed to be living in a global village, fully cross-connected now. There is no longer a need to have your experience of Eastern mysticism mediated by Western hucksters and charlatans (aka New Age practitioners), you can go straight to the source and learn from the original Asian born hucksters and charlatans.
(and why trust iffy bio-feedback techniques for pain reduction when drugs will do so with certitude, drugs kick ass! (in small well regulated doses under a doctor's supervision, of course))
IV sedation at the oral surgeons? If it is Diprivan, I hope they have an anesthesiologist present. If it's the more likely Versed and opiate combination, I hope they have Ambu-bags and intubation equipment handy. In our hospital we wouldn't give IV sedation without a cardiac monitor and capnography in place, and a crash cart within reach.
Best of luck. :)
Aw, Dad!
You're such a buzzkill.
Just a note to say I survived. There was lots of equipment in the room, but I couldn't tell you what it all was. There was a blood pressure thing on the whole time and a clip on my arm and ankle measuring something. Was I too trusting?
There was no aspect of getting high on drugs or losing my memory. Just some napping.
One of those clips measured your blood oxygen levels--perhaps both of the clips.
I had Versed for a tendon surgery and noone told me about the memory effect--I found it verrry disturbing. One moment I was wide awake in the surgery suite, and the next moment I woke up in post-op.
For whatever reason, I felt very concerned that I might have said something inappropriate. Like how I post comments when I'm drunk.
XWL: Take a little Valerian root - calm yourself, dude.
Ann: Glad to hear your procedure went well.
Get well, Ann!
Take a day off, chill, go look at the squirrels in the trees. :)
Cheers,
Victoria
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