This morning my wisdom teeth were extracted. Generally it was a pleasant experience. My appointment was at 10:15 am, so my brother and I took the bus downtown to get to the Medical Dental Building on time. We got downtown a little earlier than need be, so we had some time to kill. I asked Eric if he wanted to get something to eat, not realizing how hungry I actually was. Knowing that I couldn’t eat anything before my surgery Eric just had to tell me how great his cinnamon twist was.

I didn’t have to wait long before it was my turn to get the laughing gas and the IV sedatives. While I was reading a magazine in the waiting room I noticed an elderly woman with her daughter over the latest edition of Ocean Drive magazine. By the way, that magazine is ridiculously crappy. It was a bunch of advertisements for condos interspersed with photos of local celebrities at recent social events. Anyways, back to the important story. The elderly lady was called in for her general anastesia. She must have been a fairly independent old women because she snapped at the nurse when she offered to help the woman through the door. This should have been a good signal because only minutes after she left she started screaming as the laughing gas was administered. It sounded just like the cliche moments you hear about old dentists where screams can be heard from the waiting room.

Well, enough with her experience. It is time to talk about my experience with the laughing gas.

I have never had any sort of surgery before and even though gettting your wisdom teeth out is a pretty low risk operation I was still a little nervous because of the nerve that the doctor warned me about. The nurse was very nice to me as I entered the operating room and she reassured me that I did not have anything to worry about, especially after the gas.

I relaxed in the dentist chair and the the nurse reclined the chair and adjusted it for height. Afterwards she put laughing gas tubes over my nose and told me to take deep breaths. I took a few of them while she put on various body monitors for blood pressure and heart rate. She asked me how I was, but I still hadn’t felt anything. She replied by telling me it that it will creep up on me. All I could think about was drinking on the camping trip when those tequila shots snuck up on me also. After a few minutes I knew what she meant. I can not really explain the feeling, but is like getting buzzed while drinking, only more intense and it makes you smile.

After I had enough gas another nurse came to put the IV in. I was impressed with her work because once my vein was ready all I felt was a slight pin prick and the IV was in. After I felt my arm get cleaned off they took the turnikit off and that is when I noticed they were wiping off the floor. Jokingly the nurse said she hit a good vein and it must have squirted because the two nurses were wiping off the floor. I guess people have been right when they say I have good veins.

It was nice to see the doctor come in before I was too loopy to remember anything. We chatted about the Olympics for a little. I told him that I watched the Chinese ping pong team get upset by the team from Sweden. The he told me some interesting stuff badmitton and how the birdie flies at 100 mph. Then ….. I don’t remember anything until a voice said we were going to get into a wheel chair.

After the voice I don’t remember going downstairs, but I do remember getting in the car. After what seemed like a couple minutes we were at the local Safeway on top of Queen Anne. Eric if I wanted to go inside and pick out some food. I was only too excited to start walking around. I think I forgot the fact that I was still somewhat sedated and I have an ice pack around wrapped around my head. I got out of the car to only cough a little bit and then spit out some blood, which then made my teeth all red. I am sure I looked like a mess when I smiled to people in the store. I might have even scared them. Eric even tried to get the lady giving out free samples of sandwich to give me one. We picked up the food pretty quickly. It was good because by the time we made it to the checkout line I had to lean my head on the handle of the shopping cart I picked up for support. As we walked outside I noticed that everything was getting increaslingly brighter until most things were white. luckily Eric opened the door in time for me to plop down in the front seat.

After all those adventures it was time to head home and read up and eat ice cream!

Now I feel pretty good. I have a slight head ache, but all in all I am fine. I can’t think straight and walk around and use my computer, so I am content. Right now I am just waiting for Sandra to come over and bring me some congee. She went to a movie tonight and promised that she would bring me some food and check up on me. I can’t wait for her to come because I am sooo hungry.