It was a fine Monday morning when I started feeling a very unusual pain in my gums. I ignored it thinking I must have hurt my gums while brushing my teeth in the morning. But then, as the day passed, the pain spread to my cheeks and got worse when the left side of my face swelled up. That’s when I realised that there’s more to it than regular-old gum pain. I immediately rushed to the dentist where I got told it’s my wisdom tooth that’s troubling me, and that it needs to be removed. Upon hearing those words, I got a major panic attack. I started speculating about the worst possible outcomes–the pain it would cause, the incessant bleeding, maybe even sepsis? Sure, my doctor kept telling me to calm down, but then he proceeded to tell me that all four of my wisdom teeth would have to be removed one at a time.
For the first time, I realised how ironic the name of these dreaded molars is. Wisdom never hurts, but wisdom tooth–well, that’s another story altogether. We all have gone through this trauma at some point in our lives! Perhaps this is the most brutal pain we experience in our twenties, of course, barring the agony of a wretched heartbreak. As for me, I couldn’t eat or chew anything and was on a liquid diet for three days. As I was nearing the date of the surgery, my anxiety was getting even worse. I couldn’t sleep, and life was nothing short of a nightmare. Here are a few thoughts that crossed my mind during that period:
1. “I am not the first one getting a wisdom tooth removed… everything will be fine!”
2. “Is the surgeon good enough? I haven’t heard about this doctor ever. Even Google didn’t give me satisfactory results.”
3. “The doctor doesn’t seem to be too experienced. What if he cuts the wrong nerve? Gulp!”
4. “Shouldn’t I consult another doctor and get a second opinion? Or am I thinking way too much?”
5. “I saw surgery videos on YouTube and they look atrocious. So much blood and cut marks all around your gums. Oh god, it’s going to be horrible with all those tools inside my mouth!”
6. “What if the anaesthesia doesn’t work? What if I feel everything? Help!”
7. “Then they will stitch up the cut marks too. Gosh! It’s going to be so brutal and painful.”
8. “What if something goes wrong during the surgery and I die?”
9. “It’s better to bear the pain of this darned wisdom tooth than actually go through surgery.”
10. “What if the stitches come out and the cuts are left open? I’ll be swallowing my own blood!”
11. “Wait, will I have to stop brushing my teeth because of the stitches? Yuck!”
12. “If I don’t get the surgery done, what’s the worst that will happen?”
13. “I need to breathe!”
14. “Do I really need to do this? Better I soothe my gums with the meds prescribed and wait for it to settle down than going for the surgery.”
15. “Oh shit! Why didn’t I call my friend who’s a dentist? Let me just call her for a second opinion!”
Guess what? I am glad I consulted her and figured out that I didn’t really require the surgery. She gave me some miraculous painkillers and boy, I was doing fine in a week’s time. So guys, when you get prescribed a treatment that scares you, please do not hesitate about getting a second opinion. It’s always a wise idea to know if both the doctors are on the same page. Remember, when it’s about your health do not settle!
