For the last couple of weeks I have been an absolutely shitty mess. Sick as a dog. I kept thinking that it was a simple flu bug going around the office. No biggie, right. Sick for a couple of days then shake it off and resume the normality of life. Nah, not so easy. My wisdom teeth were kicking up a storm at the same time. I had to leave work early a couple of days because I felt so worn down. Meanwhile I was not able to close my mouth because during the first week my left cheek was swollen and then the next my right cheek commenced its own smack down. I went and registered with my local general practitioner (GP). I filled out some forms and thought 'cool, they should see me today because I look and feel a right mess.' No such luck. I have to wait for a New Patient Checkup in a week. I trudged over to a dentist that is affilitated with the National Health System (NHS), but they could not pry my jaws open until the next day. I was in so much pain that I booked an appointment the same day with a private dentist. For 17 pounds, he determined that I was suffering from an infection caused by my wisdom teeth shredding the inside of my cheek. This was the cause of my new chipmunk appeal. Plus my hearing in my right ear was in and out like the reception on a cell phone. Can you hear me now? So off I went to the pharmacy to pick up penicillin and some pain meds. I was only out 11 pounds. I received pain meds. given to folks that have broken a bone. I think that he decided the pain was major when I told him I was taking 1600 milligrams of ibuprofen a day.
I kept my appointment with my NHS dentist the next day and explained how I received the glorious meds. the day before. He was able to do a through examination without using the jaws of life. For yall Brits, this miracle machinery is used to extract people out of cars that have been mangled in accidents. Hence the term...jaws of life.
Lo and behold my wisdom teeth were not impacted. In fact they're growing straight and pretty. I really can not say that about the rest of the teeth in my mouth. My poor baby teeth are fighting for space amongst adults that are trying to bully them out of the way. The great news is that cavities do not exist in my teethly realm, and technically I have never had one. Now if I could only say that about cramps. Shite. This visit emptied my wallet by 15 pounds. Not bad. I have an appointment with a dental hygienist next week. This person will probably berate me about the tragic state of my mouth to the tune of 35 pounds.
My NHS dentist did inform me that I would have to go to the hospital if I wanted my wisdom teeth extracted. However, due to their extraction policy, surgery only happens after at least three recurrent episodes. I told the dentist that there was no way in hell that I wanted to go through the excruciating pain I suffered over the last couple of weeks two more times. These bad boys have got to go. It is amazing that I still have them, cause in the States they are quick to pull them out. The dentist agreed with me and promises to write a letter to hospital once I have completely registered with the NHS. It will probably takes several months before the hospital will schedule an extraction appointment. I just hope to be wisdom-free by the end of the year.
I am still recovering, so this will be a slow weekend
