If you (or DH/SO) have had your wisdom teeth out

SeaSoul · November 2011

What was the experience like for you/him/her? If you/he/she were/was in pain, how long did it last?

DH had all 4 of his out 1 week ago today. They were not impacted but he elected to have general anesthesia. Handled the anesthesia fine and was virtually pain-free for a good 36 hours. Then on day 3 the serious pain kicked in and he started taking the prescription med (Hydrocodone - which I think is Vicodin?). We weren't surprised, as they had told us the pain might worsen from days 3-5.

He only had 3 days of PTO (paid time off) left and had only planned to take Friday off, then go back to work Monday and save the other 2 days for after the baby is born (plan is to take 1 week immediately and another week after the 1st of the year - obviously 3 of those days were going to have to be unpaid).

But the pain was so bad and the pain meds made him so loopy that he just couldn't work at all this week. So, 3 days of this week will be unpaid and ALL of the week he takes after the baby is born will be unpaid. UGH. But, it is what it is.

What I want to know is, how much longer can we expect this to continue? He went back to the surgeon on Wed. to see if there was any kind of complication but everything looked great. He normally has a high tolerance for pain, so I don't know why on day 8 he's still in this amount of pain. Every day he either delays taking the Rx or takes straight Tylenol instead (he can't take NSAIDs (Advil is the recommended OTC drug) b/c of a pre-existing condition), to test out the pain level, and it's still excruciating. If anything, it has gotten worse as the week has gone on.

It's been a very stressful week for all of us - between pain and drugs he's pretty much useless (not to mention irritable) and I'm taking on a lot. At 37 weeks pregnant, with a 3-year-old, it's hard. And not to sound selfish, but I'm ready to focus on me and the baby to come. My DH is not a "typical" guy in that he's a baby when he's laid up. I know he's truly in pain, and I feel for him. I just didn't anticipate it lasting so long (nor did he), and we're both ready for this to be over.

talentedmomma · November 2011

I had mine out 5 years ago, I was a good two weeks before I could function completely normally again. I had them out on a Friday, so I thought I could recover over the weekend. I ended up only going to work in the mornings for the first week, but noon the pain was so bad, I need to take more pain killers and they made me sleep. The second week I worked full days, but I would crash out for a hour or two as soon as I got home from work.

Hopefully he turns a corner soon and starts to feel better.

dana316 · November 2011

I had mine out years ago...I was a freshman in college, and had them out over fall break.

I took EVERY bit of mepergan that I was prescribed, and wished I had more. It was so painful. My recovery was textbook, no dry sockets or anything, but it was still a good week of bad pain, and maybe another week of severe discomfort.

I'm guessing he's got another week being pretty uncomfortable.

Poor guy...

CBL · November 2011

That doesn't sound right to me at all. I had all 4 out when they were impacted and had it done surgically under a general. It was done on a friday and I was back to school by Monday.

My husband had one out a year or two ago. It was full erupted, so not impacted. He had a local freezing, took 1 painkiller, laid down for a few hours and was fine within a day.

The pain your husband is experiencing seems rather extreme. If the surgeon says everything is fine, I'd suggest cold foods only (I remember eating something warm and then being in excruciating pain) and icing down his jaw on a regular basis. I hope things are back to normal soon!

Temp893722312503334 · November 2011

I had mine out about 17 years ago (when I was a freshman in college). None of mine were impacted so I think that helps. I was pretty much fine the next day, sore and couldn't eat much but able to do stuff. I was 100% in a few days.

dundasgirl · November 2011

I had two out a few years ago and went to work the next day. They weren't impacted and I only took a couple of tylenol the day after. Other than that it was totally fine.

I would go back to the doctor to make sure he doesn't have an infection starting.

itsmevkb · November 2011

I had mine out when I was in college so, oh gosh, 20 years ago. Mine were impacted though and I was awake. It was one of the worst experiences of my life. My face swelled up to three times it's normal size and then the swelling moved down into my neck. I couldn't open my mouth wide enough to even fit the pain pills in. I didn't eat anything for about two weeks and that is also about how long it took the bruising and swelling to go down enough for me to be able to go outside without having people stare at me in horror.

The pain itself lasted at least two weeks.

superned · November 2011

I had mine out in college (two were impacted) and I don't remember being incapacitated by pain for more than a day or two.

Did he get prophylactic antibiotics? My youngest sister had hers out and did NOT get antibiotics and ended up with an infection that was very painful. If I remember correctly, my mom had to bring her back to the surgeon and insist that they re-check her for an infection. She was fine after a couple of days of antibiotics.

I would definitely call the surgeon back before the weekend. That much pain after 8 days doesn't sound right at all to me, especially if they were not impacted.

MyColonyNJ · November 2011

Colin had his taken out last week (Friday) 3 were in the bone impacted and sideways - so it was pretty major surgery.

Other than the first day - he really has not been in any pain. Well, at least not that he has been telling me. He was given the same meds as your husband, and did not even take 1/2 of the amount Rxed.

Sorry he is having a hard time.

We were told that it was possible that a nerve could get nicked during the surgery - maybe that happened which is why he is feeling so much pain.

Get well vibes to him

MonkeysGirl05 · November 2011

That does not sound typical, unless he has dry sockets or some kind of infection.

I had mine out about 10 yrs ago, so my memory isn't exactly vivid, but I remember having them out on a Friday and I was back to work on a Monday. I didn't have a lot of pain or swelling. I may have taken a few vic's, but that is it.

nicolita14w · November 2011

I bet he'll be back to normal soon. I had mine out, also with general anesthesia, when I was about 24. They were impacted. I was in a lot of pain for about a week, and the pain meds they gave me at first (Percocet) made me nauseous and I was throwing up and couldn't eat. I ended up taking off more time from work than I had planned (I think I did it on a Thursday and planned to be back on Monday, and was out till Wednesday or Thursday the following week).

The key to wisdom tooth removal pain, I have been told, is that you have to take the pain meds BEFORE it starts to hurt. I think that's part of the problem with your DH and probably very common for people to wait till the pain starts, but see if you can get him to take it ahead of time.

I can't imagine how stressful this must be in your current circumstances. ((big hugs)) I'm sure the timing was necessary for your family, but it's tough and you shouldn't have to be taking care of both your DH and Cal in your current condition!

SeaSoul · November 2011

Thanks, everyone. Sounds like people have had a wide range of experiences. As I said, 2 days ago at his dr. visit everything appeared to be healing normally. His prescription has almost run out, so he has to call the dr. today to request a refill and if they are concerned, I'm sure they will ask him to come in.

He did not have antibiotics, no. Also, his pain is uniform - not only in one spot, which indicates to me it's not an infection.

ejgballerina · November 2011

I had mine out senior year of high school. They were all impacted. I do remember being in ALOT of pain for about a week. And I have an insanely high pain tolerance in general. I feel like I've heard that the older you are when you get the procedure done, the more painful it is but not sure why or where I heard it. I lost crazy amounts of weight because I couldn't eat anything solid for so long.

If he is still in excruciating pain, I would absolutely follow up soon with his dentist to ensure there isn't an infection going on or something. Could he be dealing with dry sockets or anything? From what I understand, those are the worst. Hope he heals up soon!

kbeach82 · November 2011

As you can tell from the responses, it's obviously different for everyone. I had all of my wisdom teeth plus 4 additional teeth removed when I was a sophomore in high school (essentially my jaw wasn't large enough to fit all of my teeth, so my orthodontist decided to remove all of teeth at the back of my mouth to make more room).

I had the procedure on a Friday morning and was back to school on Monday. My face was incredibly bruised and swollen, and I remember taking all of the Vicodin they gave me. I was definitely in a lot of pain that weekend, and the following week, but I was able to make it through all of my usual daily stuff.

I hope your DH feels better soon.

SeaSoul · November 2011

nicolita14w:
The key to wisdom tooth removal pain, I have been told, is that you have to take the pain meds BEFORE it starts to hurt. I think that's part of the problem with your DH and probably very common for people to wait till the pain starts, but see if you can get him to take it ahead of time.

This is what I've heard too, but the thing is...how do you know that the pain is starting to fade on its own if you're popping the pills every 4 hours? He needed to assess whether he would be able to go to work (Rx messes him up too much to be able to do his job), which is why he delayed taking them at least once a day, or took Tylenol instead. How else do you know if you're getting better?

nicolita14w · November 2011

SeaSoul:
nicolita14w:
The key to wisdom tooth removal pain, I have been told, is that you have to take the pain meds BEFORE it starts to hurt. I think that's part of the problem with your DH and probably very common for people to wait till the pain starts, but see if you can get him to take it ahead of time.
This is what I've heard too, but the thing is...how do you know that the pain is starting to fade on its own if you're popping the pills every 4 hours? He needed to assess whether he would be able to go to work (Rx messes him up too much to be able to do his job), which is why he delayed taking them at least once a day, or took Tylenol instead. How else do you know if you're getting better?

Good point. I don't know. What about starting to space them out and seeing how he does, ie. starting with every 5 hours, then 6 hours, etc? Maybe that's what he's already been doing.

artygirl · November 2011

I had all 4 pulled 11 years ago and they were impacted. I took pain pills the day of and the day after, but more as a precaution than for actual pain. It was super easy for me.

I hope your DH feels better soon.

Dr.Loretta · November 2011

I had all 4 out in HS; they were all impacted, and they had to break 2 to get them out. The pain kicked in on Day 3 and I was in Drug Central over that time. I went back to school that Monday (teeth out Friday) but I was still swollen and it hurt to smile for a good week.

schmoodle · November 2011

Had mine out in high school. Had a sadist dentist who claimed you don't need prescription strength pain meds for wisdom teeth removal so I was taking over the counter advil (and, incidentally, most pain meds don't work on me anyways). I was in pretty bad pain for a couple days, some pain, but not as bad, for about a week. Was able to go to school, etc. but it hurt and I was annoyed that I couldn't get out of gym class and step aerobics, LOL. FWIW, I've been told by many medical professionals (OB, RE nurse, acupuncturist) that I have an abnormally high pain tolerance.

DH had his out a few months ago, and he received prescription pain meds. Took them for a day or two and was pretty much back to normal night of surgery, and thereafter, except for not being able to eat solid foods for a couple days (more for fear than pain).

Best of luck and hope he feels better soon!

Ali212 · November 2011

I had mine out awhile ago but I don't remember having extremely long-lasting pain. I had all 4 out, 2 were impacted and I had them out on a Thursday and was out & doing things by Saturday (went away for the weekend with friends). I wasn't 100% but I actually felt pretty good (all things considered) and I didn't have a lot of pain or swelling. I may have taken a few pain killers the first day, but that is it. i definitely went under for the procedure though...I recall that.

That said, I think I have a pretty high threshold for pain....I take after my father...my father had his wisdom teeth out and he had all 4 and 1 was impacted....he actually went back to work that same day after the procedure (is a lawyer so in a desk job) but he's ridiculously hardcore about work.

mmcarlson1 · November 2011

I had mine out 10 years ago and had a hard time opening my mouth farther than a half inch for about 3 weeks. I had some serious bruising on my face. When I went out with DH, he got some nast looks as if he beat me. I didn't have dry sockets, but I had the same level of pain as if I had them. I was back to 100% after about a month.

DH is another story. He had his out 7 years ago and ended up with a serious infection. He had a tracheostomy and a stint put in. Needless to say this was all about 2 weeks before our wedding. So not a fun experience. He said our voices with a hole in his throat the size of a quarter. I would say he was back to normal after about 2 months. The hole had to close on its own.

Did they check and see if he had dry sockets?

SeaSoul · November 2011

mmcarlson1:

DH is another story. He had his out 7 years ago and ended up with a serious infection. He had a tracheostomy and a stint put in. Needless to say this was all about 2 weeks before our wedding. So not a fun experience. He said our voices with a hole in his throat the size of a quarter. I would say he was back to normal after about 2 months. The hole had to close on its own.

Oh my gosh! That is severe!

tapgirl · November 2011

I'm sorry to hear he is having such a rough time. I had mine out about 6 years ago and had more pain from the dry sockets that developed than anything. It is too bad he can't take ibuprofen. I found that helped me more than the hydrocodone they gave me, which didn't seem to help me at all. I wonder if there is a different pain med they can give him that would be more effective for him.

Good luck.

AlissaCell701 · November 2011

I had mine taken out my senior year of high school actually like a few days after I graduated. I don't remember much..It was a combination of being in a drunken haze and pain meds..I still WENT to all the grad parties! Mine were impacted (at least 2 of them were if I remember) and I was also under anatheisa..I think I was down and/out for a bit like a week...

But my SIL's (both) had terrible experiences. THey were out for like 2weeks or more. Which I had never heard of but I guess it can happen..I think there is a wide range..

HOpe he feels better soon. I totally get the 37wks pg thing and trying to run after a kid. I am only 30 wks and by the end of the day I am exhausted!

Want a personalized experience?

If you (or DH/SO) have had your wisdom teeth out

Re: If you (or DH/SO) have had your wisdom teeth out

Choose Another Board

Search Boards