Not sure if I ever mentioned I am in the process of a dental implant. The oral surgeon I use is pretty insistent on using drugs that cause his patients not to remember anything about their procedure. I am not real excited about this type of sedation. His explanation satisfied me so I submitted to this type of anesthesia for the first procedure.
This is the same Dr., same meds used when Hilary had her wisdom teeth removed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ys9Dg-HYo78&feature=share
When I went in for my bone graft, as soon as they placed my IV, I don't remember a single thing. It was very disturbing. I awoke 6 hours later. Like Hilary, I wondered how I'd gotten to the car, how I got home. Did I change my clothes? I had a hazy recollection of spitting out the gauze in my mouth and saying that I had to rinse my mouth. Apparently the aftercare instructions explicitly said not to spit within the first 24 hours, or rinse my mouth. Oh well. Michael claims I also refused to keep the ice pack on my face, the one I was supposed to wear for 24 hours.
I'm a bad patient.
Yesterday I went in for the second part of the procedure. In case anyone is wondering, this is usually about an 8 month process. I started mine in August 2012 and still have a ways to go. I was to have the same type of sedation again. The Dr. suggested I bring one of my daughters to this appointment. I wonder if he thought they'd do a better job at helping me follow the aftercare instructions. I told Michael he could videotape me if he'd like. A part of me wanted to be see myself, and to know what I said during this weird sedation state. Was I really a bad patient?
Funny thing is, it was different this time. The nurse had a hard time getting the IV started, but finally got it to run. She added Propoful and I believe I faded out for a bit. But then I seemed to come to. I was draped in paper drapes, the kind you see on television for surgeries and such. My hands were confined with straps on the arms of the chair. The only exposed area was my face. I opened my eyes and saw the IV pole. My IV was no longer dripping, which could explain why I was no longer in a twilight state. I could tell I had a block in my mouth to keep it open. I needed to swallow very badly but couldn't with this block in place. I was able to move it and flip it to the side. I could then swallow, but then pushed it back in place because I knew that is where is should be. I also couldn't keep my legs still and kept shifting around. I heard a nurse say, " She needs more Propoful. This is the same drug Michael Jackson used for sleeping.
I wriggled my right arm loose. I'm not sure why, but I didn't like it stuck in the strap. After about the third time of swallowing with the block pushed to the side, I reached up and removed it from my mouth, then just held it in my hand.
I'm a bad patient.
I heard a nurse groan. "I can't get that block. My hands are sterile and she has it in her hand." I couldn't really open my eyes. I felt someone take the block from my hand and place my arm back under the drape and into the strap. I waited a moment before I slid my hand back out and just left it hidden under the drape, just in case I needed it again.
I'm a bad patient.
I don't remember much after that. I have another hazy memory of Michael going through the Starbucks drive thru because I wanted a coffee. I think I said something about needing to go to the bathroom and he let me walk into Starbucks all by myself. He waited in the car. The only memory I have is running into someone on my way out, and that is it. They must have thought I was drunk or something so early in the morning. I can only imagine what I must have looked like-especially since the doctor doesn't allow eye makeup for procedures. I asked Michael why he let me go in Starbucks by myself. He said he didn't want to talk about it because:
I'm a bad patient.
I went to bed when I got home, without my ice pack, without even finishing my coffee. Apparently I answered an email too, as when I went to respond today, and found that my friend had answered the one I sent yesterday. Oh well. I also wasn't supposed to start the antibiotics until today. Ooops!
I'm a bad patient. I'm glad I don't have to take care of myself when I'm in this state. I only have one more of these procedures to undergo, (poor Michael) and then I will be finished with sedation. Next time, I'd like to have at least one video tape to see if I really am a bad patient.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5O9sAqqEbbkhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5O9sAqqEbbk
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