Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards

Hi there - Well, hopefully your wisdom teeth extraction will go exactly like mine! I had two wisdom teeth out in high school, under some type of general anesthesia or maybe just a twilight thing. I'm not sure what it was called, but all I remember is the nurse putting a little needle in my arm and then she was talking to me, and I thought she was going to say they were ready to begin. She was actually telling me the whole thing was over! I never felt or remembered a thing. I was a bit loopy and tired for several hours, but I never even needed to take the painkillers they gave me. I even had a light dinner that night. This was by far the best dental experience I've ever had - less painful than having braces put on, less stressful than some regular cleanings I've had.

Now, in contrast, I had quite a few baby teeth pulled as a kid, always just with local novacaine, and it was a million times more stressful and painful than the wisdom teeth extraction. And I sometimes got an IBS attack after the fact, undoubtedly from all the stress that resulted from that pain and anxiety. In fact, the only way I agreed to have my wisdom teeth out was if it was under the general anesthesia - I had gotten to the point where I flat-out refused to have any other teeth pulled under just a local. I'd had enough!

So, I would highly, highly recommend the procedure not be done under just a local. That's just my own personal experience, but I do think that the stress of anticipation and worry is half the problem in these situations. Remove those factors, and the battle is almost won.

Best,
Heather

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Heather is the Administrator of the IBS Message Boards. She is the author of Eating for IBS and The First Year: IBS, and the CEO of Heather's Tummy Care. Join her IBS Newsletter. Meet Heather on Facebook!

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