I forgot not to smoke after a tooth extraction. What will happen?
Most likely nothing will happen. I usually smoke lightly after giving the socket about 24 hours to heal (I have an advantage in that I smoke Roll Your Own nonfilters so the suction pressure is very low, particularly if I take a slow careful puff.) And then go back to regular levels of smoking 24 to 48 or 72 hours after.Statistically I’ve seen different figures out there but in general it appears that if you have had a molar pulled and you are a nonsmoker (and/or(?) do not smoke at all for the first 24 to72 hours after extraction) there is roughly, on average, about a 5% chance of dry socket. If you go back to regular smoking almost immediately after extraction that is thought to pop up to about 15%.Soooo…. You say you “forgot” and smoked presumably a cigarette or two. You may have bumped your 5% up to 6% or even 7 or 8% (I’d lean toward the 6% unless you greedily sucked down the whole thing right upon walking out of the office AND were smoking a cigarette with a very harsh/high-suction draw.Dry socket isn’t in any general sense “life-threatening” (I don’t think I’ve run across any claims of such from the antismoking gallery), but it IS supposed to be VERY painful/uncomfortable for a full two to five weeks, so I’d recommend pretty strongly to any that they skip smoking definitely for the first 12 hours or so and likely the first 24. It’s better if you can extend that to 48 but I don’t think I’ve seen figures saying that the extension is that critical, and I believe that at least some of the hoopla about 48 and 72 and 96 and a gazillion hours of abstaining is generated not from overwhelming sound dental research advice, but is rather a push from antismoking campaigners once again targeting a vulnerable population, a “target of advantage” who they can threaten with pain and doom and destruction if they don’t “get with the program” and quit smoking and then preferably stay quit.OK… those are my thoughts, formed from a lot of reading on it and a general knowledge of antismoking strategy. NOTE: I am NOT a dentist in any way shape or form.MJM, who, after 50+ years of smoking, a number of years of professional dental care neglect, and over two tons of chocolate, still has most of his teeth in place!
Woke up during wisdom teeth removal..?
So last week I TRIED to get all 4 of my impacted wisdom teeth taken out at my oral surgeon's office under general anesthesia.. and I woke up about 30 minutes into it, so nothing was taken out. I was so mad because I have HUGE fear of being put under, and now I'll have to go through the fear again. They said they gave me my highest amount and they couldn't give me anymore through the IV because my heart was racing. So now I have to have it done in a hospital. I'm terrified of waking up again during this procedure. Is there something else they use to make sure I won't wake up during it? Can they use more anesthesia this time? Thanks!
What happens if you leave stitches in over a long period of time?
Depends on the stitches.Many, these days, are made to dissolve away.Many, however, are not. If left in too long, the body grows around them. I have had to really dig to get those out. Whomever I was digging into didn't enjoy it.I have also seen them treated as a foreign object by the body, walled off. That can go either way. No problem. Just a lot something extra in the body. No harm done. Or not.There's a reason why you are told when to get stitches out.
What happens if you don't get a Tetanus shot after getting cut with rusty metal?
Maybe nothing.But you could get tetanus, and once you get it, even if they manage to save you, you may still wish you had died. Dying of tetanus may be the most painful way to die on the planet.Here is a painting done in 1809 of a person dying of tetanus. Painting done by his doctor. The position is called opistothonus.Why does he look like this? Your muscles ‘fire’ to contract, i.e., shorten. Then a chemical in your muscles is released to relax your muscles. What the tetanus toxin does is to prevent that chemical from being released, so your muscles fire, contract, and NEVER LET GO.Back muscles are stronger than stomach muscles, so you arch your back.If you are in really good shape, too bad, because you leg muscles can contract so strongly that they will BREAK. YOUR. THIGH. BONES, the strongest bones in your body.Imagine a ‘Charley Horse’ in every muscle in your body, 24 hours a day, for days on end.And there is almost nothing that can be done to spare you. Eventually, your diaphragm contacts, and never lets go, so you quit breathing.Getting to this blissful stage often takes 3 days. 3 days of the worst pain imaginable.(BTW, we know the chemical that’s released, and could give it to you, but then, you would stop breathing, which presents it’s own set of problems)Personally, I think the vaccine shot is the way to go, but hey, to you anti-vaxxers out there, it’s your call. Just don’t do this to your kids, please.BTW, the bacteria that causes tetanus, Clostridium tetani, is a common soil living bacteria. It’s in the ground everywhere. It’s NOT rust that causes tetanus, but a rusty nail indicates it’s been in contact with the soil for a period of time, and thus likely has C. tetani on it.C. Tetani is an anaerobic bacteria, meaning that Oxygen is poisonous to it. If you get a scratch, tetanus is very, very unlikely, because of the Oxygen. But a puncture, like from a nail, creates an oxygen-free atmosphere in the wound, just perfect for C. Tetani to grow and thrive.Tetanus can be ‘treated’ today, but 2/3 of patients still die, and those that survive typically spend 6–8 weeks in the hospital, mostly on a ventilator, with about 3–4 weeks in a induced coma, followed by 4–6 months in rehab. Personally, I think getting the vaccine is easier.BTW, there is a variation of this disease called infantile tetanus. New borns can get it from, for example, non-sterile scissors used to cut their umbilical cord. I will spare you the pictures.
What does MAC really mean in layman's terms re: anesthesia during pin removal?
A little background: I am a PT who experienced a complete carpal ligament tear (L-T) and a chronic TFCC tear with chronic pain 10+ years which was finally affecting my work. On Nov 5th, I had an arthroscopic debridement and intercarpal pinning. At the time I had an axillary block and versed for sedation. At the time of the surgery, my pre-op pregnancy test was negative. Literally, days later, I missed my MP and tested positive (I was likely 3+ weeks at the time)...a complete surprise. (BTW, I'm 35 y/o first preg). Well, now is time for pin removal. In preparation, my surgeon is getting clearance from OB (who is already aware of the situation). His note to OB states anesthesia as "local/MAC." He really thinks a block would be overkill. From what my OB says, he thinks the local is fine...and if I need a little sedation standing by, then thats OK (I'll be 11 weeks at the time)...but I should avoid it if possible I know that MAC can mean minimal anesthetic concentration or minimal aveolar concentration, but what does this mean, really? What is he trying to tell my OB? I'd really like to do just local, but not sure if I'm being unrealistic. Procedure should take no more than 15-30 minutes, small incision requiring 1-2 stitches while they back out 3 k-wire pins. Furthermore, I'm guessing Versed is out, but is there something else that would be reasonable to take if I need it? Like I said, I have a medical background, but this is outside my area of expertise.
How do you remove a Cannula?
Are you talking about your IV cannula? Get a piece of gauze or a band-aid ready, untape the IV pull it out and put the gauze or band-aid on it, hold pressure for at least a minute- more if your a bleeder or had anti-coagulant therapy in the hospital (heparin or lovenox)- 5 min max and it shouldn't bleed anymore. Look at the "cannula"- it should be shaped kind of like a quill tipped pen. If it doesn't have that little taper to the end of it- save it, because it can mean that a little piece of it broke off- I have never heard of it happening, but that is what they teach the nurses to do, and they have to document it to that fact- that the cathalon was intact. Tomorrow- call the hospital and tell them that the didn't DC your IV- this is totally inappropriate! Oh, and wash your hands before starting this procedure :)
Does anyone wear 2 pairs of glasses, distance and reading?
Yes I do!!! I have reading glasses and ones I use daily :0b Didn't wanna get bifocals, though I did find out later they have bifocals that don't have those magnifiers on it. LOL Other then that having two pairs isn't that bad.