Hello,

For starters:

Age: 24

Gender: Female

Height: 5'6"

Weight: 105(?)

Allergies: pollen, mold spores, bird feathers, dust mites, Bactrim

Conditions: sinus/chest congestion from allergies, moderate OCD, prone to anxiety/high stress

Medications: 24 Hour Claritin-D (1 per day) (for allergies), Fish Oil Pills (2 per day), trazodone (I was down to taking half or a quarter of a pill each day for insomnia/bad stress, but, after my widsom tooth extraction, I may need a whole one again), Gianvi (1 per day) (a generic version of Yaz birth control, which I take to keep my periods regular and to prevent acne)



I had all four of my wisdom teeth removed on Monday (August 8th). I was given a general anesthesia of some sort. Prior to the surgery, I was given a valium and four amoxicillin to take one hour before my appointment (which I did). My top two wisdom teeth were partially erupted, the one on my left side having come in halfway. It had a cavity that was filled by my dentist a year ago. This was a temporary measure as I did not have health insurance at that time (I have it now). My bottom two wisdom teeth were impacted.



After the surgery, I applied ice to my face for most of the day, ate soft foods (like applesauce and mashed potatoes). I was given an antiseptic mouth rinse, which I am still using twice a day. I also have starting rinsing my mouth several times a day with warm salt water after I eat to keep my wounds clean. I bush my teeth carefully twice a day, and I don't smoke or eat spicy food. I have been taking vicodin every day since the surgery to deal with the pain.



At first, the vicodin helped--on the first two days. However, after that (and after the anesthesia wore off completely--my jaw began to ache badly, so badly I couldn't go back to sleep until I put ice around my face and took a vicodin. I am still experiencing some serious pain in my lower jaw and on the sides of my head. The vicodin doesn't seem to work very well half the time, and the pain distracts me most of the time from doing or thinking about anything else.



I've also been having trouble sleeping, experiencing dizziness/light-headedness, some headaches, and some nausea. I don't seem to have any pus forming around the surgical wounds, nor do I seem to have a fever. The surgical wounds hurt sometimes, but it feels more like it's my jaw that's hurting so badly, but I can't always tell.



Is there something wrong, like a dry socket or an infection? Is my jaw perhaps damaged? Is the vicodin not compatible with me? Please help because I'm really freaked out and kind of scared right now. I've never had surgery before, so I don't really know what to make of all this. Thank you so much for you help!