Short Stories and One Shots 2

Mei's Wisdom Teeth Removal

August 10th, 2023

Mei was at her local maxillofacial centre that only do surgeries on Sundays and Thursdays. She was getting her bottom two wisdom teeth removed. After all, they were impacted, and luckily she only had two wisdom teeth. Her sister Jia was her designated driver as she and Mei's parents worked today. Mei couldn't eat or drink anything after midnight, so last night at 8:30 pm, she had an egg with cheese with some soy milk before going to bed. In the waiting room, Mei was waiting for her turn. A few moments later, the surgical nurse Lorianna came out.

Lorianna said, "Mei."

Mei stood up and walked towards Lorianna.

Lorianna said, "Mei come with me."

Mei replied, "Alright then, see you later, Jia."

Lorianna led Mei into the operating room.

Mei sat down on the dentist's chair in the operating room.

Lorianna said, "I am going to take your pulse, breathing rate and blood pressure, Mei."

Mei said, "Okay."

Lorianna took Mei's wrist and placed
three fingers on Mei's wrist to take her pulse; after that, she used a pulse oximeter to check Mei's breathing rate, then she took off the pulse oximeter then, wrapped a blood pressure cuff to take Mei's blood pressure then, took the blood pressure cuff off.

Bue said, "I am nervous never had surgery before."

Lorianna said, "The anesthesiologist will come and administer the anesthesia and no worries, Mei."

Mei said, "Oh, okay."

Lorianna asked, "Now I will insert an IV into your inner elbow so the anesthesiologist can administer the anesthesia."

Mei said, "Okay."

Lorianna asked, "Have you ever had an IV before?"

Mei replied, "No, I haven't."

Lorianna inserted the Iv inside the elbow on the right side and placed a blood pressure cuff on Mei's left arm and a pulse oximeter on Mei's left hand on her pointer finger. She and Bue were waiting, and the anesthesiologist Dr.Reyes-Collins came in.

Dr.Reyes-Collins said, "Hi Mei, I am your anesthesiologist. I'll administer anesthesia to you."

Mei said, "I have never been under anesthesia before."

Dr.Reyes-Collins said, "I will administer the anesthesia through the IV."

Mei said, "Alright, go ahead."

Dr.Reyes-Collins administered 6 units of anesthesia based on Mei's weight.

Mei was rendered unconscious in the dentist's chair. The oral surgeon Dr.Hayes-Redman came in to see Mei asleep.

Dr.Hayes-Redman proceeded with the wisdom teeth removal surgery. After the surgery got done 45 minutes later and Mei had dissolvable stitches in her mouth where her 2 wisdom teeth used to be. Mei was still in the operating room. 20 minutes before Mei was ready to leave, the receptionist, Mrs.Sing, called Jia, who went to the center and waited in the waiting area.

Dr.Hayes-Redman said, "The surgery went well, and Mei will have to stick with soft foods until she recovers, and she should take Ketorolac for seven days as prescribed."

Jia asked, "What is Tylenol #3 prescribed for the if Mei is on Ketorolac?"

Dr.Hayes-Redman said, "This is important; only let Mei take Tylenol #3 how it got prescribed if the Keterolac is not controlling her pain."

Jia said, "That's what Tylenol #3 got prescribed, as that is a very strong pain killer and an opioid."

Dr.Hayes-Redman said, "I will give you a package of gauze for the bleeding as Mei's stitches are dissolvable. She doesn't need them removed."

Jia asked, "Anything else I need to know about Mei's recovery?"

Dr.Hayes-Redman said, "Mrs.Sing will call you to book a follow-up later tonight for the next week. One last thing is that Mei will use the chlorhexidine gluconate oral rinse 0.12% for the first 10 days 2-3 times daily starting tomorrow."

Jia said, "Thank you so much, Dr.Hayes-Redman."

Dr.Hayes-Redman handed Jia a package of gauze. Jia took the package of gauze from Dr.Hayes-Redman.

In the operating room, Mei woke up from her surgery and had gauze in her mouth. Lorianna took the blood pressure cuff off, the pulse oximeter off then took out the Iv and replaced it with some gauze and tape on the Iv site and helped Mei in a wheelchair once she was ready to leave and wheeled her to Jia's car.

Jia went into the car and drove home with a loopy and talkative Mei because of the anesthesia. At home, Mrs.Lu and Mr.Lu were taking care of Mei cause they got off work early. Later that night, Jia received a call from Mrs.Sing for a follow-up appointment for Mei on August 17th, 2023, at noon.

I got all 4 of my wisdom teeth out yesterday afternoon and I got put to sleep with anesthesia by the anesthesiologist. It took 45 minutes I know because my mom asked the surgical nurse how long the process would take before I got put to sleep by the anesthesiologist when I woke up from the anesthesia surgical nurse gave me some water.