So this week wasn’t the best, once again, because I had oral laser surgery and I have to be in a liquid/soft diet for 7 days.
No matter who you are, oral surgery sucks. It lasted for almost 3 hours, and it was an intense surgery for periodontitis. Here is a basic 1 minute video to show you what I went through. Oh, and it was done to every one of my teeth.
On top of the surgery, we realized our girl kitty was limping and with a very swollen paw the night of my surgery. I was too sedated to realize earlier than that. It seems like the girls in the family were hurt at the same time, while the boys (husband and male kitten) were strong and active. We have no idea how she hurt herself but luckily the pain and inflammation has been getting better every day (just like me!), so nothing is broken and no need for a vet.
Although it’s not really a pleasure, I am actually grateful that I was able to get the laser surgery instead of the traditional surgery for the same problem. The traditional procedure called scaling and planing is way more invasive requiring basic tools and sutures, takes longer, and creates a longer recovery time. And that would only be the deep cleaning step, later, traditional additional surgery would probably be needed.
With the laser procedure called LANAP, you get the deep cleaning and surgery at the same time, takes less time and the recovery is pretty quick compared to the other one. I did plenty of research. LANAP is relatively new having been cleared by the FDA just in 2004 but I think every periodontist should switch.
It’s like when eye surgery used to be done with basic tools and much invasion, and now it’s all laser. Way better.
I am also grateful for sedation during the surgery. I felt about the last 5min, or what felt like 5 min, when I started becoming more aware and there was some pain but nothing too traumatizing.
Finally, I get to eat ice cream and I bought some Talenti Gelato at the store yesterday which I will enjoy later today.
Weekly Small Pleasures – Blog Event
Share your happiness!
I find that the small things that make us happy every day are easily forgotten.
This blog event is simply about remembering and sharing those small things that made you happy during the week; things that made you smile, made you laugh, made you do a happy dance, made your heart smile…
You can share in any format you like. For people to find your post, tag your post “Weekly Small Pleasures” and link to my most recent post for a pingback! You can also just share in the comments.
Read the full details, and see previous posts.
Gelato photo credit
A New Life Wandering 
What made me happy this week? Taking Molly, the family dog, on walks each afternoon.
All my blogging best for a speedy recovery. 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks Scott! That is a perfect small pleasure. I’ve actually only taken dogs for a walk a few times in my life, it is quite nice especially if the surroundings of the walk are pleasant. My kitties snuggled with me while I was in bed all Friday and my hubby was at work. Thanks for sharing.
LikeLike
Yikes wishing you a very speedy recovery. I am grateful not to have needed oral surgery!
LikeLike
Thanks Sue. I’m glad you didn’t need it also 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Anything to do with the dentist truly sucks! I hope you feel better soon!
LikeLike
Thanks Sally 🙂
LikeLike
I have had scaling and planing done (on nitrous) twice and it wasn’t a big deal for me!! No sutures necessary… My gum graft, on the other hand, was a month-long recovery (and nearly 4 months later, I still have no feeling on the upper right quadrant). Take care and render , this is all future old stuff 🙂
LikeLike
Oh you have? Well, I’m glad it wasn’t too bad for you. I have really deep pockets all over my mouth, 5, 6 and even 7, so they were really sensitive.. and because of the depth, surgery might have been needed after the scaling/planing if I went that route. And the surgery would’ve sucked way more than laser I think 😉
Thanks Andrea
LikeLike
Mani, given the week you’ve had, I’d say you’ve earned some small and large pleasures. Over the last couple of weeks I’ve had a crown installed and a root canal. Not nearly as big a deal as your surgery, but I can relate. Take it easy and enjoy your ice cream. ~Terri
LikeLike
Hi Terri, any kind of dental work is never nice. I had some of the ice cream last night and it turned out to have chocolate chunks! Which I can’t bite of course, so I had to eat it very carefully and tried to spit out the chunks as I went on every bite,not very enjoyable. Such is my luck lately.
LikeLike