Good advice about audiobooks—wish I'd thought of that before my procedure. I tried watching a movie right after and yeah,
Ended up just lying there with my eyes closed for a good hour. Did you find certain types of audio content easier to handle than others? I imagine something calm or conversational would be better than, say, a thriller or something intense..."the screen brightness and movement made me feel quite queasy."
Funny you mention calm stuff—I actually found comedy podcasts way easier to handle. Calm or conversational stuff made me zone out completely, but laughing (carefully!) kept me distracted enough. Just gotta pick something not TOO hilarious, cause trust me, stitches and uncontrollable laughter aren't exactly best friends... learned that the hard way.
Comedy podcasts are a solid choice, but I personally found audiobooks worked better for me. I tried comedy once and ended up biting my cheek trying not to laugh—lesson learned there. Instead, I picked a thriller audiobook that wasn't too intense, just gripping enough to keep my mind occupied without any sudden bursts of laughter. Plus, following a storyline helped the time pass quicker. Might be worth considering if you haven't settled on something yet...
Thrillers are good, but honestly, I found music worked better for me. Even with audiobooks, I sometimes caught myself clenching up during suspenseful moments—not ideal when you're already tense from dental work. Soft instrumental playlists or chill lo-fi beats helped me zone out without any surprises or laughs. Everyone's different though...whatever keeps you relaxed is the way to go. Good luck!
Totally get what you're saying about thrillers—I tried a mystery podcast once during a filling and ended up gripping the chair like crazy, haha. Music definitely seems safer. I've been testing out some ambient nature sounds lately (rain, ocean waves, stuff like that), and it's surprisingly calming. Might be worth a shot if lo-fi isn't your thing. Anyway, you've got this...it'll be over before you know it.
