Hi everyone!

I am new here.

I am a female 26yo, not smoked for 16 months, off the pill for 2.5
weeks before extraction (heard this plays a role, estrogen levels?).  I
am from Sydney Australia.  Never had a filling or extraction before,
only cleaning and checkups.

3 days ago I went to my local dentist and had my left upper wisdom
tooth extracted under local anaesthetic, it did not appear to be
particularly troublesome for the dentist and quite quick.  It was
partially erupted, it had been trying to come out for about 18 months
and he said it was pointing really forward towards my cheek!  He
actually said "that's it you are all done!" I laughed, I thought
he was kidding but there was the tooth!  It had a big brown ring around
the middle of it and he asked whether I had antibiotics as a child, no
idea what that was about?... anyhoo...

I am TERRIFIED of getting a dry socket.  I was not give a single bit of
post care advice, just handed a spare gauze and was told "she'll be
right in 30 minutes".  I went home and changed the gauze, the
bleeding did not stop for about 10 hours?  I called up and the dental
assistant and she said bleeding up to 2 days is ok?  I did not get a
stitch at all for the hole.

I got on the internet and learnt all about what not to do, no sucking,
spitting, no straws, smoking, hard foods, rinsing for 24 hours etc.  I
did my very best to stick to all these rules but in the first 2 days
did sneeze and blow my nose? I have read this can dislodge clots?

I am going on a holiday in another 4 days (so that will be 7 days post
extraction) and it is to tropical Darwin so there will be much drinking
and fun.  I have some questions that have been stressing me out a lot
these last few days and hope someone can please help put my mind at
ease!  I can barely think on much else at the moment!

1. How long until you are out of the woods/risk of dry socket?
I have read 3-4 days on some websites but then others say dry socket
can happen anytime in first few weeks?
2. How fragile/easy to dislodge these clots is it?  Should I be scared
rinsing with salt water?
3. Not sneezing and blowing nose, for how long?
http://www.dentalfearcentral.org/healing.html does not stipulate.
4. How long will this hole take to close up enough for me to stop
fearing dry socket, eat properly?

Also for the last 18 months I have had chronic constant headache
(24/7/7 days a week) dull aching on the left temple, just above where
the wisdom tooth has just come out.  I have in this time been to the
optometrist, physio, acupuncture, neurologist, had cat scans, MRI, gone
off the pill etc all to ease this chronic headache, no pain medications
(prescribed and over the counter) have provided relief.  The dentist
did not find it likely that the wisdom tooth would have caused it but
it is just so close to where the headache is I couldn't help but hope
that removing of the tooth would help it.  Since extraction I have had
the headache L  but am wondering if that might just be some residual
nerve shifts?

Do you guys have some thoughts on this headache? Please help.