Anyone Had Gum Reduction Surgery (and I'll be doing it after a tri ...)

Just wondering if anyone has had this procedure done ... I have a seriously short damaged tooth that a crown won't stay on and need to have the gums cut so a crown can be put on it and the tooth saved ... dentist says in my case healing time will be a little longer than usual, about 3 weeks, since the gums will need to be reduced quite a bit.

I am freaking out about this a little, can anyone reassure me? Also I will have to beg for painkillers after, since in this country it's pretty much grin-and-bear-it. Will I need codeine? Can I make it on ibuprofen (which I brought from the U.S.)?

Due to scheduling probs and travel, I'll be having this done the day after a tri ... is that really stupid because my body will be trying to heal from the race as well as this procedure???