Anguished about rotten teeth!!

[xBettyBoopx]

I am so desperate, (makes a change:ohmy: ), I have just come from the drs, don't ask me how I got there! Haven't been for 2 years. Anyway, I have a big abcsess (sp), such pain, because I have a broken tooth. I also have bad teeth & a totally broken off one. She gave me penicilin, which are bloody great capsules which took me about 10 minutes to swallow, gotta go thru that another 14 times. Although I told her that I couldn't go to the dentist, she told me I had to!

Up until just over 3 years ago I used to work although I've had panic attacks since I was 18, now I'm practically a housebound agoraphobic. Only go to local shops once a week. If I couldn't go to dentist when I was working, how the hell am I gonna get there now? I have only been 200 yards at the most in the last 2 years.

I hope these tablets work, but the big fear obviously is that apparently I have to get the tooth sorted. I can't!! What am I gonna do? Not only that but if I can't find an NHS dentist (if i decide to go), I haven't got any money to pay private anyway. Only on incap benefit here and live alone.

So scared am I!! Well, as my brain hasn't stopped functioning yet, I realise that I only have 2 choices. Go or not go! Please please any words of wisdom and advice?

Thanks

Elspeth:weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep:

[jodie]

hiya :hugs:

aww poor you i would be just the same but i allways end up going and tbh it is never as bad as i think it is going to be NEVER .
i am not sure about were you live but in the northeast we have a dentinst who only see,s ppl who have anx pa,s and other issues he is realy good and knows how scare ppl are when they turn up mabe ask if you can go to see one:shrug:
if there is not one then go to a normal one i am sure it is not going to be as bad as you think it never is just think of getting rid of the problem it takes no time for them to sort i am sure

jodie xxx

ps ,i am the same with pills i hate taking then i allways think i am going to choke lol

[Trixie]

Is there a clinic dentist you can go to? If you phone NHS direct they should be able to give you a phone number of the emergency dentist.

I too know the agony of dental abscesses. At least you have antibiotics which will kill the present infection and get rid of that pain BUT the thing that caused the abscess will remain. It won't get better unless you either have it filled or removed.

For years I have been attending the clinic for wimps which allowed me to have any treatment under gas and air. I know what fear of the dentist is so I sympathise with you big time. Dental pain is agonising due to all the nerve endings in the area. I really hope you get this sorted out ASAP.:)

[Wolfie]

Hello there Elspeth,

Awww hun, I'm so sorry to hear that you're havin to go through what you are, but I'm going to recommend a website that I think might help, www.beyondfear.org (http://www.beyondfear.org) which a actually a website all about dental phobia and taking a cbt approach to it, etc. You can also search for dentists which specialise with patients who are anxious, etc through that site. There is alot of stuff to it, so make sure you have a good look around and don't be put of by all the text lol, it really does have valuble information I think others may benefit from. :)

Good luck and I wish you all the best, you are stronger than you think you are, you can get through this. I know you can :)

Lots of love and hugs,

Wolfie xxxxxxxxxxx

[traciec39]

Poor you, hope you are feeling a bit less in pain today!!
I like you, have a awful fear of dentists ie, the time you have to spend in the chair, the needles, the drilling and omg what if i have a panic attack as ive been having them for last 14 years.

However babes there is a light and the end of this tunnel.....

I had really crooked teeth that bothered me for years, hated smiling, no confidence etc.
I had broken teeth and needed fillings and root cananl work...omg the panic, i felt like it was a death sentence.
So one day i ttook myself along to a dentist just for a chat...i was so scared, petrified that i couldnt breathe etc
He was so understanding, he gave me some diazapam to take for my appointment, i went there in a daze on my own...the horror!!!!
However somehow i had the work done, he would stop when i needed to take 5 mins.
I actually then went on to have six n half hours(in 1 sitting)of cosmetic work, all venneers done, 2 root canals on front teeth 16 injections...all painless.
The result....A SMILE THAT CAN LIGHT THE ROOM

Darling you just need to find a dentist that will understand your problems, and is willing to work with you.
I can promise you that it will be fine. I need another broken back tooth repaired now, and even though i feel scared(dunno why) i will have it done.

I wish i could come with you and hold your handxxx

pm me any time

luv Tracie with a good smile lol xx

[xBettyBoopx]

Hi Jodie, trixie Wolfie and Tracie,

Thanks for your replies. I feel a bit icky, these antibiotics are very strong, what with them, the pain killers and me tranquillizers :ohmy: :weep:

I know that I have to go, but I'm so scared, I know I'll have a panic attack. And the reason I know is cause when I went last few times (long time ago), I was really bad. And the work that has to be done:weep: :weep: :weep: oh my Lord!! I don't have anyone to come with me either, yer that's right no one! Woe is me.:blush: :blush: :weep: :weep:

I'll take a look that that website Wolfie when my mind isn't so numb with fear. I'm surprised that the doctor didn't recommend somewhere for me, perhaps they don't have any 'nice' dentists here in Suffolk:ohmy: :ohmy:

Sorry I'm rambling..................:scared15: :scared15: :scared15:

What a nightmare, please let this be a nightmare:weep: :weep:

This is too bigger hill to climb:shrug: :shrug: I think I've had it!

Thanks again for replies.

Elspeth

[freakedout]

Hi Elspeth,

Ouch!!....If I didnt have to deal with public transport and could travel alone, if I didnt worry about having panic attacks or being so far away from home, I would travel down from Lancs to come with you to the dentist. I wish I could help.

I feel for you, I hope you can pluck up the courage to sort your teeth out.

Good luck and take care

Freaky

[Trixie]

I know it is hard but the pain you are suffering will go when your tooth is sorted out. I have been in your position to fortunately I have been able to have gas and air but I was still terrified, but after the pain had gone..........bliss.

[neptuno]

Ok. as someone who suffers from panic attacks and has worked as a dental nurse I can really sypathise with you. The really good news is that dental work is totally pain free these days - the pain is the anticipation of actually getting there ! I wouldn't say this to you if I hadn't experienced this for myself. Nearly all dental practices (and all dental hospitals) are geared up for nervous patients - my practice was particularly good with agrophobics. First of all ring your primary care trust and get them to find you a suitable dentist. Sometimes the dentist will initially visit you at home (called a domicillary visit) to work out a trement plan with you.

I suffer from chronic oesophageal reflux and have had all my teeth capped, crowned, inlays, onlays, veneered at the dental hospital - they were great with me - even those I was a dental nurse and knew what was coming !!

Take the first step and make the enquiry - you will be so proiud you did, and believe me, that will be the most painful it can be.
Be kind to yourself

[Trixie]

Hi Jodie, trixie Wolfie and Tracie,

Thanks for your replies. I feel a bit icky, these antibiotics are very strong, what with them, the pain killers and me tranquillizers :ohmy: :weep:

I know that I have to go, but I'm so scared, I know I'll have a panic attack. And the reason I know is cause when I went last few times (long time ago), I was really bad. And the work that has to be done:weep: :weep: :weep: oh my Lord!! I don't have anyone to come with me either, yer that's right no one! Woe is me.:blush: :blush: :weep: :weep:

I'll take a look that that website Wolfie when my mind isn't so numb with fear. I'm surprised that the doctor didn't recommend somewhere for me, perhaps they don't have any 'nice' dentists here in Suffolk:ohmy: :ohmy:

Sorry I'm rambling..................:scared15: :scared15: :scared15:

What a nightmare, please let this be a nightmare:weep: :weep:

This is too bigger hill to climb:shrug: :shrug: I think I've had it!

Thanks again for replies.

Elspeth


http://www.nhs.uk/servicedirectories/pages/trust.aspx?id=5pt&v=3

[marie1974]

hi there hun well i went today to dentist and had filling i was nearly fainting i was so scared but i did it and was fine and you will be too, i suffered terrible abbcesses and they are so painful dont let it go on as penicillin takes days to start working and you will be in pain, ring nhs direct they will give you emergency nhs dentist near you thats what i did, dont suffer hun it will be ok

[Coni]

Hi Elspeth, sorry to hear whats happening...you must be in so much pain!!! I agree that it is crucial to find a dentist who you feel comfortable with and who you can come to trust to get you through the treatment. I have just in the last few months found a great dentist....just the right combination of understanding, firmness and humour...cos I too was terrified....literally trembling.

I broke a tooth a couple of months ago and he advised root treament but at the time I was too terrified and he said he felt it wouldnt be safe to treat me while I was in a state...so he offered to refer me for sedation or he thought he could get away with a normal filling....I turned down the sedation cos it would have meant going to Glasgow (which I dont like)...so had the filling instead. However I cracked it again and the pain was awful....the result was I got an appointment earlier this week and he did root treatment there and then and I can honestly say it was totally totally fine and not a bit painful ( iwouldnt lie to you over something like this believe me lol!)...and the relief now to be painfree and the pride that I faced my fear and did it makes it so worth it.

Have a look on wolfies website and see if you can find yourself an understanding dentist....you can do this elspeth and we're all right behind you!

Good luck!

luv Coni XX

[xBettyBoopx]

WARNING-SHOULDN'T READ THIS IF GOT SQUIFFY STOMACH - VERY GRAPHICAL

Hi to Coni, Donna, Trixie, neptune & freaked

Sorry I can't remember what you all said cause I'm freaked out here. About 2 hours ago I got a horrible taste in my mouth and when I went & looked, the abscess had burst, omg but only little coming out at a time, so had to keep rinsing, spitting, rinsing, spitting, etc etc, got so frightened that I was gonna swallow the poison & die, that I called the NHS direct.

What is your name - "swig, spit, hock Elizabeth...........Where do you live.........swig, spit, hock........and so it went on. Go to the pharmacy in the morning and see what they say!!!!! WTF!!!!!!!!! So ok it's 2.05am, and pharmacy don't open til 9am, have I got to keep swilling n spitting all night??!!

Ok so it's now 3.53am and I think all the off white coloured stuff has gone, but still got bumps, oh by the way, there are two of them:ohmy: :ohmy: I'm still too anxious to go2 bed incase it comes back and I swallow it and die in my sleep. I still have two bumps there that look black! What are they?

Read loads on internet about abscesses and how ppl did this and yeah the abscess burst and freed them of pain, but what they didn't say was what they did with the pus! This is very graphic but must say (touch wood) the pain has gone:yesyes: :yesyes: :yesyes: Still swollen on the outside, but not as much. Have taken my strong tranquillizer but don't feel tired as am too scared.

Worst part of this story is to come...................the abscesses are 2 teeth away from the broken one, so that means I have problem with more than one tooth down there. OMG I'm so hungry, haven't eaten anything for 2 days. Writing out a history of what happened tonight (this morning!) is helping, sorry if you are reading and feel bad, but warning at the top!

I read where a woman said that child birth wasn't as painful as an abscess, so now I don't feel such a whimp!

I don't know what's gonna happen now:scared15: :scared15: :shrug: :shrug:

Once again sorry for the graphical detail but it had to said, and I couldn't think how else to say it, as my brain is a bit fried with antibiotics, pain killers and tranquillizers!! Still not enough to get me to sleep though:shrug: :shrug: :shrug:

I would like to go somehwere where they will take out all of my teeth (under anesthetic), and then I won't be bothered with them again, but too scared to be put out incase I don't wake up!!:shrug: :shrug: :scared15: :scared15: :scared15:

If you've read this, thanks:) :) and once again thanks for your replies.

Take care

Elspeth

[kazzie]

Hi Elspeth:)

Sorry I have no advice re abcess sound horrid tho so wanted to give you a:hugs: :hugs: :hugs:

Please dont worry about the dentist honestly its painless nowadays:hugs:

Kaz x x x:hugs:

Ps just a thought but maybe rinsing mouth with salt water may help:shrug:

[popsy]

Hi, i too hate dentists, last time i had a an absess i went (under alot of diazapam) and then they only gave me anti-biotics, they worked so i havent gone back!!! I know i should and all that will happen is that it will come back again but im burying my head in the sand as usual!!!
Why not put a request on the meet up boards and see if anyone lives near you who might be willing to come with you or even be a buddy as you say you are alone alot of the time.
I wasnt going to go with my absess originally but in the end the pain was sooooo bad i was desperate it went beyond what i could cope with even worse than the panic would be (and thats saying something!) . I would imagine in the end this will probably happen to you too! (that wasnt meant to scare you babe xxx)
Please please put a request on the meet ups forum you never know who you might meet and who might just help you to deal with this!!! HUGS xxxx

[mumof4]

hi sory u are having a bad time i used to be really scared of the dentsit i was like u had abess teeth were rotten in consint pain couldnt eat, untill 1 day i had enough i called the nhs helpline and the sent me to a emergancy dental hospital in glasgow i was petrfied but i went and got 2 teeth taken out with the abess still there to be honset it was not that bad didnt feel the jags and i got 5 of them for 1 tooth didnt feel no pain just relif tooth the dentsit 2 mins to pull the tooth out and beliveve it or not i came home so proud of myself,

talking about the abesses burst before i got mine pulled out mine used to busrt all the time when i drank hot coffee did me no harm it cant do u know harm i asked the dentsit that when i got the teeth pulled out.

be brave and phone and get the teeth out u will see it aint that bad.

my teeth are fine now and in no pain.

[Trixie]

It is good that the abscess burst at least it will get rid of some of the pus. I had a gumboil for quite a while and I kept bursting it to get rid of the pus I would poke it with a cotton bud or some clean tissue. I didn't have any pain at all. I had the tooth out the other week as it had broken off completely. He was very nice and it didn't hurt.


You won't die if you swallow the pus (it's just a bit yuky that's all) so I wouldn't make a habit of it.:)

[heatwave]

Elspeth,

I have two loose crowns, one of which needs removing and the underlying tooth taken out. I booked an appointment and saw the dentist who went through the treatment with me. I said okay but then cancelled on the actual day. It wasn't the dental treatment I feared but the thought that I might pass out or the injection might give me palpitations and I would be rushed to hospital.

[xBettyBoopx]

Hello to everyone

I want to thank you all so very very much for your replies. I am at the moment feeling calmer than I was early hours of this morning, oooooooooeeeeeeee what a post??!! Sorry it was so graphical, but it helps me to type out when I'm feeling so panicky & anxious.

I'm so glad I could come here and so so grateful to you all for your replies to me. I'm trying not to think about the dentist at the moment as I gotta get rid of this abscess and swollen face before they will do anything.
I know I have to go but oh dear...anway:huh: :huh: :huh:

http://www.graphicsarcade.com/comments/thank_you/thank_you_comment_graphic_02.gif

Love

Elspeth

[marie1974]

hi elspeth u must b in terrible pain i suffered with a few i hope it clears soon and uj r brave enough to do dentist honestly it wont hurt xx

[SueBee]

Hi Elspeth,

I had an abcess a few years ago which I ignored til it burst. I eventually saw an emergincy dentist who prescribed antibiotics. I later found out that they werent strong enough and the affected side of my face filled with fluid. The fluid seeped down into my neck and restricted my airways meaning that I was admitted to hospital to have intrvenious (sp) antibiotocs....... I dont want to scare you but its best to get it sorted sooner rather than later.


Hope it turns out well for you :)

[helenclaire]

Hi Elspeth,
hope the antibotics are starting to work, it took a very painful abcess to get me to the dentist, i figured i could not feel any worse than i already did, luckily i did have someone to go with me as i do not think i could of drove as i was so scared.
The dentist was really nice and gave me antibiotics that cleared the infection within a few days, after that i went back, i was still scared but i knew that i had to do it or face more pain and sleepless nights, i had the offending tooth removed and i have to say apart from the initial injection i felt absolutely nothing and now i do not have to worry about the abscess coming back.
I really hope that you can find the courage to get it sorted out as you will feel so much better.
I will be thinking of you
Helen