Abscess - need an extraction phobia at it's worst

[ScaredyCat22]

Oh I agree! I would rather give birth any day than go through a tooth ache or any time spent in "the chair"
I know people who have gone and got extractions as if it was nothing, just an ordinary occurrence. To me it felt like the clock was ticking towards my doom. That it was the end of the world, a major surgery that I may or may not survive. I totally get your fear. And for me the sad part is that after years of being phobic I had managed to get to where I just had high anxiety and not really what one would consider a phobia anymore. but after having my filling break during a cleaning, my tooth break during the refilling, and a crown that made it worse, and ending up losing my tooth over it my phobia is back full swing. I can't help thinking if I had not gone for a cleaning that day, or if I had said no thanks to the refill and just kept the tiny little chip in my otherwise perfectly good filling, I would still have the pain free tooth. The way I feel now I never want to go to a dentist again.

 

[Betty77]

Oh I agree! I would rather give birth any day than go through a tooth ache or any time spent in "the chair"
I know people who have gone and got extractions as if it was nothing, just an ordinary occurrence. To me it felt like the clock was ticking towards my doom. That it was the end of the world, a major surgery that I may or may not survive. I totally get your fear. And for me the sad part is that after years of being phobic I had managed to get to where I just had high anxiety and not really what one would consider a phobia anymore. but after having my filling break during a cleaning, my tooth break during the refilling, and a crown that made it worse, and ending up losing my tooth over it my phobia is back full swing. I can't help thinking if I had not gone for a cleaning that day, or if I had said no thanks to the refill and just kept the tiny little chip in my otherwise perfectly good filling, I would still have the pain free tooth. The way I feel now I never want to go to a dentist again.

I feel exactly the same ScaredyCat. I'm going to email the dentist tomorrow explaining i am incredibly anxious and scared about the whole procedure.

 

[ScaredyCat22]

good luck and keep me posted. I will be thinking of you Thursday and wishing you speedy healing.

 

[Betty77]

I've emailed the dentists office explaining my anxiety. They called me but I couldn't pick up the phone to speak to them . Then they text me to remind me of my appointment - like I need reminding!!!!

I'm not sure if i am going to attend the appointment alone or if a friend is coming with me. The problem is the dentist is already a fair distance for me to go and my friend lives much further in the opposite direction and doesn't drive. So i would need to pick them up and take them home. I'm not sure I will be up to that tomorrow.

My stomach is in knots. I just want to hibernate, run away and not have to deal with tomorrow. I honestly do not know how i am going to deal with it.

Thankyou Scaredy for talking through all this with me it means a lot.

 

[Midwinter]

Hey Betty
Try not to worry. I know it is easier said than done. I am also a total mess right now because of my next appointment.

Maybe my experience will be at least a little bit of help.
I had my upper right molar second from the back extracted about 2 months ago. I needed it because root canal treatment on this tooth was done in a wrong way and this tooth was beyond saving.

The extractions itself was easy. I was out in about ten minutes. I did not feel any pain during and about 3/10 after. But painkillers took it to 0/10.

Her is what You should expect.
- some local anaesthesia shots. I received 3 of them. Those are not painful at all. Ask for numbing gel before these are given to you.
- after that some gentle poking to see if you are numb enough
- after that doctor will gently rock Your tooth from side to side. This part takes the longest. No pain here also just a feeling of pressure.
- after this You may hear some cracking noises. Nothing terrible. It is just Your tooth separating from the socket.

That is kinda all.
In my case the tooth was very fragile and it crumbled, so one root was extracted separately. But it is nothing major. A couple of minutes more and and a different tool and everything was over. No pain what so ever.

I promise You will be fine. Upper teeth are real easy to extract. After the procedure do not wait until numbness on that side is gone. Take a painkiller before that and I am more than sure You will not feel anything.

Hope this helps...
Will be thinking about You tomorrow and hoping everything goes well.

Midwinter

 

[ScaredyCat22]

I've emailed the dentists office explaining my anxiety. They called me but I couldn't pick up the phone to speak to them . Then they text me to remind me of my appointment - like I need reminding!!!!

I'm not sure if i am going to attend the appointment alone or if a friend is coming with me. The problem is the dentist is already a fair distance for me to go and my friend lives much further in the opposite direction and doesn't drive. So i would need to pick them up and take them home. I'm not sure I will be up to that tomorrow.

My stomach is in knots. I just want to hibernate, run away and not have to deal with tomorrow. I honestly do not know how i am going to deal with it.

Thankyou Scaredy for talking through all this with me it means a lot.

Oh I hate those reminder texts! as if you have been able to forget or think about anything else!
As nice as it would be to have a friend to support you I think in this case you might be better off going alone. You probably did not get much sleep last night and being scared in itself is exhausting. When it's over you will be ok but you will be tired and just want to go home. You won't feel like driving long distances. You will want to get your pain pills get home, take one and prop yourself up by the tv and relax the rest of the day.
I will be with you in spirit. We do a lot of cyber hand holding here.
Come back and let us know you're ok when it's done if you feel up to it.

 

[Betty77]

Hey Betty
Try not to worry. I know it is easier said than done. I am also a total mess right now because of my next appointment.

Maybe my experience will be at least a little bit of help.
I had my upper right molar second from the back extracted about 2 months ago. I needed it because root canal treatment on this tooth was done in a wrong way and this tooth was beyond saving.

The extractions itself was easy. I was out in about ten minutes. I did not feel any pain during and about 3/10 after. But painkillers took it to 0/10.

Her is what You should expect.
- some local anaesthesia shots. I received 3 of them. Those are not painful at all. Ask for numbing gel before these are given to you.
- after that some gentle poking to see if you are numb enough
- after that doctor will gently rock Your tooth from side to side. This part takes the longest. No pain here also just a feeling of pressure.
- after this You may hear some cracking noises. Nothing terrible. It is just Your tooth separating from the socket.

That is kinda all.
In my case the tooth was very fragile and it crumbled, so one root was extracted separately. But it is nothing major. A couple of minutes more and and a different tool and everything was over. No pain what so ever.

I promise You will be fine. Upper teeth are real easy to extract. After the procedure do not wait until numbness on that side is gone. Take a painkiller before that and I am more than sure You will not feel anything.

Hope this helps...
Will be thinking about You tomorrow and hoping everything goes well.

Midwinter

I'm terrified of the numbing and the noise. I have visions in my head that probably won't happen about what they will do and what i will do.

Thankyou though for that post it makes it seem a little less scary. The dentists office has tried to call me another two times but i feel too wound up to 'talk' to them about it. Also, i'm stressed so i'm clenching today which isn't good.

If they try to call me again I will answer - see what they have to say

 

[ScaredyCat22]

your dentist has the wand for numbing so yours will be a little different than that

 

[Midwinter]

Numbing shots are really nothing to worry about. Definitely as for some numbing gel to be put on Your gums for a good minute or two. this will make Your gums numb on the outside and You practically will not feel shots at all.

It is a big help to me, if I can convince my dentist/oral surgeon to communicate with me during the procedure.
When the numbing shots are give, she usually makes a countdown like "5 seconds, 3, only 1.. you did great".

Also during the extraction I ask her what is going to happe before she continues with each step. This way I know what to expect and it is easier to deal with all the sensations. Maybe You could ask Your doctor to proceed like this?

I also hate those calls. They usually ask me if I will actually show up and be there. Like they are giving me one last chance to back out of everything. I hate that part because I need a lot of willpower (which I usually do not have one day before my appointment) to say "Yes, I will come".

 

[Betty77]

They have emailed me back

Thank you for your email this morning.
I just wanted to reassure you about your appointment tomorrow. Please try not to worry too much, we completely understand how you feel.
We will take great care of you and will take our time with your treatment, we won't rush you into getting the work done


I should really call them and talk it through but i feel close to tears at the minute and nervous about discussing it.

Thank you all for your help and advice, I honestly don't know how i am going go through with it, but also know i have to. Otherwise in the future the abscess will return, i will be in pain again, it will always be there on my mind worrying about it, i'll never have rid of the horrible taste i've had in my mouth for months and months.

 

[ScaredyCat22]

I promise you will feel so much better when it's over.
Picture yourself at home safe and sound and snuggled on the couch after it's over. That tooth will never hurt you again. The soreness after the extraction is nothing compared to the pain of infection. You will be ok I promise. It will be over so quickly. It will be the fastest easiest most painless dental visit you have ever had. You can do this.

 

[Betty77]

I promise you will feel so much better when it's over.
Picture yourself at home safe and sound and snuggled on the couch after it's over. That tooth will never hurt you again. The soreness after the extraction is nothing compared to the pain of infection. You will be ok I promise. It will be over so quickly. It will be the fastest easiest most painless dental visit you have ever had. You can do this.

I sure hope it is over quickly. I'm struggling to do anything today I have no motivation and i am just dwelling on this. I literally cannot stop thinking about it.

In just over 24 hours it will be almost time to go. I feel ridiculous i have always been a nervous patient but since my last dentist went private and i couldn't afford the treatment I have not settled anywhere else or allowed any other dentist to give me treatment. The last time i managed a filling was about 4 years ago. It's silly really as I have had fillings, root canals, crowns over the years so it isn't as though i have never had anything done. i haven't had any teeth out though since i was a child - and then i was sedated for it.

Oh well, worrying about this won't change anything will it? It is something that has to be done and I have to get done. I just want it over with and to be settled on my sofa watching tv with my blanket. Which reminds me i need to organise someone to collectmy son from school tomorrow - i don't think i will be up to it.

 

[ScaredyCat22]

You are right about not wanting to go to school tomorrow. you will just want to rest. Plus if you take pain pills you should not drive. Maybe that can give you something to do today to keep your mind off it, make arrangements for your son, go to the store and buy plain black tea in case of bleeding, and a supply of ice cream, apple sauce and any other soft foods you may want to have on hand. get your ice pack ready. have everything set so that tomorrow you don't have to do a thing but snuggle on the couch when it's over.

 

[Betty77]

Having difficulty getting anyone to collect my son for me!!! It's going to be a last minute thing to get done i think.

I've got porridge oats in, eggs to scramble and soup. I bought plenty of soft foods this week so i was prepared. I'm not sure whether i will be able to find black tea locally but i will have a look when i go out.

Ugh 25 hours to go!

 

[ScaredyCat22]

you may not even need the tea, it is only in case of emergency if biting on gauze does not stop the bleeding. it made me feel better to have it in the house though and I was glad I did because I did end up using it once. nobody had told me not to lay down flat, so when I went to bed that night I started bleeding even though it had stopped hours before.
do make sure that if you lay down you keep your head propped up on 2 pillows.

good luck finding someone to pick up your son. what about the parent of one of his friends?

 

[Betty77]

I'm waiting to hear from one of his friends parents.

I'll make sure i don't lay down flat and i'm well propped up. That will be difficult in itself as I like to get curled up into a ball. I'll put extra pillows on my bed though - i didn't realise you shouldn't lie flat.

I'm feeling calm at the minute my reasoning is ;

A - It isn't today it's tomorrow. Its not worth wasting another day of my life with worry and anxiety over

B - I cannot be forced into having the tooth out. I'm not saying i am going to do my usual trick of walking out and having no treatment.

C - I am probably over thinking and making the whole scenario scarier than it actually is in my head.
My fear is 'being numb' when the abscess made my face swell last week it was that swollen it felt numb so that kind of made me remember what the numbness feels like (does that make sense??)

I was also thinking of having a large glass of wine this evening to relax but i am guessing that won't be a good idea!!

 

[carriss]

The anticipation of appointments is always much worse than the appointment itself. I get myself into a right state, not sleeping for nights before, but strangely I start to calm down when I sit in the chair. The waiting room is horrendous for me, especially if I'm kept waiting.
Your procedure will be over quicker than you can imagine. It's much faster than a filling.
Concentrate on how relieved you'll feel when it's over.

 

[FearfulInMA]

I'm a list maker (as many on this site know) and I like your list! Sounds like you've got a good plan.

I think it's a top tooth (correct me if I'm wrong) so the numbing should be more localized. My guess is that actually being numb will feel much different than the abscess.

If you're not taking and pain or anxiety meds tonight, the glass of wine is probably just fine . You CANNOT drink with anxiety meds and some pain meds.

Sending lots of good thoughts your way!

 

[Betty77]

I'm a list maker (as many on this site know) and I like your list! Sounds like you've got a good plan.

I think it's a top tooth (correct me if I'm wrong) so the numbing should be more localized. My guess is that actually being numb will feel much different than the abscess.

If you're not taking and pain or anxiety meds tonight, the glass of wine is probably just fine . You CANNOT drink with anxiety meds and some pain meds.

Sending lots of good thoughts your way!

I like lists too helps me think more clearly. I'm hoping the dentist uses the wand for numbing although i have never tried the wand before. It is a top tooth that is being removed - when i had the abscess my cheek, nose and mouth swelled up and it did almost feel like the same sensation as being numbed.

I think i will be having just one glass of wine tonight - i'm not taking any pain or anxiety meds in preparation for tomorrow.

 

[ScaredyCat22]

I'm waiting to hear from one of his friends parents.

I'll make sure i don't lay down flat and i'm well propped up. That will be difficult in itself as I like to get curled up into a ball. I'll put extra pillows on my bed though - i didn't realise you shouldn't lie flat.

I'm feeling calm at the minute my reasoning is ;

A - It isn't today it's tomorrow. Its not worth wasting another day of my life with worry and anxiety over

B - I cannot be forced into having the tooth out. I'm not saying i am going to do my usual trick of walking out and having no treatment.

C - I am probably over thinking and making the whole scenario scarier than it actually is in my head.
My fear is 'being numb' when the abscess made my face swell last week it was that swollen it felt numb so that kind of made me remember what the numbness feels like (does that make sense??)

I was also thinking of having a large glass of wine this evening to relax but i am guessing that won't be a good idea!!

One glass of wine tonight is fine, especially if it will help settle your nerves and let you sleep. any alcohol after the extraction is a no no for a few days, partly because of pain meds and partly because alcohol can disturb the blood clot that needs to form to help you start healing.