afraid i'm going to end up in er

[irie]

I have an appointment on Aug. 2nd and i can't get my mind off it. My heart is pounding right now and i have that dizzy sick feeling. The problem is i'm a diabetic and my blood sugar control is very poor. I take insulin but any type of stress makes my blood sugar go way up to dangerous levels. I've ended up in the hospital because of this and i'd like to avoid that again. But i can't see any solution other than cancelling my appointment with the dentist. i know this is a silly problem but i don't know what to do. Noone seems to understand my panic over this upcoming appointment .

 

[melodyl]

Hon, you are not silly, YOU ARE SCARED!!!

I'm a diabetic on insulin also. What helped ME get through my appointments was taking a small dose of Xanax. Of course I can't advise you or anyone to take this but this is what I did (with the support of my physician.

Why not go to your primary care doctor (I don't know where you live or even if you are in the USA), but because you have a serious health issue (besides your dental phobia), you need extra special care and compassion here.

I was exactly in your shoes.
I used to cancel appointments. My blood sugar went up to 400.

I am presently on Lantus (36 units) in the morning and no other meds and thankfully my blood sugar is stable.

You are of course a completely different individual and only you and your physician know what you need to do to manage your blood sugar.

But honestly, this kind of stress plays hell with your nervous system as well as your blood sugar.

You need to see a dentist, that much is a given because diabetics have to pay extra special attention to their teeth and gums. I had my doctor drill this into my head before I was able to go to my "good guy".

It took me years to be able to go. I had to find the right dentist.

but I still needed to take something (just to take the edge off)

If I were you (and because you have been in the hospital before because of your blood sugar), I would definitely call up the dentist and tell him (the whole story).

If he is a decent, caring man, he will understand your fears, and what you need. Perhaps he'll suggest you might take something before you go.

I have no idea if he is the kind of dentist who has enough empathy to do this. Only you know your dentist.

I don't want you ending up in a hospital because a panic attack sent your blood sugar through the roof.

Please call your dentist and start a dialogue with him.

You have a few days to do this.

You have new friends here.

Please keep us updated, okay?

Melody

 

[irie]

Thanks for the help. Last week i went to my primary dr. because my blood sugar was in the 500 range and huge amounts of insulin couldn't bring it down. I'd used 100 units of novolin 70/30 but my sugar was becoming too high for my meter to read. I'm afraid of the dr. too, althought my phobia isn't as bad as the dental one, and my dr. blamed my high bs on the visit. I couldn't bring myself to mention my dental woes or suggest that my upcoming appointment had a lot to do with my high bs.

The dentist knows that i'm diabetic but is mainly concerned with infection. He says that since i use insulin i can't be needle phobic. What he doesn't get is that it's not the needle, it's the fact that he's wielding it. I can do almost anything to myself but
i hate being touched by anyone. Even getting my hair cut freaks me out.

 

[melodyl]

Hon, you said this:
"I couldn't bring myself to mention my dental woes or suggest that my upcoming appointment had a lot to do with my high bs. "


Please listen to me. You have to tell your doctor every single thing that you wrote in your post. How will he have all the facts? You know what your fear is doing to you, but he doesn't!!! And he has to in order to help you manage your blood sugar.
Now let's get to the topic of your dentist. He told you you could not be needle phobic because you take insulin.

I take insulin also. I've been on it for almost two years. Best thing I ever did.

But I won't let a dentist with a syringe near me or near my mouth.

I found a dentist that uses The Wand (look it up on the internet, you'll be fascinated). No syringes. You don't feel anything while he's numbing you and you certainly don't feel anything later (because your're numb). it really is a great little gadget. Many dentists are using it now. Obviously your guy doesn't but why not look into it.

I honestly don't know what to tell you about your dentist. I don't know if I would go back to him because I know about being scared and needing extra special empathy. I found a great guy in my city and besides using the Wand, he is a specialist in the field of dental phobics. He is now my "good guy".

I don't know if your dentist knows about dental phobia.

Maybe some of our kind friends can hop on board this thread and give you some more ideas!!!

Let us know what happens okay?

melody