coping with anxiety whilst i wait weeks for an appointment

[LAURA1982]

Hi All. I had my first check up in 20 years a few weeks ago. I was told i will need 7 teeth removing. He gave me antibiotics to cope with an abcess ive got and sent me on my way. I was told just wait for a hospital referral letter to come through in the post which may take up to 18 weeks.....Ok that parts fine...but what do i do in the meantime. I have got really bad anxiety issues just because of my teeth. my heart beats really fast and im a big mess at the moment. i feel like im having a break down. yeah i have some burts rescue remedy which helps at night but how can i cope? i feel like i need councelling or some kind of plan to help me get through everything. i dont know who to turn to.

 

[brit]

It might be an idea to ask your GP medical doctor for help with anxiety.
You could also opt to get the dentist to remove the tooth which is causing you issues straightaway with just local anaesthetic. That way waiting for the rest to be done wouldn't be so stressful.

It's not a very kind thing to do to yourself to sit around for weeks in pain waiting for a hospital referral when the local dentist could easily help you on the spot. It is regrettable that they don't do more to reassure you to enable you to at least try that option at least once. They clearly have little idea of how much sitting around in pain (unnecessarily) robs you of the quality of your life.
Best wishes.

 

[fromyesterday]

Hi Laura,

I think I remember your other posts.

Anticipation is the worse; sometimes even worse than the actual procedures. I've been lucky not to have to wait *too* long, but I very much remember the fear and anxiety and all around emotions.

I found coming to this forum helped me. There is no one in 'real life' I can talk to about this.

If you ever need someone to talk to I'm here. <3

 

[LAURA1982]

Thanks for the kind message. the nhs dentist pretty much told me he woulndt be able to treat me with a local anaesthetic at his surgery, because im so very nervous, and i get quite agitated when i went for my normal check up. thats why he has referred me to the hospital. to be honest, i think i could get treated under local anaethetic, but just need someone to be patient with me, i need to do things one step at a time i think.

It might be an idea to ask your GP medical doctor for help with anxiety.
You could also opt to get the dentist to remove the tooth which is causing you issues straightaway with just local anaesthetic. That way waiting for the rest to be done wouldn't be so stressful.

It's not a very kind thing to do to yourself to sit around for weeks in pain waiting for a hospital referral when the local dentist could easily help you on the spot. It is regrettable that they don't do more to reassure you to enable you to at least try that option at least once. They clearly have little idea of how much sitting around in pain (unnecessarily) robs you of the quality of your life.
Best wishes.

 

[brit]

Thanks for the kind message. the nhs dentist pretty much told me he woulndt be able to treat me with a local anaesthetic at his surgery, because im so very nervous, and i get quite agitated when i went for my normal check up. thats why he has referred me to the hospital. to be honest, i think i could get treated under local anaethetic, but just need someone to be patient with me, i need to do things one step at a time i think.

Can you afford a private dentist just for the one extraction? Might be worth it, you've said it yourself...you could cope but you need some TLC....we all deserve dental TLC. TLC prevents phobia arising in the first place.
You can still get the rest done at the hospital on the NHS but you'd be out of pain.