Death would be better. Seriously.

[RaeRae]

After decades of suffering sheer terror at the dentist office, and bad teeth requiring many lengthy procedures over the years, I have reached the point of utter mental disability when it comes to dentists.

Today I was scheduled to go in for 7 hours worth of fillings, root canal, crown, and bridge. They gave me diazepam and triazolam - 1 pill each to take last night before bed and this morning before I go in.

It took me 4 hours to work up the courage to take the diazepam (valium). I took it and within 5 minutes I was having a full out panic attack. Shaking, sweating, agitated, sick, dizzy, legs went numb, the whole deal. I was up all night suffering with absolute terror. Needless to say the valium did nothing except throw me right over the edge. You'd think I was going in to have my arms and legs removed today, good grief!

There was no way in bloody h*ll I was going to take that other sedation pill and then go in for the procedure so I cancelled the whole thing. I was crying and freaking out, I swear I've never had a panic attack so bad in my life. I felt like a prey animal being chased down by a mountain lion. Seriously! ugh

So here I sit. Horrible teeth that need to be done and no way to do it. I guess I will let the teeth rot right out of my head because I can't even handle the sedation part of sedation dentistry. This guys radio ads are a bunch of BS! "Experience dentistry as it's meant to be - with no anxiety!" Haaaaa! The freaking anti anxiety medication threw me right over the edge.

The only other thing I know to do is go to my medical doctor and see if he has any suggestions.

Right now I'm feeling like I would literally rather die than deal with dentistry work for the rest of my life.

 

[inthegreen]

I sympathise as Diazepan gave me hallucinations that were horrific and that was half a dose. Have you thought about any alternative methods, hypnosis, reflexology or could you get iv sedation?

I am sorry you had to cancel but someone out there will be able to help

 

[irmemac]

Oh no, what a horrendous experience! It's especially bad because you thought it might make things better. Poor you. I know how tempting it is to get things done really fast, to get them over with. Do you think it could perhaps help to go really, really slowly. Something along the lines of: a visit to chat to the dentist. Then one to sit in the chair. Then one to sit in the chair and see if you feel ready to let the dentist look in your mouth with a mirror etc etc. that way you're kind of desensitising yourself and building up some experience of going to the dentist with no pain or fear. It might be worth a thought.

I couldn't go for year. Just couldn't. Then I ended up having hypnotherapy at the local dental hospital. All the sessions were in a dentist's chair, with all the equipment out, but nothing was every used, only hypnotherapy. It took about a year of appointments, including homework of listening to the previous hypnotherapy session on a tape every night in between. However, after that I was able to make myself go for 22 years without missing a single appointment, including extractions, fillings and multiple rcts. Over the years I stopped crying in the waiting room, then I stopped (usually) crying in the chair, but it did take years. I've even ( with support here because I was very wobbly) able to even find another dentist.

I have never missed appointments because nothing now is as bad as the absolute terror and panic I felt continually when I wasn't under a dentist's care and was always imagining the worst. I feel so sorry for you, and really really hope that your bravery in coming here for help is just the first step in your path to overcoming this dreadful fear. Well done!

 

[Kim]

Hello and welcome to you both

Firstly I am truly sorry that you have both had bad effects with Diazepam. My GP prescribed it for me for my dental fear, but it didn't do much. My lovely dentist then gave me Temazepam, which has a much better effect in relaxing you, but isn't so prolonged as Diazepam if my memory serves me right.

There are some people who are able to go for long spells in the chair with a view to that being all over and done with - others can't cope with that, and therefore, shorter session of differing value are better for them. You need to go with what YOU feel comfy with, and at a pace that you can cope with. If you have a dentist who is not willing to work with you along those lines, then go and get another opinion and another, until you find someone who IS willing to HELP you along your journey.

Believe me, death is no alternative, and with the right help from the right person, you WILL get the treatment you so rightly deserve.

Take a deep breath hunni, and try again - you will get there in the end xx

 

[kittykat]

I was perscribed 10 mg of valium to take the night before appointments, and the first time i tried it, i had a horrible panic attack and couldnt sleep. my dentist told me to take half a pill and it worked. it may be just that the dosage was right. dont give up

 

[RaeRae]

Thank you everyone for the advice! I went in today and had a temporary bridge pulled off, impressions made for the new bridge, and the temporary glued back on. Part of my major problem is that I do NOT get numb. I had a panoramic cone beam xray done of my head and I have double the number of foramen and nerves coming out of the bones than the normal person does. The lady taking the xray said "Do you have trouble getting numb?" UM, YES! She said "Well, this is why" and then she showed me.

Today I did not get numb either. I got 5 shots and my nose and cheek went totally numb but I could feel everything on the teeth. He was not able to do the dental retraction procedure because I could not get numb so then it was kind of a "Well, screw it....let's just take the impression and be done with it" type of deal. So the permanent bridge probably won't fit right now!

I've done the IV sedation before and I think that is what I will probably have to do. I will never take valium again, that was terrible. Even at a lower dose I think I'm so freaked out now I'd just never be able to take it.

I really need to find a dentist I can work with. This guy is not that nice, and I get the vibes from him that he is completely annoyed with me and doesn't have time for this kind of crap.

But I made it through everything and was able to sit there and not cry or not freak out. He ended up using a shot that had a higher amount of epinephrine in it and that didn't even work. I tried explaining to him about this panoramic xrays and the extra nerves and he just blew it off! He didn't even want to hear it or talk about it.

So all I have to do with this guy yet is go back one more time to get the temp pulled off and the permanent bridge cemented in place. Then I will try to find somebody else. That hypnotherapy while in the chair sounds great!! I thought going to the sedation dentistry place would be the answer but that just did not work out for me.

 

[carole]

I think you have done really well getting the bridge work done It is good that you know the reason why you don't get numb and any caring dentist would be interested and try to help you.

I think it is a wise decision to find another dentist after you finish the treatment you are having. You need a dentist that will listen to your worries and try to put you at ease so that it makes it easier for you to have the treatment you need.

You can start looking now and maybe contacting some either by email or phone, you can always make an appointment for a time that suits you after you have had your bridge done.

Good luck let us know how you get on please

 

[Tink]

Re. the extra nerves and not getting numb, I have this problem too and it is solvable, you are not doomed to forever have treatment without anaesthetic. You may need to look for a different dentist, one who has training in advanced anaesthetic techniques - not all of them do, but they are out there and they really can help you. It may well be that the answer for you turns out to not be sedation at all, but getting the local anaesthetic right (that was the case for me).

For what it's worth, an intraosseous injection solved the problem for me, although what worked for me won't necessarily be what works for you - there are a few things that they can try.

The important thing is not to let them push you having treatment without sufficient local anaesthetic, it is not necessary, even in the case where you have extra nerves.

 

[everblack]

It took me 4 hours to work up the courage to take the diazepam (valium). I took it and within 5 minutes I was having a full out panic attack.

You need to be in a better mindset (towards the valium), e.g. taking it without worrying hours before hand and thinking 'this is a good drug, it's gonna chill me out a bit'. You suffered a paradoxical reaction due to anxiety. Diazepam takes longer than 5mins to work! I wouldn't disregard it completely, could possibly learn/benefit from it. A good example of how much anxiety can really mess you up. And remember, panic attacks are not dangerous at all

 

[danni0509]

I've had iv sedation twice not for dentistry but for ivf treatment & its good stuff, i was awake but to chilled out to give a f**k what was going on, also it feels like you have been in there 5 minutes when in actual reality it has been a lot longer.

You will be so happy when you have had the work completed, nothing in the world beats the feeling of relief. x

 

[irmemac]

Sorry, I've been away and missed your update. Well done!!! I'm in awe of how much courage it must have taken you to go. Fantastic!