Horrified of IV Sedation...

[SJD1996]

Hello,
I have to get 4 ankylosed baby teeth surgically removed tomorrow afternoon. To put it quite lightly, I'm mortified.
I went to the oral surgeon a week ago, and he said something along the lines of he was going to give me some gas, and then some medicine through an IV, and I'll kind of be in my own world by that point. I'm pretty sure he brought up the word "twilight sleep".

First off, I'm scared of the idea of breathing in/getting some strange "stuff" through an IV and then losing control of my actions. Even though I've heard laughing gas (which I think they're giving me i'm not sure) is "pleasant", it does not seem so to me. While others may enjoy the loopiness, I'm actually disturbed by that idea.

Second, the IV needle is just horrible. The last time I had to get a booster shot I was running around the room screaming. Where do they put the IV in?

I also don't understand how being relaxed will help me with the fact that I have to get 6 shots in my mouth. When my dentist attempted to pull the baby teeth last week, I got needles. However, unlike the common person I actually get MORE scared of things the more I do them. I have no clue how I'm going to cope with the needles in my mouth. Okay, I may be relaxed but I don't see how that'll help with me being less freaked out. I can't grasp it.

Also I know there's an amnesia effect, but that means nothing to me. Just because I forget about it doesn't mean I won't FEEL anything during the surgery, right? I don't see how that eliminates the feeling and fear of four teeth being detached from my jawbone.

And lastly, I also read this: "You should want to be sedated. If, for any reason, you’re unwilling to “let go”, for example because you’re terrified of not being in control, it will be more difficult to be successfully sedated." That is an exactly precise description of me. I'm horrified of being "let go".

Can someone tell me, in detail, about your twilight sleep/laughing gas/IV sedation experiences? I'm on the bring of a panic attack. Sorry if this is too long

 

[norwegianchick]

Hi!

I've had nitrous oxide once, and it was indeed pleasant. The thing you should remember with nitrous is that it is almost instantly reversible, so that if you don't like the effect, you can just ask to have it off or start breathing through your mouth. No, you don't really feel drugged on nitrous, and you will be able to ask to have it turned off. That's one thing I really liked about it, I felt in control, and the effect on me was that instead of feeling nervous, I felt sure that the procedure I was about to have would go well and that everything would work out in the end (which was the case anyway). Nitrous is definitely a good choice for control freaks.

I don't know about the rest of the drugs you are getting, as I've never had them.

It sounds like you would benifit from talking more with the people at the dental clinic, as it doesn't seem like all your questions and concerns have been answered.

All the best!

 

[viennarose]

There's a difference between nitrous oxide and IV sedation. Nitrous oxide you breathe in and doesn't put you to sleep it just relaxes you. As for IV sedation I have never had it, but last week my sister got it for a root canal and some extractions. Obviously everyone is different but for her she went to sleep completely and didn't wake up until she was in the recovery room. When they say twilight sleep they mean you are going to be so out of it that you are very close to sleeping. You shouldn't feel the extractions because they will numb you properly after you have been sedated.

Hopefully someone can respond to you that has first hand experience but by talking to people who have gone through it and creeping all the success stories on this forum I have heard amazing things about IV sedation. Good luck!

 

[carole]

I would contact the dental clinic where this procedure is being done. I would write a list of questions and your worries about what is going to happen, and ask that these concerns are answered before you can go ahead, this is called informed consent, if you don't feel informed you cannot give consent to something you are not understanding.
You could e mail them or ring, they should be able to answer your question and put your mind to rest.
You will probably find that they are more than pleased to answer you.

If after speaking to someone or through e mail, you are still not happy about being sedated or in twilight sleep, then ask to discuss other means of having this work done, and ask what is a better way of doing this procedure for you, that you would be happier with.

Good luck let us know how you get on,

 

[SJD1996]

Hi, thanks for responding you guys. The thing is, I don't know if I'm really getting laughing gas or not. I just remember him saying he would be giving me some gas and then some stuff through an IV, which will induce the twilight sleep. The procedure is only supposed to be 10 minutes, but I have to stay after and hour to be monitored due to all the sedatives I'll be getting.

I'm mainly worried about all the needles and local injections. As I said, I actually get more scared of things the more I do them, so now I'm even more horrified of the local injections I have to get, and I have to endure SIX this time . I don't know how much they'll give me (I'm 15 by the way) but I hope I fall asleep. I don't like the idea of being conscious the whole time, even if it's just 10 minutes.

I don't understand at all how "being relaxed" or "not caring" will somehow ease the fear/pain of the local injections or the needle being put into my arm.

I've already the dentist some questions. Also I've read all the success stories, they only make me more frightened. What most people find pleasant or okay scares me. Also my parents have had it done and told me about. To be honest, I don't think I'm going to be any less horrified if I asked anymore, so I guess I'm just kind of here to vent! Even though I've heard mostly positive things about it I'm still sure I'm going to hate it and I'm still on the verge of a panic attack.

I don't think I can have any other type of sedative, it's already been set in stone/payed for and I have to go in 4 hours...

 

[Kim]

Ok, so here it is from my own experience just a week ago today. I was PETRIFIED of just everything. I had 11 extractions under iv sedation. I did have the added bonus of oral sedation the night before and the morning of, and I was so glad of that, because before I took the oral sedation just before we left, I was like you and had a panic attack. The oral sedation put me into slow motion mode, which was all good by me, tho' it didn't stop me crying like a baby on the journey there, and I am a lot older than you are.

I went into the surgery, got on the couch and remember my dentist looking at the veins in my arm, having a thing clipped to my finger and feeling a slight pinch in my arm, and being told I would feel cold solution running through initially. I remember looking at the clock and it said 10.20am and thinking, this is just soooooo not going to work. Next thing, I felt another slight pinch in my mouth, and was being told that it was all over.

I think I was in the chair for about two hours, and can honestly say that apart from the two pinches, I felt nothing. And the only thing I remember was being asked to open my mouth a little wider.

For me, I wouldn't have had it any other way, and would recommend it to anyone if they felt they could go with it. I know some people will explain it in different ways, and everyone is different so it won't be the same for us all who go down that route. I just then spent the rest of the day sleeping on and off and resting, so make sure you do that.

I didn't feel as if I wasn't in control - after all - had I been fully conscious, I still wouldn't be controlling what the dentist was doing to me, I just would have been in more of a position to freak out.

Try to take deep breaths and think of something nice to try and take your mind off it a wee bit.

I am sure you will be fine hunni, and just because you are 15 years old, it doesn't mean that you can't ask your questions, and let the dentist know of your concerns. If you feel too scared to, will one of your parents do the asking and telling for you?

I will be thinking of you, and when you can, let us know how you got on, and how you are after all of this worry.

to help you through.

 

[SJD1996]

Pk, so here it is from my own experience just a week ago today. I was PETRIFIED of just everything. I had 11 extractions under iv sedation. I did have the added bonus of oral sedation the night before and the morning of, and I was so glad of that, because before I took the oral sedation just before we left, I was like you and had a panic attack. The oral sedation put me into slow motion mode, which was all good by me, tho' it didn't stop me crying like a baby on the journey there, and I am a lot older than you are.

I went into the surgery, got on the couch and remember my dentist looking at the veins in my arm, having a thing clipped to my finger and feeling a slight pinch in my arm, and being told I would feel cold solution running through initially. I remember looking at the clock and it said 10.20am and thinking, this is just soooooo not going to work. Next thing, I felt another slight pinch in my mouth, and was being told that it was all over.

I think I was in the chair for about two hours, and can honestly say that apart from the two pinches, I felt nothing. And the only thing I remember was being asked to open my mouth a little wider.

For me, I wouldn't have had it any other way, and would recommend it to anyone if they felt they could go with it. I know some people will explain it in different ways, and everyone is different so it won't be the same for us all who go down that route. I just then spent the rest of the day sleeping on and off and resting, so make sure you do that.

I didn't feel as if I wasn't in control - after all - had I been fully conscious, I still wouldn't be controlling what the dentist was doing to me, I just would have been in more of a position to freak out.

Try to take deep breaths and think of something nice to try and take your mind off it a wee bit.

I am sure you will be fine hunni, and just because you are 15 years old, it doesn't mean that you can't ask your questions, and let the dentist know of your concerns. If you feel too scared to, will one of your parents do the asking and telling for you?

I will be thinking of you, and when you can, let us know how you got on, and how you are after all of this worry.

to help you through.

Thanks for responding
And as said I already asked the oral surgeon questions last week, and the dentist some questions the week before that and I'm still horrified. It's confusing me how you can be conscious but still not feel anything... I think it's going to be hard for me to drift off because I'll be so concerned with loosing my grip...
But thank you for the feedback.
I've been even more horrified of needles ever since I got a booster shot about 2 years ago and I could feel the fluid going through my veins. Even thinking about that literally makes me weak at the knees. Even the fact that most people only feel a "slight pinch" is disturbing to me. I'm more afraid of the sedation than I am the actual procedure! I guess it is better than getting no sedation though...maybe...

 

[Patti]

I just had a tooth pulled using nitrous and was very afraid of it for the same reasons. First of all, it won't make you silly or lose control. It just makes you so relaxed you won't care about anything. And, they can give you just enough where you are comfortable. At first, I thought it was too much and they turned it down and the back up later and I was comfortable with it then. I was so comfortable that when they were talking to me I was almost a bit annoyed! I may even even dozed off for a second! I was fully aware, I just didn't care. When they all done they give you oxygen and you snap right out of it. I would do another procedure without it now. You will see! It's wonderful stuff! Take care and good luck and let us know how it went, ok?

 

[carole]

From what I have read on here you won't even be aware of the injections and you won't feel them. I would think you will be okay, sorry I know this doesn't help much. You can stay on her and vent all you want, I just wish I could take all the fear away from you.

It is good that they are going to keep their eye on you after, it is to make sure you are okay after having the procedure, this is a good thing. They won't be doing anything to you, you can just rest. I presume your mum will be with you so she can sit with you once you have had your mouth done, and wait until you can go home. You will probably feel sleepy anyway so you may just sleep the rest of the day.

I send you Best Wishes, you really will be okay, let us know how you go on if you feel up to it. We will be thinking of you. You have every right to feel afraid and nervous we all do, so you are not on your own in feeling this way. Be as strong as you can, it will all be good, and by this evening you will be sat back at home and it will have all gone away, you will just need to heal, and pat yourself on the back for doing so well

 

[Kim]

Oh yes, and you won't feel a thing, because once you are really chilled out, they will do the painkilling injections. The only reason I felt the second 'pinch' was because I was coming out of the iv sedation, and my dentist wanted to 'top me up' with numbing, for comfort I am guessing.

Good luck.

 

[SJD1996]

Really, thanks for all the great responses

I just really can't wrap my mind around the correlation between "not caring" and pain! How can you not care about pain? Also it's very hard for my mindsets to change, which is why I don't see how some gas/fluid will somehow make me feel unconcerned about the needles. I've taken anxiety/depression supplements before and they never do anything, I always feel the same.

And I will definitely post about my experience when I get back if I'm up to it

 

[carole]

Good luck

 

[Kim]

And you will probably understand more about what has been said when you once you have experienced it for yourself - I know I did - good luck.

 

[Patti]

ME EITHER!!! I am such a control freak, and I thought that there was NO WAY I wasn't going to care... and yet I didn't! There was no pain because of the injections. Now, I had the injections BEFORE the gas but needles don't bother me... but I'm sure you could have them give you the gas first. I read that the gas does have some numbing properties to it. So maybe gas, then numbing gel AND THEN the injections?

Also, the not caring... You won't have pain with the injections so there isn't anything to not care about except for what they are doing in your mouth that you won't feel anyway. Does that make any sense?

I made friends with the needles and decided that YES they are uncomfortable but I wouldn't want to not have them.

Really, thanks for all the great responses

I just really can't wrap my mind around the correlation between "not caring" and pain! How can you not care about pain? Also it's very hard for my mindsets to change, which is why I don't see how some gas/fluid will somehow make me feel unconcerned about the needles. I've taken anxiety/depression supplements before and they never do anything, I always feel the same.

And I will definitely post about my experience when I get back if I'm up to it

 

[carole]

It is not the case of not caring about the pain, you won't have any pain while the procedure is being done, the not caring bit is about being that relaxed that you won't feel stressed the way you do now.

No pain, all gain

 

[Patti]

I like that!

No pain, all gain

 

[SJD1996]

Okay, got it done yesterday. It was awful.

Well first, right when we got to the dentist office I started crying and screaming. It was horrible, my parents could barely get out of the car and it didn't help that both of them were screaming at me to stop. My mom told me to stop acting like a mental patient which just made me cry more.

So I was in the waiting room for about 5 minutes. I stopped crying then, but then once they called my name I started freaking out and sobbing again. I got the feeling that all the staff there thought I was insane, which made me cry more. The dentist came in and told me that I was acting ridiculous walking down the hallway sobbing and I had to calm down and not be hysterical in order for them to do it. That actually made me cry again...

So I ended up going with just laughing gas instead because I was too afraid of the IV. It's kind of hard to explain the effects of the laughing gas. I was crying so much I think I was just breathing through my mouth, which is probably why the laughing gas didn't do much of anything. I was mildly relaxed, but I was still crying throughout the whole procedure and I definitely "did not care" when they put the needles in. I was fully aware they were putting them in, and it hurt BAD. Worst part. After that they told me to rest for a bit, which is when the gas started to work a bit. this is the part that's hard to explain. I guess the best way I can put it is I kind of lost my perception of time. I also got strangely happy for maybe a minute or so, but that wore off quickly. Then he came in and took the four teeth out in a minute. The cracking noises made me nervous, but it didn't hurt at all, it was only uncomfortable.

Then I was able to get right up and walk back to the car. STILL crying. The whole car ride back an even when I was sitting in the dentist chair after they took out the teeth I think the reason I was crying so hard was that I was embarrassed. Heck, it happened yesterday and I'm crying today because I'm so embarrassed. Because I acted like a complete idiot. Everyone was looking at me like I WASBa mental patient. And I have to go back on Friday for a check-up. I dont want to show my face to anyone, not even my parents I feel so stupid.

And once I got home was the worst part, more of my parents yelling at me. Plus the pain medicine I took mad me nauseous, extremely woozy and I felt like my whole body was burning, and then I basically passed out in the bed. Also since my face was still numb blood was pouring out of my face for a couple of hours.

Overall it was awful. And I'm still upset over how stupid I acted and the way everyone looked at me.

 

[carole]

Hi SJD1996 I am so sorry to read that the experience you had was so awful, you shouldn't feel stupid, you were obviously terrified, I think it would have been better if they could have spent more time talking to you and gaining your trust. We cannot control how upset we feel, you had not had any previous treatment and you were terrified of the injections they would have done better using the topical gel and giving you painless injections.
I think this was not the way to go with you, why the hell would a dentist hurt you with the injections, he could have gained your trust if he and to some extent your parents had of handled this better.

This is how dentists used to act in the bad old days, things have moved on. And you should not have felt the injections, at least you were numb for the extractions, which is a good thing, do you have after care instructions.

It is so disappointing when dentists behave in this manner.
I wish you luck with the healing and hope you heal quickly and without pain.
I feel really annoyed for you at the moment.

 

[norwegianchick]

Don't feel embarrassed!

I'm twice as old as you, and I cried at the dentist's too. Dentists see this kind of stuff all the time and should be able to handle it.

Good to hear that they managed to anesthetize you properly for the extractions, and that you are getting proper pain meds (narcotic pain relievers have the side effects that you describe. If the side effects really bother you, you might be better off taking ibuprofen, it might be just as effective for you).

I hope your next dental appointment is better.

 

[Aldridge]

Hi, you weren't stupid; it's no good shouting at someone who's so worked up they are in tears; just makes things worse in my humble opinion. I'm sure any other patients who were looking at you felt nothing but sympathy. It's a pity your dentist wasn't more sympathetic. Reading your post was like a flashback to the 1960s for me. I had gas back then and I was fighting and breathing through my mouth and felt really sick afterwards (but I've had it once since then, given by the sweetest hospital anaesthetist on the planet, and it was excellent.) Every day is a new day. Try to file last Friday away in your mind; it has come and gone and you made it through; this Friday will be better. Everyone here will be backing you up in spirit and sending lots of