Hypochondriac needing several teeth pulled for several abscesses. Super afraid. What do I do???

[Rebelphoenix]

Hypochondriac needing several teeth pulled for several abscesses. Super afraid. What do I do???

Okay so.. I'm 22.. my entire mouth is an infection site. Nearly every tooth has a cavity. I have a fistula that goes from the roof of my mouth to the right side above my right molar. The third molar on the left side of my mouth has been dead for about 3-5 years now (I lost track) and developed an abscess. On top of that my top wisdom teeth grew in and due to the molar (and my bad habits of brushing) got infected as well. The bottom wisdom teeth are under the gum. 3 of the wisdom teeth (both top, one bottom) are abscessed. The molar definitely has to come out. And one of my canine teeth is too far gone to save. The rest? Root canal central.

I don't want dentures, I'm only 22. But I waited so long that now medicaid doesn't cover ANYTHING except extractions.

Why did I wait? FEAR! I am so deathly afraid of the dentist that a long time ago at the age of 16/17 I had 13 cavities that needed to come out. I went to the appointment but little did I know that grandma had called ahead told them my fears and set me up. I read the sign, saw "anesthesiologist and asked the lady what it was. Immediately left the building refusing. They eventually told me it was optional and talked me back in there, so I went back in and waited (big mistake.) Few minutes after a fat guy and several other dentists started walking towards me and ganged up on me. I fought, I screamed, cursed.. They stuck a tranquilizer in my leg and pulled me to the back as I fell out.

...After the appointment my uvula was swollen. I was coughing up and throwing up blood. OH and I hallucinated that everything was white and I was watching myself from a tv screen (out of body/near death experience type hallucination.) I think I was allergic to the anesthesia they used.

Needless to say after that experience and the fear of death being so strong.. I am totally against and afraid to be put out.

I've had several dentists appointments since the molar became dead and chickened out and left the office afraid to have it done. I don't know why, the anticipation is the worst part. But I'm afraid I'll die. The infection will spread while they're working, it will be painful, I'll be allergic to something they use, something will go wrong. Just something!

I've been to SEVERAL dentists, most are mad at me and won't let me go back now because I waste their time making the appointment going, and chickening out. ...I just don't know what to do anymore. I need to get these teeth out or they're going to kill me.

I've been on amoxacillin in the past, twice through the 3-5 years. Now this year I went on amoxacillin but had an adverse reaction so they put me on augmentin the same week to switch when I was near done with the amoxacillin. Of course when I was done with the dose I chickened out. Weeks later I tried again and they put me on augmentin again, chickened out at the appointment. So now I'm taking augmenti a month later AGAIN, almost done with the dose. My teeth are so painful, the jaw as well with headaches constantly that I'm ALWAYS on advil.

If I make the appointment I might chicken out again. Afraid the infection will spread or something will go wrong. They told me they don't have to cut that they can just press on the jaw with certain tools and "roll out" the wisdom teeth and molars. But they say its pressure and not pain and I'm scared because I've never felt it or had the experience so I don't know what to expect. Then there's the fact of what if my jaw or other parts are abcessed. What if it goes into the blood stream and I get sepsis while they're working on me.
I'm a total hypochondriac (I go to the hospital or call 911 about 40times throughout a month for fears of dying.)


Is there anything anyone knows what to do? What I can do?

 

[carole]

Re: Hypochondriac needing several teeth pulled for several abscesses. Super afraid. What do I do???

Hi to the forum.

What the dentist told you about it being a pushing and pressure type of feeling is true. That is if you feel anything at all. The last tooth I had out I didn't know it was gone until the dentist said, that it was gone. I had been in pain and I was terrified, shaking, couldn't breath, or speak and I really thought I was going to pass out or have a heart attack, I hadn't slept for months with worry and the week before I had to have the tooth out I nearly rang up every day to cancel. How I got there I do not know, but I did and it was done in no time at all, it took longer waiting for the tooth to go numb. There are people on here that have had multiple teeth out in as little as 7 to 10 minutes. The dentist you have seen sounds as though he understands how afraid you are and is trying to put you at ease with the truth. The infection will not spread and nothing bad will happen that they cannot deal with. They will be watching and monitoring you all the time to make sure you are fine.

They don't want anything bad to happen to you either, they will want you to have as easy as possible treatment and they will keep you safe. Ask them if you can arrange a stop signal before they start in case you need a break inbetween the treatment. They sound as if they really care.

If you can just get there once and let them remove one tooth and ask if you could do the extractions in a few appointments if that makes you feel better. I bet you will agree to more than one when you see how easy they remove the first tooth.

I wish you luck and I hope you can find the courage to make the appointment soon, you will feel so much healthier when you get these teeth taken care of. You don't realise just how bad you feel at the moment until you are free of these teeth and constant infections.

I know this because I had an infection for a long time and I knew I felt really bad and as if I was going mad at times with the pain etc... that goes with constant infection. But once it had been sorted out I felt like a different person and as if a huge weight had been lifted. It is so depressing and draining to suffer all the time like you are. I really feel for you. I wish I could wish all this away for you, so you could see how much better you will feel. It effects everything you do day to day and your confidence and everything will improve once you can get treatment.

I would ask the dentist to extract one tooth he thinks will be the easiest first, then ask if at the next appointment they could maybe do one or even two and take it from there. You will be numb before they start because if you are not they can give you more stuff until you are. Once you are numb and they start to get the tooth ready to lift out it will be so quick you will be really surprised. If you feel you could cope with more at that appointment then you will be numb and they can carry on until you have had enough. But if one extraction is all you feel you can cope with then just ask them to do the one.

Let us know how you get on please, I think you will be able to do this. When you are ready

 

[Tardious]

Re: Hypochondriac needing several teeth pulled for several abscesses. Super afraid. What do I do???

I can understand your fears, I quite similar myself. I had a 2nd molar removed 3 weeks ago, refused sedation and it actually wasn't that bad. From the second I was in the chair my heart was going a mile a minute and I was majorly panicked, but kept myself together and let him get on, I'm glad I did as I won't be panicked about an extraction again. I felt a bit of pressure, but under the pain killer it didn't hurt at all. Just some unusual sounds.

 

[scareddiane]

Re: Hypochondriac needing several teeth pulled for several abscesses. Super afraid. What do I do???

Rebel, I understand your fear. Since having colon cancer and then having it return to a small spot in my liver, I'm terrified of any health issue. However..... ou can worry about it, or you can prevent it.

Do you take anxiety meds? When I needed a root canal, the specialist gave me Valium and I had to have a driver to get me home.

I've had two teeth pulled. One was just 2 months ago. I didn't even feel pressure with that one. Never had pain with extractions. They use some special tool that I didn't even see and it was out within two minutes. PLEASE don't worry yourself to death and ruin your health by ignoring this !!!