Nervous about sedation meds

[Joselyn]

Hello... I had to cancel my dental extraction last Friday because I was having panic attacks. I'm so afraid and now I have an appt on Monday and they are going to give me Halcion. Now I'm afraid to take that medication for fear of side effects, looking stupid, acting stupid, etc. I wish that I wasn't having so much fear and this is so weird because I've been going to the dentist and having procedures (even oral surgery) since I was 17 so this isn't something new for me. I just do not understand why I cannot get through this and my fear is causing me to be physically ill. I have talked to the Dentist and the front desk numerous times (they are so patient) and have cancelled this procedure three times because of my anxiety. This is really effecting my life and my health. I cannot be put under because of the cost so I basically have no choice but to just take pills and I don't like pills especially benzodiazepines. Please help... I'm at my wits end here. ?

 

[geos]

Normally, if they don’t mix too many meds (which they won’t if this is the only med you are taking) for your sedation and you follow their instructions you should have no side effects or acting stupid or looking stupid.

 

[Enarete]

I do not have much idea about meds so can't tell you how you will act, but may I ask you what is the worry behind that? Is it about what will the dental team think of you if you or anything else? And is there something particular about talking and acting you would consider stupid? And last but not least, what is it that makes you feel this might happen - have you heard any story of this kind?

 

[Aj64]

Honestly, dont worry about saying or acting odd...if you do react in that way, they've seen it all and wont judge you at all. I had to have conscious sedation for an operation a few years ago (not dental) and I apparently said some things that had the surgeon laughing so much that he had to keep stopping. When I was coming down from the meds the nurse said that they have seen and heard every possible reaction and its not embarrassing for them and shouldn't embarrass the patient either.

 

[Joselyn]

Normally, if they don’t mix too many meds (which they won’t if this is the only med you are taking) for your sedation and you follow their instructions you should have no side effects or acting stupid or looking stupid.

I already take another Benzodiazapine. It's 0.2 mg Clonazepam. which is a low dose. it's in my chart so I'm hoping and assuming they know what their doing. Anyway... thank you.

 

[Joselyn]

I do not have much idea about meds so can't tell you how you will act, but may I ask you what is the worry behind that? Is it about what will the dental team think of you if you or anything else? And is there something particular about talking and acting you would consider stupid? And last but not least, what is it that makes you feel this might happen - have you heard any story of this kind?

Yes... I've heard stories and since I work in a hospital I've seen it first hand. People doing ridiculous things on sedation meds, etc. Also, not too excited about having people in my mouth while I'm drowsy, etc. It's a trust issue but I'm really stressed out about this procedure and there's no plan on what I'm going to do about three missing teeth on my lower left quadrant so it's a self esteem issue as well. When I had the back molar removed last September right next to it... it hurt really bad and another dentist hit a nerve and my mouth was numb for almost 6-months. The extraction site took over two weeks to heal and I was in severe discomfort... kept biting my cheek, couldn't chew, etc. Horrible experience.

 

[Joselyn]

Honestly, dont worry about saying or acting odd...if you do react in that way, they've seen it all and wont judge you at all. I had to have conscious sedation for an operation a few years ago (not dental) and I apparently said some things that had the surgeon laughing so much that he had to keep stopping. When I was coming down from the meds the nurse said that they have seen and heard every possible reaction and its not embarrassing for them and shouldn't embarrass the patient either.

Thank you. I've been told I can be pretty random anyway so hopefully it will be a pleasant experience. I just don't like losing my teeth and I'm not getting temporaries. I'm going to look like an old toothless hag. ??‍

 

[krlovesherkids777]

Can you double check with them just for your peace of mind. Something like "I just wanted to make sure you recognized I'm already take Clonazepam and wanted to make sure the Halcion will not interact with this drug weird. before we do this. They will appreicate you being careful on this . I've never taken the Halcion so don't know much about that but have taken Lorazepam which works for me nicely to just chill me out without making me feel weird. and I take a small dose. Let us know how this works for you.

 

[Joselyn]

Can you double check with them just for your peace of mind. Something like "I just wanted to make sure you recognized I'm already take Clonazepam and wanted to make sure the Halcion will not interact with this drug weird. before we do this. They will appreicate you being careful on this . I've never taken the Halcion so don't know much about that but have taken Lorazepam which works for me nicely to just chill me out without making me feel weird. and I take a small dose. Let us know how this works for you.

Yes when I call in the morning for the script I will remind them that I already take a Benzo. Thank you

 

[Joselyn]

Thank you. I've been told I can be pretty random anyway so hopefully it will be a pleasant experience. I just don't like losing my teeth and I'm not getting temporaries. I'm feel like I'm going to look like an old toothless hag. ??‍

 

[Enarete]

I'm going to look like an old toothless hag. ??‍

No, you won't. Really. I work in a dental practice and have the honor to accompany our patients (the scared ones and the not scared ones) through their first appointment. On a regular basis we have people who haven't been for years or decades. The fascinating thing is that I chat to some for a long time and they talk about how they have missing or broken teeth, how awful their mouths are and I just can't see anything weird during the chat. Then we do the x-rays and I can see they miss almost all the back teeth for example, but I would never guess just from chatting to them. I know losing teeth is a huge thing for you and it would be for me too. But you won't look any different than you do now after the extractions.

About acting weirdly.. I second Aj64. if this happens, it's not only about they have seen it all but it's about that it doesn't matter. Your dental team will be focused on the work that needs to get done and on your comfort, they won't really care about how you act. People cry in a dental practice, faint, get panic attacks, talk a lot, do not talk at all, do weird jokes, act like we were murderers, make jokes about how they will run away and we will try to catch them (we of course won't), act like children and so on and so on and that's just fine (I believe it's similar in your job as well). Dental visits can be stressful and accompanying people in different states of mind is a part of the job. Also, you are not the only patient, remember there will be patients before your appointment and straight after that too so nobody will have time to reflect on how you acted anyway.

Sorry about your ordeal with the back molar last September, sounds awful and it's an achievment that you go to a dentist again after this experience. Keeping my fingers crossed for everything to go well today, let us know how you got on

 

[Joselyn]

No, you won't. Really. I work in a dental practice and have the honor to accompany our patients (the scared ones and the not scared ones) through their first appointment. On a regular basis we have people who haven't been for years or decades. The fascinating thing is that I chat to some for a long time and they talk about how they have missing or broken teeth, how awful their mouths are and I just can't see anything weird during the chat. Then we do the x-rays and I can see they miss almost all the back teeth for example, but I would never guess just from chatting to them. I know losing teeth is a huge thing for you and it would be for me too. But you won't look any different than you do now after the extractions.

About acting weirdly.. I second Aj64. if this happens, it's not only about they have seen it all but it's about that it doesn't matter. Your dental team will be focused on the work that needs to get done and on your comfort, they won't really care about how you act. People cry in a dental practice, faint, get panic attacks, talk a lot, do not talk at all, do weird jokes, act like we were murderers, make jokes about how they will run away and we will try to catch them (we of course won't), act like children and so on and so on and that's just fine (I believe it's similar in your job as well). Dental visits can be stressful and accompanying people in different states of mind is a part of the job. Also, you are not the only patient, remember there will be patients before your appointment and straight after that too so nobody will have time to reflect on how you acted anyway.

Sorry about your ordeal with the back molar last September, sounds awful and it's an achievment that you go to a dentist again after this experience. Keeping my fingers crossed for everything to go well today, let us know how you got on

Well it's 4 am and I'm laying here awake but exhausted, heart pounding out of my chest. I have to get up at 8:00 so it's not starting well. I was hoping to at least get some rest. Yesterday I got four hours of sleep. I just cannot get my mind to calm down. I'd take a Benadryl or a Tylenol 3 but I'm scared it will interfere with the sedation med and I had no instructions on what to do or what not to do so I lay here frustrated. I do appreciate all the support here but I'm really suffering.... this is awful and I just want it to go away. Thank you everyone. ?

 

[Enarete]

Well it's 4 am and I'm laying here awake but exhausted, heart pounding out of my chest. I have to get up at 8:00 so it's not starting well. I was hoping to at least get some rest. Yesterday I got four hours of sleep. I just cannot get my mind to calm down. I'd take a Benadryl or a Tylenol 3 but I'm scared it will interfere with the sedation med and I had no instructions on what to do or what not to do so I lay here frustrated. I do appreciate all the support here but I'm really suffering.... this is awful and I just want it to go away. Thank you everyone. ?

Poor you, I don't even know what to say.. Sending you virtual hugs and well wishes, hang on there.. I wrote a journal here on DFC in the moments of feeling most paralyzed and it mostly helped, if you want to give it a try.

 

[Joselyn]

Poor you, I don't even know what to say.. Sending you virtual hugs and well wishes, hang on there.. I wrote a journal here on DFC in the moments of feeling most paralyzed and it mostly helped, if you want to give it a try.

Wouldn't even know where to begin with a journal.

 

[Enarete]

Wouldn't even know where to begin with a journal.

Here is our journal section, if you ever would like to write. How are you doing? Counting hours it seems you are either shortly before the visit or it's even over already?

 

[Joselyn]

Here is our journal section, if you ever would like to write. How are you doing? Counting hours it seems you are either shortly before the visit or it's even over already?

My appt is at 3:30. I have to be there at 2:30 to take the meds. It's 10:00 and I'm exhausted and feel sick. I just pray I make it through because I don't feel good. So... long day ahead of me and four more hours until I leave. I can't sleep... had about four hours of broken sleep. Thank you.

 

[Aj64]

Wishing you all the best. Let us all know how it goes. Sending loads of luck to you

 

[Joselyn]

Wishing you all the best. Let us all know how it goes. Sending loads of luck to you

Thank you. The appt had to be cancelled again because I didn't have anyone to stay at the dental office with me because of sedation. Re-scheduled for Thursday. I was so ready to get it over with. ?‍

 

[Aj64]

Sorry to hear that. Try and stay focused on it soon being over. Thursday isnt too far off

 

[Enarete]

Oh, also sorry to read that. So your son couldn't go with you as planned? How do you feel now? Were you able catch upon some sleep by now?