Panic attacks due to needles – can’t breathe and almost pass out

[teenbora]

I am happy I found this forum, nobody take me seriously and just laughs at me when I talk to them about what happens when I get needles at the dentist. Just thinking about going to the dentist for a filling our root canal gives me anxiety, sick to my stomach. A few minutes after the needle is put into my gums and the freezing solution is in my blood, I start to breath very heavy, my heart starts to race and it feels like am suffocating and dyeing. Right around this time, the room starts to spin and everything goes black and white and I am on the verge of passing out.
This first happened 16 years ago when I was 14. I thought I was allergic to the freezing solution, I late found out that this is very very rare and it is definitely anxiety. The doctor had left the room and I couldn’t call out to anyone. A nurse just happen to walk by and saw me gasping for air. 4 years ago, I had a have a root canal and I told them about my condition. They provided me with a pill that pretty much made me pass out and they were able to get to work and I didn’t really care what they were doing. 6 months later the root canal didn’t take and had to have the tooth removed. The laws had changed in Ontario and doctors are no longer allowed to issue the pills that made me not care. After 3 needles and 8 to go, I started the heavy breathing and everything when white and black. The nurse gave me oxygen, but it didn’t help.
I have been putting off an implant since then as I don’t want to pay the $1200 to knock me out as it is not covered by insurance. My rear molar chipped over xmas and I am scheduled to get it fixed on Tuesday. I know they will need to freeze my gums and am dredging stepping foot in the office. I am going to try some breathing exercises, but I know it won’t help. I really wish I didn’t have this issue. I take really good care of my teeth and have flossed every single day for the last 13 or so years so I never need to get a needle again. I guess that didn’t help. If anyone can provide me with tips or how they overcame this issue, please let me know..
Thanks

 

[comfortdentist]

Ontario dentists can give drugs just need to be trained. I've was referred a pt. with this problem about 2 years ago and he did fine. You just need the right dentist to work with your panic attack

 

[icosagon]

I'm in Toronto. I recently had an implant placed under sedation at the University of Toronto Dental School Oral Reconstruction Centre. The total added cost for IV sedation was on the order of $200, and included an anesthiologist managing the sedation. If you're not near Toronto, there are also other universities with dental schools in the province.

 

[CharlotteRaynsford]

Hey,
It must be horrible to feel so frightened and know that the treatment is often necessary. Have you tried asking for/ looking for dentists that use 'Vibraject'?
Its a small vibrating device that attaches to the needle and works on the Gate Control Theory / Vibrations to stop the pain of Injections. Widely used in The U.S and also now here in the UK.

The Vibraject

The Vibraject is a device for dental injections which takes away the sensation of dental injections. Murray Hawkins explains how it works and where to buy it.

www.dentalfearcentral.org

All the best.

 

[FearfulInMA]

teenbora,

I have had similar experiences -- actually completely passed out once. Can I ask, have you noticed if this happens when you are sitting straight up? I found that, for me, I have what is called a vaso-vagel response (at first I also thought that I had an allergy to the anesthetic, but vaso-vagel responses are WAY more common) -- it's a common fear response. A few things have helped me:

1. Knowing what it is and being able to anticipate what will happen... though I am still taken off guard sometimes if the reaction is more severe than usual.

2. Asking that injections are given to me with me lying flat back and asking to stay that way until I feel comfortable to sit up. A vaso-vagel response causes blood to rush to the extremities, so lying flat helps gravity bring it back to the core and the brain. I have been told that the anesthetic works better if you are sitting, so I try to gauge for myself when I'm feeling ok to sit up.

3. I remind myself over and over again that even though I'm feeling panicked and feel like my heart is racing and like I may pass out that nothing bad is going to happen.

4. I have spent a lot of time practicing getting my breathing and heart rate under control through deep breathing. I always take a very deep breath (and let it out) before the injections begin and try to remember to keep breathing during and after the injections. It took me quite a bit of time to learn to do this and, at first, I had to practice doing it during times that I was just a little anxious (like when making an appt or when having anxiety about other things). It also took me a while to get good at it and to have confidence in my ability to use deep breathing effectively. The time spent has been well worth it b/c it is really so effective -- I won't take anxiety medications for personal reasons, but I do believe that the breathing, for me, can work just as well. When I do it right, I can get myself into a really calm place.

5. I ask for a break at the first sign that I am starting to feel woozy (more than just anxious... light headed, etc.). I find it's much better for me if I can calm myself down with deep breathing and then continue rather than to "tough it out" and let things get really out of control. I always warn the dentist (especially if it's a new dentist for me) that I have passed out and that I may get quite woozy and that I will ask for a break if I feel that this may be happening. This way, they know that, if I raise my hand that I am really serious about needing a break NOW -- b/c no dentist wants you passing out on her/his watch.

I just wrote all of this and then realized that you may have already had your appt. If so, I hope it went as well as can be expected. I also hope that some of this might be helpful if you ever need it in the future.

Best of luck to you.