Will I die? Multiple extractions under local tomorrow!

[SkyBlue92]

Okay so the title is a little dramatic to some but then that's what anxiety is, right?

As the title suggests I'm due to have multiple (3 possibly 4) upper teeth out tomorrow's row under local anaesthetic alone and I'm petrified. I'm high risk so it will have to be done at a hospital the hospital is in the middle of nowhere (in the middle of a warehouse estate!!) they don't have intensive care should anything go wrong and they don't specialise in dentistry as they do operations there for hips legs arms etc. It's more of a treatment centre. It used to be a hospital. They've given me a leaflet on local anaesthetic which says there is a risk of death!? I'm so scared! When I get toothache it affects my face, my arm my hand and leg all on the same side...

What if I start getting agonising pain everywhere else but my mouth due to the nerves connected??

What if they inject it into a blood vessel and/or I bleed too much (I'm severely anaemic according to my doctor) what if the local goes to my heart and brain and damages me?

Also i get skipped beats where it feels like my heart stops for a few beats then struggles and strains to restart.. what if this is made worse from the anxiety and andrenaline from the situation? Not to mention the EPI in the local anaesthetic. Argh! I want this over with but I'm so scared. All that's left is shards and roots - won't this make it more difficult to extract?!

im scared of fainting and I'm scared of my own anxiety killing me off!

im a mum of two and love my children dearly. I don't want to die I want to be there for them. Please, has anyone been in a similar situation? I have High bmi (I weigh nearly 15stone and am 5ft4 so that makes my bmi over obese! Also what with these horrible heart stutters which apparently is just anxiety but I'm not convinced.. plus the aneamia.. I just want to cancel it and put my head in the sand! But I'm in a bad way my gums are so bad they are even giving the skin on the other side of my lips that touches my gums ulcers! I also seem to have two abscesses high up on my gums away from my teeth.

I read about bachs remedy apparently it's natural and helps relieve anxiety. I want to try this but will it cause a reaction with the local? Or will it be okay? Has anyone tried it?

if anyone could answer any of my questions I'd be so so grateful!

To hear of your experiences of extractions too (especially under local) would be ever so helpful! Anything that you would/wouldn't advise? Any tips for staying calm when panicking? Tia! X

 

[Sevena]

Hospitals (and I assume a treatment centre that is technically sort of a hospital?) have to give out leaflets like that just to cover their own butts - it doesn't mean there's a high chance anything bad will happen. Local anesthetic is statistically very safe - safer than getting in a vehicle and other everyday things. When bad reactions do occur, they don't kill you dead. Very rarely (and I mean very) people will have a bad reaction like dizziness etc, but these are temporary. There's nothing to worry about. I get heart palpitations too, but local never made them any worse.

Retrieving shards and roots is actually not very complicated, and shouldn't take too long. The worst parts of extractions for many people are the forceful feeling of the tooth being shimmied out (they don't actually *pull*), and you shouldn't have that. Gums heal quickly too.

The Bachs stuff is pretty much just placebo. There's no evidence it does anything else. That said, I would err on the side of not taking it before a procedure just in case, though I doubt it would cause a problem.

Anemia, heart palpitations, and high BMI are not uncommon physical occurrences, and any oral surgeon will have performed many procedures on people with those conditions. It's all part of their job.

I promise you won't die.

 

[tigerstripedred]

Not sure if you've gone for your appointment yet or not...but sending good thoughts.
They always say things like that not matter what level of anesthetic they are using. You are having it done at a treatment center sounds like an oral surgery similar to wear I went to have my wisdom teeth done. These places exist because they are better prepared to deal with any possible reactions or issues that could occur. Will they occur probably not...but they are better prepared and trained to deal with it all and also have extra staff available for closer monitoring to prevent or catch potential problems before they become an issue.

Also they have been specially trained to put the local in correctly you will be ok and not all of the types they use have epi in them. I was looking at an infographic of all the different types of possible locals and what they are used for not too long ago.

I have used Bachs rescue remedy. I thought it was placebo too..until I took a couple prior to an appointment (totally forgot all about taking it by the time I arrived) My dentist walked in (at this point she knew me very well and definitely knows how I usually am) and ask me if I took a valium. I ask her why (because she knows I am 100% against any non holistic meds unless I'm dying lol) And she said I was abnormally calm. I didn't even remember the bachs I had taken until I arrived home and saw the container on the desk.
I didn't have any issues with it interacting however if you are worried since you are high risk you might try an essential oil like lavender instead.. (should be able to find that in the same store you would find the bach rescue remedy.) i usually rub a drop on my wrists and some on my upper chest...I don't bother diluting lavender oil personally but technically all essential oils should be mixed in a carrier oil if used on skin. (a little coconut oil works great) a little goes a long way for both of those.

Taking something with you that helps you relax is also helpful. For the first year I took a small beanbag bear (Tori) because I dunno it made me call and I thought of the place she came from Australia and how 2 friends of mine have matching (siblings) as we got them on a trip together. I kind of felt like they were there supporting me and i had something in my hands to squeeze or whatever and ground myself...etc. I probably would still take her if I didn't walk 4 miles to appointments most of the time and don't carry a bag to carry her in...
I was 31 when I started going back...no one in the office that saw her being strangled in my hand ever batted an eye at the fact that I'm an adult that is carrying a stuffed animal in the dental chair. So if you think something like that will help put it in your purse.
Be mindful of taking deep slow breathes...that helps too. And let them know how nervous you are before they get started...( the more they know the better they can help you stay calm and keep calm) And remember you do not have to do all 4 today really.
If you decide halfway through that you are at your stress limit you can tell them. I'm not sure how long the wait time is or how you go about booking things where you live as I am in the US but there is nothing set in stone that says you have to do it all today even if it is scheduled that way.
*hugs*

 

[SkyBlue92]

Thankyou to both of you for replying! I'm currently on route to the treatment centre. My stomach feels like a washing machine.. I don't know if I'll be able to go though with all the extractions.. Only one of those are actually bothering me so I'll probably aim to atleast get that one out after all of this. I just hope I can make it to the other side and come home! So scared of medication and things that are not natural. I'm scared how my body will react.. I haven't used the bachs in the end (didn't get a chance to get it!) and don't have a teddy as comforting as that would be and a great idea for grounding. Thankyou to both of you for your reassurance advice and sharing your experience. Hopefully I will be able to update soon x

 

[tigerstripedred]

You can do it...and you will be fine with the local! Aim for the one that is bothering you at least...or whatever you can cope with beyond that. If you don't finish it's ok. But do try to go on and schedule the rest before you go home...The longer I have given myself a break the more of a scary thing it becomes...At least if you need to have a second appointment in a few weeks you can try some of the other things to help calm your nerves more. Really being nervous is probably the worst part in the end.

PS. I am a holistic/natural person too. But I have had plenty of local anesthetic. It will be ok.

 

[krlovesherkids777]

I'm thinking of you too here!! I agree with Tiger.. Nerves are really the worst part, they hit you so hard.. before you know it you will be done and the other side of the chair.. One step at a time..if you only do the one tooth then you've done great, even if you just show up!! It takes courage!! Let us know how it goes