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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

In so much pain

107 replies

pizzaface23 · 01/06/2024 19:49

I'm awaiting extraction on a wisdom tooth and a molar. The molar is badly decayed, I saw the xray and although it looks fine on the outside, the inside just looks black. I'm in so much pain. The pain seems to be inside the tooth and gum but is radiating around the jaw bone and up the side of my face. I've been getting by with strong painkillers and am on day 2 of antibiotics prescribed by the dentist on Thursday.
I'm hoping that the antibiotics will kick in and this will improve. If not I have no idea what to do. The thought of carrying on like this for even a few weeks is terrifying. I have a 5 year old and a toddler and I'm just wiped out from the pain.
Has anyone else had this? Did antibiotics work temporarily? If there's no improvement by the end of the course I feel like I'm just going to pay privately to get them taken out. Can't afford it but can't afford to feel like this for much longer either. Will antibiotics help if the infection is inside the tooth? There's no visible abscess or anything like that.

OP posts:
NoCoco · 03/06/2024 10:16

I had this years ago and remember having to switch antibiotics for a stronger one. The pain is just another level.
I found solphadine the best alternated with ibuprofen. Nothing hot, try cold drinks, salt water rinses also really helped. Hope you get sorted soon

Just1234 · 03/06/2024 10:09

Oh OP this is rotten! I would absolutely call your dentist and ask if you should still be in this much pain on day 3 of antibiotics.

Tooth pain is one of worst things to suffer and can be so deliberating .

Really hoping you find some relief soon

Original poster
pizzaface23 · 03/06/2024 09:48

I have contacted the dental hospital and said I'm willing to pay privately to have the teeth removed, the surgeon will apparently ring me back later with a quote and hopefully they should be able to get me in this week. But this week could still be Friday or maybe even next week if there are any issues.
There just doesn't seem to be any urgency.
I'm wondering if I should contact my dentist too and ask for a different course of antibiotics but I'm only half way through the current course so maybe they'll want me to finish that first.

OP posts:
DancelikeFredAstaire · 03/06/2024 07:44

I feel your pain OP...literally. I wear a partial denture and one of my "anchoring" teeth is crumbling. The pain is beyond anything I've ever experienced (worse than childbirth) and if I was to give it a score it would be a high 9. My face has swollen on one side and any movement just causes more pain in my jaw. I can only take paracetamol and that's not making 1 bit of difference. I'm hoping that my dentist can get me in today and get the bugger out (it's wobbly so a quick tug should do it). I've had no sleep since Friday and have lived off yoghurts. I'm lucky in that I have no DC to take care of so sympathies OP. I hope you get it sorted very soon.

feliciabirthgiver · 03/06/2024 07:42

Paramol (in the black packet) is the only thing that touches tooth pain you can get it from over the counter at a pharmacy, that combined with the antibiotics should start to help you (but I did end up paying privately to have my wisdom tooth extracted). I hope you feel better soon.

Original poster
pizzaface23 · 03/06/2024 07:30

ageratum1 · 03/06/2024 07:16

You poor thing! I think today the anti Bs will kick in x

I don't know whether to wait it out or request some others. I can't think straight from tiredness and pain.
I will be ringing the dental hospital and seeing about having it done privately though. Can't cope. But not sure if they'd do it with this infection anyway.

OP posts:
Oblomov24 · 03/06/2024 07:26

So sorry for you. Be careful of the constipation pain from pain killers aswell, might want to consider some prune juice, or a dulcolax.

ageratum1 · 03/06/2024 07:16

You poor thing! I think today the anti Bs will kick in x

MontyDonsBlueScarf · 03/06/2024 07:13

OP I'm so sorry it's this bad.
I'd phone the dental hospital and find out how long a referral is likely to take and whether there's any way it can be accelerated. Also ask about the process and costs of going privately. You need to know so you can make a decision now. If you do end up choosing to pay then you may as well do it now rather than suffering like this for days first.

Original poster
pizzaface23 · 03/06/2024 07:08

Unabletomitigate · 03/06/2024 06:53

Not to be alarmist, but if you have an infection you need to get it sorted. The jaw to the brain is a very short trip for an infection.

I've been trying since it started hurting, it's not easy to see a dentist and it's certainly not quick to get a tooth pulled. I have got antibiotics but they don't appear to be working and I admit I've thought the same about the brain and other areas of the body because I feel so shocking. I will ring the dentist again today, hopefully they can help.

OP posts:
Unabletomitigate · 03/06/2024 06:53

Not to be alarmist, but if you have an infection you need to get it sorted. The jaw to the brain is a very short trip for an infection.

Zanatdy · 03/06/2024 06:45

I’d ring the dentist as soon as they open, might be able to prescribe stronger antibiotics. Ask them about paying privately too. Tooth pain is horrendous so my heart goes out to you

hopsalong · 03/06/2024 06:43

Go on the NHS website and look for a dentist.

I think at the beginning of the new financial year the situation improves. I couldn't find one within 20 miles in March -- now there are ten with space within five miles of me.

Pjmaskmummy · 03/06/2024 05:49

Toothache is one of the most debilitating pains as there's not a lot that helps and if you have an infection dentists like it to have cleared first to reduce the risk of the infection spreading. Antibiotics take 48 hours to start working so if you're feeling worse you definitely need to go back to them.

Original poster
pizzaface23 · 03/06/2024 05:37

I've been alternating codeine and ibuprofen which was working quite well but last night it didn't touch it. I used an ice pack throughout the night which gave some temporary relief but honestly I'm shattered and feel so unwell.
I did consider ringing 111 but not sure what they'd be able to do.

OP posts:
HashB · 03/06/2024 05:20

dottiedodah · 03/06/2024 05:06

Sorry you're in so much pain.Are you taking normal paracetamol. Maybe swap for Paramol .check OK with chemist to be sure .this was the only thing that worked for me.8

I found paramol interspersed with ibruprofen the best pain relief approach you can get over the counter (albeit I suppose it depends on your pain level to start with).

dottiedodah · 03/06/2024 05:06

Sorry you're in so much pain.Are you taking normal paracetamol. Maybe swap for Paramol .check OK with chemist to be sure .this was the only thing that worked for me.8

HashB · 03/06/2024 04:55

@pizzaface23 if you’re worrying over calling in sick when you’re in this much agony, you’re clearly not someone who takes the p*ss with sick days.
Call in sick and see what the hospital/emergency dentist can do to help you.
Not that you’ll require much dramatics but lay it on extra thick and push as hard as you’ve got the energy for treatment.

Hope you feel better soon.

Original poster
pizzaface23 · 03/06/2024 04:42

Thank you for replying at this time @Octavia64

I felt knackered today but as soon as I got to bed I just knew I wouldn't be sleeping. So a day at work, in pain and on no sleep isn't exactly appealing either. I really, really just want these teeth out now.

OP posts:
Octavia64 · 03/06/2024 04:39

Bad stomach will absolutely be down to the antibiotics - common side effect.

Honestly when I had this the pain was so bad. I couldn't have worked through it.

Octavia64 · 03/06/2024 04:37

Amoxicillin is penicillin.

It's the first line antibiotic but it's not particularly strong.

Go back and ask for stronger. Metronidazole (sp?) is stronger and more specific for dental infections.

Original poster
pizzaface23 · 03/06/2024 04:34

Update : I've been up all night with the pain. I thought things would be improving the more antibiotics I took but if anything it's getting worse. I can't get comfy in any position. The pain is all the way up my face/jaw bone now.
I've also had a bad stomach which could be down to the antibiotics and/or pain relief.
I don't know what to do. I'm meant to be at work in a few hours but I can barely function.
Do I try and get new antibiotics as these ones aren't doing anything ( still only day 3). Do I try and beg an emergency appointment to get them removed? Don't know how likely this is even if I offer to pay privately.
I honestly have never been in so much pain. But I'm worried toothache will sound like a stupid reason to call in sick over.

OP posts:
Emmadaily · 02/06/2024 12:20

BarbedButterfly · 02/06/2024 10:39

I have an abcess and an infection and am also waiting for a dental hospital, though my only option is private. The antibiotics have helped after a few days. Earlier in the week I was sobbing in agony and I have RA so no stranger to pain. Lots of sympathy and hang in there

That's absolutely awful for you
This on top of RA !
You have my sympathy as i know the pain of RA
Hopefully you don't have to wait long now for your dental appointment at least for now your antibiotics have helped x

Original poster
pizzaface23 · 02/06/2024 12:12

Ginmonkeyagain · 02/06/2024 12:04

I had metronidazole and it did clear everything within a few days - it was horrible though!

I did not have the offending wisdom tooth out in the end as it was deemed healthy. I am now on a regular course of extra cleaning around the tooth by the hygienist.

Sounds very similar to me. Initially I thought it was the wisdom tooth that was decaying but since having the x rays they've said it's actually the molar next to it thats severely decayed and causing all of the problems. I probably partly down to the wisdom tooth though as it makes it harder get to the molar to clean it fully.
I've had about a third of the amoxicillin and still feel shocking so I'll wait another day or so and maybe request metronidazole if there's no improvement.

OP posts:
Ginmonkeyagain · 02/06/2024 12:04

I had metronidazole and it did clear everything within a few days - it was horrible though!

I did not have the offending wisdom tooth out in the end as it was deemed healthy. I am now on a regular course of extra cleaning around the tooth by the hygienist.