Should I go to A&E?

[Isthismykarma]

Had lower wisdom teeth out on Thursday and been on two lots of antibiotics since, amoxicillin and another one beginning with n maybe.
Woke up in severe pain at 3am and since then the ibuprofen and paracetamol have barely dulled it. Rang the dentist at 9am and they said to just keep going with the ibuprofen and antibiotics. Rang 111 at about 4 and a dental nurse called me back and basically said the same.
My right side is really swollen and a red patch has formed which has spread. This is what worries me most. I’ve attached pics - one taken at 3am and one at 5pm.

Fingers crossed steroids and different antibiotics knock the infection on the head. Does that mean you are allowed to eat/drink again?

Bloody teeth! Hope you’re feeing better soon OP.

Hope you are ok x

She's been to A&E. Why are you telling her to go back?

How frustrating. I hope all goes well and you feel better soon. Now is probably the time to make sure you are written up fir appropriate pain relief and it is available for when you might need it.

Have you anyone who can come to visit you this afternoon? Maybe bring change of clothes, toiletries, sudoku puzzles, phone charger? Hope the antibiotics and steroids work but if you need surgery tomorrow it will be fine. Glad you went to A & E though it's a worry when you realise that's where you needed to be.

Oh you poor thing. I really don’t think your own dentist should have told you to just ride out the antibiotics. I had a nasty wisdom tooth infection a few months back and the dentist wanted to see me every day for 2-3 days to make sure it wasn’t getting worse/compromising air way as I couldn’t open my mouth. He said that he’d needed to send someone to A&e that week for an infected wisdom tooth as the swelling was worrying and was watching my closely in case I needed an IV.

Hope your feeling better soon.

I’ve just seen this and from the photos thought yes, go immediately to A&E. Hopefully you won’t need surgery 💐

They started the antibiotics at 6am and I think I’ve had three flushes through an IV or maybe that’s steroids too.
At 9am morphine still wasn’t touching it and was on a paracetamol drip, threw up all the water I’d drank and had the drip taken off me and think I was given some anti sickness but not sure.
I managed to fall asleep and have woke up feeling almost completely fine!!! I could cry from relief. Over 2 hours with no pain relief and I feel slightly tender but that’s it, refreshed from my nap after a few sleepless nights, and ate some mash and gravy which felt like a huge step. Medicine is a wonderful thing!
So crazy how quickly this has turned around and feeling confident if this stays the same way I won’t be having surgery tomorrow. But if I do then that’s okay too.
My boyfriend is coming for visiting 2-4 and bringing a book and some films downloaded on his iPad for me. My parents are coming 6-8 so lots of company fortunately!
Thanks once again for all of the messages they’re very much appreciated x

That sounds really encouraging OP. When you've been suffering pain and have all the worry plus lack of sleep it makes you feel even worse as it's so draining. Some decent sleep can make all the difference. I once spent a weekend back and forth from A&E and IV paracetamol was brilliant when morphine did nothing! Fingers crossed this has turned the corner and continues to improve.

Also this is encouraging in terms of how the NHS is recognising the dangers of infection becoming sepsis. A family member was admitted in similar circumstances for an infection, not teeth related, but it was taken very seriously just recently.

I just wanted to say I'm glad they're on top of it and that you're feeling improved. My son has had similar things going on with his teeth & gums this year and we've been back and forth getting him antibiotics. I hope this fixes it for you!

Gosh op - seems you had excellent treatment and are on the up. Hope you feel better soon and no surgery.

That’s brilliant @Isthismykarma
Relieved for you!

Good to see a positive update OP, especially as hospitals are very stretched this weekend due to the strike. Sounds like a good outcome either way.

If you’re hungry but not into food I can recommend Huel drinks.

Glad you’re feeling much better! You must have been tired to be able to sleep on a ward.

Or simply the other hospital has a dental department! She needs surgery, my guess is there was some root left behind which needs a dental surgeon to remove! Why would they admit her to somewhere that cannot do the necessary treatment 🤦‍♀️

As a healthcare professional the strike is not well supported, non of our residents are striking, so I suspect the BMA rigged the vote! However, she needs a dental surgeon hence transferring her to another hospital and they’re not part of the strike action!

On the one hand, good that the strike isn't well supported. On the other, I can't imagine a strike vote was taken and counted outside of statute.

I agree. For example, within a 20 mile radius of where we live there is a specialist opthalmic hospital, a specialist dental hospital, one that has a specialist burns treatment unit, another which has a brain injuries unit. You get referred to the appropriate place for the treatment needed.

Sending you hugs OP

Good luck OP, very much hoping you won’t need surgery. Get better soon 💐

That's great It's amazing how quickly ABs work if the the right AB and given IV . Hopefully you will be home later today or tomorrow with oral ABs.

I was referred to the other hospital as they are are the closest one with a maxillofacial (sp?) surgeon on call which is apparently who I needed to be seen by. We have a dental hospital nearby soon so was a bit surprised I wasn’t referred to that one.
No roots left over, the surgeon actually said the dentist did a good job of the removal just bad luck that it’s infected. They said it’s like a huge abscess full of pus in my jaw basically 😳
Thanks again for the messages, just ordered some more mash and gravy for tea!

A&E / risk of ludwigs angina which is life threatening.