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.

Why don't people read the previous comments before commenting themselves??

Yup.

And the dental emergency line would probably have sent her to the right place initially. Whereas the route she went was A&E to out of hours GP to a different hospital……

I would phone 111 and request an walk in appointment (who can transfer you to the correct department or prescribe drugs) or emergency dental appointment unless you feel your breathing is restricted.

A&E will likely just send you away (I have been through it).

Unfortunately there is very little help for issues like this. I have been through it and cried on the floor of A&E after months of pain with no help myself and doctors won't touch it they insist it has to be a dentist. I got bounced from department to department and STILL am getting referals from one to another and its 5 years later (although the abcess is now gone now its just the bone damage left).

Swelling is the things doctors might hone in on as an 'emergency' if it could be cellulitis but as long as the airway is safe then A&E won't care much.

I only opened this thread so I could marvel at the "A&E now!!" posts hours after the OP has confirmed she's already gone. There'll be more yet.

Glad to hear it, op! Hope your recovery continues to go well.

The antibiotics should tackle any infection. You only had the teeth out on Thursday, it's Sunday now. How are you doing? I think it should be settling down by now. You have my sympathy, I had two impacted molars extracted in January, took one and a quarter hours to dig out.

I wouldnt risk sepis. Absolutely would go

She's been. She is in hospital on drips to answer the last few people on here. Read up before you answer.

Glad you're sorted OP and hope it continues in the right direction.

Yep amazing the number of people who open a 24hr old thread and make themselves look like idiots by replying to original post.

You're a bit late to the party

Glad you are feeling a bit better. Im not very impressed by the advice given by your dentist, if you had of listened to them it could have got a lot worse.

The dental emergency line (if you mean the local dental 111 service) got a dental nurse to call me back who told me to leave it and it’ll be fine.
The OOO GP was based in the A&E, it was one of those where you get triaged and sent to either Urgent Care or OOO GP - two different waiting rooms next to each other in the hospital.

Glad you’re feeling better, OP. You were absolutely correct that this is a medical problem now, rather than a dental problem so ignore the fools berating you for going to A&E.

As a point of interest, maxillofacial surgeons are actually dentists…and doctors. You have to have BOTH a medical degree and dentistry degree.

Bloody hell that is an interesting fact! I’m 28 and assumed my surgeon was younger than me but she mustn’t have been.
Hats off to them - I found my three year business degree at a metropolitan uni a right slog 😂

@housethatbuiltme

I would.....read the thread or at least the OP's updates.

Yep, 5 years of med school, 2 years foundation training as a doctor, 2 years core surgical training, 3-5 years dentistry degree (there is only one fast track 3 year dentistry degree for doctors at Kings College ATM) before you even start maxillofacial surgery training. Or you can do 5 years of dental school, 4 years med school as a post grad, then foundation and core surgery training. 12 years minimum before you even start training in the field!

Pleased to see you are feeling so much better OP.

I had this a few months ago. It settled by the next day.

Thank goodness you are now on the mend. Phew! It certainly does sound like an ordeal.

LaLaLand
Good for you, she's on a drip in hospital.

That sounds pretty comprehensive. We have the same, but I suspect not within 20 miles for everyone in the trust area. Burns cases have to go out of area, but we have a neuro unit about 12 miles away from me, but a lot further for others as it's right on the edge of the boundary. The hospital dental service is in the children's hospital, but treats adults as well, and we have a dedicated eye hospital just across the road from the main hospital 7 miles away.

Mental health services are poor though. The MH hospital doesn't have sufficient capacity, and people in crisis often have to go out of area.

Yeah, thought you’d end up at a hospital big enough to have a max fax department.

Even your posts are sounding better OP 😊
Speedy recovery and hopefully no surgery

Enjoy your mash and gravy. Bet it's the best you've ever tasted after all that pain?
👍

Jog on mate