To want to remove my own head?

[LetMeAtTheWine]

I am suffering from toothache which is causing an unbelievable amount of pain. A trip to the dentist confirmed it is an infection due to my wisdom teeth but they won't give me anything of any substance because I am pregnant. Corsodyl gel, paracetamol and salt water rinses are the recommendation - none of which are helping barely slept because of the pain and have now developed earache.

If I am this pathetic now, what am I going to be like during labour?

Am I being in unreasonable in thinking the removal of my own head will make the pain go away?

[AKissIsNotAContract]

Corsodyl gel will be better than mouthwash as it's more viscous and you can focus it where you need it using a single tufted toothbrush (which helps reduce the unhelpful side effect of staining all your teeth brown).

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

Yes..do use the Corsodyl and salt water rinses too..they are the treatment for pericoronitis..pkus ABs in severe cases ( ones with swelling)

[Bedtime1]

Also keep doing the warm salt water rinse outs. They seem to make it worse at first then it eases off. Have you also got a warm hot water bottle that you could hold to face/neck?

[Bedtime1]

Let me - corsodyl does work. Your only supposed to use it for 2 weeks max. When I get gum infection I firstly have a brush with a little head on can't remember name then dip it in corsodyl then go over infected area. Then swill your mouth out/ gargle with some too, keep doing it a few times a day.

The other thing that might help numb it is oraldene. It helps with infections. It's like a mouthwash but medicated. You will have to check wether you can use it when pregnant.

Don't know if you can use both together though.

[MrsTerryPratchett]

Something I'm expert in, yay.

I had a tooth messed with in pregnancy and it was totally worrying and painful. Then I was induced for 3 days, labour for one, CS and recovery. I was AWESOME during everything except the tooth. The tooth was horrible. Labour was bloody painful and crazy but I was in control for everything except the CS.

You will be great at labour. Get the drugs for the tooth.

[LetMeAtTheWine]

Fanjo, am thinking about just taking them and telling them on Wednesday that have started them. They told me to use corsodyl but when I have looked at the info it doesn't say it can clear infection so not sure what the point is?!

Bedtime, the GP has given me prescription for AB's but said only to take them if dentist thinks it is necessary. Spoke to dentist and told them that and they said to continue with salt and corsodyl then go back on Wednesday. Sorry to hear about bunny, hope she is ok.

[Bedtime1]

Hi let me,

It's totally crap! If you are awake because of pain in middle of night then you know it's bad. Could you see gp again on emergency later today?

I'm awake because of over thinking. I'm over tired and my old bunny had op yesterday and she's at vets overnight and I'm waiting till I can ring in the morning to see if she's been okay in night.

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

Phone and tell them your face is swollen, and then get and take the ABs, it would be more dangerous not to take them if you have swelling. They should also see you before Wednesday with these new symptoms.

[LetMeAtTheWine]

Well, I have been taking co-codamol which is providing some pain relief but generally wearing off a couple of hours before I can take next dose. Phoned the dentist and said doc was prepared to prescribe AB's if warrented and they said I should just go back and see them on Wednesday instead, continuing with salt rinses and corsodyl in the meantime.

I know there is a prescription of amoxiclav (?) waiting and am really tempted just to get it and start taking them. Face has swollen a bit (not massively) and have earache. Can't see how this will just clear itself and will be really pissed off if on Wed they tell me to take AB's, thereby just having delayed the whole process.

Been in tears again because of the pain and still considering chopping off my own head. Can't even drink through the pain which is quite annoying as well!

[CaptainVonTrapp]

Get some antibiotics!

I would rather give birth again than have a tooth absess. Its just the worse thing.

Hope you're feeling better.

[Twattybollocks]

It wasn't bad for the full 11 weeks, I would have jumped off a bridge! Basically each time it partially cleared with the amoxycillin but a couple of weeks later would come back for revenge. They eventually gave me co-amoxiclav which is amoxycillin and something else which makes it more effective and that's what eventually got rid of it. Sadly the abcess damaged my jaw bone meaning that they can't now put an implant in and I have a gaping crater where my tooth was. The pain was bad enough but the frustration of being passed from the gp to the dentist and back nearly drove me to distraction.

[LetMeAtTheWine]

Twattybollocks that sounds awful - 11 weeks of it?! Luckily GP has been fab - i asked receptionist if i could speak to someone, no-one available so left details and within an hour they phoned me and said they had faxed a prescription for co-codamol to pharmacy and are willing to prescribe antibiotics as long as I speak to the dentist to make sure they are warranted and it isn't a minor infection that will clear with salt rinses. Doesn't bloody feel minor but will see what they say! Happy days!

[Cherriesarelovely]

First of all you are not pathetic. I had exactly the same when I thought I might be pregnant and it was horrendous. I feel for you greatly! In the end I went to hospital and they found an antibbiotic I could take and I had it on IV. Really hope you get some relief soon you poor thing.

[Twattybollocks]

I had an awful abscess and infected dry socket after the damn tooth was removed. It started the day after I found out I was pregnant at just under 4 weeks and I finally got rid of the infection at 15 weeks, after 4 courses of antibiotics. I found the dentist to be helpful but limited (could only prescribe amoxycillin) and the gp to be a pain in the arse because it was a tooth I had a battle to get them to see me let alone prescribe anything! Eventually in desperation I went to a&e as I hadn't been eating or drinking properly due to the pain, I developed earache and a swollen face. They gave me a different antibiotic (still safe) and some decent painkillers. I would have happily married the bloody a&e doctor that night.
So to summarise, there are stronger painkillers which are perfectly safe in pregnancy (not ibuprofen as you are close to third trimester) and there are plenty of antibiotics you can take which are also safe. Having a tooth access for 2 months isn't a valid option IMO and salt water applied to the top of the tooth will have fuck all effect on what's going on underneath, in the same way that putting savlon cream on the top of an abscess will not make the access go away!

[BubblegumPie]

I had a tooth infection when I was pregnant and they gave me antibiotics which then gave me thrush

[LetMeAtTheWine]

Ok, thanks everyone. Am at the doctors surgery for something else this morning so going to see if I can speak to a doc when I am there, failing that will try to get something from the dentist again.
Here's hoping the doc can do it!

[madamginger]

Dentists cannot prescribe codeine in any form ie co-codamol.

[womblingalong]

It is awful, you poor thing. i had to have a root canal when nursing, and had noting but paracetamol, it was hell. Tooth pain does make you want to cut your head off, and is nothing like labour, don't worry.

I second what HollyBush says, go back to the dentist and insist on AB's, you will start to feel better in a day or two

[LetMeAtTheWine]

Aah, don't say that holly! It's a right trek to the dentist and I live quite rural and am without a car for today. The thought of public transport hurts almost as much as the toothache! Will they not give me something if I cry at them?

[ChairmanWow]

I was prescribed painkillers by my GP because I couldn't get in at the dentist. Maybe some do and some don't and it was about 10 years ago. Worth a call to the surgery maybe? I'd also mention that the dentist won't give you ABs. You can't be left in so much pain with no treatment.

[IsThatTrue]

Get yourself to another dentist, I had 3 lots of antibiotics while pregnant. And I'm sure you're allowed co codamol for pain relief. DS was fine with the antibiotics and is now 10 weeks old and shouting at me.

I hope it gets better. Toothache is much worse than labour!

[HollyBerryBush]

The doctor cannot prescribe for toothache - it has to be the dentist.

[LetMeAtTheWine]

Thanks everyone. Will have a trip to the doc's today and see if they can give me anything. I didn't realise you could still take things - just keep getting told to take paracetamol, which doesn't seem to do much at all...

[storminabuttercup]

I had a wisdom tooth infection in pregnancy and completely sympathise with you, I was given AB's and luckily they cleared it up. I would go back. In my opinion tooth ache, ear ache and tonsillitis are the three worse pains! (And I had a horrid labour and can still confirm that's correct)

Hope you feel better soon