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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

In A&E with toothache

321 replies

Kakamora · 02/09/2018 21:03

Have just arrived at a&e. Approached the desk and said I don’t know if I can be seen, I don’t expect anything in terms of work but help with pain relief.

IVe had a severe tooth ache for 3 days. Gone through 4 packets of paracetamol and ibuprofen. Not ate. Not slept. Been sick from the pain, shaking and sweating it’s been that bad. Sobbed last night it was so bad.

The man and the front desk really snottily asked me ‘have you been to a emergency reception before ?’ Made me feel like shit. I know it’s not a typical reason to come to a&e but I don’t have a dentist and I’m in agony. I’m in no less pain than people with medical reasons. I feel even worse now

OP posts:
spugzbunny · 02/09/2018 22:02

OP emergency dental treatment in the UK is free. Please call 111 and get to a dentist as soon as you can.

Sforsh49 · 02/09/2018 22:02

Go to a 24 hour or late night chemist. Ask for co codamol. It has 8mg codeine in each one with 500mg paracetamol. Take 2. Get a friend to go in the chemist and ask for NUROFEN PLUS. It has 12.8mg codeine with 200mg ibuprofen. Take 2 at the same time. You’ll get 41mg codeine then. Prescription cocodamol is 30/500 so although it’s slightly less dose it will at least take the edge off your pain. Get your mate to tell the chemist the Nurofen is for period pain for them or their partner. You might at least get some sleep then. A&E could only issue a hospital prescription and the pharmacy that dispenses them will be closed (can only get hospital scripts dispensed there) so they’re not really fibbing. Toothache is awful!

Original poster
Kakamora · 02/09/2018 22:03

I live in Liverpool. I’m going to go to my GP first thing tomorrow before I call 111. She operates as a walk-in service in the mornings and she is absolutely lovely. I’m 90% she would prescribe me some decent pain killers until I get to a dentist.

OP posts:
ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 02/09/2018 22:03

If you are on means tested benefits don’t you get free dental care? If so, please get your dental treatment done.

Despacitoincognito · 02/09/2018 22:03

I"m another one that's been to A&E with dry socket. They gave me some weird painkiller that didn't take away the pain and made me hallucinate. The next day the dentist popped a dressing into it which instantly took the pain away. It was the biggest relief ever.

I can't say this strongly enough - GET CLOVE OIL. Especially clove oil gel as it's a bit more diluted but do it. It's absolutely miraculous for dental pain, better than any painkillers. It smells of dentists so they obviously use it too. It's what was in that dressing they put in my dry socket apparently but since then I've bought both neat oil and gel and it instantly cures toothache.

Wellfuckmeinbothears · 02/09/2018 22:04

That’s ok, lots of people aren’t registered why’ve a dentist. I’m really surprised you’ve been discharged, do you mind giving us an idea of what part of the U.K. you’re in? Or if you’re in Scotland/Ireland? It’s just there might be things we could do to help. I’m an a&e nurse and we wouldn’t have let you leave without pain relief or a care plan. I might be.able to help if I have a vague idea of where you are. I hate the thought of you being in pain another night x

perhapstomorrow · 02/09/2018 22:04

One thing that I've found makes toothache worse is lying down. So try and prop yourself up with pillows tonight and take the strongest painkillers you have. I think also swirling vodka around your mouth might help too. I hope you get it sorted tomorrow.

Seniorcitizen1 · 02/09/2018 22:04

Ffs - you should NOT be in A&E. Phone 111 and they will get you emergency appointment. What part of accident or emergency dont you understand

DieAntword · 02/09/2018 22:04

I went to out of hours with an abscess once (was already on antibiotics to treat but couldn’t stand the pain) and got given straight codeine, not even co codamol (which means I could take as many tablets as I needed without having to worry about paracetamol poisoning). It was a godsend and I could sleep finally.

AnchorDownDeepBreath · 02/09/2018 22:05

Are you on unemployment benefits? If so; you'll get treatment for free. If not; you may need to negotiate a payment plan. Do you have good credit?

For tonight; cold peas might take the edge off. And as someone who had scarily similar circumstances; ditch the coke now. Water or sugar free squash; even if you don't like them right now. You'll save yourself a world of pain later.

HopelessWanderer · 02/09/2018 22:05

Some of the things people go to A&E for, not being funny, but if OP was in agony, least they could do was try & find a dentist or hospital with dentist, plus sort out pain relief.

Sometimes toothache can be jaw ache or head pain.

Don't worry about not going to the Dentist, I didn't go for quite a few years, was expecting them to say I needed 20 fillings and everything was fine. Apart from the scale & polish on sensitive teeth which was torture.

Hope you get sorted OP.

UghNoWay · 02/09/2018 22:06

You poor, poor, poor OP 😞. I feel really sorry for you. Pain from toothache is the worst pain I’ve every had too...and I’ve given birth to 9lb babies without any painkillers 😭😭😭😭

It’s awful, truly awful. I had bad toothache and my dentist prescribed me with antibiotics and painkillers and told me to wait it out. It was agony and I couldn’t sleep or eat. I remember hitting my face and head to try and help,ease the pain. It’s making my eyes water thinking about it!

I really hope you get something sorted.

Menolly · 02/09/2018 22:06

@WrongKindOfFace What? as in actually could be dangerous? Shit, I've been relying on it for 2 days, would I know if it had made it worse?

PrickWhittington · 02/09/2018 22:06

A&E won't see you as dental is not actually a medical emergency

Are you medically qualified to say that? If not, don't. It's so irresponsible for all the people saying that and similar on here.

Having a baby is not usually a medical emergency either, but I bet most of you fucking well went to hospital then....Sheesh

OP - you say 4 packs of tablets you've taken for it in 3 days - have you taken over the amount the packs say at all? (not judging, asking as it's really important)

MoorMummy · 02/09/2018 22:06

No way are you AIBU! I developed unbearable facial pain, coming in waves where I could hardly breathe or talk. I was convinced I had trigeminal neuralgia ( a fairly devastating diagnosis if you google it). After being dosed up on high strength co codamol and mega ibuprofen , I then developed major chest pain. Rushed to A and E with query heart issue, in fact in had just given my self awful indigestion by not eating and o’ding pain killers. Anyway, after having an ECG and being discharged , my tooth fractured when I was nibbling toast. The pain went. I am beyond glad it wasn’t TN!

So tooth pain can lead to other issues. Dental treatment in the UK is woefully underfunded and we are now seeing the fall out.

If I were you I’d get on the high strength co codamol and ibuprofen and go to your nearest dental hospital tomorrow, assuming you have one. Sending hugs, not very mumsnet I know but I’d rather have a baby with no anaesthesia than severe tooth pain!

esk1mo · 02/09/2018 22:07

off topic but what sort of A&E dept. doesn’t have anything other than paracetamol? seems like bullshit from them.

clairethewitch70 · 02/09/2018 22:07

Look up the phone number of your nearest dentist and ring them now. There should be a recorded message telling you what to do in an emergency.

Wellfuckmeinbothears · 02/09/2018 22:08

Oh gosh I’m sorry, I’m nowhere near Liverpool. Please please try to find a pharmacy near you. And you absolutely must see a dr in the morning.

Would you feel comfortable pm’ing a post code near you? I’d like to find a pharmacy by you so you can get some of the over the counter remedies pp’s have suggested.

You poor thing Cake

WrongKindOfFace · 02/09/2018 22:08

No, don’t see your GP, there are a number of options for emergency NHS care in Liverpool.

www.rlbuht.nhs.uk/our-hospitals/liverpool-university-dental-hospital/dental-emergency-treatment/

www.liverpoolccg.nhs.uk/news/need-urgent-dental-care/

findingmywaytoday · 02/09/2018 22:09

Ignore the negative posts. I'm terrible and avoid a&e because I worry like you and what other people might think - twice in the past 2 years but for my husband and parents taking me in I would have died.

On both occasions I was worried re being viewed as a drama queen. On arrival I was spoken to by receptionist like I was being a drama queen. However, on both occasions (different issues) I ended up being put into a wheelchair and rushed into resus before being admitted for surgery.

If you're already there and have checked in. Wait it out.

MoorMummy · 02/09/2018 22:09

The one in Manchester I think you can turn up early as an emergency .

WrongKindOfFace · 02/09/2018 22:10

WrongKindOfFace What? as in actually could be dangerous? Shit, I've been relying on it for 2 days, would I know if it had made it worse.

Apparently it can draw the infection into the cheek.

DieAntword · 02/09/2018 22:10

off topic but what sort of A&E dept. doesn’t have anything other than paracetamol? seems like bullshit from them.

They’ll be trying to ward off drug seekers which is probably what the receptionist was getting at too.

KittyMcKitty · 02/09/2018 22:10

I’m confused- you’ve had this for 3 days? Have you not phoned your dentist? They are the people you need to see not A&E!

Wellfuckmeinbothears · 02/09/2018 22:11

When you’re in agony do you think straight. HopelessWanderer? Or do you look for help?