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Original poster

In horrendous pain, need advice

152 replies

shakeyospeare · 30/01/2017 08:24

Yesterday I went to the emergency dentist s with what I thought was an abscess. I couldn't swallow, had swelling and a white sore around my wisdom tooth, had pain around my jaw, into my neck and around the back of my skull. Couldn't eat or drink.

Dentist says it's an infection and gives me five days of amoxicillin - he couldn't give me anything else because I'm breastfeeding. He said I should start feeling better pretty soon after taking the antibiotics. That was 18 hours ago.

I've not slept. I got up at 4am to take more painkillers (30mg of codeine and a dose of paracetamol) this hasn't touched the pain. It's worse. I can't move head without it being agony. I can't swallow or open mouth.

What do I do? Ride this out today? Expect things to ease up?

I can't think straight because of pain

OP posts:
UnbornMortificado · 31/01/2017 22:02

Codeines got weird guidelines (or it did four years ago) could you not express before you take the next dose?

Anyone properly medical feel free to correct me, but that's what I was told to do when I was prescribed codeine while expressing for prem DD.

She is four so no doubt the guidelines have changed.

UnbornMortificado · 31/01/2017 22:03

Sunny I'm so sorry Flowers

tankerdale · 31/01/2017 22:04

Gah sorry you didn't say you were pregnant.... I'm imagining things.

I really hope it gets better. I had 3x awful wisdom tooth infections before having it removed and no problems since.

Audreyhelp · 31/01/2017 22:06

Hope you manage some sleep.

Original poster
shakeyospeare · 31/01/2017 22:09

@youarenotkiddingme That sounds awful - so glad you eventually got sorted! It's a bit bonkers the way it works or the way you get passed back and forth. I have to say, everyone has been very friendly and sympathetic, but I just want a reprieve rather than niceties and other numbers to call.

The pain is just constant - I have to keep checking whether it's there or not - it's like that drip you get used to or the white noise that sounds like silence - until you get actual silence and then it seems ridiculous that you thought the white noise was silence possibly losing the plot

@chasingrainbows27 I think tomorrow if it is like this and no miracles have been performed, I will definitely go at 7:55 and just wait to be seen first. I am hoping that something great happens tonight and there is a break in this craziness.

Never understood the phrase half-mad with pain. I am nearly all mad with pain. I think if I stop typing I may topple onto something hard and hope the tooth comes out. I will try not to.

@sunnyhills I'm so sorry you had to go through that - that must have been such an awful experience Flowers. If I go to A&E now, it means getting my DB over to watch the girls whilst DP drives and everyone has work tomorrow and our A&E department is really struggling, and if it was anyone else I'd insist but that fear of being told off is so strong. I have promised that if anything gets even slightly worse, I will most definitely go along. I just keep hoping that within the next few minutes or hours that it will ease up.

@Cguk81Thank you!

I'm guessing that from everyone's experience if there's been no improvement on these antibiotics that there won't be until I get stronger ones?

OP posts:
SecretWitch · 31/01/2017 22:12

Poor you. I have nothing to add but my hope that you get relief in short order. Flowers

Expellibramus · 31/01/2017 22:16

I'm so sorry for you, I think abscess pain is one of the worst. It may not be what you want to hear but I've always found that the relief from antibiotics is very jock, within a few hours of the first or second dose I can usually feel it's heading the right way.

I think it's inhumane thag you've been left in this way, I would consider going to A&E or another dentist (yours sounds quite unbothered about the state they've left you in).

Expellibramus · 31/01/2017 22:16

*very quick

elevenswan · 31/01/2017 22:20

I had exactly this situation, perocoronitis I think it's called or something like that and it almost sent me loopy. I was crying in pain, even when taking paracetamol then two hours later ibuprofen etc all the way through the day and night. I got antibiotics from my NHS dentist and after 2-3 days I was no better so I paid to see a private dentist (cost about £40 so worth it and they fit me in last minute) who gave me different antibiotics. They then managed to clear it after a couple of days. It so so bloody horrible and I've had it again since but they won't take the tooth out on the NHS till you've had 3 infections Sad

SarahJinx · 31/01/2017 22:20

Oooh this makes my fucking blood boil!! This pain is hideous and you just can't cope or function with it and if it was in ANY other part of your body somebody would help you! Those fuckers just keep fobbing you off. I've had this twice and it's hideous. Dp had exactly this just before Christmas, Amoxycillian just won't touch it, you need metronidazole, and a different dentist. Do you have a smile clinic near you? They'll see you. Do was given Amoxycillian by our usual dentist and then told to bigger of and have a crap chritmas while the abs bed in. He got a second opinion at Smile who prescribed the better abs and when he was STILL climbing the walls 24 hours later they had him in, numbed him up and to the root out of his tooth, dressed it, temp filling and it was over. He was grey with the pain, no sleep etc. I would say a&e because your swelling seems dangerous to me and try a different dentist tomorrow - can't hurt. I feel so badly for you, it's incredible it's allowed to happen xx

Howaboutthisone · 31/01/2017 22:27

You poor thing OP. I remember the pain of an abscess- hell on earth!
I agree with pp who said that you need to turn up at your dentists surgery tomorrow and make a fuss. That's if you don't go to a and e first which would be totally understandable.

elevenswan · 31/01/2017 22:28

Oh also, when I saw the private dentist he said if I'd left it another day I'd have had to go to a&e for intravenous antibiotics because my throat would have swollen so much I'd have struggled to breathe. If you think you're nearing that point absolutely go and get seen, they can treat you. Second time I had it a doctor gave me antibiotics not a dentist so they can do it, don't let them fob you off!

chasingrainbows27 · 31/01/2017 22:37

Do you feel ill generally or just the pain?

I had this a few years ago whilst at uni in the last week of my degree writing a dissertation and was sobbing in the doctors until they gave me painkillers.

By the time I got a dentist appointment I was feverish, vomiting, feeling very ill from the infection. Metronidazole sorted it out within a few days.

Had same thing in other wisdom tooth over Christmas and dentist prescribed erythromycin. It took a bit longer to work but I still felt better within a few days. I seriously think you need to sort this tomorrow as it sounds horrendous. Dental pain is just hideous.

3luckystars · 01/02/2017 05:37

Girl.

You need help, please just call another adult who can drive you to hospital or to the dentist. YOU NEED MEDICAL HELP. You can't get this over the phone, they are not grasping how bad it it. The antibiotics should have kicked in by now and they havent. You cannot wait until Thursday!

call another adult and get medical help urgently

picklemepopcorn · 01/02/2017 06:02

Hope you're coping! Sounds awful!

teacher54321 · 01/02/2017 06:51

I have a much less severe version of this at the moment and am beside myself with the pain Sad it just really really really HURTS. Got my antibiotics yesterday and am hoping that they kick in by this time tomorrow. Luckily my mouth is opening fine and I don't have any extra swelling, but my god the pain, radiating through my lower jaw. It's just awful. Sending you lots of 'get well soon and be pain free' vibes.

sunnyhills · 01/02/2017 07:51

Right ; you are sitting at dental surgery now aren't you ?

BagelDog · 01/02/2017 08:10

Seconding the hope that you are sat in the waiting room now.... definitely need second line antibiotics, but also hope you find someone who can properly look at the swelling and mouth opening too... hope all goes ok and you get some relief soon xx

UnbornMortificado · 01/02/2017 08:36

Just echoing PP I'm hoping your getting checked out.

Gobbolinothewitchscat · 01/02/2017 08:42

My husband is a dentist.

Not sure if this has been covered but never use heat with dental pain

If there is an access, it encourages the bacteria to grow and makes things a lot worse. A frozen compress is best. A bag of frozen peas works well as it can be manipulated quite easily. That is why dental pain is often worse a night as you are in bed lying down, warm, often on the j decree area and the heat encourages the infection to multiply

Apart from that, try and keep the area as clean as you can. If possible, use a small child's toothbrush to brush around the area. Then rinse frequently through the day with luke warm salty water. If brushing is too sore, just use the water.

Hope it gets sorted today.

SorrelSoup · 01/02/2017 14:57

Are you ok? I had dry socket once and it was worse than labour. It took 2 weeks for them to sort it out. Anyway I've just had 2 very deep fillings today and am in pain now the feeling has come back. I came to check how you were as I read your thread last night. I think we're all worried about you.

memyselfandaye · 01/02/2017 16:11

I've had dry sockets and absesses too. I feel your pain Shakey

Although pain does'nt begin to cover it, slow agonising torture is a more suitable description.

3luckystars · 01/02/2017 17:54

Please say you got taken care of today!

Cguk81 · 01/02/2017 18:25

Hope you got sorted today and are now resting up!

BobbyNoggle · 01/02/2017 21:01

@shakeyospeare
Hope you're feeling better today...?

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