Just had a heart attack - need dental work. Help please!

[Balonziaga]

Two weeks ago I had a heart attack. Out of the blue and completely unexpected. I am 49 and probably two stone overweight (size 14-16/5ft 6)with no known health conditions.

It just happened. Angiogram/MRI found a small blood clot in one of my arteries and the hope is that my body will be-absorb it. For the next year at least, I am on blood thinners, statins, daily aspirin and a few other things. I was in hospital for 10 days and have been home for five.

On being discharged, one of the pieces of guidance I was given was to avoid dental work for at least three months and that antibiotics could be dangerous. Last night my tooth started throbbing and I know it's an abscess - I've had at least five before.

I'm gargling salt water and corsodyl and am allowed paracetamol.

I've tried GP and dentist (both closed) and have zero confidence in 111 (for two tried and tested reasons).

I can get through the weekend, but can anyone suggest what the course of action might be. It's horrendously painful and I am already feeling completely broken and frightened by what has happened.

How awful for you. Clove oil is an amazing anaesthetic to use on toothache. It really helps to numb the area

Oh yes I'd forgotten about Clove Oil - I'm sure I have some. That's a great start, thank you.

I think if you go via 111 you can get access to emergency dentists, I don't think it's something you should ignore given your history.

Hope you feel better soon

I recently had a tooth infection and understand the suggestions that you should not ignore it.

However, it was difficult for me to take antibiotics as actually I'd just had the flu jab and was told they cancelled each other out.

So I didn't do anything apart from improve my general health. make sure it was clean, take Vitamin C tablets.

I do now have an appointment at the hospital for a consultation but my dentist said it had 'drained' and the pain has subsided so like you, not sure whether I should have it taken out right now due to the trauma of it potentially and the impact of that intervention on my health.

Any chance you could wait with it?

Understand you are in a difficult situation.

Due to difficulty with antibiotics myself for said reason dentist said he couldn't do anything, but with rest and leaving it alone as I said it seems to have got better by itself.

You have been through so much lately perhaps give your body gneerally a chane to recover.

However, it was difficult for me to take antibiotics as actually I'd just had the flu jab and was told they cancelled each other out.

How’s that?

Flu jab is anti-viral.
Antibiotics are anti-bacterial.

Also OP, I think the advice is to stop statins if you’re on antibiotics.

Monday, ask your dentist to speak to your cardiologist for specific advice regards your meds ‘vs’ antibiotics.

Thanks all. An abscess is something I'd take in my stride usually but I am just feeling so overwhelmed by my 'new normal' as i have never had to worry about anything like this before.

Clove oil and paracetamol over the weekend and then I'll call dentist. No idea of their chances of speaking to my cardiologist who is probably cardiologist to 50000 other NHS patients but worth a try.

Thanks all

Have you checked your dentist doesn't have an emergency number on voicemail?

@tanstaafl

Also OP, I think the advice is to stop statins if you’re on antibiotics.

Monday, ask your dentist to speak to your cardiologist for specific advice regards your meds ‘vs’ antibiotics.

Certain antibiotics clash with stations but the majority don't

Is it a tooth that usually gets infected? Could you not just have it pulled so it drains naturally?

@Theunamedcat Because I have been having Heparin injections AND taking blood thinners, an extraction is to be avoided if possible due to inability for blood to clot.

Sorry to hear this OP. Hope you are managing the pain ok.
My DH was in a similar situation recently. He is on anticoagulants and a statin, and on the day he came out of hospital he broke a tooth. The dentist said that if he needed an extraction they'd need to talk to his doctors to balance the risk of bleeding against the risk of further clotting if he temporarily stopped his medication, and that he might need to have it done at the hospital. Fortunately the dentist managed to patch it up for now, though he will probably need it crowning or something eventually.
I know there are quite a few drugs he now has to avoid, because of the medication he is on, but I'm sure there must be some antibiotics you can take - there are so many, with different mechanisms of action. It wouldn't be safe to ignore all infections in people on these drugs so there must be something suitable. I understand it is a scary situation but you are not alone, your dentist will almost certainly have treated people in similar circumstances, so try not to stress too much.

Ooh shit yes of course

Clean and pack? I've had a few of those done due to my thyroid storming up and even a blood test caused bleeding they struggled to stop (not life threatening obviously but still they wanted the blood in the test tube not all over the floor)

Your dentist can speak to the local special care dental specialist / consultant (either hospital or NHS Community) for advice on how to manage your situation. Heparin/ anti-coagulants either warfarin or DOACs like apixaban, are not an absolute contra-indication for an extraction btw.

@bizarrustii

Your dentist can speak to the local special care dental specialist / consultant (either hospital or NHS Community) for advice on how to manage your situation. Heparin/ anti-coagulants either warfarin or DOACs like apixaban, are not an absolute contra-indication for an extraction btw.

This is really useful. Thank you

Was just going to mention special care dental service, they are experienced in all types of drug interactions, health conditions etc.

speak to the dentist.
they have protocols for your kind of case.
patients on blood thinners and/or statins are very common.

you might need to go to the max fac department of the hospital for more specialist treatment.

@purplesequins

speak to the dentist. they have protocols for your kind of case. patients on blood thinners and/or statins are very common.

you might need to go to the max fac department of the hospital for more specialist treatment.

Yes this.

So many people have these issues, they can’t leave people with untreated abscesses etc as thats dangerous in itself.