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Conscious sedation

9 replies

GazeboLantern · 05/05/2023 17:56

Ds had an appointment to discuss a tooth extraction under conscious sedation. He is now worrying about something that did not occur to him during the appointment.

Ds is a fidgety wriggler and struggles to lie passively still. He is also autistic, so both over-thinks and requires detailed answers. He says that he has to make a conscious effort to achieve a socially appropriate degree of stillness. He is worried that the sedation will disinhibit him and prevent this conscious effort. He is worried that he will not be able to lie still for the extraction.

I told him he might actually fall asleep during the procedure, but this did not reassure him. He tends to rock and roll around in bed as he falls asleep, often thrashes his arms and legs around in light sleep, and sleep walks. He's worried that he might do that if the sedation makes him fall asleep.

Can anyone reassure him (and me)?

OP posts:
Greybeardy · 05/05/2023 18:04

He should probably mention all of that to the anaesthetist who'll be doing the sedation. Probably the worst that would happen is that he becomes disinhibited (fidgety) and they just have to abandon the procedure, in which case plan B may be to do it in hospital with GA. There's only one way to find out if it'll work and that's to have a go really.

SquashPenguin · 05/05/2023 18:06

I’ve had a few sedations, a couple for dental and the rest other things. I have the most vague memory of one of my dental ones, but my entire body weighed a tonne and I was so relaxed I couldn’t have moved if I wanted to. The others I have absolutely no recollection of and may as well have been a GA for all I know!

PinkFootstool · 05/05/2023 18:08

Hmm, not sure. I've had it 4/5 times as an adult for dental treatment as I'm phobic. I have swung for a dentist twice, tried to run from the room twice and been happy as Larry in between (so I'm told). I've been restrained into the chair more than once resulting in bruises on my arms and even my throat....

I'm a calm and collected person in life, but my terror of the dentist makes me want to run and I perceive them as a threat when that stuff is affecting my behaviour.

Definitely worth talking to them about his specifics before it happens.

Vintagecreamandcottagepie · 05/05/2023 18:13

He'll be fine. I have a terrible dental phobia and shake uncontrollably if the dentist tries to do anything. My jaw shakes so much I have to be sedated for everything.

Doesn't happen at all with the iv sedation.
No movement at all. In fact, the dentist has to remind me to breathe now and then. Its really very powerful and only a step up from a general anaesthetic (so the dentist said).

Defo worth an ask to put yours and your son's mind at rest.

Blossom45 · 05/05/2023 18:15

I had conscious sedation for a different procedure and I ended up having the best sleep I’ve ever had. I was told to close my eyes, count down from 10 and then I can’t remember a thing…until they woke me up.

Bartg · 05/05/2023 18:24

My child is having conscious sedation shortly too. The problem with asking people on here is that you get quite a range of replies. Albeit people being lovely and helpful. But there is quite a range of options when it comes to sedation. For a child it will be nitrous oxide (laughing gas) not IV sedation which is what I think a lot of adults get. The nitrous oxide is quite a mild level of sedation. I can find very little information about what it actually feels like. Our dentist did say limbs can feel heavier, or tingly. And that sometimes you feel like you are falling back into chair sort of. I guess you don’t know how you will react until you have it. Maybe best option is to discuss with dentist to see what they say.

GazeboLantern · 05/05/2023 19:20

He's a 6'2" 17yo and the sedation is likely to be via cannula, so not N2O, if that makes any difference.

OP posts:
GazeboLantern · 05/05/2023 19:22

And he has no phobia. The extraction is to be under sedation because it is complex.

OP posts:
Vintagecreamandcottagepie · 05/05/2023 19:59

Sorry, the reason I gave my experience is because I have involuntary movement due to the phobia, and they are totally controlled by the sedation, so presumably your son's would be too...

But definitely check, you will both feel better to know for sure.

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