major tooth ache & painkillers...... help!

[davidtennantsmistress]

I've had a tooth out one side monday - all is fine, bit odd but fine, other side thou has now got an infection in it.

i'm in severe pain (ear aches & half way down neck as well), paracetamol isn't touching it at all, currently having 2 every 4 hours, started amoxicillian this afternoon had 1 dose. also having 2 neurofen in the 2 hours between the paracetamol.

I don't like taking the later but it's the only thing to touch it. my doctor wouldn't help, only to say neurofen is safest if taken i the second tri but preferably not. my dentist gave me the amoxicillian.

I'm 17+2. How much damage would/could i be doing, what else can I do - currently have a hot water bottle on it, salt baths & cleaning after eating soft things. Have so far (since monday) been surviving on yoghurt's, mash potato wotsits or porridge, so again am worried baby won't be getting all the good stuff it needs.

We have our 20 week scan on the 7th, m/w on tues just gone showed a v strong healthy heart beat. Just after some sleep & reassurance, preferably not flaming as I know I prob shouldn't be taking any pain killers at all. :(

Poor you!

Can you see a diffrent doctor? As last resort, a tiny amount of codeine is occassionally given in pregnancy under medical supervision (usually with paracetamol) which will be more effective.

I would have thought that as soon as the antibiotics kick in (which they should in 24hrs) you should feel much better.

I wouldn't worry too much about your diet. The baby will take what it needs and nick your reserves. If you are worried, take a prenatal vitamin until you feel better.

Hope you feel better soon x

tbh, I had this same prob (before the tooth was removed & I found out I was even expecting when I was on the cocomine/neuofen/antibotic concoction) but I didn't want to do it again esp now I know - last time I stopped all painkillers literally after 3 days (on the day I found out) the neuofen this time has only been since last night. Am reluctant to take anything other as don't like taking those.

On one hand I know you're right baby will use my reserves, and am already on a supplement for iron (pregday or something the dr gave me) so atm am feeling a little like a walking pharmacy, Just more worried about heart defect or something with the baby - dr interweb can be dangerous lol. (Fwiw the other tooth is booked to come out on the 7th as well, dentist didn't want to remove it today)

x

Just wanted to send you my sympathy! I know how you're feeling. I've got a toothache/infection which has triggered my sinus pain and have been in pain constantly now for 2 days and nights. Very draining isn't it? [sad)

Terified of the dentist and my doctor knows it - so i'll ring him tmrow and see what he can give.

A second opinion IS a good idea - good luck and i'm sorry not to be much help. Realy hope the antibi's kick in for you v.soon xx

You could ask your doctor for Co-Codamol as an alternative to straight paracetamol, it is safe to be prescribed during pregnancy

I also had a terrible tooth infection over Christmas when I was around 23 weeks pregnant, begged doc to prescribe me codeine- but she refused. I took paracetemol AND liquid neurofen at the same time for the couple of days when it was REALLY bad....then managed to see the dentist and get antibiotics.

Try the liquid ibruprofen with 2 paracetemol if you are desperate. Ibruprofen is safe to take during the second trimester occasionally- so you should be fine..

Good-luck! You have my sympathies..

I don't understand why some GPs (including my own) refuse to prescribe codeine during pregnancy when they hand pretty high doses out on the ante natal ward?

I had awful tooth ache over Christmas @ 5 months pregnant! AGONY so sending you a hug. I had anti-biotics and prescribed co-codamol (which had a much better effect than paracetamol and as far as I was aware is a better option in pregnancy than Nurofen). Go and see you doctor again! Anti-biotics should kick in after 48hrs and that wuill make a massive difference.x

thanks all, I assume you're LO's are all screaming well or lively kicking?

was up most of the night, the neuofen's stopped working, but so far had 16 in 18 hours which i'm sure is too much & not good for bubs. tbh i'm reluctant to go back to my dr after waiting for an hour yesterday, have been suffering for 3 hours apart (trying to) rather than 2.

I know last time I brought the co codimine (sp) over the counter - is this the same as the dr would give me or is it best to do with his advice?

Listened in to bubs this am and all seems to be beating away ok. now had 3 doses of the amoxilcilian (it's only the 250mg dose so a low one) thought it would start to get better thou not worse?

misty - feeling for you as well, I had the sinisitus at xmas after my tooth ache.

the things us girls go thru when pg eh?!

actually thinking about it it's 16 since weds night about 10pm - about 36 hours? still too much? they're the basic white tablet ones, no idea what the liquid ones are about, apart from the fact they're more expensive?

I had horrible toothache recently and was in a similar position as breastfeeding. After trying everything I can recommend icing it. It was the only thing that brought relief. Apparently heat will aggravate it in the long run, as it will attract blood to the area and worsen the infection. Ice will make it all better though. I didn't believe it, but it was sooooo good!

when you said icing then I had visions of myself making up a batch of white icing and sitting there licking the spoon :o. Will try that then - the teeth are so sensitive thou, I figure if I can cope by day then at night it leaves me to take something? (also that's prob why the hot water bottle stopped working about midnight?!?)

i had a few very nasty tooth infections while pregnant too, the pain was horrendous and i remember crying through it... i got a high dose of amoxicillin and it eventually kicked in and took the pain away but it came back at a later stage and i had to take the amoxi again. after i had the baby they took the tooth out.

i stuck with paracetamol but i know the agony you are in - ask your dr if there is something stronger to take? i also held a hot water bottle to the cheek of the side the pain was on and this helped a bit too. just remember the amoxi will kick in soon and the pain will go!

i sympathise so much as i will never forget that pain i went through, keep strong!!!!!! :)

i'm trying have just got some origel for it - not really helping, the pharmacist said it could take up to 3 days for amoxicillin to kick in as it's such a low dose and I shouldn't take more neurofen than is on the instructions. :( doh.

guess we just gotta hope that ds at mums tonight means sleep & hopefully it's better tomorrow - only had 4 penicillian tablet so assume you need a good 6-8 for it to work?

right now i'd rather have the awful lbour with ds again - least the I had drugs & epidoodle lol.

You poor thing! Tooth pain is awful.

I'm in third trimester and have SPD. I begged, on my midwife's advice, two GPs for cocodamol and was refused, and finally a hospital doctor prescribed it. The relief was indescribable. I'd keep on pressing.

i'm wondering if to ask the doctors again - i'd rather take that that the other 2 combined.

Can't you get the tooth sorted? Painkillers/antibiotics are just a temporary measure, I'm not sure I have read all of your info but there will be an emergency clinic near you somewhere. If you're around Berkshire, your nearest clinic will be the one I run on Sunday 10:15-2pm. Call NHS direct for an appointment, sending you nice thoughts because I know how much pain most of my customers are in. hugs etc.

you cannot get a tooth removed when there is an infection - my dentist was reluctant to remove it even when the infection cleared as i was pregnant...

are you a dentist grumpy?

Yes I am, you can remove them when they are infected, it's just more difficult to get them numb and if there's swelling it can be hard to get in there.

I have extracted infected teeth in the past and spent 30min sucking up the pus, the relief is apparent immediately.

There is no reason other than nervousness not to treat pregnant ladies, we're always told "if you do something and there is a complication with the pregnancy, they will blame you" but I can't see how it is beneficial to be stressed and in pain whilst you are pregnant and needing to be well and healthy.

I hope it settles, if it does it will still need treatment though. The infection will need sorting definitively and a course of antibiotics won't do this.

PS Not all infected teeth need extracting straight away, sometimes we can drain the infection through the tooth and put a dressing right inside the tooth which clears the infection and once baby is born, definitive treatment can be carried out (we call it extirpating).

Good luck.

grumpy i agree, it is ridiculous to be in the amount of pain an infection can cause: my body was surging with adrenalin and cortisol i am sure. good for you that you would have the confidence to remove an infected tooth in pregnancy. even after i had my baby and the infection flared up very badly when she was 5 wks old, i visited four dentists in absolute agony. none would remove the tooth apart from the fourth dentist who had the confidence to go ahead.... the relief was amazing and i was so grateful to her for doing her job properly and confidently. it was so nice to feel that she was in control of my situation.........

Get yerself to Berkshire this weekend! In all seriousness, I can understand dentists being risk averse because (did you know), dentists in the UK are the most likely in the world (more than America) to be sued. I know people have bad experiences at the dentist's but genuinely, many of us get totally unfounded complaints against us (I could go on for hours) so we try not to do anything that could put us at risk. I try to have a full and frank discussion with all my patients about risks and benefits, and explain that although they are in pain now, we can't make rash decisions based on the fact they haven't eaten for two days and sleep is a distant memory.

I sleep at night knowing I have done my best, see you Sunday OP!

Its not toothache related, but during my first pregnancy I was hospitalised several times in severe pain and complications from gallstones. I was prescribed the strongest codeine based painkillers by hospital consultants (GP would not initially agree to stronger pain relief, but on seeing paperwork from hospital reluctantly prescribed them on my release). I was assured by hospital that codeine based painkillers are safe, and do not pose a risk to the baby's development. I trusted that my Drs would not consider prescribing me something dangerous, and I now have a very healthy, intelligent and alert four year old.

thanks grumpy for the info.

I did manage to talk to my dr yesterday & got given cocodamal, however, in the night it was that bad I returned to the neuofen :(

booked in with my emergancy dentist this morning, he thankfully has taken it out, 4 anesetics & an absess later it's gone & I have the dull ache back. (have taken today's doses of co codime (until 5pm)) so fingers crossed I can now get by on that & the amoxicillian.

grumps - can you tell me honestly if the neuofen will effect the baby - the dentist today said even one paracetomal would effect the baby - he also said not to have the co odimal at all. so now i've no idea.

All I know is I feel queesy, and am hungry but don't want to eat. :( also worried what having an absess actually means - will it pop?