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mrmpa

(4,033 posts)
Sat Jul 23, 2016, 01:03 AM Jul 2016

I can't sleep, I've got a toothache & and an.....

infected tooth. Don't see a dentist until Monday @ noon. I don't know how I'm going to survive. Any suggestions, alcohol sounds good, but I've got vicodin in me & that's not even touching taking the pain away.

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Laffy Kat

(16,354 posts)
13. Hmmm. Until the infection is in check, the pressure will continue.
Sat Jul 23, 2016, 01:46 AM
Jul 2016

I read once that the pain of an abscessed tooth is equal to that of a broken leg. So, ouch. Does the dentist have an emergency number you can call for a antibiotic script? You'll start feeling better within 12 hours of starting them. They'll want you to take them anyway. Good luck.

Akoto

(4,261 posts)
3. I've been there on more than one occasion.
Sat Jul 23, 2016, 01:23 AM
Jul 2016

I have the shingles right now. My life is one of chronic pain, and then other painful things.

One thing to keep in your head right now is that, in all likelihood, this is going to be over with come Monday @ noon. You'll have almost immediate relief. In fact, you'll probably have blissful relief the moment they numb it. So, you're going to survive!

Having said that, if the Vicodin is not even touching it, it's probably a bad abscess and the pressure isn't helping. I'd call your dentist's office and see if they have an answering service. If they do, they can usually get the dentist to call and talk to you on weekends. Maybe they'll want to try something else.

In the interim, it's important to try and not tense up, as hard as that is right now. Won't help, trust me.

Go to your local drug store and tell your pharmacist the situation. They might have some solutions for you. Ambesol is one safe thing to try. I know a lot of people swear by clove oil, but you have to be careful to use just enough and no more (it can burn you). You can get it at most any drug store.

Did the dentist not prescribe antibiotics? If not, another thing you could do is go to a walk-in clinic tomorrow - or your GP, if you have one and they are open - to see if they'll prescribe some. It might help.

Hang in there! Once that tooth is taken care of, whether they pop it out or drain and fill it, it'll be like night and day.

mrmpa

(4,033 posts)
7. I'll go to the pharmacy.......
Sat Jul 23, 2016, 01:28 AM
Jul 2016

This is my first year in 6 with insurance. This is a new dentist, they take Medicaid, which is what I have. The tooth is already out, it fell out & the root is the only thing left.

I might end up at the ER, About 5 years ago my brother had an infected tooth, the infection went to his brain, 3 months in the hospital, induced comas, etc. he's diabetic and so am I and that's what I'm afraid of.

Akoto

(4,261 posts)
10. I'm on Medicaid, too.
Sat Jul 23, 2016, 01:32 AM
Jul 2016

I was disabled young, so when I won disability, I only had enough work credits to get SSI. No Medicare with that! Anyway.

If the root is still in, then as far as I know, it's still a problem. They still need to make sure that the infection is properly drained and antibiotics are administered.

I did not know that the tooth had fallen out when I gave my advice. I'm very surprised your dentist would make you wait the weekend in that situation. Certainly, go to the ER if you have any doubts at all. Better safe than sorry, and they can't turn you away until they know you'll be okay.

mrmpa

(4,033 posts)
11. I'm in the process of applying for disability.........
Sat Jul 23, 2016, 01:38 AM
Jul 2016

I've got 43 years of work credits, so it will be SSD.

Akoto

(4,261 posts)
14. Hang in there.
Sat Jul 23, 2016, 01:46 AM
Jul 2016

I don't know what your situation is and won't pry, but there are a list of them that are basically "automatic" approvals. The rest have to go through review, and they can sometimes give you a hard time.

Best advice I can possibly give you is to get a credible doctor and document everything. Also, hire a disability lawyer if you have one of those less convenient cases, like I do. It makes the entire tone of things change, and it's easier than having the stress of navigating it yourself. They'll take a percentage of your back pay, but it's limited by law and only if they win the case.

Right now, though, focus on relaxing. It's hard, but try to do something that helps you relax and focus on something other than the pain. It would be gaming for me! If you can't sleep, then you can't sleep. No sense in trying to force that.

pinboy3niner

(53,339 posts)
6. There's only one way to be sure...nuke it from orbit
Sat Jul 23, 2016, 01:24 AM
Jul 2016

Okay, that may not apply here. Best of luck--been through a lot of dental stuff myself, and I know it's not pleasant.

qnr

(16,190 posts)
15. I had one of the dogs on a watertight door slam me in the face crossing
Sat Jul 23, 2016, 01:46 AM
Jul 2016

Drake Passage to Antartctica during a storm. It took a long time to get my teeth looked at, which ended up causing me many years of misery.

I found that vodka or scotch worked really well. I didn't drink it, I just kept it in my mouth for as long as possible until the burning was too much and then spit it out (sometimes doing it two or three times in a row). That deadened the pain very much. Because the pain was deadened, the pain killers (even over the counter ones, in my case) had a chance to kick in and keep things moderated.

mrmpa

(4,033 posts)
16. Kentucky Bourbon............
Sat Jul 23, 2016, 02:26 AM
Jul 2016

just swished it 3 times, pain subsided a bit. I'm going to wait a few minutes and do it again & then lay down, I have to get up at 7.

mrmpa

(4,033 posts)
18. Thank you qnr.............
Sat Jul 23, 2016, 04:16 PM
Jul 2016

that was the best advice. I slept ok & woke without much pain. I swished it 4 times. Though my face is swollen, I should be okay until Monday. Love you!!!!

qnr

(16,190 posts)
19. Awesome, glad it worked. I used to be a bartender in a casino
Sat Jul 23, 2016, 05:41 PM
Jul 2016

In Nevada, where I couldn't easily do other things to fix my horrible pain, so I gave that a try and it worked great about 95% of the time.

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