I have major phobias about dentists. I didn't go for several years and had to have lots of work done. My fears are more pain and needle related, but those fears make my IBS kick in whenever I go to the dentist. I always take Immodium before I go. I have a very nice dentist who gives me a tranquilizer and muscle relaxant before he works on me.
Does anybody hate going to the dentist as much as I do?
It's not that I hate having my teeth cleaned or having a filling or anything like that. I hate the vulnerabilty of being in that chair. I hate the embarrassement if and when my stomach starts to churn and gurgle...and of course it does everytime. The more I try to get it out of my mind...the louder the rumbles are. I hate it! Has anybody ever had to literally tear out of the chair and run to the bathroom. I'm a "C" type with only occasional "D", but every time I'm in the dentists chair, I feel like my bowels are going to erupt. So far this hasn't happened but what can I do to stop the gurgles and rumbles when I'm in the chair?------------------"Today is the first day of the rest of your life"Rose
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Rose,I hate going to the dentist worse than anything!! Having Mitral valve prolapse means I have to be pre-medicated with antibiotics and then have to deal with clearing up a yeast infection following that. And more than ever, I hate the pain associated with the dentist....and it doesn't matter what he does to me (even cleaning) hurts, so he's constantly deadening me. One positive thing is, he'll shoot me until I feel no pain. But, I have a very high pain threshold and need lots of meds!!! Stomach-wise, I'm fine.... cause I still have more C than D anyway.
G
Hi Rose - I'm just like Patty. I have Mitral Valve Prolapse and I absolutely hate the dentist because of the antibiotics. My teeth are so sensitive that I need to be numb for cleanings which means I need four sittings (they only numb one quadrant at a time) which means lots of antibiotics and that totally messes up my stomach. I would rather be anywhere but in that chair!!
G
I don't mind going to the dentist really, but the ANXIETY I get is something else!! Each time I have to go, I almost cancel the appointment because of anxiety, D, cramps (all caused by being afraid, of course) But usually i'm relaxed by the time I'm in the dentist's chair.
I'm on edge for days before I actually go to the appointment. Total fear and anxiety sets in that morning....even though I know my dentist will do everything he can to make sure I'm not in pain and am comfortable...he's wonderful. But, like you, CrapALot, by the time I actually sit in the chair and see him, I'm so drained from the nerves and adrenaline rush, that I'm fine....almost calm in fact. (keyword being almost) It's the after-effect of the adrenaline...makes me mellow. *L* But it's torture until I get to that point!!!
I also have mitral valve prolapse and them darned antibiotics get me every time! For the next week I'm "recovering" from going to the dentist because of that. As far as the dental procedures, I have no problem and seem to have a really high tolerance to pain.One interesting thing, though. I didn't go to the dentist for many years because of the IBS and worrying about the D attacks, and when I finally went in, he said the detrioration in my gums was "not normal" and that there was something funky going on inside my body that was eating away at the bones holding my teeth in place. How right he was! Anyway, I have had to go every three months for the last year, and got everything back to near normal, but that means antibiotics every 3 months, too. I don't know what I'd do without acidophilus/bifido capsules afterwards!Oh, by the way, I finally told my dentist that I had IBS and you know what he said? "Really? So does my brother! What's helped you?" It eased my mind a LOT![This message has been edited by WD40 (edited 06-11-99).]
I was supposed to go to my dentists for work but my problem is I get panicky in the chair once they have drilled because I think I have to stay here now whilst it's filled so I keep thinking I can't leave and that gets me more tense. I think what if I need to go to the loo...what if I feel sick etc. How am I going to get out...Lost it a bit ehh
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G
I recently go in for a root canal & was worried, but I have a little trick that I learned when my IBS started. I use to have problems with getting my haircut, but I found when you talk to the beople doing the work on you, it takes your mind off the IBS. So give it a try next time. I usually start by asking how busy they have been that day. Joking will take your mind off it the fastest. with me, 90% of my problems are caused by my mind. have a nice day,Jeff
Hi Rose,I have to get my teeth cleaned every 3 months and I had the exact same grumblings and everything you mentioned. I finally just got tired of worrying about it and I told my dentist and hygeniest(sp) about the gastro problem and that if I say I have to go to the restroom it means I have to go now and they were both very understanding. And if they don't understand I would find another dentist who does. Since telling them this it has put my mind at ease and I haven't had to get up and go since then. It's not easy telling them this but if you do, it will relieve a lot of the stress.------------------Joe
I have a very high threshold of pain, but I dread going to the dentist because of the fear of getting a D attack while hooked up to the saliva-sucker with a drill in my mouth. (Notice how they always crank the chair back to the worst possible position for trapped gas?) How do you even signal the dentist that you have to get up? So far this hasn't happened because I take a lomotil the night before and another the day of the appointment (then can't go for days after). I guess I'm very naughty because I don't mention that I have MVP--so far I've only gone in for fillings and crowns, and I don't want to take antibiotics unless it's for an extraction or gum surgery.
G
Interesting Topic. My hair has been growing since my onset in March. Getting to be a bit long. Forget the dentist. I figure I'll go and get these things done when I've got this thing kicked (or at least when I feel like I'm in control.) Best of luck to you.
G
I would NEVER go if I had to take antibiotics. I am allergic to most of them except the ones that really kill your gut-erythromycins(in my experience).I have to go to the dentist and get my teeth cleaned with my son on Monday and I am going to obscess and panic that morning(will I go today, will I go enough today, will I have spasms, will I have D) I always like to be first in the hygenists chair so I will feel like I have more control. The angle that they put that chair at (for me)traps the air/gas that I always have in a very uncomfortable place. If I drink something carbonated and burp I feel better, I can't do that while they are working on my mouth. The worst times are prolonged dental proceedures like root canals and caps. I wouldn't tell my dentist about my IBS though, they think I am a very sensitive person as it is, (I am--many medications either don't work on me or can cause bizzare reactions-a whole other story)I find that in my experience people don't take IBS seriously , they think if you don't have colitis it's not real.
G
I do not mind going to the dentist. I have been there while being ill. But I can somewaht controll it. As far as the drilling goes and the teeth cleaning that doe snot bother me at all. I remember the last fillings that I had done and that was like 3 years back ago the dentist told me they were in a hard to reach place. I thought cool and told him that this will be a challenge and i could really see how good of dentint he is. He did Ok and filled the teeth. Drilling to me is no biggie. I do have the sleepy stuff given to me. Mostly so I do not have to have the smell of the tooth being drilled. Marleen
zigmissus, it is very important that you tell all your drs about your MVP. Being pre-medicated is extremely important, I'm told. If an infection sets in, you could develop serious heart problems. Please check into it with your M.D.
G
I'm going TODAY guys, at 4pm EST and there is NO WAY I can get out of it, I have to take my 11 year old son, so I might as well get my teeth cleaned too. I have to bribe my son to let me go first(IF I don't have pains, etc when I get there)he gets flouride tx and cant eat for 1/2 hour after-it takes a good 20 minutes to drive home-he'll only have to wait 10 minutes! I am starving right now, don't want to eat to much for fear of starting "something". I find I do better if I keep up with eating(not miss meals)but sometimes anything can set off a "blowout"(pains, spasms, sweating-chills, and possibly and hour of in and out of the john-I dont want to have to explain IBS to them-they already think I am to sensitive)Anyway I'll go for some dry toast just to have something in my stomach, hopefully if I feel those familiar sensations it will occur BEFORE we leave. If they find I need any work -Does anyone else have the experience that getting ones teeth cleaned brings on trouble(tooth trouble)? I'll deal with that another time!------------------Nancy
My experience is that you go into the dentist office feeling fine and come out in pain!! Even cleanings cause me severe pain.
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