PLEASE pray for me.

[sue41]

Okay, you guys know that I can go months at a time without any painkillers and without having any withdrawls.  Which brings me to my current situation.  I have always been able to call my dentist and get something for pain in my mouth.  I have actually had pain and I was scared to tell him about my problem with pills because I am a baby when it really comes to having pain.  I have been telling my husband that my jaw tooth has been hurting so bad at times that I thought I would throw up.  He belived me but he still doubted whether or not the pain was real since I had already had a root canal in the tooth that hurts.  Well, I finally bit the bullet and told my dentist today that I could not stand this pain any longer and something had to be done.  He has just gotten in a very sophisticated type of xray machine [panarex I believe] and took an xray of my mouth.  He came back in and said, "Sue I am sooo sorry, you have not been losing your mind and I truly believe that you have been in some severe pain."  When I asked him what was wrong, he showed me a copy of the x-ray, and there it was as big as TEXAS, he had missed the tooth and did not get but one of the roots and I have been going around for almost 2 years with a nerve exposed.  It told me he had NO idea how I had been able to do that.  He said that it was so deep, he wanted to make certain that it was taken care of once and for all.  He is sending me to a dentist who specializes in root canals and I am supposed to go under again in the morning.  

I am elated to know that I was in actual pain and not just imagining it to get more hydros.  I am still scared about having the root canal done.  My dentist had given me a script of percocet a couple of days ago (only 10), and I have taken all of them.  Now when I have my procedure done tomorrow, will the other dentist be able to prescribe something for me so soon as my dentist and am I going to be tagged as a doctor shopper?  I know I will be able to have the work done and then be fine in a few days.  I won't need the Rx but for a day or two, but I am scared that I won't be able to get the meds to get me through the first few days.  I have NO problem giving the meds to my hubby and letting him "dole" the med out to me.

What should I do?  Answers and prayers greatly appreciated.
Sue

[VicodinHelp]

The first time I ever took vics hard core was for a tooth problem.  The dentist had given me a root canal in one of my molars but a few years later it started hurting like hell.  He went back in an I spent 2 hours in the am and 2 hours in the PM (on the same day) in a chair with that friggin rubber damn in my mouth while he farted around trying to fix it.

It was Thursday and he left on friday for a vacation.  I WAS GOING NUTS WITH PAIN!  I called Kaiser and they helped me with knowing how many vics I could take... I was literally looking at the clock waiting to take more.  Saturday morning I woke up and my cheek was HUGE SWOLLEN.  I made an emergency appointment with a dentist and he could not figure out why.  Finally he decided to PULL THE TOOTH.

Then he did an autopsy (so to speak) on the tooth and discovered that the dentist had only cleaned out 3 or the 4 roots -- IOW HE MISSED A ROOT AND IT ABSESSED ON ME.

It really sucks to be missing that chomper.  Dentist says he'll rebuild it for free if I get the post put in.  Another dentist wants 2000 to put in the post :(

[feelingcrazierbytheday]

If you're talking about spacecadette, she's actually extremely knowledgeable.  And it's not the years in your life that matter, it's the life in your years.  And you are an addict so she's right to wonder.  And why would a doc "want" to get you hooked on pain meds? To increase the risk of having their license suspended?? Most doctors drop their patients if they find out they are hooked....or offer to help them taper or offer rehab options....take it with a grain of salt. ....too many loose ends here

[worried878]

Do understand....you never know when it could go full blown again...scary....glad u were able to go without them...sometimes it is so stressful trying to take them cautiously it is not worth it!

[sue41]

I am always worried when something happens and I need to take ANY kind of meds.  I know how quickly and easily a person can become addicted. and SO FAR I have not had any major withdrawls, but there is always a first time.  That is the problem with a binge user.  You think you can handle it and if you aren't careful, things can get totally out of hand before you know it.  I have been in full blown addiction and I did go through withdrawls that time, but when I slip and take them for a few days, I am able to stop without any kind of w'drawls, but that isn't written it stone.  There is no guarantee.  Thanks for your concern Worried878.

Sue

[worried878]

I am glad...I was confused by your post the other night so i did not answer...u had stated that you did not have a problem with wds or not taking pills for months so I did not understand why you were worried about taking the pills after the root canal...but i am glad u were able to go without...most root canals can be handled with ibuprophen and anti-bitotics although extensive ones can be tough...anyway...glad u handled it

[sue41]

Well guys, I went back to school today and have had no problems, except for the massive diarrhea caused from the Penicillin.  My dentist called to follow up and I told him I was still hurting, but nothing that I could not handle.  I was informed that a "retreatment" of a root canal is often more painful than the initial root canal.  Oh well, I am doing good, and so far, I have just taken the 800 mg ibuprophen and making it fine.  Thanks for all your prayers and well wishes.
Sue

[sue41]

I guess I was a little nervy about her comment to me and I have dealt with enough "nervy" feelings for the past year. LOL !

[sue41]

Sorry about the last comment I made, but after reading what the person who left the note about a dentist NOT giving a person pain meds without the patient asking for them and trying to make me fell like I was begging for drugs, I did a little research and realized that she was only taking up for her better half because he is a new dentist.  She is also a very young girl and the older she gets, she will see that docs and dentist will do some crazy and unscrupulous things to protect their reputation with future patients.  

[sue41]

Yea, It already feels so much better.  There is no doubt in my mind that is what was causing my pain for so long.  Not wanting to be known as a doctor shopper I refused to go to another dentist and I ended up paying the price.  If I would have went to someone else sooner, I could have found the problem sooner.  Like I said, I told him I didn't need anything for the pain, I would just take 3 motrin.  That is when he said he would give me a script for 800 mg. ibuprophen.  The deading has worn off now, and I still am not having any pain.  I went ahead and took one of the 800 mg. ibuph. when the tooth started waking up because I didn't want to be in pain.  

I thank you all for your kind comments and well wishes.  Someone sent me a note to the effect that they didn't think I was being honest because a doctor or dentist would not make a patient come in and give them a script for pain meds without asking.  Sorry guys but that is bull. Some docs will give it to you just to get you hooked and keep coming back.  In my case, he was trying to soothe a guilty conscience for not doing the root canal correctly in the first place.  They aren't all the saints they appear to be. I have no reason to come on this forum and lie about anything.  This is the one place I can be totally honest because there are so many who share my situation.

Hugs and Kisses,
Sue

[GoingToMakeIt]

First of all, tooth pain is one of the worst. I have had exposed roots before and well, no thanks. See the pain is really just in your head. Lmao I would have a serious talk with him about the finances. He shouldn't have missed that. I also like how you answered your own post with a post and prayer. Sorry no one got to you but God answers anyway. Good luck with things. Ask the dentist for some Ibuprofen 800mgs. It works well on tooth pain.

[sue41]

Thank you for your prayers and well wishes.  It was so good to find out that the pain was not just in my head.  When my dentist did the root canal months and months ago, he missed 2 canals and they were full of infection.  The dentist I went to today was a specialist in root canals, and it was the easiest thing that I have ever had.  I did not tell him about my addiction problem, but asked for only 800 mg. ibuprohen (I am sure he suspected something), but so far so good.

I am TOTALLY ticked at my family dentist.  I see why the main reason he sent me to another dentist.  He didn't want to deal with me because he KNEW he would have to "eat" the cost since he messed up the first one.  But what really pee'ed me off is that it cost me $1120.00 today, plus I am still paying for the first root canal that was a failure.  I paid the bill today in full, but I am going to be so slow at paying MY dentist back and it may just be $5-$10 a month.  I have never done this before, but I am really ticked and I am going to take my sweet ole time.

Thanks again,
Sue

[DaisyDo]

Stay Strong and Stay Focused xx

[TJack]

My husband had a root canal last year and as soon as it was over, his pain was gone.
So, think positive.  You probably won't need anything for pain, maybe tylenol or ibuprophen?  So, glad you finally got this figured out and it's going to be taken care of.
What a long time to be in Pain.  God Bless and let us know.  TJack

[bolpak]

I hope your dentist is able to take care of your mouth problem but I just wanted to comment on the fact that dentists were the best place and excuse for getting pain pills..  I WAS a dr. shopper for 12yrs. and have been clean only a short time but if you find yourself thinking about the percs or hydros then you had better take a step back and figure out what course to take now!  If your not that bad and you havent been on them for anymore than a year RUN from that bottle because its a lifelong thing,  like having another child that you have to take care of..Ever heard of the monkey on your back??  Thats exactly what it is.   SO,  be careful about what you do next and let your husband know,  If he loves you,  he'll help...   Good luck

[jenny8575309]

Hi Sue,

I am glad that you finanally found the real problem with your tooth.  My heart goes out to people that have legitimate pain problems, because I never really did.  I took them because I wanted to, and when I quit, my back did start hurting.  I actually told myself that there was something wrong with my back, I started believing the lies I was telling the script doctors!  I've read that our bodies will manufacture pain to get what it wants.  I'm an addict, my body and my mind haved work together to overcome my will to stop.  I think being addicted to pain medicine is most cunning, because of this.  Well anyway, I'll have six months clean on May 3rd. I'm happy for you because now you will be able to put down the pills for good.  Please be careful of these pills, and someone told me once that stopping was easy, but staying stopped was the hard part.  I believe that today, for some of us it takes alot of work.  But the benefits and the joys greatly outweigh the effort involved.

[paul300]

I had a root canal last Friday only days after going clean. Talk about dark humor. I was enduring the w/d's enough as is---- keeping myself from grabbing the bottle. It was a great excuse to give-in, but the pain of the w/d's were enough to keep me going.

If anything your pain will subside after the rc with a little soreness for a few days. The ibuprofen worked for me.

BTW, I discovered my tooth problem only after getting off the heavy doses of hydro. These meds were masking the pain of my infection!
Hope this helps.
david

[cathy5841]

hi sue, i had jaw surgery a couple months ago and was able after the first few days to manage the pain with 800ml ibuprofen.  and i had the disc replaced in my jaw.  no fun.  so maybe ask the dr for non-narcotic alternatives.  and i will be praying for you right here in good ole louisiana.  let us know how it goes.
cathy

[bandnmom]

I am praying for you. This is the hardest part of our addiction. Learning how to take them as the RX says. Sice it is a different doctor ask him fo something for the pain and take it from there. Good luck. I hope all goes well!!

[sue41]

okay then,

I pray Dear Lord that you will be with me through this root canal today and that I will have as little amount of pain as possible.  Please help me to take ONLY what is need to help me function.  I know that I am strong, but with you help God, I am stronger than I could ever imagine.  Good Luck today Sue.

Sue