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What happened
Posted
on Saturday, January 27th, 2007 at 2:37 pm
Time line:
- Jan 3rd – That was the first visit to the dentist, she started the root canal on one tooth but said I would need another tooth done in the future. Everything was fine after that visit. I did stop taking the antibiotics 5 days into the course due to constant diarrhea. No problems between visits.
- Jan 17 – My next visit. The surgeon finished the root canal the other dentist started, and decided to start and complete the other tooth. 2 root canals in less than an hour – even the assistant commented on how quick it was. The bottom tooth hurt quite a bit and he kept having to spray more stuff in my mouth. twas yuck.
He gave me an Ibuprofen prescription and more antibiotics and sent me on my way. That was Wednesday. I didn’t get the prescription filled, it was the same a stuff the first dentist gave me and I had some left if I needed.
- Jan 18, 19 – Thursday at school I started to get tooth ache and had to grab 2 Tylenol at lunch time. Thursday night I don’t remember it hurting and Friday morning it was minor pain but I took one of the antibiotics from the ones I had left over just in case. It was the evening when I felt I”d been kicked in the side of the face by a mule. I had a rough Friday night.
- Jan 20 – I thought I was dying – dingbat that I am never once considered calling the dentist, I figured I’d just go see him Monday. Diarrhea back, itchy burning hands and feet. Hubby got the new prescription filled, same antibiotic just a higher dose I continued the course.
- Jan 21 – Spent most of the day in pain, and quite possibly high as a kite the amount of pain killers I was taking. Called my boss, told her there was no way I’d be in work tomorrow – I was going to gatecrash the dentist’s office
- Jan 22 – PAIN! Had to wake hubby to take me to the dentist at 11:45, I had flu like symptoms and was running a fever. I told the dentist what was happening including the fever, itching diarrhea and the PAIN! all down the side of my face. He open the fillings up, squirted some stuff into them, filled them again, told me to continue with the antibiotics and call him in the morning (seriously) oh yeah, gave me another prescription for pain killers.
I shivered and moaned all the way home in the car, got home and went straight to bed. By 6 my fever had hit 103 and I was shivering like you wouldn’t believe, and I really didn’t think my teeth could chatter that fast – weird. Hubby called Mary, she came over to look after the kids and off we went to the emergency room. Not any ole emergency room mind you, the one clear across the other side of the Island, the one hubby works at. He’d already called ahead.
Anyway, went from bad to worse there. Shivering got worse, as did the teeth chattering. there was an IV an x ray, poking prodding and questions. By 1am I was in ccu wondering wtf happened. Apparently my blood pressure was incredibly low 54/23 (someone said lower, but wouldn’t that mean I was dead?)
There were lots of stuff hanging from the IV, I later learned dopamine, potassium (which really burns going through your veins let me tell you) magnesium, antibiotics, clindamycin, saline.
Don’t remember much more of Monday night, and since this entry is so long I’ll give you a break and start another later on :)
I will however, leave you with a pretty picture of my face. It’s the only bloated part left, but I really wish the bloated part would be someplace not so friggin obvious.
9 Responses to “What happened”
Wow… does your dentist now know he nearly killed you sending you home? Sorry you went through that ordeal, Lynne, and hope it will soon be a very distant memory.
So, do you get some sort of compensation from the dentist? That really sucks.
Hope you’re feeling better now.
That would entail lawyers and a lawsuit – not sure I can be bothered with all that.
You’ve passed the worst of it… right? I hope so! I take it you had sepsis. I’m so glad your husband got you to a good hospital and I hope you feel better soon.
Dude. You were really sick. I would, at the very least, make sure that dentist knows what happened.
So, was it the fault of the dentist? Or the surgeon who finished the 2nd root canal so quick?
The official diagnosis on my discharge sheet as written, “sepsis, possible Staphylococcus (trying to decipher the spelling on that one) due to dental procedure”
The surgeon who did the root canals and who I saw Monday should have realized there was something wrong when I told him what was happening to me and how I was feeling – not to mention my higher than normal temperature should have tipped him off. Should have smacked me upside the head told me to go to the emergency room and not sent me home with a promise to call him in the morning.
I’m feeling much better. Yes the worst is over, still a little weak, but a 100% better than I was. I’m taking cephalexin right now, every 6 hours and I need to follow up with my regular GP sometime this week.
Lynne, at a minimum, you should call that dentists office, or send them a letter telling them what happened. You ought to also notify your dental health carrier if there is one. It might have been an isolated incident, but they will know if it’s a pattern with that dentist/surgeon. Eejits. Glad you’re doing better.
I agree that at the very least you need to let this dentist know exactly what happened and the diagnosis and the treatment – including the time spent in the CCU. Sepsis is lethal. You caught it early enough to not have long term effects – but it’s very nasty and one of the prime things to beware of when you have a dental procedure done!
I would talk to your regular doc about further dental procedures. It may be that after this episode you should always take antibiotics anytime they have to do work (cavity, root canal, maybe even teeth cleaning) to be on the safe side. I know it’s SOP for people who have had certain illnesses like Rheumatic fever, however, as you now know you are predisposed to sepsis, it may apply to you also – check into it. I can’t remember if you start them before the work is done or on the day it’s done (too long ago from the time I learned all this… heh)
Oh yeah, I’m sure it was Staph – since that’s the most common type of infection roaming about.
I’m glad you’re feeling better.