Kristie Alsteen

Ok. Maybe everyone else might already know this, but if not maybe I can save someone from the pain I am feeling right now.

I had to get my wisdom teeth removed, they were causing me migraines and pushing my molars out. I thought I was lucky because when I went in for the consult on last Thurs. there was a cancelletion so I could have them removed right away. Afterwards I was told all the normal things, no smoking, no drinking soda... I listened to everything this dentist told me. Not even 3 hours after the removal my lower jaw swelled so badly it was starting to bruise. I was in a great deal of pain, so I took one of the Vicodin he gave me. The next day my swelling was worse yet, and the Vicodin did nothing to stop the pain. I went back into the dentist. He told me I had dry socket, which comes from smoking after you get your teeth removed. But I didn't smoke. He gave me antibiotics and a stronger pain medication. This seemed to do nothing. I started looking up dry socket on the internet, and I do understand why it is commonly associated with smoking, but I started thinking about my medication (Adderall XR) and what happened right after I got my teeth removed.

Although the wisdom tooth in the area of the infection had not come thru yet, I was not put to sleep to have it removed. I was given a good amount of novicane, and didn't feel any pain except when me jaw bone had to be shaved smooth because the tooth had not seperated from the bone on it's own. When I got home I was very thirsty, like my meds. make me, but didn't drink anything for the first 4 or 5 hours because I couldn't feel my mouth, tounge, or lips and was afraid if I drank anything while so numb I would choke on it. I was told by my pdoc when I started taking Adderall that if I don't drink when I am thirsty I'd be at high risk for dehyderation. Based on that I believe it was during that time that my sockets dried out and the infection set in because my meds. made my mouth dry, and I didn't drink anything.

Now it's been over a week and I am still fighting this infection. I have stopped taking my Adderall until my mouth is healed. The dentist has antibiotic gauze that he packs my "holes" in my mouth with, and I have to get them changed every 3 days. Because the nerves of your mouth and ears are so close, this infection is making me feel as if I have a major ear infection. I hope I feel better soon, and I hope anyone who is on stimulants (I am told that the dry mouth is a common side effect with any med, not just Adderall) is very careful when they are getting teeth removed, or sending children in to get them removed.