Weird Nitrous Oxide Experience. Any Ideas??? - Dental Health Message Board

kerry4 · 08-29-2007, 03:33 PM

Okay, let me start off by saying that prior to 21/2 months ago, i was perfectly healthy. Well, now that is not the case as all the docs dont seem to know what is up with me.

I had to go to the ER June 29th with palpitations. Since then, my blood pressure has been high and cannot come down with out medication.

since then, I also have bouts of extreme anxiety and cant sit still.
(docs suspect thyroid or endocrine tumor of some sort.)

ALSO, i had to have a endoscopy and they diagnosed me with gastritis and duodenitis. All which has become under control.

We are thinking my hormones went out of whack, causing a sudden elevation of blood pressure and bad anxiety. In fact, tomorrow i have a meeting with my endocrinologist to hopefully find an answer within some results in a battery of tests they took last week on me(blood and urine) Maybe we can fix this nightmare.

ANYWAYS... on with the dental story...

The past month or so, i have had some cavities.. Well, i now have one that appears to be infected...

I made an appt with our dentist and met with him on Monday. I get some xrays of the area in question...it turns out that I have periodontitis and i have a cavity that apparently has an abscess.

I need a root canal, crown and a filling on another tooth.

I say ok, the doc numbs the gumb, injects novacain and we wait a few mins for it to numb up.

He asks if I would like nitrous, (as I have always had gas before in all of my previous dental procedures) I say sure.

They hook me up, give me some oxygen. Then the assistant turns on the gas.

I begin to take a few breaths... then I start getting cold. I took a few more breaths and began freezine. My heart began racing. It wasnt really pounding, just beating really fast.

I was so cold, my teeth were chattering.. I took off the mask and sat up...

The dentist, the assistant and my wife saw that i went completely pale.

He gave me a script for clindamycin and loritab and i opted to continue the procedure another time after we get my results from the endocrinologist.

I had looked up and saw that nitrous causes a drop in blood pressure.

Now my question is, could the nitrous and my blood pressure meds have caused too much of a drop that gave me hypotension? It was such a scary feeling.

Typically with my blood pressure meds alone, i range about 120/60 to 140/90.
Being that i was anxious about the procedure, i wouldnt expect that my BP at the time was at its lowest.

Anyone have any experiences or insight? Thanks

glowing4 · 08-29-2007, 05:02 PM

My second child had nitrous oxide when he was three years old and he went under too far causing it to be difficult to get him out from under! Terribly frightening experience for all concerned, and yes I was in the room and so scared. I did not know it at the time, but his paternal grandfather had the same experience only he was an adult at the time. I have since spoken to many dentists who do not use it. Their reason being that it is too risky and they are never sure that the right mix of chemicals is in the tank. I would really question what effect this had on you and would not be willing to use it again. Most people function just fine with novacaine for normal dental procedures, and the use of nitrous oxide is not worth the risk.

glowing4

Unno · 08-31-2007, 04:28 AM

Wow man your experience with anxiety, heart palpitations and doctors appointments with the endocrinologist is exactly like mine man! And I havent been to the dentist in a while (i have a huge molar cavity) yet so this creeped me out. Well hope you get the insight you're looking for.

Clem52 · 10-17-2007, 08:38 PM

Glowing4:

Please don't generalize and state that we all can do just fine with novocaine and forget the nitrous! I absolutely cannot bear the LONG period of time it takes to give a "GOOD" shot (2 minutes for a lower), and begin hyperventilating immediately. I will not undergo that torture without pharmaceutical help, meaning nitrous. Valium does not good, I get so anxious that I must metabolize it immediately.

It's my deal and that's fine--just don't go around saying that we all should just suck it up. Not possible. The thought of that needle penetrating my tissues to an inch or more just creeps me out like nothing else. give me spiders, snakes, leeches, whatever, just not a dental needle.

Titchou · 10-17-2007, 08:58 PM

Two things:

1) You should see an endodontist for the root canal, not a general dentist.

2) Nitrous make me throw up so nothing is strange to me with that stuff! Numb me up any time but leave the gas out of it.