Root Canal / 6 MP and Tacrolimus

Hello, I read a thread posted back in September about root canals for us Crohni'es who are immune suppressed. I had a root canal yesterday. The tooth was already infected. The dentist said I did not need pre-med and my GI had said (in the past) that I did not need to be premedicated (but we did not know about the infection till they went in yesteday). I am also sick for the past 10 days with a really bad cold / cough and was just tested for pneumonia, but I assume I don't have that since the GP didn't call me back (nor did he return any of my 3 phone calls of Friday RRRRR). His assistant did say he had the xray report, so I assume he would have called but STILL!!

Anyway, that's what has been going on. What is going on today is major PAIN. It's in my whole jaw, from the root canaled tooth back to my jawbone. Hot, throbbing. I have erythromicyn from the GP doctor prescribed for my chest / head cold, so I've taken that 3 x today (500M). But, of course all docs and dentists are closed. It's gotten worse since this morning. I know anti biotics can take 24 hours.. not sure what to do. I have phoned the GI on call to ask him what to do. Now I'm waiting. I'm so worn out with all this, and in pain, even the oxycodon can't touch this pain. Sigh. Would you wait till Monday or go to the ER?? Usually the ER does not help and I think they might not get it, regarding the tacrolimus and 6 mp stuff. I'm not sure if this is normal after a root canal, but I think not.

NDBC
6MP Tacrolimus Gabapentin and for Crohn's, peripheral neuropathy, arthritis.

Hi Nwalins Cate, I'm sorry you are going thru this too. My doctor never called back (I mean the GI on call doctor). I am so upset, no doctors ever call back. I don't really over-react, but I am starting to get the impression that this must be ME. Or that I need to exaggerate when I call - say that I'm screaming and writhing in pain or something. The GP didn't call back about the xray result, the GI on call doesn't call back to answer my question as to how serious this tooth is - whether I should go to ER or not. Obviously now I'm not going its 10:15 at night and I am wiped out. But I am FURIOUS. I took another oxycodone pill at 6, and it took the edge off but still in pain. Will take another one now and resume trying to get answers tomorrow if this is still getting worse. What about the blankety blank hippocratic oath! Neither dentist, nor GP,not GI seem to really listen or care. I am so very upset. This has been a really bad week, and the pain is now in my mouth - jaw. I think they used to not "seal" root canals, but the dentist told me that now they do it all in one step. I hope he did the right thing for someone in my condition. I will NEVER do anything medical on a Friday again and go thru weekend with nothing but the ER. I'm ready for the funny farm now, for sure.

But, to your issue, I had a molar out last spring, while I was on the same immunosuppresant regime, and it knocked me for a loop, missed a day of work next day, vomiting, feverish, sick & weak. Dunno why, I didn't have general anesthesia. But, the tooth site was not especially painful, it just seemed to knock my system out in general for 2 days, then I was ok. The tooth site was not especially painful and it healed well. I hope you find out - 4 weeks is a long time. Thanks for replying, this week has been so bad and I feel so very alone with these troubles, especially without even doctors....

Today my whole left side of my face is fat and swollen. At the moment, the pounding pain has stopped, but since half my face is swollen, (which it was only slightly swollen yesterday) I guess it is infected. WHich is why I want to talk to my GI doctor, this can't be a good thing for me overall. I will continue to take the erythromycin but I am very upset that the GI did not call me back. Maybe erythryo is not strong enough ??? My Hospital keeps GIs on call round the clock, but this one did not call me back. If I can get to the point where it doesn't hurt to talk maybe I call him, or maybe just wait for the dentist to open tomorrow. Either way, this sucks so bad. And meanwhile I just have to wait and see what this infection is doing to me... and then see the dentist tomorrow I really hope. If they will listen to me and squeeze me in.

No one ever takes my complaints seriously, honestly, I saw this tombstone (for real, not a joke) and it said "I told you I was sick" and then had the person's name and date. That's what I will get when it's my time. I'm not writing to ask for advice at this point, just to vent. Sigh ..hang in there till tomorrow. When it is time to go back to work.... sigh. This sucks so bad. At least I did sleep.

Dentist does not have any on call or emergency line. No way to get him. I called back my gi emergency line and told them no one got back to me last night then my own gastro Dr called me back. He said what Nanners said - call the dentist. But I am flat out sick haven't left my bed. Throwing up and d. I just have to keep the erythroo down. I can call the dentist tomorrow at 8am so just have to hang in till then. At least give said the erytromycin is OK.

You need to go to the ER. Erthromycin is not the correct antibiotic for an infection in the tooth or jaw. An infection like this can be very serious.

My daughter just went through something similar and she is healthy with a strong immune system. They did a CT scan to track the infection and kept her overnight in the hospital on IV antibiotics. She was released the next morning and sent directly to her dentist who went in and removed the infected tissue. Afterwards she was on a combination of oral antibiotics for 10 days.

If you decide to change dentists, ask about their after-hours emergency policy right up front. My dentist has an answering service and will get back to you quickly, even on weekends. He met us at the office once on a Sunday when the wire on my daughter's braces snapped and he fixed it for free. After her problem with the infection, he gave us his cell number in case she had any trouble that evening so we could call him directly.


(My poor daughter has inherited my awful teeth. My son was luckier!)