Hi All, At the dentist's yesterday th... - Atrial Fibrillati...

Atrial Fibrillation Support

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Hi All, At the dentist's yesterday the anaesthetic started my heart beating rapidly and then my hands started to shake.

porridgequeen profile image
20 Replies

Thankfully, it all calmed down in a couple of minutes but left me with a complaining heart for the night- faster than normal pulse rate and lots of bumps and ectopic beats and as well as feeling as if I had been pulled through a hedge backwards. Apparently, it was due to adrenalin getting into the blood stream and is reasonably common always with these symptoms.

Has anyone else experienced this and if so did you try the alternative anaesthetic without adrenalin ( but which made my sister in law being sick for three days)?

Hope you are all keeping well and enjoying the sunshine.

Angela

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20 Replies

Hi Angela, the other week I had a rapid onset AF episode, I am assuming my symptoms were from my body dumping a heck of a lot of adrenaline into my system all in one go and it had the effect of taking my breath away and making my whole body violently shiver uncontrollably as if I had been dunked into a freezing cold lake. If a little bit of adrenaline made your hands shake it sounds like it depends on the amount of adrenaline your body is given. I would like to know if anyone else can throw a light on these sort of symptoms so as to separate them from the ones that occur purely due to AF. For days after I was good for nothing so I know how you felt. Yes my heart rate was fast and erratic for another 18hrs.

BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer

Yes as soon as I started reading I thought adrenaline. Novocaine contains this to shrink blood vessels to help prevent bleeding. When I had a big toe nail removed (yes ouch) some time ago they had to use the one without adrenaline for some reason to do with blood flow and possible gangrene? No ill effects from that. Hope you feel better now Angela.

Bob

porridgequeen profile image
porridgequeen

Thank you both for you replies.

Ms-J-W, I don't think my immediate reaction was a severe as yours and I don't think it was AF as my pulse rate was regular, but my heart palpitating like that was a bit of a shock as I don't have many symptoms. The tiredness has continued just like yours though, 'good for nothing' is exactly what I am!

BobD, Toe nail removal sounds more than a bit painful! I think I will try the adrenaline free anaesthetic next time .....though I dream of there not being a next time. We live in hope.

Hannalore profile image
Hannalore in reply toporridgequeen

Hello Angela, I am sorry to hear that you had problems at the dentists. Many years ago, every time I had a local anaesthetic at the dentists I felt really ill and my heart started to do peculiar things. My dentist then started to give me non adrenaline injections, which I have been having ever since and I am absolutely fine. Good luck. Carole

porridgequeen profile image
porridgequeen in reply toHannalore

Thanks Hannalore, I will definitely change to the non adrenaline.

pip_pip profile image
pip_pip

Not A Fib, but sounds like Flutter ! 18 hrs ? Seems a lot.

porridgequeen profile image
porridgequeen in reply topip_pip

Hi pip_pi. Yes, I am sure it was flutter but that was intermittent throughout the night it was the tiredness that continued. Last night I started with a cold, I know I have been overdoing things so maybe the adrenaline was the catalyst.

wpw62 profile image
wpw62

I have had adrenaline free injections at my dentist for over 20 years and it just means it wears off faster so the dentist has to work quicker! I have never had any ill affects from it.

mumknowsbest profile image
mumknowsbestVolunteer

I always have adrenaline free locals, at the dentist ever since the af started

Eileen

CDreamer profile image
CDreamer

Hi Angela, exact same thing happened to me, I was told to avoid anaesthetics with adrenaline. Luckily I haven't needed one since and coped with a light filling without numbing. Some dentists I know use hypnosis?

yoyo_again profile image
yoyo_again

I had a reaction to lignocaine with adrenaline many years ago when I felt panicky, breathless and rapid heart beat. Af wasn't as bad then and it resolved quickly - but not a nice feeling. My dentist noted I would have adrenaline free after that.

Lizzo profile image
Lizzo

I'm booked in for a couple of fillings next week, and when I told my dentist about my AF, she said that she would use an adrenaline-free injection. I'm a wimp, so could never have a filling without an injection! I'll let you know if I have any adverse reactions!

Cemarain1983 profile image
Cemarain1983 in reply toLizzo

How did it go?

Lizzo profile image
Lizzo in reply toCemarain1983

It was absolutely fine thanks. No heart rhythm problems and the anaesthetic was just as effective.

porridgequeen profile image
porridgequeen

Thank you all for your replies, all very helpful.

I had a chat with the dentist afterwards and although she knew that I have AF she didn't seem to know anything about it or the possible implications of the adrenaline. I will make sure the change to non adrenaline is written in my notes in large letters.

Keep well.

Angela

Jay10 profile image
Jay10

Hi everyoneI have just logged in and read these posts.

I also had the same problem some years ago at the dentists which quite frightened me. This was before my ablation but now I have Citenest injections and tell all drs and any medics that Adrenaline is a major problem.

It is quite good to read that I am not the only one to suffer with this as I thought it was just my system being peculiar!

Jackie

porridgequeen profile image
porridgequeen in reply toJay10

Hi Jay10.

That's why this sight is invaluable, there is almost always somebody who will write in to confirm that you are not alone or peculiar! I will alert all medics about the adrenaline problem as well. Thanks for your help.

Angela

Jay10 profile image
Jay10 in reply toporridgequeen

Hi Angela

Thanks for your response, hope you don't get any more problems.

Jackie

Cemarain1983 profile image
Cemarain1983

Yes, right after that I had severas panic attacks and axiety and palpitations. I ended up in re that day of my dentist visit with mouth numb and the dental work not completed. I been fighting anxiety since May 2018. I still need wisdom teeth taken out but in scared.

FiveMilesSouth profile image
FiveMilesSouth

I used to have this reaction. My dentist knows to only use anaesthetic on me without adrenaline and it works fine.

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