Wisdom tooth extraction

[kitcat49]

Had a wisdom tooth extracted 2 days ago and would expect some swelling but it's about 2" or 3" always from site. Could extraction (took him forever to get the tooth out) have affected lymph node in swelling area.....Cat

[Cllcanada Top Poster CURE Hero]

You might have an infection... did the dental surgeon know you are a CLL patient and prescribe post operative and preoperative antibiotics?

Certainly contact the dental surgeon's office.

~chris

[kitcat49 in reply to Cllcanada]

I've had infection in site for some time so went on antibiotics 3 or 4 days before surgery. Thanks for speedy reply...Cat

[Cllcanada Top Poster CURE Hero in reply to kitcat49]

Still worth a call... could just be lingering infection...

[SeymourB]

Are you applying an ice pack and taking an anti-inflammatory?

If it's an upper wisdom tooth, the maxillary sinus may be infected. Such infections can be chronic, and difficult to fight with antibiotics because they form a thing called a biofilm. Chronic infections can flare and then subside. Antibiotics can only fight loose bacteria, not biofilms. Usually, a maxillary sinus infection shows up on dental X-rays.

With the extraction, you also get non-infection based inflammation. This increases other white blood cells - macrophages - to come clean up the remains of damaged cells. They, in turn, create chemical signals to increase blood flow, and signal to other lymphocytes to get ready. Inflammation is normally a good thing - it rallies your immune system. Too much inflammation is damaging. So icing and anti-inflammatories are generally advised.

Since you have an infection in the area, any loose bacteria that breaks away from the biofilm will cause macrophages in the lymph nodes to signal B and T cells to multiply. So the lymph node becomes busier.

From my layman's reading, it's quite a lot more complicated than I ever imagined. Statistically, I think CLL patients have a worse time with minor surgery. Much also depends on what stage you're in - the later the stage, the worse the experience. Even normal aging makes minor surgery statistically worse.

If you experience fever after a minor surgery - even with the pre- and post-surgery oral antibiotics - please seek care immediately. The big fear is sepsis - infection carried in the blood stream that your body cannot fight. It can attack other organs. Doctors fight it with stronger IV antibiotics.

[kitcat49 in reply to SeymourB]

Thank you Seymour...I did ice it and it seems to have settled down .

[SeymourB in reply to kitcat49]

Good to hear, kitcat49!

Do take care during the healing.

I'm sure these tales of victory over pain and discomfort reduce anxiety for others, too. Thanks for sharing it.