Dentist visit.

[Crochetgirl65_]

I have just been to the dentist and ended up in uncontrollable tears. Sooo embarrassing

New dentist in a new town, I did turn up a day early so I was back again today. A bit of a walk to get there but arrived in good time, everyone really lovely at the practise. Then as soon as I got into the treatment room I started with tears!!! I managed to struggle through all the questions and check up but was in such distress I had to leave without making my other appointments, I couldn’t think straight and wanted to just get out in to some fresh air. Cried all the way back to the car, sobbed once in the car so I had to wait to calm down before I drove home. I still feel tearful and now extremely tired and a bit achey. What caused it all, any ideas? I have seen others say they take a higher dose of steroid on dentist days. Will that fix it?

I’ve been on steroids for 10 years, have been on 2mg for 6 months, starting to reduce to 1.5mg. I also take 50g of sertraline a day.

Any suggestions welcome, especially s I have several appointments to book now!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Would say your adrenals weren't up to the extra stress...

a lot going on, wrong day initially, then 'a bit of a walk', new people, new environment - all too much...

Are you actually at the taper to 1.5mg? If so, suggest back to 2mg..have a few days to compose yourself... however if you do feel really bad than maybe a few extra pred. But probably best if you can manage without.

Once you are back to feeling better, just ring and make future appointments. If you want to explain, then that's up to you. But probably best they are fully aware of your steroid background etc - if they aren't already.

See how you feel for next appointment, before you decide if you need extra or not ... do you normally get anxious before dentist appointment?

[Crochetgirl65_ in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you so much for your reply. I used to get very anxious about dentist appointments but thought I had got it cracked. I did feel fatigued this morning and would normally have taken a quieter day following the events of yesterday.

I was congratulating myself for taking it all in my stride and thought perhaps life was opening up for me again. I wasn’t aware of being tense.

I am two weeks into reducing from 1.5mg to 2mg . I’ll take 2mg for a few days then, sounds like it is what I need.

Thank you so much for your support.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Crochetgirl65_]

I'd be inclined to go back to 2mg... and stick there for time being.. in winter it's always much more difficult to taper even without the dentist!

[Crochetgirl65_ in reply to DorsetLady]

Yes, I think I picked the wrong time of year to taper! I’ll try again in the spring maybe? Impatience!! That’s my problem 🙄

Thank you again!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Crochetgirl65_]

Sounds like a plan… 😊

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Crochetgirl65_]

Definitely worth thinking about!! And I agree with all DL has said.

If you get so upset at the prospect of the dentist, why not speak to your GP who can probably give you something to calm you down?

[Crochetgirl65_ in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you for replying. The odd thing was I didn’t think I was stressed, clearly not the case. 🤷‍♂️

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Crochetgirl65_]

You probably weren't until you got in there and then it hit.

[perceptual63 in reply to Crochetgirl65_]

Sertraline is an antidepressant but is also prescribed for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). If the temporary steroid increase doesn't make you less emotionally sensitive then perhaps you might want to consider talking to your doctor that prescribed your sertraline for an increase in your current dosage.

Hang in there. 🙂

[Crochetgirl65_]

I think you’re right

[Hidden]

Meltdowns are wretched ; best forgotten !

Pretty picture to cheer you up.

[Crochetgirl65_ in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much for your kind words and glorious picture!

[TandemTime]

Well done you for going to the dentist. My Rhemotogist would not let me start on Prednisolone until I had seen the dentist. So I presume it's well worth keeping up regular appointments and seeing a good hygienist..

[Crochetgirl65_ in reply to TandemTime]

Interesting info about your consultants comments, thank you for replying

[Gimme]

I've been like that a few times when the fatigue and pain is getting me down and have to face something stressful. So far, not the dentist, but a couple of time at the doctor's, at a scan and trying to work my way through NHS online bookings. My strategy is to wait until I feel a bit better and then contact whoever to explain and discuss next steps. tbh, I am not certain if it is the illness or the pred that makes me like this. You are on a much lower dose than I am, but it sounds very like how I get. I wouldn't be surprised if the tapering is making you feel less able to cope and you got overwhelmed. Hang in there. You won't be the first or the last person to have a melt down in the dentist and they will have seen it all before, so I am sure they don't judge. I would give them a call, if it were me. Just remember that it is the part of the illness and not you. Take care of yourself.

[Crochetgirl65_ in reply to Gimme]

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. It can get you down can’t it? I feel I need to press on otherwise I will just not go anywhere! As you say, I think I was tired from the previous day, felt a bit odd the next morning but I gave waited so long to get a dentist appointment I felt I had to go.

It was an all female room so lots of sympathy when I explained it was a bit like PMT!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Gimme]

"trying to work my way through NHS online bookings"

ANYTHING online in my experience!!! Can send me to a total meltdown ... Last week it was HMRC whose phone system was broken and the person who answered claimed he knew NOTHING about my query about how to access something. Luckily an accountant happened to be still there in the office late on Friday and SHE knew. In the end it was easy but you had to know how!

[Longtimer in reply to PMRpro]

Technology!! had to ring up about a power of attourney question, man on the other end said go online and......I said what if I couldn't go online, he said then you would have to go to a library they would help you...I said what if I can't physically get to a library.....he said I can't answer that!......when I hear you need the APP.....I say no I need a NAP!......so many people not abe to do online things......

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Longtimer]

I think it is ridiculous - there just aren't the f2f options in the UK to allow everyone access. Here there are agencies set up by unions who help you with all the online stuff if you can't manage it - tax, pensions, bank services, We still have 2 banks in the village. There are some things they can't do but there is someone in the main office in town, and a bus to get there! I can't see it changing too much because all official stuff is in Italian and not everyone speaks it well enough to cope. But it is fantastic compared with trying to get info out of the UK system.

[Longtimer in reply to PMRpro]

Don't like to say it, but think the powers that be will be glad when those from a certain age are gone....then they can assume everyone can do everything online....If your coun try can do why can' t the uk......it's all about money, not having to run a bank or post office....think of the savings...goodness knows what AI is and what it will do.....

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Longtimer]

There are still a lot of younger people who don't have access to the internet - it isn't the cheapest service in the UK is it?

[Longtimer in reply to PMRpro]

No you are right.....

[Daffodilia]

Maybe see gp for diazepam for next visit?

[anutycrixp]

something triggered it,sometimes it’s just a release and reaction to your personal achievement and “everyone being really lovely” to you.It does no harm and all of us can relate to this sort of thing.Ok you may feel embarrassed but all is well,I expect they have seen this and more from patients but as good professionals with kind hearts they will not judge you.Well done for going and please continue with your dental care.Don’t fear your response as you are fine!, best wishes!

[Almostaweed]

I can relate to this experience. I came completely unstuck with indecision recently when starting with a new dentist in a nearby but new practice, in a dental emergency, two weeks before a holiday. What made it worse was that one of the treatment options was to go to ANOTHER dentist in ANOTHER nearby location. I was paralysed with indecision and a tooth infection for the best part of a week. You are dealing with a move of your whole life to a new location as well as a new dentist.

I think we relate more to our dentists than we realise. I used to think about my old one very often when cleaning my teeth! So when you go to the new one you can be quietly mourning the old one.

I notice that your meltdown was two weeks into a taper. I think the reaction to a taper often kicks in about two weeks after we start it. So you may have been at your most vulnerable point in the taper.

You and I, both, now have to regain face with our fragile selves and our longsuffering dental practices! I am finding that the shame wears off in a few weeks. I hope yours will too.

[Eatsfruitsandleaves]

No ideas but I just wanted to say that I sobbed my way through a chiropody appointment yesterday. I went into Costa coffee after to recover myself and wondered why the sever looked at me "funny". I should change my user name to Panda Eyes maybe!. Take care of yourself x

[Joan-E-D]

I shocked myself when I was reducing pred. by bursting into tears when I selected my new cat from Cats' Protection. Totally unexpected and very embarrassing. I explained what was happening to the staff who were very kind and left me to recover before helping me with the paperwork. It wasn't even a unpleasant or stressful situation, really quite a joyful one. I think we are vulnerable emotionally when our adrenals are starting to catch up, as well as the effect of Pred. Look after yourself, as people can be kind and understanding when you explain.

[GCAsurprise]

I had a sobbing breakdown last week while talking on phone with a Human Resources and Union rep. I'm tapering from 4 to 3 mg Prednisone.. and blamed my sobbing on the withdrawal. I bumped back up to 4 for a couple of days and then back to taper. I'm trying to get back to work and the stress involved with my job has me fearful of relapse.Sending big hugs to you and for us all as we taper our medication!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to GCAsurprise]

Sorry to hear this, but would say as much your adrenals struggling than as the tapering…and at low doses we suggest reducing by only 0.5mg ay time and using a slower tapering plan.

Both approaches help your body acclimatise to the lower dose for your illness and nudges the adrenals.

[GCAsurprise in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to GCAsurprise]

As DL says - that is a 25% change in dose and a lot for your body to cope with. The lower the slower - and using the slowed tapers can make it a LOT easier on you.