I have a PED in an unruptured aneurysm that is now 3 months old. So far, I have just had one routine dental checkup. I told them about the PED and that I was on blood thinners, but my gums are in good shape and I didn't do any bleeding. I did skip the x-rys this time, since I got a good dose of radiation during the procedure, and since I am going to have to have another angiogram in three months to see if the annie is shrinking like it should. I imagine it's different when you have had clipping,since they had to actually invade your brain. What do the folks with coils say?
idk kit, i have never has so many infections, ear, sinus's. tc
Kit34 said:
Why the antibiotics? I was told no restrictions, and honestly it doesn't really make sense to me. Why would there be a higher risk of infection?
Oh my God! You’re all freaking me out!!! I had a craneotomy to clip an unrupted aneurysm five years ago, and NO ONE, including my neuro surgeon, has warned me about dental visits. why the medicines? Why can’t the chair be reclined? I’ve got a dental visit booked this month to repair some old fillings, and now I’m even more scared. Please can someone explain???
I just got to the bottom of this the other day. I have been told by Neurosurgeon that if you have had a surgery in which metal has been installed you should have antibiotics on board before getting into the dental chair. This Dr. would recommend Prophylaxis for six months post surgery and after that 4-500 mg capsules of Amoxicillin one hour before dental work would be sufficient.
I guess it is the same if the metal is in your brain or hip or anywhere. Studies have shown that Bacteria released from your teeth tend to head for the metal in your body.
Reclining the chair is one thing, but I was so reclined that the blood was going toward my head- I can’t do yoga inversions, headstands (obviously) anymore and this also could’ve been aggrievated by a past hemorrhage of Cavernoma (and AVMS) in my occipital lobe. However, not all are educated to those malformations and have blamed it on craniotomy/aneurysm clipping.
By the way, if allergic to amoxicillin is Cipro ok prior?
Isabel said:
Oh my God! You're all freaking me out!!!! I had a craneotomy to clip an unrupted aneurysm five years ago, and NO ONE, including my neuro surgeon, has warned me about dental visits. why the medicines? Why can't the chair be reclined? I've got a dental visit booked this month to repair some old fillings, and now I'm even more scared. Please can someone explain???
i never heard this afore mentioned, i got bad teeth and got coils, so far-6 yrs almost no problems w metal or bacteria or infections re brain, please talk to your drs, this support community meant for support not medical advice!!
I can’t believe I was never told about taking the amoxicillin before the dentist. The explanations provided about bacteria and metal in the brain make sense - thanks! My surgeon also “forgot” to tell me about not having MRIs (except below a certain strength) until I asked about it later. So now I wear a med bracelet that says “metal clips in brain. MRI up to 3 Tesla only” in case I ever arrive at the ER unable to explain myself. Ugh! So much to think about…
Thanks everyone! I do realize when asking here that we are all different. I ask so I have a better idea of what questions to ask my medical teams. I did check with the Neurosurgeon right after posting this (but before the responses) and he said I didn't have to do any preps. I gave my dentist a copy of my clip's data (aka clip birth certificate) for my file. I was only going in for a cleaning but I don't like dental anythings. The only thing I noticed was that the seat must have been a reclined a bit backwards because when I got up I felt disoriented. It took a little bit but my brain found it's natural setting once I sat upright for a while. Thanks again it helps to know what to ask!
I have been in a coma as a result of misinformed Drs.
I’ve been given meds I was allergic to.
So I find the experiences of others to be of the greatest “support”.
And I thank each and every one of you who give a heads up regarding what you have learned.
I only tell my own experience in order to help maybe one other person to NOT have to suffer through what I have (or almost didn’t survive).
It is dangerous for individual patients with serious conditions to assume every Dr knows everything. I fell and broke a rib and in local urgent care told the assisting nurse I have a brain aneurysm (clipped/ metal -prior to MRI) to which she responded "what’s that?"
When I ask a medically related question I am only looking for those with similar experiences, as we are all so very different it is comforting when I know I am not alone.
Holy Moly Laura...had I heard "what's that?" I would have panicked and tried crawling back out of the ER!
Laura Hollenbeck said:
I have been in a coma as a result of misinformed Drs.
I've been given meds I was allergic to.
So I find the experiences of others to be of the greatest "support".
And I thank each and every one of you who give a heads up regarding what you have learned.
I only tell my own experience in order to help maybe one other person to NOT have to suffer through what I have (or almost didn't survive).
It is dangerous for individual patients with serious conditions to assume every Dr knows everything. I fell and broke a rib and in local urgent care told the assisting nurse I have a brain aneurysm (clipped/ metal -prior to MRI) to which she responded "what's that?"
When I ask a medically related question I am only looking for those with similar experiences, as we are all so very different it is comforting when I know I am not alone.
I agreed to an X-ray with the ER Dr. who was familiar with an aneurysm. I then said it was no big deal and that I felt amazingly better and left, drove the hours back to my internist who handled it all as it was supposed to be handled.
Laura I am so not surprised. I had ER people ask me “can you have an MRI” which I guess is better than just throwing me in, but still. They should know. We have to be our own case managers and it can get scary. I have my med bracelet and I carry an envelope in my purse with my whole history and my doctor/surgeon names and numbers.
I would be more concerned about needless antibiotic treatment. Usually this is a preventive measure for people with rheumatic heart disease and not with brain aneurysms. Double check with all physicians involved first. I know some people who have over medicated with antibiotics and then they stopped working when a real infection came on.
Harlylena...and all..
Does anyone have dry mouth / dry tongue? Post-clipping or coiling and/ or stenting?
There are number of us who have had coils / stents who do have dental issues/advancements...
The dry mouth (lack of saliva) is one of the hits on the value of our teeth...the enamel.
If anyone does...do you, did you, also have the dry eyes?
Some of us are blessed w/dental insurance...those policies are generally geared to basics...not a survival of brain work.
But Deneen, the dentist is 2x a year so as long as you’re not popping antibiotics often, there will be no harm done. And if it’s true what some physicians have told people in this group about bacteria heading for the metal clips in the brain, then you should actually be way more concerned about that. Note that I said “IF” it’s true - there seems to be some discrepancy but I, for one, plan to speak with my neurosurgeon.
Yes!!!!! It's awful. I thought I was suffering alone. My left eye no longer tears or closes completely. I use artificial tears constantly and ointment at night to sleep.
My mouth is always dry, I drink a ton of water, chew gum and brush with biotene toothpaste. I'm always uncomfortable. I figure it's due to all the meds I take.
Harlyena, you have nothing to worry about at all. I have gone to the dentist a few times with no issues. Antibiotics are standard procedure, with or without annie clips. I have 3.
Patioplans, I am on gabapentin one of the side affects is cotton mout. I hope to be helpful out here. Good luck to all
Paul, what specific reason were you given for why you need antibiotics for dentist when you have clips? I want to have all info when I call my neuro.
I completely agree. Antibiotics are overused and can be dangerous. If they aren’t absolutely necessary, I refuse to take them! You don’t want to develop a drug resistant infection