Abdominal pain related to dental work
Posted , 6 users are following.
A few years ago I had root canals and crowns done on all my teeth, won't go into the reasons. Turns out the dentist botched almost every single root canal and they started developing infections one by one.
For the past year I've been getting re-treated with secondary root canals at a new dentist who was able to reopen most teeth.
Recently, after re-treating one of my teeth, I experienced above average, unrelenting pain that had me taking painkillers (NSAIDS) every 4-6 hours for 2 days and was put on two types of antibiotics.
After two days, once the tooth pain subsided, I began suffering intense abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea. My family doctor said it was the painkillers and the strong antibiotics and switched one of the antibiotics for a gentler one.
That night my stomach pain became unbearable, I developed chills and disorientation/weakness and continued vomiting. After being hospitalized, I was taken off the antibiotics completely, tested for Clostridium Defficile which came back negative and was released with a prescription of Nexium (an antacid). I was told it was probably a stomach bug, not the painkillers or the antibiotics that caused this. For a week after, I would experience this immense pressure/heaviness in my lower abdomen that slowly faded each day.
Two months later, I went back in to continue my dental work. We re-treated one tooth which hurt for a day but was fine. The next week we did another tooth which hurt more than average but not quite as bad as that first one. This time I stayed away from NSAIDS and antibiotics and stuck to Panadol (paracetamol) and didn't exceed the recommended dosage.
The next day as the tooth pain subsided, I started getting dizzy and my stomach started hurting again. That night I developed chills and started vomiting. I made it through the night and was placed on a gentle antibiotic and antacid the next day. After two days of seemingly getting better, my stomach pain increased, I developed chills, diarrhea and vomited twice. I was told if this was a result of a tooth infection, the antibiotic should have improved it so this was likely a stomach issue.
I am now continuing the antibiotic course and am still taking the antacids and experiencing slight disorientation accompanied by lesser abdominal pain in the evenings. When my stomach isn't hurting, I experience the same dull pressure in my lower abdomen that I felt after the hospital.
Tomorrow I'm getting tested for H. Pylori and other possible culprits. I have never had stomach problems in the past and highly doubt that them showing up after the root canals is just coincidence. I am absolutely convinced it has something to do with my teeth and is more than just an infection that is spreading to my stomach because antibiotics don't seem to fix it.
If anybody has had any experience with something like this, I would appreciate the advice.
1 like, 8 replies
Supertractorman robin36416
Posted
The symptoms you are describing could be attributed to Sepsis which is an infection after an operation. Normally it is extremely severe, but I would get Dr's to check this out, as you may be getting mild doses. It may be you need antibiotics before and after treatment.
robin36416 Supertractorman
Posted
Thanks for your advice. The first time this happened, I was already on antibiotics and then was taken off them when I was admitted to the hospital. So the fact that the hospital didn't diagnose any symptoms of sepsis (BP, heart rate..) and the fact that I got better without antibiotics makes me think it couldn't be sepsis.
acc925 robin36416
Posted
robin36416 acc925
Posted
We aren't using anesthetics because we're doing secondary root canals so the roots are already dead. But thanks for your advice.
patricia27928 robin36416
Posted
Robin, I don't know if you have found any answers to your stomach issues but I would be inclined to believe that they are related to the dental work. There is a private facebook group that you can join called "NICO, jawbone infections, root canals. You can find out what other people have experienced and how they solved their issues. There are good administrators on the site and biologic dentists who will offer their opinions. All the members are kind and helpful. It's a wonderful resource. Wishing you good health.
robin36416 patricia27928
Posted
Thanks so much for your advice Patricia. After 6 months of abdominal pain and two endoscopies, I was diagnosed with IBS which is a problem with the bowels that is exacerbated by stress. The pain of the endless root canals was apparently causing me so much stress that it triggered the onset of this disorder. I've since been taking the proper medication and have stopped all dental work until I'm more up to it again.
patricia27928 robin36416
Posted
Robin, I am glad you have found some relief. IBS is a group of symptoms that occur together and usually they don't have a cause (some theories). So, when doctors can't find a reason for your symptoms they give you this label. I guess that's today's medicine. Root Canals are dead teeth and they harbor all kinds of toxins which make their way into the body. Your regular dentist and your doctor are not going to tell you that. I had one root canal molar and it immediately showed heat(in a thermogram) going from that tooth to my left breast. That heat did not go away in repeat thermograms so I had the tooth removed. I read enough stories of breast cancer tumors that were on the same meridian as a root canal tooth.
The facebook dental group has many sick and many recovered people from bad dental work-infections, root canals, cavitations, amalgams, etc.
When you are feeling better you may want to consider a good, biologic dentist. They are holistic and understand the whole body connection. I am open to further discussion if you are interested. Good luck.
robin75487 robin36416
Posted
Robin.
I had tooth infections late 2017 and after having work on them I developed dirviticulitus and was admitted to hospital with a very high inflammation, approaching the sepsis level. This was treated with IV antibiotics.
I didn't connect at that time the teeth and the acute event.
For some months now I have been waiting to see an endodentist to get another infected tooth treated.
After a week of bad stomach aches and diarrhea I once again got dirviticulitus. Only this time with an abcess, found by CT scan. I'm on dual antibiotics therapy now.
This is a very serious condition.
I was going to have a root canal next week but after asking a lot of dentists and medical people I know, friends, is it possible that the teeth infections I have had are causing my potentially life threatening bowel inflammation, they all say its not likely but possible.
So I'm not for the sake of a tooth accepting the maybe small risk and I'm having the tooth pulled out next week.
Im no medical expert but find it strange that we could eat a dodgy meal with bacteria in it and could cause gastrointestinal problem but bacteria from infected teeth leaking into the body via blood or swallowed germs wouldn't.
We coincidently have the same name I'm sure that's more to do with chance!
I hope your teeth and stomach are recovered.
Best wishes
Robin