RE: Going to the Dentist today... very nervous!

[Guest guest]

Hi-i am new to afib and this support group---i didn't see the

abbrev " epi " on the list. what does this mean? thanks!

> Well, it has been almost exactly a year since I have been diagnosed

> with parox. afib... and this will be my first dental visit since the

> diagnosis. I know I probably need some major work done, something

went

> wrong with one of my fillings (over the phone the dentist said

> unfortuantely, it sounds like I might have cracked a tooth) and I

can

> no longer delay a visit.

>

> I know the rules about " no epi " - but I'm still nervous. I dreaded

the

> dentist office long before parox. afib, and now I dread it double.

> Currently in NSR - I have short bursts (1 - 3 minutes) a few times a

> month, an episode of about 1 - 2 hours every other month, and the

> occassional 5 hour episodes a few times a year.

>

> Joscelyn

[Guest guest]

Joscelyn,

My dentist uses Carbocaine, a non epi numbing agent. Ask him about it. It

works well for me.--Barbara Blocker

Going to the Dentist today... very nervous!

Well, it has been almost exactly a year since I have been diagnosed

with parox. afib... and this will be my first dental visit since the

diagnosis. I know I probably need some major work done, something went

wrong with one of my fillings (over the phone the dentist said

unfortuantely, it sounds like I might have cracked a tooth) and I can

no longer delay a visit.

I know the rules about " no epi " - but I'm still nervous. I dreaded the

dentist office long before parox. afib, and now I dread it double.

Currently in NSR - I have short bursts (1 - 3 minutes) a few times a

month, an episode of about 1 - 2 hours every other month, and the

occassional 5 hour episodes a few times a year.

Joscelyn

Web Page - http://www.afibsupport.com

List owner: AFIBsupport-owner

For help on how to use the group, including how to drive it via email,

send a blank email to AFIBsupport-help

Nothing in this message should be considered as medical advice, or should

be acted upon without consultation with one's physician.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

--

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 6/1/05 5:06:11 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

joscelynblack@... writes:

> We talked about my situation and then he used a *little* bit of epi -

>

Novacaine contains epi and if he used it in spite of you telling him you had

a-fib, he's an idiot and you need a new dentist. As SOON as I told my dentist

about it he switched to Carbocaine, even though I had a lot of work to do

(broken tooth). The Carbocaine works faster than novacaine, but doesn't last as

long, so he had to give me more shots. In spite of that inconvenience, he

respected my desire to stay out of a-fib. Just because you dodged a bullet this

time doesn't mean your dentist wasn't careless by using a " little bit of epi. "

I'd have his butt if mine did that. Sorry, but makes me angry. I'm

surprised you didn't stand up for yourself.

Toni

CA

[Guest guest]

I'm pretty new to all this...what is " epi " exactly and what is the danger? I

myself have a root canal that needs to get done and would like to know what the

risks are! (I'm not on Warfarin, only aspirin). Why is going to the dentist

with AF risky?

" Barbara A. Blocker " wrote:Joscelyn,

My dentist uses Carbocaine, a non epi numbing agent. Ask him about it. It

works well for me.--Barbara Blocker

Going to the Dentist today... very nervous!

Well, it has been almost exactly a year since I have been diagnosed

with parox. afib... and this will be my first dental visit since the

diagnosis. I know I probably need some major work done, something went

wrong with one of my fillings (over the phone the dentist said

unfortuantely, it sounds like I might have cracked a tooth) and I can

no longer delay a visit.

I know the rules about " no epi " - but I'm still nervous. I dreaded the

dentist office long before parox. afib, and now I dread it double.

Currently in NSR - I have short bursts (1 - 3 minutes) a few times a

month, an episode of about 1 - 2 hours every other month, and the

occassional 5 hour episodes a few times a year.

Joscelyn

Web Page - http://www.afibsupport.com

List owner: AFIBsupport-owner

For help on how to use the group, including how to drive it via email,

send a blank email to AFIBsupport-help

Nothing in this message should be considered as medical advice, or should

be acted upon without consultation with one's physician.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

--

[Guest guest]

Epi is epenephrine and it may cause your heart to race, and possibly

exacerbate the AF. My dentist is also nervous about me being on Warfarin,

due to the bleeding factor. Other than that, having major work done is not

an issue, in most cases. Hope that helps.--Barbara Blocker

Going to the Dentist today... very nervous!

Well, it has been almost exactly a year since I have been diagnosed

with parox. afib... and this will be my first dental visit since the

diagnosis. I know I probably need some major work done, something went

wrong with one of my fillings (over the phone the dentist said

unfortuantely, it sounds like I might have cracked a tooth) and I can

no longer delay a visit.

I know the rules about " no epi " - but I'm still nervous. I dreaded the

dentist office long before parox. afib, and now I dread it double.

Currently in NSR - I have short bursts (1 - 3 minutes) a few times a

month, an episode of about 1 - 2 hours every other month, and the

occassional 5 hour episodes a few times a year.

Joscelyn

Web Page - http://www.afibsupport.com

List owner: AFIBsupport-owner

For help on how to use the group, including how to drive it via email,

send a blank email to AFIBsupport-help

Nothing in this message should be considered as medical advice, or

should

be acted upon without consultation with one's physician.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

--

--

[Guest guest]

thanks for the info on epi--- i guess that i had never heard of a

dentist using that before

Joscelyn,

> My dentist uses Carbocaine, a non epi numbing agent. Ask him

about it. It

> works well for me.--Barbara Blocker

> Going to the Dentist today... very

nervous!

>

>

> Well, it has been almost exactly a year since I have been

diagnosed

> with parox. afib... and this will be my first dental visit

since the

> diagnosis. I know I probably need some major work done,

something went

> wrong with one of my fillings (over the phone the dentist said

> unfortuantely, it sounds like I might have cracked a tooth)

and I can

> no longer delay a visit.

>

> I know the rules about " no epi " - but I'm still nervous. I

dreaded the

> dentist office long before parox. afib, and now I dread it

double.

> Currently in NSR - I have short bursts (1 - 3 minutes) a few

times a

> month, an episode of about 1 - 2 hours every other month, and

the

> occassional 5 hour episodes a few times a year.

>

> Joscelyn

>

>

>

>

> Web Page - http://www.afibsupport.com

> List owner: AFIBsupport-owner

> For help on how to use the group, including how to drive it

via email,

> send a blank email to AFIBsupport-help

>

> Nothing in this message should be considered as medical

advice, or

> should

> be acted upon without consultation with one's physician.

>

>

>

> -----------------------------------------------------------------

---------

> --

> --

>

[Guest guest]

--- In AFIBsupport , " Barbara A. Blocker "

> Epi is epenephrine and it may cause your heart to race, and possibly

exacerbate the AF. >>>

Thanks for clearing that up! I'm back from the dentist, and things so

far seem okay. Still in NSR!

We talked about my situation and then he used a *little* bit of epi -

I don't know how much epi is too little or too much. So far, so good.

I am assuming that since the numbness is wearing off and I'm still in

NSR that my body handled it okay.

Joscelyn

[Guest guest]

My dentist also immediately switched to a non-epi product. It makes their

job a little more difficult as they must be a little more aware of how you

are faring and whether you need a booster of the number but it sure is

different. I mentioned I only go into afib in the afternoons/night and he

said definitely nothing but morning appointments for me! He didn't really

want me on his chair fibbing away I don't think.

Judy

Judith B. Currier

Fairfax, Virginia

[Guest guest]

> (broken tooth). The Carbocaine works faster than novacaine, but

doesn't last as long, so he had to give me more shots. In spite of

that inconvenience, he respected my desire to stay out of a-fib.

Just because you dodged a bullet this time doesn't mean your dentist

wasn't careless by using a " little bit of epi. " I'd have his butt

if mine did that. Sorry, but makes me angry. I'm surprised you

didn't stand up for yourself. >>>

Hi Toni,

I appreciate your fierce defense!! I really was on the fence and

decide to go ahead with it. Bottom line - my EP cleared me for

dental work *and* he didn't seem to think epi was a problem ... so I

felt I had some latitude. BUT, I wanted to avoid it if possible.

I think long term I need just a lot more information, such as

knowing more about the ratios of " epi " (is there really such a thing

as just " a little epi " ) in the forumulas - and also about Carbocaine

and other alternatives. I honestly don't know the bottom line risk

ratios... ie: is a " little epi " mean I have a < 1% or > 1% chance of

triggering afib? Way more, or way less? Etc.

Maybe I'm still just lucky - but so far chocolate and decaff coffee

and a glass of wine - all these are NOT triggers for me. Maybe I'm

still in a very parox mode rather than slipping into persistant. Or

not. I think that's what is so difficult about AFib, there are

always more questions than answers and nothing seems to be

particularily predicatable.

I'm going to wait at least 24 hours before I know if I got away with

a " little epi " - so far I've been in NSR all day.

Lots of thought/research still to do - thanks for your note!

Joscelyn