Anyone had a bad reaction/epinephrine?

[Guest guest]

I don't know what my TSH status is at the moment, since I am still not

6-weeks post RAI, but I am only on .125 of synthroid so if I had to guess

would assume hypo rather than hyper. But who really knows; one more week

until I get re-tested and re-titrated.

Anyway, I went to the dentist today and the first two shots of novocaine

didn't numb me (found out the hard way, through the drill) and so I was

given two more of another dental anesthetic, this time one containing

epinephrine. There followed a vasovagal reaction (heart pounding, blood

rushing to the legs, severe anxiety, feeling like I was going to die), and

if I hadn't been reclined for the dental procedure I would surely have

fainted.

I'm wondering whether anyone else has experienced a bad reaction at the

dentist, related to their thyroid. I am not sure whether the reaction was

somehow related to my non-euthyroid status, or whether I am just prone to

these vasovagal reactions (I also experienced the same thing while having

my IV placed before surgery, although I don't remember whether it was my

parathyroid or thyroid surgery). I thought I remembered someone on the

list mentioning epinephrine-containing anesthetics, but now I'm not sure.

If there are any archives related to thyroids and dental work, could

someone let me know?

Thanks.

[Guest guest]

,

My dentist avoids working on me when I'm hypo. I don't remember the

exact details, but my impression was that it should generally be

avoided (I guess except for emergencies.)

When not hypo, I've not had any problems with dental work post-

thyroidectomy.

As far as medicines, the only one I know about is decongestants. Most

are labelled 'ask your doctor before use if you have...thyroid

disease'. What I've found is that I can take 12 hour Sudafed (but not

4 hour) and sometimes the 12 hour makes me feel a bit loopy, but

usually I don't take it unless I'm so congested I can't stand it, so

the loopy is better than the congested, LOL.

HTH some,

Kathy W.

[Guest guest]

I don't know about the dental work, but that's a very typical reaction to epi.

Every time I get a shot of it I feel as if my heart is running sprints while my

brain is on full alert and my body is dead. Of course the dead body feeling

comes from the massive amounts of antihistamines I take along with the epi pen.

What you experienced may have no relation to your thyroid, but it'll be

interesting to see what other members' experiences yield. Good luck. -Kelley

> I don't know what my TSH status is at the moment, since I am still not

>

> 6-weeks post RAI, but I am only on .125 of synthroid so if I had to guess

>

> would assume hypo rather than hyper. But who really knows; one more week

>

> until I get re-tested and re-titrated.

>

>

>

> Anyway, I went to the dentist today and the first two shots of novocaine

>

> didn't numb me (found out the hard way, through the drill) and so I was

>

> given two more of another dental anesthetic, this time one containing

>

> epinephrine. There followed a vasovagal reaction (heart pounding, blood

>

> rushing to the legs, severe anxiety, feeling like I was going to die), and

>

> if I hadn't been reclined for  the dental procedure I would surely have

>

> fainted.

>

>

>

> I'm wondering whether anyone else has experienced a bad reaction at the

>

> dentist, related to their thyroid. I am not sure whether the reaction was

>

> somehow related to my non-euthyroid status, or whether I am just prone to

>

> these vasovagal reactions (I also experienced the same thing while having

>

> my IV placed before surgery, although I don't remember whether it was my

>

> parathyroid or thyroid surgery). I thought I remembered someone on the

>

> list mentioning epinephrine-containing anesthetics, but now I'm not sure.

>

>

>

> If there are any archives related to thyroids and dental work, could

>

> someone let me know?

>

>

>

> Thanks.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

---I don't believe its thyroid related. For probably the last 30 years of my

life

I've not been able to get a novocaine that contained eppy. It makes my heart

pound like its going out of my body. It's the same reaction I had years ago to

the contrast dye they use in a CAT scan. When you go to the dentist, have

them give you carbocaine or anything else that does not contain eppy.

Elaine in Atlanta

In Thyca , " J. Bronstein " wrote:

>

> I don't know what my TSH status is at the moment, since I am still not

> 6-weeks post RAI, but I am only on .125 of synthroid so if I had to guess

> would assume hypo rather than hyper. But who really knows; one more

week

> until I get re-tested and re-titrated.

>

> Anyway, I went to the dentist today and the first two shots of novocaine

> didn't numb me (found out the hard way, through the drill) and so I was

> given two more of another dental anesthetic, this time one containing

> epinephrine. There followed a vasovagal reaction (heart pounding, blood

> rushing to the legs, severe anxiety, feeling like I was going to die), and

> if I hadn't been reclined for the dental procedure I would surely have

> fainted.

>

> I'm wondering whether anyone else has experienced a bad reaction at the

> dentist, related to their thyroid. I am not sure whether the reaction was

> somehow related to my non-euthyroid status, or whether I am just prone to

> these vasovagal reactions (I also experienced the same thing while having

> my IV placed before surgery, although I don't remember whether it was my

> parathyroid or thyroid surgery). I thought I remembered someone on the

> list mentioning epinephrine-containing anesthetics, but now I'm not sure.

>

> If there are any archives related to thyroids and dental work, could

> someone let me know?

>

> Thanks.

>

[Guest guest]

J. Bronstein wrote:

> Anyway, I went to the dentist today and the first two shots of novocaine

> didn't numb me (found out the hard way, through the drill) and so I was

> given two more of another dental anesthetic, this time one containing

> epinephrine. There followed a vasovagal reaction (heart pounding, blood

> rushing to the legs, severe anxiety, feeling like I was going to die), and

> if I hadn't been reclined for the dental procedure I would surely have

> fainted.

,

This reaction to epi is very common among thyca patients -- even

euthyroid ones! My dentist has a huge orange sticker on my chart that

reads, " NO EPINEPHRINE!!! " . There's a novocaine equivalent available

that contains no epi; I think the brand name is Carbocaine. Your

dentist will know. It takes a few minutes longer than novocaine to

make you numb, but it works -- and it won't make you feel awful.

ellen

--

mailto:ellen@...

[Guest guest]

Thank you! I had no idea this sort of thing was at all a common reaction.

********************************+

+ Bronstein +

+Associate Professor of History +

+New Mexico State University +

+Las Cruces, NM USA**************

[Guest guest]

I recently had some growths removed from my face and back at a dermatologists

office. This was a different derm than I normally go to (I've not had

problems before). I got about 4 injections and was laying on the table when I

started to feel funny. I must have looked funny because the nurse asked if I

was

OK. When the procedure was over and I sat up, I really felt like I was gonna

faint. I was white as a ghost, my heart was pounding, I was shaking. I felt

horrible for HOURS. But, it was a very different feeling from my panic

attacks. I told my other doctor about it a few weeks later and he told me that

I had

a reaction to epinephrine. He also told me that if I were to ever get any

dental work done that I need to let the dentist know because they can numb you

without using epinephrine. Apparently, this kind of reaction is common, but is

not considered normal. And if you do have that kind of reaction, you should

try to avoid the epinephrine. Also, I was not hypo or hyper when I had this

done.

Woodbridge, VA

Dx'd 8/95, 1 cm nodule w/multifocal papillary. RAI 30 mci (11/95), RAI 150

mci (6/96), RAI 150 (6/97). Clean scan 1998. Clean Thyrogen scan 2000.

Thyrogen Scan on July 18, 2003--Clean!

[Guest guest]

Hi, -

This isn't unusual.

Some members have reported similar experiences, and it's more likely related to

TSH suppression than to being hypo. Members have reported having a hard time

getting numb and/or having heart palps and

worse. It's possible that you may be particularly sensitive to these drugs, but

it is usually helpful to use a numbing agent without Novocain, or any of the

" cain " drugs (lidocain, etc.).

There are several issues related to dentistry and thyca; this is one, and RAI &

salivary gland function is another. It is recommended (by us in the group -

I've never heard of a doctor recommending it one

way or another) to have a dental checkup before proceeding with RAI treatment,

just to avoid the need for any post RAI dental work.

It is always a good idea to let your dentist know that you are taking

levothyroxine, and more specifically that you are hyperthyroid. There ARE

alternatives.

I can point you to other letters of similar experiences, but I haven't yet

assembled an index for this subject, mostly because the info is limited and all

anecdotal. Any information you discover will be a

learning experience for all of us.

NYC

" J. Bronstein " wrote:

> I don't know what my TSH status is at the moment, since I am still not

> 6-weeks post RAI, but I am only on .125 of synthroid so if I had to guess

> would assume hypo rather than hyper. But who really knows; one more week

> until I get re-tested and re-titrated.

>

> Anyway, I went to the dentist today and the first two shots of novocaine

> didn't numb me (found out the hard way, through the drill) and so I was

> given two more of another dental anesthetic, this time one containing

> epinephrine. There followed a vasovagal reaction (heart pounding, blood

> rushing to the legs, severe anxiety, feeling like I was going to die), and

> if I hadn't been reclined for the dental procedure I would surely have

> fainted.

>

> I'm wondering whether anyone else has experienced a bad reaction at the

> dentist, related to their thyroid. I am not sure whether the reaction was

> somehow related to my non-euthyroid status, or whether I am just prone to

> these vasovagal reactions (I also experienced the same thing while having

> my IV placed before surgery, although I don't remember whether it was my

> parathyroid or thyroid surgery). I thought I remembered someone on the

> list mentioning epinephrine-containing anesthetics, but now I'm not sure.

>

> If there are any archives related to thyroids and dental work, could

> someone let me know?

>

> Thanks.

>

[Guest guest]

> epinephrine. There followed a vasovagal reaction (heart pounding,

blood

> rushing to the legs, severe anxiety, feeling like I was going to

die), and

> if I hadn't been reclined for the dental procedure I would surely

have

> fainted.

>

> I'm wondering whether anyone else has experienced a bad reaction at

the

> dentist... Thanks. >>

YES~~~I have " NO EPINEPHRINE " on all my records, but the dentist's

office failed to put it on some of their records and I was given a

local with epi in it one time. After that incident, they corrected

their records with BIG RED LETTERS " NO EPINEPHRINE " . I have it listed

in hospital and doctor's office records under " Allergies " although

it's not a true allergy, but I do have the same reaction that you do.

Even though it's on the records, I also tell them " No epinephrine "

since the dentist " missed " it that time because I thought, " Oh, it's

on the record, " and didn't say anything. Won't make that mistake

again. I've thought about getting one of those bracelets like for

allergic reactions or like diabetics wear.

~Vel~

[Guest guest]

-,

I used to work for a dentist and any patient with a heart condition

was not given epinephrine. It can increase your heart rate. These

patients were given Carbocaine because it has no epinephrine in it.

The problem with it is that it doesn't last as long. I would assume

that if your Synthroid level is high, your shouldn't use epinephrine

for the same reason you shouldn't use some decongestants. I would

discuss this with your dentist and get his opinion.

...not a dentist :-) N.Y.

TT: 08/29/02

RAI: 10/08/02

-- In Thyca , " J. Bronstein " wrote:

>

> I don't know what my TSH status is at the moment, since I am still

not

> 6-weeks post RAI, but I am only on .125 of synthroid so if I had to

guess

> would assume hypo rather than hyper. But who really knows; one more

week

> until I get re-tested and re-titrated.

>

> Anyway, I went to the dentist today and the first two shots of

novocaine

> didn't numb me (found out the hard way, through the drill) and so I

was

> given two more of another dental anesthetic, this time one

containing

> epinephrine. There followed a vasovagal reaction (heart pounding,

blood

> rushing to the legs, severe anxiety, feeling like I was going to

die), and

> if I hadn't been reclined for the dental procedure I would surely

have

> fainted.

>

> I'm wondering whether anyone else has experienced a bad reaction at

the

> dentist, related to their thyroid. I am not sure whether the

reaction was

> somehow related to my non-euthyroid status, or whether I am just

prone to

> these vasovagal reactions (I also experienced the same thing while

having

> my IV placed before surgery, although I don't remember whether it

was my

> parathyroid or thyroid surgery). I thought I remembered someone on

the

> list mentioning epinephrine-containing anesthetics, but now I'm not

sure.

>

> If there are any archives related to thyroids and dental work, could

> someone let me know?

>

> Thanks.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I know that there have been quite a few replies to this already, but

as a fellow " sufferer " I just wanted to add that not all thycans seem

to experience this reaction but if you do then it is important to

mention it whenever you have any procedure that might require local

anesthesia. Doctors and anesthetists do not all seem to be aware that

a medically suppressed TSH will have the same effect in some people as

giving adrenaline (epinephrine) to clinically hyperthyroid people. Two

years ago I had a bronchoscopy and without realising it I was given an

epinephrine-containing compound beforehand which caused tremendous

palpitations, anxiety etc. When I needed to undergo the same procedure

a year ago the doctor put me under light sedation instead.

My dental file has a sticker too. I was told by my former dentist, who

had thyroid cancer himself, that the " epi " reaction is documented in

people who are hyperthyroid and therefore logically it affects thycans

who have their TSH suppressed to the level that they are subclinically

hyperthyroid.

See:

http://www.aadassociation.org/Guidelines/anesthesia.html

" Exercise caution when using epinephrine in hyperthyroidism "

Hope this helps,

Judith (in Holland)

dx 1965 pap thyca T4-N1-M0

pt 1965 / tt 1982 / rai 1982

> J. Bronstein wrote:

>

> > Anyway, I went to the dentist today and the first two shots of

novocaine

> > didn't numb me (found out the hard way, through the drill) and so

I was

> > given two more of another dental anesthetic, this time one

containing

> > epinephrine. There followed a vasovagal reaction (heart pounding,

blood

> > rushing to the legs, severe anxiety, feeling like I was going to

die), and

> > if I hadn't been reclined for the dental procedure I would surely

have

> > fainted...(snip)

[Guest guest]

Wow! Never realized it was the epinephrine that did this! Always

thought the novocaine caused a vasovagal response...ie. blackouts

and no numbness to the jaw.. My dentist said I'm a worse client than

my kids--my butt cheeks " haul Buns " out of his chair when I hear the

drill coming! -- Tammy

>

> > Anyway, I went to the dentist today and the first two shots of

novocaine

> > didn't numb me (found out the hard way, through the drill) and

so I was

> > given two more of another dental anesthetic, this time one

containing

> > epinephrine. There followed a vasovagal reaction (heart

pounding, blood

> > rushing to the legs, severe anxiety, feeling like I was going to

die), and

> > if I hadn't been reclined for the dental procedure I would

surely have

> > fainted.

>

> ,

>

> This reaction to epi is very common among thyca patients -- even

> euthyroid ones! My dentist has a huge orange sticker on my chart

that

> reads, " NO EPINEPHRINE!!! " . There's a novocaine equivalent

available

> that contains no epi; I think the brand name is Carbocaine. Your

> dentist will know. It takes a few minutes longer than novocaine to

> make you numb, but it works -- and it won't make you feel awful.

>

> ellen

> --

> mailto:ellen@e...