Michael,

I just got back from a 2 week vacation, caught up on your posts and although I really would not have been able to comment about your radiation, chemo etc. I would have told you to go back to the surgeon that removed your wisdom teeth. It sounds like you had a minor dry socket, but it appears to have healed as your pain has gone away. It may possibly come back, so keep that in mind.

As far as the fillings are concerned, either silver or white composite will be fine.

Good luck on the 10th.

Jerry

Yes, the DDS at Anderson thinks so too.

I think mainly the pain I associated with the Wisdom tooth extraction may have been just pain that area due to all the injections of lidocaine. He must have shot me up at least 20 times and moved the needle around in an effort to get it into the nerves.

So, the sites themselves didn't have significant pain...does that make any sense?

Should I schedule a followup visit? What is the tx for "dry socket" and do you think the local dentist I just saw on Fri to do the 4 fillings would have noticed the "dry socket" if I have that in either site?

Thanks!

Michael,

I work for a dentist. Is the pain really bad like a toothache or just sore? A dry socket is painful. The tx is just usually a medicated cotton ball in the extraction site.You may have to go back a few times. But I think it may be sore from all the injections like you said. That can happen.Also can be sore from the Root Planning & Scaling (deep cleaning). If it continues I would definately call him for a quit check before you start rad.?chemo just to be sure there is no infection. My friend Rod had to have all his teeth removed just prior to tx. This was very rough for a 37 year old guy.I know this is very hard on you but remember sometimes, someone else has it much worse. Just think, after this is all over, you will have a beautiful smile to show the world!You can do this Michael!!! Rod was the biggest baby that ever lived(and he knows it)he was stage 4b...it was one year on July 12 that his treatment ended.He got a great check up... Life is good for him right now! Have faith & fight this Sh** as hard as you can!We are all rooting for you!God bless!Maureen

I had (have) a port because I had amifostine shots every day of treatment (until the last couple of weeks when we went to every other day). If you are just getting the three chemos it would probably not be worth it. Getting one is a surgical procedure--they do knock you out-- though it's very fast and doesn't hurt much at all after the surgery. Its worth it if you are thinking of getting amifostine or any other daily kind of injections.

Michael,

A dry socket typically starts 3 days after the removal of the tooth. It manifests itself as a radiating pain and usually occurs with lower wisdom teeth. It will travel from the back and radiate to the front area around the chin. The pain is usually pretty severe. This is the typical case, however it can be of short duration and only cause minor discomfort.

The dentist that did your fillings would probably not have looked at the extraction sites if you didn't mention to him that you were having any pain in the area.

If I remember correctly, your pain after the wisdom teeth extractions, started before you went to the dentist for the fillings and scaling. Therefore, it is possible that your pain was due to the injections for the extractions or it could have been a minor dry socket. The fact that you are feeling better is a good sign. In my area, we usually see a wisdom tooth patient in one week for a post-op visit to check healing. If the patient develops a dry socket, they will usually call before the week's up.

At this point there is probably no reason for you to go back to the surgeon, unless you feel compelled to. Dry sockets don't return, if that was what it was. The disappearance of pain after a dry socket would mean that the bone is healing.

Hope this has helped.

Jerry

Maureen, i don't think I have any infection at either site or from the fillings. I don't have that sensation of infection, nor is there any heat or significant pain. Plus, no fevers.

Today, the sockets are better still, I just think I'm hyper-sensitive to anything going on with my body. :-(

My gums and the empty sockets feel more "itchy" than anything...I know that sounds weird, but I'm hoping it just a sign of healing.

More than anything, I'm still battling this cold I caught on the plane. First it was just in my throat, then my chest, and now my sinuses...I was up all night with a runny nose and congestion...Now a major sinus headache!!! UUUgh! I was hoping I'd be fit for this last before tx starts to get a ton of stuff done here, plus enjoy the last few days...OH well.

Nelie, you're right about the port. I've asked both the Dr and the RO about Amifostine, but they both say not to use it, so I don't think I'll need the port...

I'll let you know :-)

Thank you for the sweet, uplifting words, I appreciate it!

Did they give you a reason why you shouldn't use the Amifostene? Amifostene is now given SUBQUTANEOUSLY (a little shot under the skin). It is so odd how there are so many different things to do/not do?
Sorry you feel so crappy ; (
My dad is starting to get the sore throat from 2 weeks of radiation. He still has saliva!
Michael-are you doing any PT for your Jaw? My dad's team encouraged 7 times a day for 5 minutes for a whole year--
Get better soon!

When we were up at Sloan, we were told they don't use ethyol routinely. They do at Hopkins, and it is sub-cu so injected at one or two sites about 1/2 hour before the radiation. You have to take pre-meds (anti-nausea and a mild sedative) about 90 minutes beforehand, and also, drink at least 24 and better yet, 32 oz. of liquid starting 1 1/2 to 2 hours before receiving the amiphostine. This is be sure you are well-hydrated, to avoid any blood pressure drop. The rad onc nurses both said they have seen relatively few problems doing this way but are perpared for the occasional more serious reaction. I did hear of one person almost having anaphylactic shock with the I.V. delivery, the sub-cu is not so radical. I understand from Barry's daughter, who used to work at Medimmune, that they are still working to find a better way to administer the drug to avoid these side-effects.

The OCF web site cites a paper that indicates that jaw exercises using the fingers are not very effective, compared to the Thera-bite system, in moderating trismus. One thing you should do is measure your jaw opening before start of treatment and keep doing it as everyone says this can "sneak up on you" -- which was confirmed by our dental onc as well.

Gail

Hey guys...

No PT was rx'd by anyone for the Jaw/Mouth...Although, I've been doing that since reading about it in this forum on a post.

Nor, did anyone at Stanford suggest PT for the neck surgery, however, Drs at MDAnderson wrote me an order for it after seeing how tight it was.

There are so many little nuances to treatment...Just like the Amifostene...Some use it, some don't.

Just goes to show you again, how different treatments can be from one institution to another.

From what I was told, Sloan has virtually "banned" Amifostene, but don't quote me on that exactly.

Where do I get this Thera-bite system?

So are they planning on giving you anything to help preserve your saliva or are those glands not going to be in the field of radiation? How about the pill Salagen?

I'm off to the horse races at Saratoga till the 10th. By then you should have started treatment. Best of luck.

Eileen