Hepatitis C Support Group
Hepatitis C is a blood-borne viral disease which can cause liver inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver cancer. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is spread by blood-to-blood contact with an infected person's blood. Many people with HCV infection have no symptoms and are unaware of the need to seek treatment. Hepatitis C infects an estimated 150-200 million people worldwide.
I had an appt for extraction of 3 teeth, 1 being a wisdom that came through, on Thursday. I had the panoramic x-ray and referral to the oral surgeon a few weeks ago, and even then they had mentioned some type of area on the x-ray that needed further evaluation. A senior dentist was pulled in to look and he said it may just be my unique mouth. They did the cold reaction test on the teeth in that area and that reacted fine.
When I went to my appt., there was a mix up with my chart and my appt was 3 hours later. Needless to say my BP was high but they still did the extractions. But, I told them to do just 2 teeth, so that I could have half of my mouth still functioning lol. I did just the shots and did fine through the whole thing.
The oral surgeon had a pathology dentist come in to look at the x-ray and she ordered the small, single x-rays to be done in just the area they wanted to check better. It is the bottom front, but slightly to my right. She said that I should come in for a follow-up in 6 months. The oral surgeon said all I needed to know was that it was a lesion or appears that way and it may not be anything, but the follow-up is to check on it just to see.
Things I have read still say the same thing, that it may just be nothing. I don't have any pain and of course it was nothing I could ever see or notice, so I wouldn't have otherwise known. I don't even know where these things come from. But, even if it is something, then I am guessing that it was caught early enough not to be a problem considering they want me back in 6 months and not like next week lol.
The last time I went to a dentist was 2010, but I am guessing that they didn't do a full mouth x-ray and therefore wouldn't have anything to compare it to, though my childhood dentist would.
On a side note, I just had a liver ultrasound done last week, and it was sent to the hepatologist, so I will let you know what that says, especially since I have had some side pain, fairly mild, recently. I do also have my labs that the hepatologist did last month, which I can post here:
Component Standard Range Your Value
Protein 6.0-8.3 g/dL 7.4
Albumin 3.5-4.9 g/dL 4.3
AST 8-30 IU/L 27
ALT 7-35 IU/L 26
Alkaline Phosphatase 30-130 IU/L 43
Bilirubin, Direct 0.0-0.3 mg/dL 0.3
Bilirubin, Total 0.2-1.2 mg/dL 0.7
WBC Count 4.0-10.0 K/uL 7.1
HGB 12.0-16.0 g/dL 14.4
HCT 36.0-48.0 % 41.4
PLT 150-400 K/uL 243
RBC Count 3.90-5.00 M/uL 4.56
MCV 79.0-99.0 fl 90.8
MCH 27.0-32.0 pg 31.6
MCHC 32.0-35.0 g/dL 34.8
RDW 11.5-15.0 % 12.4
MPV 9.0-12.2 fl 10.0
When I went to my appt., there was a mix up with my chart and my appt was 3 hours later. Needless to say my BP was high but they still did the extractions. But, I told them to do just 2 teeth, so that I could have half of my mouth still functioning lol. I did just the shots and did fine through the whole thing.
The oral surgeon had a pathology dentist come in to look at the x-ray and she ordered the small, single x-rays to be done in just the area they wanted to check better. It is the bottom front, but slightly to my right. She said that I should come in for a follow-up in 6 months. The oral surgeon said all I needed to know was that it was a lesion or appears that way and it may not be anything, but the follow-up is to check on it just to see.
Things I have read still say the same thing, that it may just be nothing. I don't have any pain and of course it was nothing I could ever see or notice, so I wouldn't have otherwise known. I don't even know where these things come from. But, even if it is something, then I am guessing that it was caught early enough not to be a problem considering they want me back in 6 months and not like next week lol.
The last time I went to a dentist was 2010, but I am guessing that they didn't do a full mouth x-ray and therefore wouldn't have anything to compare it to, though my childhood dentist would.
On a side note, I just had a liver ultrasound done last week, and it was sent to the hepatologist, so I will let you know what that says, especially since I have had some side pain, fairly mild, recently. I do also have my labs that the hepatologist did last month, which I can post here:
Component Standard Range Your Value
Protein 6.0-8.3 g/dL 7.4
Albumin 3.5-4.9 g/dL 4.3
AST 8-30 IU/L 27
ALT 7-35 IU/L 26
Alkaline Phosphatase 30-130 IU/L 43
Bilirubin, Direct 0.0-0.3 mg/dL 0.3
Bilirubin, Total 0.2-1.2 mg/dL 0.7
WBC Count 4.0-10.0 K/uL 7.1
HGB 12.0-16.0 g/dL 14.4
HCT 36.0-48.0 % 41.4
PLT 150-400 K/uL 243
RBC Count 3.90-5.00 M/uL 4.56
MCV 79.0-99.0 fl 90.8
MCH 27.0-32.0 pg 31.6
MCHC 32.0-35.0 g/dL 34.8
RDW 11.5-15.0 % 12.4
MPV 9.0-12.2 fl 10.0
Glad you posted, and I wish you well. Marilyn
I have an oral surgery eval on Monday to look at my bottom wisdom teeth that are impacted but not bothering me. I need to get my top wisdom teeth out. Ugh. Will see if I should do them all. I've never even had a cavity at 46 or anything other than a cleaning so I'm none too thrilled about this. Will I ask to be put out? You better believe it. I know the recovery is unpleasant. Argh! My dentist thinks I should have the bottoms taken out. I've heard yes, no and only if they bother you throughout the years. I can't help but feel they'll say yes to get my money. Anyway this will suck. I hate Vicodin too. I want Percocet.
If you are going to be knocked out, you might as well do them all. Or, you can do these, see how it goes, then definitely ask to be knocked out for the next ones as well!
My mom needs all of her bottom ones taken out, except a few a still good, but she has a full top denture, so she doesn't care (she has had hep c for 34 years). And, I am waiting on the new meds, so long as they are covered.
I postponed getting my teeth out for a few years now, no more than five years, but I just waited til they hurt me enough or often enough to get a couple done. I wish it was something I could see and of course I think any new lump, or new color to my mouth or tongue is something to check out, but I too wait it out to see if it was nothing. Maybe it was even something I ate that did it. This I can't feel or see, strange. But, I can go to my local dentist and just have a regular checkup and see if they coma across the same thing. How many x-rays can you have in a year!? lol
I don't think it is infection as it doesn't hurt and is under the small teeth on the bottom, those don't have anything more than a cavity if that. The x-ray was something below them, so it could be the bone? They know about my hep c as I have it on file and I showed them my labs so they could check my liver numbers and platelets. The radiology dentist was questioning what it could be, so I am not sure if that is a good thing or not.
I have not yet treated and was diagnosed in Spring of 2011, so I am waiting the new meds, provided I will be able to get them.
Bone loss? Perhaps. I will post the numbers for you here from the same test:
Component Standard Range Your Value
25-Hydroxy Vit D 25-100 ng/mL 30
25-Hydroxyvitamin D
Optimal Level: 25-100 ng/mL
Deficiency: 150 ng/mL
Four years ago (way before I asked for the hep c test) my doc had my Vit D checked and it was at a 9!!!! So, the doc gave me 50,000 IUs of D to take once a week for 4 weeks, and I brought it up then. Maybe I can still improve it now, or is it alright now too? I will ask about a bone scan. Hope they don't tell me I don't "need" one.
25-Hydroxyvitamin D
Optimal Level: 25-100 ng/mL
Deficiency: 150 ng/mL
There we go
Deficiency < 10
Toxicity > 150
Okay so I'm getting all 4 wisdom teeth extracted in a month from today. Going under and getting Percocet. I need pricey cadaver bone grafting for the bottom holes and this is so very expensive even with insurance. I'm paying more than 3 times what my insurance is covering as they're not paying for the bottoms or the grafting. Ugh. Sucks to pay so much for pain, swelling and discomfort. I'm going to go take a Vitamin D.
So glad you are getting to sleep through the wisdom teeth thing cause you do not want to be awake for it. I have never been under for a dental thing, but I suppose I could have asked for it? With my anxiety and vertigo, I chose to be awake, as to be "in control" and know what it going on, I guess. You don't feel any pain regardless, you just hear the tooth and it seems like forever to get them out of there. I bet even a little laughing gas (also something I haven't had) would have been better. LOL.....
I did well with the pain and the changing of the gauze. I was IN LOVE with the ice packs, but too bad you can't have them on all the time! It has been 4 days, almost 5, and only a little swelling left, and no pain unless I do a half smile, I think my jaw is still sore as well. If you have someone to help you, then you are luckier than I was my friend! Get whatever you may need ready now, such as jello, pudding, ice cream, yogurts, they even mentioned cottage cheese, and soup is ok if you actually eat it somewhat cold/room temp. :)
I am going to see my general doc this week to ask about it and they will either request to get the dental x-ray, or do tests of their own, like CT scan. So, I will know more by the end of this week and let you know. I also can go to a general dentist and see if they happen to come across the same thing as well. With my physician, I know I won't have to wait 6 months@! rofl!
And, I have some D3 to take as well. :)