well, I've had dental problems all my life...its not a fun thing to go through. But, sounds like its best that you go. With me, once I had had enough of the years of going, I got smart and just got dentures - best thing I ever did...Don't put it off (I too, suffer from anxiety/panic attacks, so I know what that is like)...they will numb you up, so whatever they do, you won't feel pain, maybe just a little uncomfortable. Its better to deal with it, than to put it off. Do you know what they're going to do? Maybe put in a bridge? Good luck to you and hope you feel better!

The dreaded dentist, eh? Quite a few years ago, I finally got dental insurance. Went to the dentist, she said I had cavities...duh...But all of a sudden I starting crying. The dentist said, :how old are you?". She said are you going thru menopause like I am? I didnt realize it but it was the beginning of my perimeno. Today, I'm not so fearful. Unfortunately, I have no dental either. But a couple years ago, I asked for a mild sedative beforehand. And i got a couple bad teeth filled and a couple pulled. And was fitted with a partial so I didnt look like a Halloween jack-o-lantern. Menopause pl;ays havoc...or should I say "hell" with our hormones. We are an emotional mess sometimes. The anxiety, the depression, the paranoia, the, the, the...I could go on and on. You can relate, huh? (HUG) P.S. I told my dentist straight up. I suffer from anxiety...so they knew not to mess with this Nervious Nellie! They might have lost a finger! xxxxx

im the same way haven t been foe years like 15, i so scared of dentist i had a very bad experience when i was a kid, please let me know how u made out, maybe it will give me the cougage to finally go, my teeth are a mess! good for u for going!

ask the dentist to give you gas; you will relax so much you wont care whats going on.

ask for gas!
I am petrified of the dentist, went as far about a month ago to go for a check up to find out what all needs fixing but as we don't have dental insurance right now and we're unemployed still, I can't afford to get things worked on. But when I do...I'll be asking for gas AND asking if I can take a few clonazepams beforehand.

You need to just suck it up and go get your teeth fixed. Rotting teeth can cause so many diseases...heart problems, stroke, increase in blood pressure and so many more, I'm sure you would never neglect your childrens teeth so why would you do yours ? You'll feel so much better after they are fixed....good luck...ask for an ativan if you have too, its a sedative, but don't drive if you take one. Good luck :o)

Hi,
If you cant face the dentist, pop to the doctors first and explain your terrified of the dentist and he should give you something to relax you before you go to the dentist! You always feel better once youve been, i have to really force myself through the dentists door! I count backwards from 1000!!! to take my mind off!
Good Luck x

Well i have probably seen this post too late. I hope that you made it to the dentist and all was all right. Next time, go to your doc and explain the situation. He/she should give you something to take before your next dentist appointment. Here in UK if your symptoms are so severe the dentist will actually knock you out (not literally!!) and then perform the procedure.

hugsss hun,
i used to go to dentist and be ok then i started with super bad anxiety when i went, the dentist gave me lorazepam and his nurse talked to me and held my hand this menopause stinks lol my hubby goes with me and massages my legs and talks to me while dentist works on me..my thoughts and prayers are with you

I chickened out of dentist today! -but have a consultation tomorrow with a oral surgeon.Please pray my panic and anxiety will get better enough for me to get my teeth done. i have one broke up into the gum and it is hurting! what makes this so hard for me! If I can make consultation tomorrow then Monday they will do the work which I will have to endure tooth aches through the weekend with fighting panic and anxiety! I take no meds as I'm afraid of meds and doctors ! Anyone going through the deal about your teeth knowing they need to come out but to afraid to go?

I deal with anxiety issues and menopause. A good dentist knows how to deal with it, explain to them over the phone and they will either give you a rx for ativan and or use gas. Been through 2 root canals and one implant.

Polarbaby I feel so sorry for you. I'm a lot like you in not wanting to take any meds. I don't take ANYTHING. I do know how you feel. I'm afraid to go to the dentist, doctor, hospital or anywhere where I think they'll almost force me to take something because they found something wrong. I just went to the dentist last year to have a tooth pulled and all they did was put a needle in my gum where the tooth that needed to be pulled was. I was pretty ok with that but then when I got home and the bleeding didn't stop I freaked. It was because I came home and went right back to running around as if nothing happened. They told me to sit and relax for a while and that's all it took, the bleeding stopped. You really do need to get this done. You'll feel better for it. It's not going to get better on it's own, only worse.
I do want to ask you though, why are you afraid? Does something actually happen to you when you take meds? See, that's what my fear is about. Last year all I took was a simple antibiotic for a sinus infection and after an hour of taking it my heart sped like you wouldn't believe. I should have gone to the ER but was too afraid so I just paced the floor for 3 hrs straight because that actually seemed to slow it down. I was shaking uncontrollably and was scared to death. I knew if I went to the ER they would keep me because God knows what my pressure was at that time.
If your afraid for really no reason, you need to try to overcome that and this would be a great start. This could be the beginning of the end for you and I'd love to see that. You seem like a great person who got dealt a crappy hand.
Don't chicken out again, GO FOR IT ! ! ! Nothing terrible is going to happen. At this point I'd be more afraid NOT to go than to go.

HUGS (((((@)))) Take Care, Donna

If you went for you consultation today, I hope you got through it OK. It's tough and we all have medical fears, some of us are more phobic about certain issues than others. I think you are feeling intense anxiety and while it's unpleasant, you WILL be OK. Most dentists are quite used to this reaction from a big percentage of their patients and have solutions in place to help people overcome and relax -- so do not feel weird!! It sounds like you definitely need to get your dental problems resolved. Just think of the relief once you're all fixed up. We are here to support you and send you lots of reassuring love and encouragement. Let us know how your day went, OK?

I'm also 53 and going through menopause, but my dentist-phobia has been going on for a long time. I have only been to a dentist once since I left home, and that was because a filling fell out. Fortunately, I have good (if crooked) teeth, but I also have impacted wisdom teeth that try to surface and give me hell from time to time. It's pointless worrying about it right now, because I have no dental insurance and could never afford to have them out anyway. If dental care is so all-fired important to your general health, why isn't it covered under basic health insurance?

So true, but this day and time we living in the insurance companies would rather kill us off then make us healthy! I know I have to go cause they are broke up into gum and gum swollen over it and the other one is so sore to the touch I can only chew on too front teeth and the pain is been to horrible for the last 3 to 4 weeks. . I have 5 maybe 6 that need to be pulled or cut out. i am now on antibiotics and have rescheduled for Thursday 30th at 2:00 for X-rays and to decide how we gonna do this. one Doctor says to be put to sleep is not good and he told a story of a 70 year old that was put to sleep to do his teeth and he was never the same so I decided not to be put to sleep. But to do local and maybe something to calm me if possible. They will not do the work on the same day so they will do the work the following monday when we decide exactly how much it cost I have no dental insurance so have to pay all upfront first., what method we are gonna choose. Thought I would stay on 500 mgs of Erythromycin' for the next 3 to 5 days in hope it might help. If there is ANY praying women on here please pray I get rid of the scared and panic feeling enough to make myself go even in fear!