Went to the dentist today

  I accually went to the dentist today and had my teeth cleaned and a cavity filled! I haven't been able to go for 4 years because of low platelets.....8 weeks post tx and they are up to 91.   I did tell them that I had hep c and they were real nice. They probably see more people with hepc than you would think.
  I also went to the eye doctor last week and ordered new glasses. My vision had really changed but I wanted to wait till I was done with meds before buying new glasses.  Sooo....I guess I 'm coming along. Haven't had a post tx pcr yet but am hoping for the best.   -Libby

[Proactive]

Congrats on "coming along" and good luck with your upcoming pcr....;^)
PS:
Thursday I also went to the dentist and had a cavity filled, I picked the wrong day to go (vbg)..
Did my thursday am shot of peg at 6:00am, my 4 breakfast riba at 7:00am, and then my dentist appointment at 8:00 am. I was so jumpy I damn near sh!t when I saw that novacaine needle!!! (lol)
:^)Pro

[NYCMark]

4 Years without going to the dentist, and just one filling needed. Congratulations. Must feel good to get those teeth cleaned.

I've had lots of vision changes, and I also thought it was a good idea to wait until I was finished with meds before getting new glasses (my last prescription was 3 years ago). You're right - the vision keeps changing on these drugs.

I wish you great things with your post treatment PCR!.

Mark

[orphanedhawk]

I need to get my teeth cleaned. My platelets are still low, around 50 though I've been off tx for almost 3 months. I never considered it a detriment to getting my teeth cleaned I've just been in procastination mode.
What made you think you should delay teeth cleaning due to platelets. Is there something here I'm missing?   Thanks                             OH

[NYCMark]

Re; Platelets and cleaning... I guess it depends on what shape your teeth and gums are in, and whether or not they tend to bleed with brushing. Cleaning and scaling can be a bloody affair if they gums are not in great shape, and more bleeding is possible with low platelets.

Mark

[ejoli]

Oh yes! My gums would bleed for no reason. I would wake in the morning with a red ring around my mouth.( gross)  The dentist wanted my platelets higher ( they averaged about 25 before tx) before they would clean.  Plus during tx my wbc was so low they wouldn't even consider it. I did try and stay on top of it. I started using crest pro heath toothpaste and rinse and it works good!  They do feel alot better though.        -Libby

[sfwandwow]

had abcess (abscess) last week its better but unsure what i can get done with this being 5 weeks into treatment..hopefully i can get it fixed i will ask dr this friday..any suggestions

[orphanedhawk]

Thanks for the replies. My liverhead told me the biggest problem with low platelets was from possible internal bleeding particularly if you bonked your head.

My gums do bleed sometimes. So, I use tea tree oil on a toothpick after flossing and it'll go away. Listerine helps too but it kills the good flora in our mouths too,( and smells like my old aunt's house) so I eat lots of yogurt when I use it.

sfwandwow: If they put you on an antibiotic, make sure to take live acidopholus or eat lots of yogurt with live cultures in it. I had an absess (abscess) after my wisdom teeth were pulled. Not fun. Good luck.

[dperry10]

I had dental work done just after starting treatment.  Actually I was in the midst of current work when starting treatment.  Neither one of my doctors had a concern over it.   I did seem to bleed excessivley after , but   I also had to put my dog down , and crying never helps with not bleeding.. LOL   I healed ok, took antibiotics for 10 days after.  And have new chompers now.     But I regret doing that .   But you should be fine.

[frijole]

How nice to see your post.  I am glad treatment is over and eagerly await your PCR results.   The recovery in your platelets is remarkable.  It is encouraging and a positive predictor of SVR (my opinion only, of course).  It is amazing the things we postpone during TX. I had some crowns done after tx that I had been postponing for a couple of years.  I had postponed a mammogram, and when I had it, had to also have a breast biopsy (nothing found, thank goodness)-- and I have read of several here doing the same.  

I hope your energy is coming back as well.  It takes so dang long.  What about weight gain?  I am still struggling.  Have not lost the 23# I gained post tx.  Don't know if it was a metabolism change or what.  Hope you are well.
frijole

[cbert]

I was so glad to see your posts............i have not been to the dentist now since 2003 when i was diagnosed, then had three rounds of tx. I had been very careful to take care of my teeth, but I am scared to go the dentist because i had no idea if they would treat me and didn't want the info out about me in our community. So far i have been lucky...........i have develped the problem with gums lately, i found the good old crest mouthwash seems to help..............i hate listerene too.

[frijole]

Go to the dentist.  There is only so much you can do with mouthwash.  My brother-in-law who has never had a cavity (he is about 45) is facing about $10,000 worth of periodontal and dental work due to gum disease which has lead to bone loss and loose teeth.

You owe it to your dentist to tell him you have hep C (do you - have you cleared after what must have been a 3 grueling  treatments?) The privacy act should keep this information private.  If you have concerns, reinforce that with your dentist.   My dentist watched me very carefully throughout treatment.  You lose saliva which is antibiotic during treatment and  can become more prone to decay.  ps - they are required to treat you.  I did have one dentist who was going to do an implant tell me "no elective surgery if you are hep C positive.  I checked with my personal dentist who checked with another specialist and they didn't think this was legal.  In any event I fired that guy.
frijole

[cbert]

no, i did not clear..................and i had always maintained my teeth immactuately before i was diagnosed........................i thought about talking to the university about someone...........i now i need to go...........as for the tx, i am waiting for the telaprivor or something to come out and then i am gong to suit up and go back in ..............

[l-horn]

Haha !!  I had a cap fall off my front upper tooth, you know the two big ones, right before I started treatment. Dentist said, it won't hold, can't glue it, you need an implant. GI doc said no while on tx. I've looked like hurricane harry for over a year. I'm hoping after my 90 day I can get it taken care of. Didn't bother me while on tx because I didn't give a shiit. Now it kinda bothers me but I'm used to it.