I had step one of an emergency root canal 2 weeks ago. I did ok but ended up with low grade fevers off and on for the 2 weeks, chest pain a lot of rib and chest muscular pain and off and on upset stomach. No swelling or pain on the gum or the tooth, a lot of TMJ like pain though. I felt better for about 3 days before the 2nd part of the root canal and felt ok on th eday of the root canal and right after. That night though I had a fast heart rate, upset stomach and took 1/2 an ativan in case I was anxious. It relaxed the rest of my body but not my heart rate. I woke up the next day and was again low grade feverish and the tooth really hurt. again no swelling. My Gp (NOT LLMD) told me that she thought it was an infection--also had a swollen gland and that I needed to start antibiotics. I called the endodontist who told me that it was very normal for the tooth to hurt after the root canal, and that even the glad to swell a bit was normal given the work that was done. He did not feel that what I was describing sounded like an infection as there was not any swelling or pain on the gum. He said to go ahead and take the antibiotics though if I wanted to...to be safe. I have not taken antibiotics for a few years as I was hospitalized after the last time of being on them. I have been doing really well following the low fat diet. What I would love to know is if the root canal could cause a flare?? I also had blood work done and my WBC is 10.4 and my Sed rate is 4.....both of which are not indicitive of an infection but my GP wants to treat me anyway for one. If I am in a flare from the Lyme and FL1953...the antiboitics surely will make that worse potentially? THANK YOU for your reply!
Posted by dal123 (Member # 6313) on :
Yes your blood work does indicate infection. A WBC of 10.4 IS ELEVATED and indicative of infection. Trust me, I'm a MT (ASCP) hematology onco, and if your dr tells you that is a normal WBC he does NOT know how to read and interpret lab tests. I came across these Dr's all the time in the hospital!!