OOPS! I really, really didn't mean that as a pun...more fact-of-life thing.
Well, EX-NURSE Junie, DID ya complain? I would have thought folks'd taken you more seriously than those of us who 'really have nothing wrong'...well, you get my drift. Hopefully you changed hospitals! Please say yes!

Before you cancel tho... I for one, don't recall having any IV's or other apparatus during NCS's...am I losing it here? IF you are soo anxious about it how about asking for a 'happy-type pre-med'? For other med issues I had multiple MRI's, Went in for one more - and since it was FACE DOWN ...well I went into full stage-2 panic mode. Next time...pre-med=NO problem. There are lots of meds that won't affect the NCS at all. Why not ask? [Be sure to tote a hair-dryer for pre-heating if the room is cold...docs just don't think of these practical matters...they would if it really cost them $$'s tho] Humm, I just remember the 'sticky conductor things' and the 'needle things' for the different tests, none was awful in themselves.

This is a real issue - talk to your doc before the test and take the measure to keep it all at bay and get the whole thing over with. Then, you can keep the whole thing from going sour when it really didn't need to. Hang in there! - j
PS I used to for 1/2 of my life go out 'COLD' after I'd had a needle [shots, blood draws...etc] Now I get IVIG MONTHLY...just can't watch the 'thing' going in...

When I had mine the nurse, or technian, was telling me that they can set the zaps at different levels.

I noticed that she set them quite high for the leg where I had significantly less feeling, and I wondered if she had not, if the test would have shown more ... damage.

It didn't hurt at all, though. Just these tiny little shocks, almost less than the shocks from walking on a carpet and getting those little shocks afterwards when you touch something.

I wonder if it would be all right to take Ibuprofen or something beforehand.

I took 800 mg of Ibuprofen before going to the dentist on Tuesday, and it was great.

I just don't know if it would interfer with the testing.

Anybody know?

Oh Junie, you poor thing. I think, with all our horror stories, we made it worse for you.

I take a xanax before any dental treatment. I couldn't walk in the door of a dental practice if I didn't do this. I go to a dental phobia specialist.

Now let's talk about your upcoming nerve conduction thingee!!!

Why not telephone the place where it's being done, voice your concerns and ask if you might take a pre-med. That's what I would do.

I don't abuse meds in any way. I won't even take an aspirin and forget about a vicodin or percocet. Can't go to the bathroom on those and I'd rather go to the bathroom. But then again, I don't have the kind of neuropathy most people on these boards have.

My problem mainly is being a neurotic italian girl who is petrified of the dentist.

Hope you are able to take something before your appointment, or if you really dont' think you can go through with it, just postpone it.

I mean, this is not life or death here, right? Maybe a week pampering yourself nicely is needed.

or you can simply take a pre-med, go and have the test and reward yourself with something spectacular afterward.

That's what I do when I complete a dental appointment. I get a massage or a pedicure. Alan thinks I'm out of my mind to be afraid of the dentist but this is MY problem, not his.

We all have our fears, whether it's needles, doctors, whatever. We do the best we can.

So YOU do whatever is in YOUR best interest.

love, Melody

Didn't mean to make you worry more! I do know, from talking to techs while waiting for my tests - that some people do use pre-medication for pain and others take anti-anxiety.... having to have so many iv starts would have been a nghtmare and I think much more painful then these tests!

They do usually start with the zaps at the lowest level - to see how sensitive you are - and then increase it until they find the right measure for you.... and, the shocks are very fast.... the emg portion again depends on the doc - I find that they usually leave one that might hurt the worst for the last, and by then your a pro...

As suggested - call and let them know your concerns - if you dont do it now you'll just have to reschedule and again, the tests can tell the docs quite a lot..... maybe use a combo of tylenol and an anti-anxiety or something?????

Hang in there! (you know what helps me get thru tests I dont like? - like MRI's - music - I always take a cd and make sure the mri has headphones - then I find myself trying to not sing along so i dont move instead of concentrating on the test - If you have an MP3 player or other - see if you can bring it amd just concentrate on the music - not whats being done to you!)


KMEB

Yeah, I agree. I forgot to tell you. At my last dental cleaning, before I got there, I took my xanax. I sat in the chair shaking like a leaf until the xanax kicked in. The hygienist knows I'm a severe dental phobic.

I'd say things like "you know I'm phobic, right?????" she would just smile and softly say "don't worry, you'll be fine".

So I plugged in my ipod. I was so relaxed that when my dentist (I LOVE MY DENTIST), popped in to say hello, I was so engrossed in the music he burst out laughing. He had to shake me. I looked up and said "oh, HI!!!. that's when I realized she was giving me a scaling".

The music actually took my mind off of my phobia.

Now I know that this isn't exactly like a nerve conduction test but believe me, to some people a visit to the dentist makes them go nuts!!!

So if you have a music player, pop it on, plug it in and you should be good to go. The test doesn't last long, really!!!!

mel

Boy, that is very very impressive... a scaling and you didn't feel it because of the music. I want to learn to do that!

Besides using the ipod, It's all about the topical numbing gel that a dental hygienist is supposed to use before she starts scaling away.

I do believe that if they didn't use that topical numbing gel (and a good amount too), well, I'd just jump off the chair and punch somebody in the face, now wouldn't I??????

be well
Melody

That gel sounds good.

I am so scared about dental problems.

I was so sick with the tetanus that I could barely be up at all, and so obviously I didn't brush. Couldn't.

But I got the most horrible infection where I had my implants.

I took the little pegs out and took major amounts of vitamin c which controlled the infection.

But... I've had this feeling as if I have an abscess or something on the top of my mouth.. and I get so tired and my eyes burn... so I think those are signs of an infection.

Okay, so at the dentist's this week it turns out that my gums have grown over the implants, totally covering them, and the bone around them is ... disappearing. I think it must be whatever it is that it does to disappear that makes me feel sick.

They're going to have to cut into my gums to check out the situation... and I'm terrified that they will have to ... I don't know... I don't know how they are going to deal with the problem when it's so deep.

I'm thankful for your posts...

2nd opinion [get 2-4 names] and see a periodontist...That is a GUM GUY! Does nothing but.. Even if you've an abcess which your dentist treats. Gum infections especially among the immune compromised are very dangerous. This is not meant to scare you, just to be aware that things could get worse. Therefore you have to be your own advocate and search for the specialists who deal with that corner of your multiple problem world. Having had 'scaling' done by my dentist's ofc and a periodontal office-well- the perio office really does THE JOB hands down.

I've learned from my dentist that many of their patients on anti-epileptic drugs develop rapid tooth decay and gum problems.. I've been using and use diligently the Oral-B rotating tooth brush and have now been told to use the Water-Pik as I don't brush well [can't floss-due to no finger feeling], To keep as much evil bacteria as possible at bay. I just wish I had enuf room on the bathroom sink for all the 'rechargable' things! At this point What's one more?

Melody- Yes!!! The topical number stuff is great! - I marvel that I get a different flavor each time! Sure beats the gag/splutter into the tech's face. -j

Thank you for the spur in the right direction. Luckily my dentist made an appointment for a consult with a periodontist, and I was so happy to hear that a consult is free.

I am sure that what you wrote must be true about gum infections. I just had no idea there was something wrong under my gums. (It weirds me out to think about it.)

I know I'm a bit of a drone on the B12, but I did have a lot less plaque after I had a higher B12 level, after I began having B12 replacement. Do you take much Methylcobalamin? (that's the active form)

I didn't see any plaque... I just never guessed it was totally under my gums where they grew over my implants. Weirds me out. (I'm assuming that's what's caused the bone loss aroung the implants.)

Thank you so much for writing... I need to stop feeling so weirded out over this. Thank you!