I have Lupus (autoimmune rheumatic disease). Which anesthesia can be used safely during a dental surgery?

I have been to the dentist (a very good surgery specialist) only once since I was diagnosed with Lupus. It was the pure horror, the anesthesia they used stopped working in the middle of the surgery and I started screaming from pain. They did not wanted to believe me, only eventually, after 30 minutes of crying and begging did they let me go!


I was not to the dentist since then (for several years). But my teeth are not really good, not to mention this surgery which was stopped before they could finish. I have frequently tooth ache and pains, but what can I do? I fear this will happen again, and if they use 100% anesthesia I may die in the process? It seems I get one of the typical Lupus reactions due to the medicaments used.





But if I do nothing my health will become worse rapidly. I have sometimes fever at night and all my teeth ache. I am getting weaker and weaker, please help! Even my doctor does not know what to do and my dentist never heard about Lupus!

I have Lupus (autoimmune rheumatic disease). Which anesthesia can be used safely during a dental surgery?
Find a dentist who is familiar with Lupus and discuss your treatment with him/her. You should definitely try to finish your treatment, and a dentist who understands the symptoms and issues associated with Lupus will be able to work with you to manage the pain through anesthesia or any other means available.
Reply:You do not give enough information for anyone to give you a good answer and we are not doctors. I would think you can minimize your risk by sticking to novacaine with perhaps a mild sedative or some nitrous oxide (laughing gas) to calm you down. But ask your doctors.





Lupus affects each person in a different way. If you have heart and lung problems because of the lupus, that is one important consideration in anesthesia. If you have antiphospholipid antibody syndrome along with your lupus, and are taking blood thinners, you might want to stop them before the surgery so that you don't bleed excessively. But this is a tricky thing. Stopping the blood thinners has potentially life threatening side effects.





Talk to your rheumatologist. If you are seeing a general doctor for your lupus, then find yourself a rheumatologist. Then find another dentist. My dentist is very familiar with lupus.





In the end, YOU are the one who is responsible for managing your lupus and your medical care. It is up to YOU to find the doctors who can help you and it is to YOU to take care of things like your teeth. Infection in lupus patients can be fatal if left untreated. So, you can be afraid to go to the dentist and take care of your problems or you can hope you won't die from mouth infection. The choice is yours. It's time to take charge of your health and your treatment.