Question:
Anyone experience this mouth pain?

I am 17 months post-op and am in excruciating mouth pain. I thought for sure I needed a root canal so I went to the dentist last Thurs. and he did x-rays and found no damage to the teeth on the bottom right side where the pain is radiating from. He told me I have evidently damaged the gums by brushing too hard. He put me on amoxicillin and sent me home with sensodyne. 4 days later I am in near tears with no change in the pain...it's relentless. I called him and he has now changed me to a stronger antibiotic and prescribed darvocet for the pain. I took the darvocet 3 hours ago and it's been absolutely no help whatsoever. I am ready to beg for someone to put me out of my misery. I have checked the library about dental problems and don't feel too encouraged by the experiences many have faced with the breakdown of our teeth post-op. I also have a mouth full of painful ulcers over the last days for some reason. Overall, I'm just plain miserable and need some words of wisdom from any of you who may have experienced something similar. Any advice? Thanks so much.    — Mary W. (posted on August 25, 2003)

August 25, 2003
It sounds like trench mouth to me. I had this when i was around 16 or 17 (I'm 34 now), and the pain was unbelievable! I had sores in my mouth, my gums were swollen, and my teeth were even slightly moveable in the gums. I lost around 10 lbs. in a week because i couldn't eat. When i went to the doctor, he said I had trench mouth (which isn't contagious), a type of viral infection that can happen to people whose bodies are run down for one reason or another. I had to take 14 days of antibiotics, but not amoxicillin. I believe you'd need something stronger which would cover the whole body (maybe ampicillin?). Maybe try your regular doctor and mention "trench mouth," see what you come up with. Good luck! (Proximal OPEN RNY, 7/7/03; 227.6/197.6/133.0)
   — sweetmana

August 25, 2003
definately check with your primary care dr. Coxsackie virus as well as other viruses can cause painful sores in the mouth.
   — **willow**

December 11, 2003
I am 1 month post op today and have developed horrible mouth pain. At first I thought it was a loose or shiting bridge, but after a visit to the dentist he said it may be caused by dehydation. I find that 3 over the counter ALEVE pills help which is equivalent to NAPROSEN, but they don't want me to have that becuse it is too iritating to the pouch. I have no sores just pain that is not relieved with PERCOCETTE! I was told to take Vioxx, celebrex or Bextra. no releif and it get worse at night. If anyone has an anwer please ger back to me. Karel
   — Karel

December 11, 2003
I'd check back with the doctor and see if he would write a prescription for a liquid pain medication. If he's giving you tablets or pills for pain, especially time release, it may not work properly because you may not absorb enough to do you any good. My doctor prescribed liquid Lortab (sp). Worked like a charm. And for the previous poster who was advised to take vioxx or celebrex, my doctor told me I should avoid those entirely as they are very damaging to the pouch.
   —  SCbabe B.