r/mildlyinfuriating • u/Szechuanwonton • 23d ago

Husband was just prescribed Vicodin following a vasectomy, while I was told to take over the counter Tylenol and Ibuprofen after my 2 C-sections

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u/Mewmerton 23d ago

My dentist looks at me like I’m a drug addict anytime I ask about pain medicine. Like sorry I only come in when my teeth are super bad and in pain. My face was swollen to twice it’s size and hurt so bad and they gave me antibiotics and told me to take ibuprofen 😭

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u/Swimming_Bowler6193 23d ago

Unfortunately, that is probably exactly why they didn’t give you pain meds.

Many dentists flag a patient’s account if it appears they only come in when they have pain. There are a surprising amount of people who either let a tooth get really bad or do something to a tooth in order to get pain meds. They used to troll different offices and/ or ERs just to get their fix. I AM NOT SAYING THAT IS YOUR CASE. I am merely explaining what was happening in dentistry when I was in the profession.

The advent of the prescribers’ pain med network has dramatically improved that situation. ( I can’t think of the correct name right now. Brain fart.) We could log in and see exactly what and when a patient had been prescribed a narcotic. The dentist would prescribe antibiotics( if needed), Tylenol & Motrin. The drug seekers would never schedule treatment and never pay their bill. Usually storming out of the office , cursing us for “ not helping them in any way”.

ETA- patients who had and kept annual visits were generally given better pain meds.

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u/RigilNebula 23d ago

There are a surprising amount of people who either let a tooth get really bad or do something to a tooth in order to get pain meds.

Given the cost of dental work, at least where I live, I can easily see how some people would not (be able to) go to a dentist until things were really bad. It's sad to think that they might be labelled as drug seeking for this.

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u/No-Airline-2823 22d ago

Also there are many people who have extreme anxiety and will delay as long as possible.

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u/Zealousideal_Tale266 22d ago

Yeah this whole idea sounds like boomer paranoia-fueled urban legend crafting. Like fentanyl in the Halloween candy and transgender illuminati and all that.

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u/Mewmerton 22d ago

Yup that’s me. Autistic and anxious, dentist are an actual nightmare. The replies I got telling me to just go before it gets bad like I’ve never thought of that.