Operations/ Healing

Hi,

This is to do with diabetes, but here is the back story:

I had a wisdom tooth extraction about two months ago and have had two fillings replaced in the teeth next to them (this was around the same time). I got dry socket with the extraction and was treated for that as well. However, I keep getting infections and toothache in the wisdom tooth next to the one that was extracted. It also smells and tastes horrible, and I was convinced it needs taking out. All my other teeth seem fine except this one. I went back to my dentist today. He did a thorough inspection and said that he thinks it's all still healing and that the bad smell/ taste is food getting stuck in the socket. I was given some antibiotics and was told to start taking them in a couple of days if I don't feel better. In the meantime I just have to sit it out and wait for it to heal.

I've been sent home from work this morning because my blood was 21.8 and I felt horrendous.

Is it normal for diabetics to experience this? How long can I expect to heal? The NHS website says two weeks is normal, but do diabetics find that they can take forever to recover from operations and whatnot?

Thanks.

If your blood sugars are not kept to reasonable levels then yes, healing can take longer, and infection is more likely.....

How have your blood sugars been over the last week........?

Your body may be using more glucose from the liver in order to assist in the healing of your mouth, this would mean that you may need to increase your background insulin. Just for the duration of the healing of course....

Your diabetic team should be able to advise of how much to increase it by and for how long.....

The dentist explanation could be correct, or it may need more treatment, either way getting your blood sugar under control can only help speed up the recovery.....

Hi, I had a hysterectomy three years ago and a section of the incision about 1cm took over 100 days to heal. The rest of the incision (19cm) took a week to heal! It was written up on this site as I also was beside myself because it would not heal. Seemed to have little (if anything) to do with BGs. Advice was to keep BGs as level and low as possible. It did eventually heal without intervention (surgical) but I was worried at the time as like you it oozed gunk. Took a couple of courses of antibiotics but they seemed not to do anything. My only advice is to keep on top of it.

Good luck. Helen

Thanks to you both.

My blood sugars have been hovering around the 10 mark. Sometimes they can be higher. I feel a bit better today and have returned to work, but it's been a long time healing for small operation. It's pretty tiresome.

hope your back to normal soon.......