teeth extraction prior to radiation treatment

yoko118

I am a new member of CSN. I had whole tyroidectomy in 1998. and I had recurrence last year, had to go through two major surgeries in the same year. I had been pulled my ten teeth out prior to the radiation treatment two months after the surgeries. Due to the extensive radiation treatment, I lost function of my salivaly gland, dry mouth and tongue is cracked and hurts,wake up for severe pain in my throat, lost appetite drastically...Overall, I have lost a quality of life completely. At the same time my husband and i got separation...
etc.. Well, my question is that is there any way i could avoid an extraction of my teeth. My dentist didn't give me any alternative. If anyone knows any information small or large regarding an extraction prior to the radiation treatment, Please tell me. Thanks for reading my story. yoko

cherrie

Hi! I had my almost total thyroidectomy in 1988 and since then I had 3 radiation treatments being the last one in Feb. of this year and it was the strongest of 152I but other then that I haven't had problems. I can't lie to you I had the dry mouth and the pain in the glands but it went away. I would like to know more about your situation and try to understand what happend to you. I am so sorry for what you are going through and hope you feel better. please write back

yoko118

cherrie said:

Hi! I had my almost total thyroidectomy in 1988 and since then I had 3 radiation treatments being the last one in Feb. of this year and it was the strongest of 152I but other then that I haven't had problems. I can't lie to you I had the dry mouth and the pain in the glands but it went away. I would like to know more about your situation and try to understand what happend to you. I am so sorry for what you are going through and hope you feel better. please write back

Thanks for your reply, Cherrie. Did you have to pulled your teeth out like me prior to the radiation treatment? I lost ten teeths altogether at upper and bottom. They even pulled out my healthy teeth!! My oral surgeon told me that the reason of extraction is that radiation will damage my bad teeths as well as good teeths. I am wearing denture now, but it is very difficult to chew, although it has been almost a year since i started wearing it, and i still can't get used to it. because i don't know how to chew the food with it correctly. Beside that i don't have saliva, so it makes me more difficult to swallow food.. Most of the time i eat same food over and over such as stew,spagetti with waterly sauce, soup.. I used to eat rice everyday, but rice and bread are the most difficult food to swallow. I eat food with lots and lots of water other than that. It has been almost one year since the radiation treatment, and i still get severe pain in my throat every night. During the day, I drink and chew gum at work, so i don't feel pain in my throat as much. By the way how long it took to get back to your normal mouth? Next month, i have to take CT scan for my whole body.
By the way I have three daughters, and my youngest daughter, who is married, twenty four years old,has same tyroid problems. She has been taking synthroid pills for maybe five years now, and she is doing fine. Thank God She doesn't have any surgery or radiation yet. Well, anyway i have strong faith in God, and I will thank God if i live today with peace of mind.

sjspeds

what type of radiation treatment did have? Did you ever have radioactive iodine treatment?

yoko118

cherrie said:

Hi! I had my almost total thyroidectomy in 1988 and since then I had 3 radiation treatments being the last one in Feb. of this year and it was the strongest of 152I but other then that I haven't had problems. I can't lie to you I had the dry mouth and the pain in the glands but it went away. I would like to know more about your situation and try to understand what happend to you. I am so sorry for what you are going through and hope you feel better. please write back

I am going to take a whole body scan this Friday(01/16/04). I got thyrogen injections for two days prior to the test, and today i had visited at nucler medicne to take a capsule of I-131, and Friday i have to take a whole body scan to see any remaining tissue in my body. I have to be careful not to close to other people especially today and tomorrow. I feel very tired today. My dry mouth and tongue is very painful as usual,and still have difficult time to swallow food. I can enjoy only liquid type of food. I have to go to dentist becaude my denture doesn't fit well. Bright news is that I have a new member in my house now. He looks like a skunk, but he is a cocker spaniel. His throat has covered with white hair and other part of his body is black. He also has unusally long tail. He is very friendly.

yoko118

I accidently lost a new message in my CSN community box that i received from the lady named Lynda( if i remembered her name correctly) on 6th July. Lynda, if you see this message please reply. I am very much interesting in what you had asked for. My e-mail address is koyo47@msn.com Thanks again.

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