Lemierre's Syndrome~Fusobacterium Endocarditis~message to pass on pg 4

[big brown horse]

Thanks y'all, I ususally dont get emotional 'round here... :/ Just be aware, 'nuff said, kay? (*putting big girl pants back on....*)

 

[Beekissed]

BBH, I went to the dentist yesterday and neither his hygienist nor he had ever heard of this syndrome. I will print off the info I found and take it to them.

I don't think it was any coincidence that you posted this thread right before I had to go to a dentist for the first time in 2 years! They kept insisting they wanted to pull my tooth and clean my teeth, even said they didn't think my tooth was infected...even though my lymph nodes on that side are swollen and painful, my teeth all on the left side are extremely painful and sensitive and my gums are tender.

I saw this thread as a sign.....a quite obvious sign....and insisted on a script for Amoxicillin before any dental procedures could be performed. They didn't seem to like this but, it's my body, and though I'm fully prepared to die, right now is not convenient....too many folks depending on my paycheck at the moment!

Thank you for this thread, BBH....I have a feeling it was very significant.

 

[big brown horse]

BBH, I went to the dentist yesterday and neither his hygienist nor he had ever heard of this syndrome. I will print off the info I found and take it to them.

I don't think it was any coincidence that you posted this thread right before I had to go to a dentist for the first time in 2 years! They kept insisting they wanted to pull my tooth and clean my teeth, even said they didn't think my tooth was infected...even though my lymph nodes on that side are swollen and painful, my teeth all on the left side are extremely painful and sensitive and my gums are tender.

I saw this thread as a sign.....a quite obvious sign....and insisted on a script for Amoxicillin before any dental procedures could be performed. They didn't seem to like this but, it's my body, and though I'm fully prepared to die, right now is not convenient....too many folks depending on my paycheck at the moment!

Thank you for this thread, BBH....I have a feeling it was very significant.

Your welcome Bee. Lots of folks getting their teeth worked on lately around here, so I thought it was prudent. I think other weird stuff can happen too because your jugular vein leads right to your ticker. That is why my daughter takes antibiotics EVERY time before she goes to the dentist...even if it just for a cleaning. Not because of lem. syndrome, but for any bacteria-in-your-mouth issues.

Bee, better safe than sorry, eh?

 

[DrakeMaiden]

I just saw this. I'm sorry to hear the news. That happened fast!

 

[big brown horse]

I just saw this. I'm sorry to hear the news. That happened fast!

Thanks. It did happen very fast. A healthy young man gone in the blink of an eye.

He was a fantastic wood worker and he and his father renovated Craftsman style homes. A really great, tight knit family, it is so sad.

 

[big brown horse]

My friend's mom wanted this message sent to everyone I know. Feel free to copy and paste to send to everyone you know. Thanks.

This past December, my son, Mason, an otherwise healthy and active 34 year old man, died of Fusobacterium Endocarditis. This bacterium is present in the soft tissues of the mouth. During a dental procedure, it can be exposed to the bloodstream and result in Endocarditis, a very serious heart condition which can be fatal. My intention is not to keep you from your next dental appointment, but to alert you to a potential problem.

Mason's story follows; Mason had a crown come off and scheduled an appointment to reattach it. At that appointment the dentist also performed a full mouth debridement, which is another name for an extensive teeth cleaning. One week later, Mason became ill with fever, shaking chills and extreme throat, head and body aches. Mason spent the next three weeks in St. Luke's CVICU and subsequently died of endocarditis, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) multiple organ failure and stroke. He received the very best care at St. Luke's, one of the best hospitals in the country, but it was not enough to save his life.


This happened to Mason, and although not common, it could happen to anyone. Mason had no pre-existing health problem that might have contributed to his death. Just keep his story in mind and at your next dental appointment and talk to your dentist who will no doubt assure you that, yes, it happens, but is very rare. If it happens to someone you know, you may feel that even though rare, if it is preventable, it is an unacceptable risk. In a very small circle of friends and family, we know of 4 cases of Endocarditis resulting in 3 deaths.


My advice to you...get your teeth cleaned independent of any other procedure. If your dentist pressures you to have a teeth cleaning when anything else is going on that might introduce bacteria into the bloodstream, refuse. Live to come back another day for a follow-up treatment. Be pro-active. Ask if you need antibiotics or an antibiotic rinse prior to a cleaning.


NO ONE SHOULD DIE FROM GETTING THEIR TEETH CLEANED.
Please forward this to anyone you care about and encourage the people you send it to to forward it people who they care about. Information is power. My regret is that we didn't have this information in time to prevent Mason's exposure and death. Let's do what we can to keep it from happening to someone you know and love.
PLEASE PASS THIS ALONG. YOU COULD SAVE A LIFE.

 

[Occamstazer]

Holy cow.

I am so sorry this happened to your friend!

 

[Ldychef2k]

I hadn't been to the dentist in 15 years, when two years ago I had to get a tooth pulled. The dentist was a new graduate and he wanted me to have my teeth cleaned before he would extract that tooth. So, I had an appointment with a hygienist. She numbed one quadrant of my mouth and used some kind of scraper to go way down below the gum line. And charged me $400, with three more to go.

I screamed about the cost!!! I had signed up for a simple teeth cleaning, and she decided on her own that since I had not been to the dentist in so long, I needed this scraping. I did not. She found nothing, and told me so. She complemented my hygiene. I got her in serious trouble and didn't have to pay a dime.

I remember having to sign a consent to have my teeth cleaned, and it warned of "death" being a complication. I figured that was some kind of legal issue with HIPPA, etc. But now that I read this thread I understand that death was really a possibility.

And I have to wonder if this man had a deeper cleaning than usual, and if he was told of the risks. If not...that dentist is in deep doo doo.

 

[big brown horse]

Nope, he wasn't told outright. He probably had to sign the same thing you did though. He had no idea why he was feeling sick in the beginning, nobody did. The dr.s didn't even ask if he by chance had his teeth thoroughly cleaned recently.

It wasn't until he was in a coma (and by then, it was too late) that his dental procedure was brought up.


This family isn't going to sue...they aren't like that. They do want everyone to be aware and I think they are pushing for a better "warning system" from dentists etc.

Just be aware y'all if you aren't feeling well after you visit the dentist.

I passed this on to all my friends and family.

 

[noobiechickenlady]

I passed this along to my FB friends & emailed it to others. Thanks for posting it, good info to have.

Sorry again about the loss of your friend