Those Awful Dental Visits

Personally, I've never thought about the water supply. Now I probably will 🙂 No, for me, it IS the nerves! I find it very stressful trying not to cough, worrying that I will cough and wondering when they will ever get finished. I am going to discuss this more with my dentist when I next have to have an appointment that takes some time. I've gotten some good suggestions here.

My dentist allows me to being a neck pillow and she doesn't put me all the way down. It helps. Good luck

I am getting the impression based on your comment and others that I should just ask or maybe tell my dentist not to fully lay me flat on my back.
Thank you!

and perhaps ask for a weighted blanket! Amazingly calming they are!

zscline said, "I think that I have to speak up a little more strongly about not being tipped back so far. I know that it inconveniences them, but if not too much, it sure would be helpful. Thanks!" --Thank you for saying this. I too have to speak up and not be scared to speak up for myself. I have acid reflux and sleep apnea symptoms that act up when I am laying flat on my back, even when awake. And the older I am getting, the worse things are getting for me. I can recline, but I cannot lay flat. (At home, I have an adjustable bed that does not have to go too high, but cannot be flat.) You have encouraged me. Thank yo so much for sharing your situation here. I wish you well and hope your dentist will be caring to you.

I worked in dentistry all my life and way back in the old days procedures were almost all performed sitting up. The laying flat is purely because it is easier for the dentist. I have bronchiectasis and NTM and can’t lay flat to do anything. It took a few visits to finally get my dentist to realize he could do the work just as easy with me sitting up, but he cooperates now. However, I hate going to the dentist now and just thinking about it can make me cough!!!!!! And it’s not just the dentist. Any treatment or test that requires laying flat is almost impossible because of the coughing. I even have to sleep in an upright position. This disease affects so many things that most of us don’t mention, so I was surprised to see people finally talking about this issue. It doesn’t stop the coughing, but I don’t feel quite so alone. Thank you all.

Thank you for this topic! I too have had to tell the dentist not to lay me flat. They have accommodated me - YIPPEE. Now, what to do about the massage?
Again, thank you!

Honestly, I treat the dentist like bedtime. Airway clearance completed beforehand and no eating drinking 2-3 hours before visit. So far (knock on wood) no issues. The same would hold for massages.

I recently had a morning dentist appointment and my 1 hour visit turned into a 2 hour nightmare. I kept choking and it felt like I was being suffocated, it was so embarrassing. I never had this happen before but I don’t ever do visits in the mornings, this one time my dentist squeezed me in. She was great and very patient but neither one of us thought to try to sit me up more, luckily I had a Ricola. I felt that my gag reflex was still active from just doing airway clearance before I went. I will try to never make a morning appointment with the dentist again and see how it goes. I will also ask them not to lay me flat. I am thankful I have a kind and patient dentist. I dropped off a plate of chocolate chip cookies the next day at the office and that made me feel better.

You are fortunate that you can do that. Perhaps you don't have to go through extensive procedures like root canals or getting crowns or else you just have the technique down to keeping calm and cool and not letting anxiety get to you. I admire that.