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Strange "hallucination" on Nitrous Oxide

17,049 Views | 27 Replies | Last: 4 yr ago by proph
Shoopy
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Disclaimer: I am not a weirdo, nor a psycho, and not easily freaked out by Dentists or Dr's or anything like that. I was not apprehensive or nervous going into this, thinking it was fairly routine and they had told me everything I should expect. Everything I'm about to type is 100% how I imagined it.

I had a wisdom tooth extracted on Friday, which involved getting Nitrous Oxide. I had never had Nitrous before, so didn't know what to expect, but everyone told me it was just like feeling a little drunk. But, that is not the experience I had.

First, when the nurse turned it on, she said I would melt into the chair. I didn't at first, but after closing my mouth and breathing through my nose, I quickly got there. Just felt a little loopy and relaxed. As she started prepping stuff, my mind started wandering from intently focused on what I would do this weekend, including making to do lists and shopping lists in my head, to not giving a damn about anything, then back to super focused. Then I started getting a little paranoid, like the nurse was screwing with me. (Part of this could be due to the fact that the Dr. was a friend of a friend, and she had already teased me a little). Anyway, nothing too extreme. The nurse started talking to the Dr. when she walked in, and the Dr. joked that the Nitrous was leaking. (I really do think she was joking because she laughed afterward and patted me on the shoulder.)

This is when it gets weird....

(The following is as it happened from MY point of view)

The nurse asked the Dr. a question, then repeated it, then repeated it, then repeated it, then repeated it faster, until she was just repeating the last word like it was a broken record skipping.......then it went black. I woke up (no idea after how long, but definitely less than a minute), and the Dr. asks if I'm doing ok. I'm suddenly back to feeling a little woozy, but nothing too weird. She gives me the Novocaine shot, then pulls the tooth, then stitches up my gum, all while I feel basically normal (maybe a little more loopy than earlier) other than numb mouth. Then the Dr. asks a question, then asks again, then asks again, then asks again, until it's like a broken record skipping again, then it goes black again. After what felt like just a second, I come back to, but am super paranoid now and feeling like they are either screwing with me or something has gone terribly wrong. I felt like I was conscious, but "frozen" in the sense that I couldn't move or blink or say anything, but knew what was going on around me. I fade between blacking out and consciousness for a bit, but it feels like someone is poking me in the chest. But then some movie pops in my head, where that's how they simulated getting "the paddles", where every time they poked my chest it felt like a burst of consciousness and spasm for just a second, then back to black, repeated by chest poke, then flash/spasm, then back to black. This happened several times, and I felt like there was panic in the room. Then I had a sense of panic where I thought I was in serious trouble.

And then.......... it honestly crossed my mind that I was about to die. It was like this rush of emotions, from disbelief, to sadness for my Wife and Kid, to panic, to being pissed that I was going to die in a freaking Dentist chair just trying to get a wisdom tooth extracted, to trying to bargain that I want to go back and just keep the tooth if it meant I could live, to trying to jump out of the chair or yank the mask off (which I didn't actually do.) It was NOT like my "life flashing before my eyes", just this flood of thoughts of how the people I care about will find out, and how will they take it, how unfair it is, sadness for my little boy.... (In summation, I was ABSOLUTELY convinced that I was about to die in this dentist chair). Then,...... this sudden comfort and warmth, like I had no worries in the world, and then this super bright, white light started as a small circle and then expanded all around me, like I was being washed with light. (I would compare it to stepping out of a freezer into bright sunshine, and feeling like you thaw instantly and are washed with light).

Then I woke up. The Dr. was sitting over me, completely normal,no panic or like anything had happened. She said, "Alright, you did great.", and got up and left. The Nurse sat me up in the chair, also with no sign of panic or like anything had happened, and told me to just breath in the Oxygen for a second. She removed the mask, and told me to sit there for a minute before I tried to stand. Then, after a minute or two, I got up and she walked me to the front desk. I am, understandably, REALLY freaked out. It kind of crossed my mind that maybe this was my imagination, and I had really died in there. Then I talked myself out of that, as it was crazy. No one there acted like anything had happened, which actually made me feel even weirder, because in my mind, something had DEFINITELY gone wrong.

Anyway, I was so freaked out, I just sat in my car for a bit. I actually googled nitrous oxide and reactions or hallucinations, but couldn't find anything like that. I called a buddy of mine who is a Dentist and asked if he had ever heard of anything like that. He kind of busted my balls, and said patients had told him some pretty crazy stories, but nothing like that. He kind of convinced me it was just a wild hallucination and that I was fine. I went ahead and drove home, but couldn't sleep. I slept like crap that night, and every night since. I do now believe that nothing really went wrong, but it still has me freaked out because it felt so real. Freaked out may not even be the right phrase, more like fascinated.

Have any of you ever heard of anything like this? What kind of hallucinations are "normal" under nitrous? I want to call the Dr. and ask if they noticed anything from their point of view, but don't want to sound like a crazy person. Especially since she's a friend of a friend. Just wanting feedback on if anyone has experienced anything like this.
AggieT
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AG
That's one hell if a trip report. Sounds awesome.
double aught
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AG
I've been on the stuff before, and it was awesome. Nothing like that.
ksp
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sounds like my dreams on ambien.
CapCity12thMan
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AG
were your pants unbuttoned and/or your shirt untucked after?

That seems extreme - nitrous is pretty much just a great high - nothing weird. Have your dentist buddy have you in and give nitrous a try again and see what happens. People react differently to things so you never know.
Endo Ag
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AG
I'd guess you had a panic attack while coincidentally taking nitrous. Nitrous can give hallucinations after long term abuse, but should not be a short term side effect. I usually describe the effect as a 2-3 drink buzz. It can be associated with very vivid or even sexual dreams, but you would have needed to fall asleep for that.

Worst case scenario, you can always kill the nitrous effect completely with a few deep breaths through your mouth. If the side effects remain then they are not associated with nitrous. Nitrous has no reaction in the body. It merely replaces the oxygen molecule on the hemoglobin in a way that give some euphoric effects. Think more like inhaling helium than taking medicine.

Glad you are ok now.
lazuras_dc
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AG
Do a whippet and see if it happens again
aggiebrad94
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AG
Never had anything like that happen. I did have a funny experience at my wife's counsin - the gum doctor. I was having some surgery and they were strapping in the IV. His assistants are drop deap gorgeous. When the doc and I were going over last minute instructions, he mentioned that patients will sometimes start talking during the surgery.

I asked him what about.

He said usually the last thing they were thinking about (did I mention his assistants were drop dead gorgeous!!!!)

I panicked and immediately starting thinking, "Football. Football. Football."
Dwide Schrude
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AG
Sounds like a panic attack. Everyone reacts differently to drugs. Nothing is wrong with you, now you have an awesome story to tell.
whoop91
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AG
I love the story. Glad you are ok.

To back you up I was given NO for a root canal or something. I felt fine immediately after the nurse had it started. Felt calm etc. However, after a couple of minutes I started to feel uncomfortable and started to hear weird noises and have very unusual thoughts. The thoughts turned from this is going to be ok to the dentist is trying to kill me. This turned into I need to grab one of his sharp devices and better stab him in the heart before he kills me.

I had to raise my hand and told them to get me off NO. They took me off and then my heart and head calmed down and I relaxed. I did the rest of the procedure without NO and everything was fine and comfortable. To this day I request not to be put on NO.
Nixter
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AG
There is the theory of the Moebius, a twist in the fabric of space where time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop.

Shoopy
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quote:
Never had anything like that happen. I did have a funny experience at my wife's counsin - the gum doctor. I was having some surgery and they were strapping in the IV. His assistants are drop deap gorgeous. When the doc and I were going over last minute instructions, he mentioned that patients will sometimes start talking during the surgery.

I asked him what about.

He said usually the last thing they were thinking about (did I mention his assistants were drop dead gorgeous!!!!)

I panicked and immediately starting thinking, "Football. Football. Football."

Yup, I know exactly what you mean. This was the thing I was most nervous about before the procedure, because the Dr., as I mentioned is a friend of a friend, and she is not bad on the eyes.
Shoopy
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The consensus sounds like a panic attack, so that's actually comforting. I've never had one before, is this really how they work? I mean, I wasn't at all nervous or apprehensive before they strapped on the Nitrous. And I wasn't really nervous when she was pulling the tooth after the first "black out". I just assumed they turned it up a little too much, then backed off when I passed out. It wasn't weird until after the 2nd black out.

I wonder if the Doc would think I was crazy if I just emailed her to ask if they noticed anything weird from their perspective? I may just let it drop and ask not to use Nitrous in the future.
Shoopy
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quote:
There is the theory of the Moebius, a twist in the fabric of space where time becomes a loop, a twist in the fabric of space where time becomes a loop, fabric of space where time becomes a loop, space where time becomes a loop, where time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, time becomes a loop, becomes a loop, a loop, a loop, loop, loop, loop, loop, loop, loop, loop, loop, loop, loop, loop, loop, loop, loop, loop, loop, loop, loop, loop, loop, loop, loop, loop, loop, loop, loop, loop, loop, loop, loop, loop, loop, loop, loop, loop, loop.......[/black]

FIFY, but that's actually not far off.
Endo Ag
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AG
Call or email... She won't mind and won't find you odd.

You guys talking about the good looking staff crack me up. We have a new oral surgeon in town. I sent a patient her way and he came back and asked if he could have any other teeth pulled.
Dad
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AG
When I was in dental school I volunteered to be put on nitrous for a demonstration. At 40% it felt like a nice buzz from alcohol and I liked the feeling. Then the person in charge turned it up over 50% (not sure where exactly) and at that point I went from feeling good to really nervous. I had a small group of dental students standing over me and it seemed like they were laughing. It took me several seconds to get command of my voice to tell them to turn it off. It was really creepy like I was paralyzed or something.

I wonder how high your dentist had it turned up. It should be recorded in your note for that visit. You should bring it up at your next visit and just say you felt weird and maybe if you have something done again she can keep it at a lower level.
The Grinder (99)
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AG
Makes me think of "comfortably numb" -pink floyd

i would suggest you call/email. I dont think its weird if you keep it simple. I think you'll have piece of mind if you do. Just say you felt strange and would like to know what you recived (are you sure all you got was NO and novacaine) and if she noticed anything.
JP76
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I've had it once when I was 12 years old. I'm not sure what % but all I remember is the music in the room started sounding just like the game Pac Man being played and I kept hearing a mosquito buzzing in my face. They told my mom that once they started drilling I started slapping at my face and told them I'm going to kill a mosquito. The assistants had to restrain my arms in order for the dentist to finish the procedure. The dentist office was located in the shopping center by the fox and hound in college station and the parking lot has a pretty good slope. When I walked outside I laid down in the parking lot and starting rolling down the hill laughing hysterically. My mom was so concerned with my behavior she dragged me back into the office and asked what the hell was wrong with me. It was one of the weirdest things I have ever experienced and I have never had it used on me since. And yes "comfortably numb" is the perfect song for the experience I had.
thann07
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AG
I love the stuff.

One dentist told me once about a janitor that used the stuff one night when nobody was there. I guess the dosage was too high, because he wound up dead and naked, with a porn mag on his lap.
Reel Aggies
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AG
Had it at 19 when my wisdom teeth came out. I felt like I was floating on the ceiling looking down at the dentist working on me in the chair. Tripped me out. Over the years I have read reports of near death experiences and people say they have the same out of body experience. Always gives me the creeps thinking back....
twenty two ags
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quote:
I love the stuff.

One dentist told me once about a janitor that used the stuff one night when nobody was there. I guess the dosage was too high, because he wound up dead and naked, with a porn mag on his lap.
the janitor was named lemonjello and had a twin brother, right?
Shellie06
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Are you still on here?? I had the same EXACT experience.
DannyDuberstein
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AG
Friend of mine got the nitrous for wisdom tooth removal and hallucinated that the dentist was a nazi and his assistant was his evil helper. But he was paralyzed and unable to react. Just could hear the sound of his teeth being broken by the evil nazi.
Stat Monitor Repairman
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rilloaggie
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AG
DannyDuberstein said:

Friend of mine got the nitrous for wisdom tooth removal and hallucinated that the dentist was a nazi and his assistant was his evil helper. But he was paralyzed and unable to react. Just could hear the sound of his teeth being broken by the evil nazi.
My grandmother had a similar experience after her knee replacement years ago, granted, I think it was probably the morphine more than nitrous. She was convinced she was being held captive and against her will and experimented on. She devised a plan to escape and put it into action when the nurse checked on her before bed. The nurse left and she started unstrapping her knee from whatever device they had it in to stretch it and move it around. Then she CHEWED through the BLOOD I.V.!! Her final move was to start yanking wires and sensors off of her so all the alarms start going off. Nurses hear the alarms and walk in to find her thrashing about like a monster, blood everywhere, and all the machines going nuts. I bet it was quite a scene, and it proved what we have always known-- Grandma is a little nuts.
htxag09
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AG
I know the OP is an old post, but I find it odd you drove yourself home after having wisdom teeth removed, especially when you tripped like that.
AgPediRPh
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AG
Jealous. I had no reaction other than the room slowly spinning.
proph
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Me too....
proph
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Shoopy and Shellie -

I found this post after googling for 'Dental Nitrous Experience Time Loop' because yesterday for the second time in my life I experienced an incredibly intense series of time-loops in the dental chair. There must be others, I figured, so far, you two are the only two I've found. I want to communicate directly with others because - well - we each will feel a heck of a lot less crazy!
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