Okay, went to the oral surgeon. My experience there was quite different. He did a very careful exam, of my entire mouth, and he listened to me about the 2 dentists I saw and my primary care doctor. After he examined my mouth, and looked carefully at the spots, he said he wanted to remove them entirely. (I did not, however, tell him about my experience at the ENT's office. I didn't think it was important to do that, you know) So on Thursday I will be going in for the biopsy. He said he's just going to use novacaine. (that stuff can last ALL DAY, and I have no fear of the procedure hurting!) He is going to send the tissue to the Oral Pathology Consultant Laboratory at the Ohio State University. He said they will figure out what it is. I guess he sends all stuff there. I'm thinking maybe they have a better lab with better equipment and stuff, and that's maybe why he would prefer to have them figure out what things may be instead of a local pathology lab. I did ask him if he thought I really did need the biopsy, or if he thought we could just watch the spots, and he said it would be better to just do it now. I hope they aren't too deep. I was thinking about that today. I can see how big they are to look at, but I guess there's no way of knowing how deep they are until he does it.

I hope it comes back negative, too, and it's nothing. If it is something, though, it's good to know that I have a place to come to. Uncle Vern, I've been taking your advice, too. Trying to just enjoy things and do what I can. It won't hurt me if it ends up being nothing, and I'm already happy for the small changes I've already made. It's amazing how something like this can really change your thoughts on things! You learn what really matters and what doesn't.

i'll keep you guys updated on my adventures!