| Joined: Mar 2018 Posts: 3 Member | OP Member Joined: Mar 2018 Posts: 3 | I had my tongue biopsy one week ago today. It was an excisional biopsy of a lesion about 1 cm x 1cm plus margins. Stitches already fell out within 48 hours.
The excision site has some redness in it the last two days. Not bleeding, but it wasn't red earlier in the week. Still pretty painful to chew. I've had some solid food, but it's been difficult. Also, talking is excruciating, and as I mentioned in my first post, talking is my livelihood. I went back on the air yesterday, and man, it hurt! Felt like I was over-enunciating to be able to say anything at all!
Today I've also had some pain along my neck, just under my jawline, on the same side as the tongue lesion was. I think my fiancee believes I'm obsessing over this (she's right) and that these additional pains are just my anxiety over waiting for the results. Anyone else have this experience? By the way, I go in for my follow-up and to get biopsy results next Wednesday, 4/18.
Thanks for the insights. | | | | Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 1 | Journey27,
Were you told, and following any follow-up care and or medication? I recall my tongue biopsies to be painful as the tongue has many nerves, and bleeds more too. I would mention all this to your doctor on Wednesday or see if they can move your up your visit to Monday or request meds to cover you til then, and any follow-up care. If it gets worse or continues, you can always go to the ER.
Not sure if this helps?
Paul
10/09 T1N2bM0 Tonsil 11/09 Taxo Cisp 5-FU, 6 Months Hosp 01/11 35 IMRT 70Gy 7 Wks 06/11 30 HBO 08/11 RND PNI 06/12 SND PNI LVI 08/12 RND Pec Flap IORT 12 Gy 10/12 25 IMRT 50Gy 6 Wks Taxo Erbitux 10/13 SND 10/13 TBO/Angiograph 10/13 RND Carotid Remove IORT 10Gy PNI 12/13 25 Protons 50Gy 6 Wks Carbo 11/14 All Teeth Extract 30 HBO 03/15 Sequestromy Buccal Flap ORN 09/16 Mandibulectomy Fib Flap Sternotomy 04/17 Regraft hypergranulation Donor Site 06/17 Heart Attack Stent 02/19 Finally Cancer Free Took 10 yrs
| | | | Joined: Mar 2018 Posts: 3 Member | OP Member Joined: Mar 2018 Posts: 3 | Paul, thanks for your words. I was given the usual, Norco, Ibuprofen, antibiotics, steroids to keep swelling down. Also told to do saltwater rinses twice a day, which I have been doing. Honestly, the pain meds haven't really helped much. | | | | Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 1 | Hi Journey27 You surely have an array of medicarions! I don’t take ibuprohen due to my kidneys, but take Tylenol instead. Maybe a higher dosage or another type of opioid will do the trick, if the doctor agrees. I’ve always taken Percocet, which is a stronger opioid, I believe. Mouth pain usually subsided over a few weeks after a tongue biopsy. Hopefully it’s not cancerous, but that’s what the biopsy was about or an infection, which needs antibiotics, a different type medication you’re been taking. Best of luck, and wishes that the biopsy is negative, and pain subsides from surgery! Do the salt water rinses as advised as I did them too and seemed to have helped! Paul
10/09 T1N2bM0 Tonsil 11/09 Taxo Cisp 5-FU, 6 Months Hosp 01/11 35 IMRT 70Gy 7 Wks 06/11 30 HBO 08/11 RND PNI 06/12 SND PNI LVI 08/12 RND Pec Flap IORT 12 Gy 10/12 25 IMRT 50Gy 6 Wks Taxo Erbitux 10/13 SND 10/13 TBO/Angiograph 10/13 RND Carotid Remove IORT 10Gy PNI 12/13 25 Protons 50Gy 6 Wks Carbo 11/14 All Teeth Extract 30 HBO 03/15 Sequestromy Buccal Flap ORN 09/16 Mandibulectomy Fib Flap Sternotomy 04/17 Regraft hypergranulation Donor Site 06/17 Heart Attack Stent 02/19 Finally Cancer Free Took 10 yrs
| | | | Joined: Jun 2013 Posts: 346 Likes: 3 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | Platinum Member (300+ posts) Joined: Jun 2013 Posts: 346 Likes: 3 | Call about the pain, if you can. I have taken combinations of those meds, and in fact am recuperating from a repeat dental procedure that went badly, and it's amazing how sometimes they work for me and sometimes they don't work at ALL. Since one of them is also a migraine supplement for me, this gets really frustrating. Anyway, I'm right where you are with the pain medications at the same time, and am also feeling frustrated, which is why your post caught my eye. I'm alternating and doubling up on some of mine. (But ONLY because I've had these meds before and know I am allowed to do so ... which is why I'm not being specific here; it's the sort of thing you need to make sure your doctor okays.)
When I was in radiation treatment and hit a pain wall, my oncologist went in a completely different pain direction and added a pain patch, which helped the gaps from other medications (different ones at the time). There are options out there ... please ask and see if they'll find one for you!
((hugs))
Surgery 5/31/13 Tongue lesion, right side SCC, HPV+, poorly differentiated T1N0 based on biopsy and scan Selective neck dissection 8/27/13, clear nodes 12/2/13 follow-up with concerns 12/3/13 biopsy, surgery, cancer returned 1/8/14 Port installed PEG installed Chemo and rads 2/14/14 halfway through carboplatin/taxotere and rads March '14, Tx done, port out w/ complications, PEG out in June 2017: probable trigeminal neuralgia Fall 2017: HBOT Jan 18: oral surgery
| | | | Joined: Mar 2018 Posts: 18 Member | Member Joined: Mar 2018 Posts: 18 | Journey,
I'm curious to know a little bit more of your story. I've been a broadcaster for 20 years. I'm going to send you a direct message.
Jay
--2003 SCC Left lateral tongue T-I Partial Glossectomy --2015 SCC Left lateral tongue T-II N-0 M-0 Partial Glossectomy SND --1/30/18 SCC T-IV N-0 M-0 Segmental Mandibulectomy, Partial Glossectomy, Fibular Free Flap (failed) Emergency flap surgery (partial success) Leech therapy (partial success) M.I. in hospital 2 90% blockages 2 stents inserted --3/2/18 Pec Flap RAD IMRT 35 (in progress) Chemo 7 doses Cisplatin (in progress) | | |
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