Hello All,

...and I hope everyone is well. I myself am not quite sure, but certainly welcome any advice. About 1 1/2 months ago, I noticed some "irritation" on the left lateral border of my tongue that has since not resolved (if anything, gotten worse). It appears to be very small white patches (dry/dead tissue) that extends from the tip of my tongue along the lateral border, to about 1/3 of the way back, with some increased redness in spots. This is the same side as my primary and I have much less depth on the floor of that side of my mouth than the other (due to the removal of the tumor), so my tongue somewhat rides along the teeth more so on that side. My ENT (the ONLY one treating me for this, who is 1 1/2 hrs away), said it could be just a reaction to the increased friction of the teeth...the tissue attempting to thicken in response. I, being the skeptic that I am, with increased anxiety due to my cancer and past misdiagnosises, am not convinced. Again, my fear/concern is beginning to take over, and I called to see if I could get an earlier appt w/my ENT, and was told "your appt is Sept 8, I couldn't possibly get you in any sooner". I, however, did not express my increasing concern with this, I asked for the appt to accomodate my work sched because I have already unjustly expressed "panic" to them in the past over "lesions" that have resolved on their own...and...I just saw him 1 1/2 weeks ago. This one truly has me worried more than the rest; reasons: lateral tongue, 1 1/2 months, not resolving, and I am high risk because of age (35 yrs) and no known causative factors (smoking/drinking). I am very tempted to call the ENT locally who originally dx'd me and referred me to the "specialist" that I now see, but I do not know if I am again overreacting to this. I do have an appt in only 3 weeks, however, with something like this, 3 weeks can seem like an eternity. If anybody could please offer me any advise, I would truly appreciate it. I just overcame the 500 x's a day in the mirror w/a flashlight routine and I am beginning to resort back to that again watching this darn thing. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, for I truly value and respct all of you so much and what you have to say on here. Thank you once again, and again, I wish you all the very, very best on you roads to wellness (or remaining there!!!). Thanks!

Rick

My father saw 4 different MD's (well 5 including his dentist) about the lump in his neck before he was correctly diagnosed. For some reason, the medical field has this odd way of making you feel like a pest, or paranoid freak if you keep pushing. DON'T listen, keep pushing until you know for sure. My dad had to sort of convince his Primary MD to do the biopsy. I am so sorry that you have this stuff on your tongue and I will pray that it is the "reaction to the increaded friction".
I encourage you to get into somewhere ASAP.
Hang in there Rick.

Hi Rick,
The anxiety you're feeling is common so don't feel silly about it. I think I called my doc an average of once a week there for awhile! I also had changes in my mouth that created the situation of my tongue rubbing on my teeth. It made my tongue a mess and my tongue, two years later, is still changed because of it all. Brian talked to me about it at length, as did my doctors, and explained that the constant rubbing will cause the tongue to try to create a callous to protect itself. My tongue is still redder in that area and always a tiny bit sore.
In your shoes, given the same situation, I would wait for my Sept. 8th appointment since he just saw you a week and a half ago. There is an Image Gallery on this site that has very good pictures of abnormalities that can appear in your mouth and it has the diagnosis for each. I have visited it many times and immediately put myself at ease when I find a pic of what I see in my mouth and it's something of no harm.
I hope you come to a solution that will ease your anxiety.
Minnie

Thank You both for your input...it is greatly appreciated!