Bizarre lesions on my tongue

[Connemara]

I'm not really sure what these are. There are two small lesions on the right side of my tongue; one is red and one appears to just be swollen. I did some digging online and fond out that, among other things, tongue lesions can be a sign of HIV infection or precancerous cells.

Should I wait a while and see if they go away, or would it be wise to see a doctor at once? Any physicians on the board care to comment?

 

[itsstillmatt]

all joking aside, the chances of a straight man who is neither a drug addict nor the partner of an HIV positive woman are just about nil. I would say that you do not need to worry about that possibility.

Most likely they are canker sores or allergic, but if you are worried, see a doctor.

 

[LabelKing]

Are they pus-filled?

 

[gdl203]

Could be herpes

seriously

 

[itsstillmatt]

Originally Posted by gdl203

Could be herpes

seriously
Good point, although aren't those usually outside the mouth? It is a pretty common affliction and getting moreso all of the time. I would just head over to Student Health and see what they say.

 

[gdl203]

Originally Posted by iammatt

Good point, although aren't those usually outside the mouth?
Both on the lips and on the tongue. Cold sores are just more visible on the lips (obviously)

Conne - have you been kissing a lot recently?

 

[coachvu]

Try swishing warm salt water in your mouth a couple times a day to see if they go away on their own. They are most likely nothing to worry about. If they don't disappear and you are still worried about them, you might want to have your dentist check them.

 

[Connemara]

Originally Posted by gdl203

Conne - have you been kissing a lot recently?

Yeah I have. I'll get it checked out at the health center on Monday.

 

[quevola]

Could be leukoplakia. Do you smoke or chew tobacco?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leukoplakia

In any case, go see a doctor. Even if someone here is a dermatologist, they won't be able to diagnose you over the internet.

 

[Connemara]

I pinched some nerves in my back on Wednesday, and I've been taking frequent 800mg doses of ibuprofen. Apparently that can cause blisters anywhere on the body.

 

[whodini]

Originally Posted by Connemara

I pinched some nerves in my back on Wednesday, and I've been taking frequent 800mg doses of ibuprofen. Apparently that can cause blisters anywhere on the body.
How the hell has no one made a 'dick' joke yet? I'm disappointed in you all. Conne, you realize that in order to get a STD you actually have to have sex, right? Without seeing you, I'd guess you have Herpes Simplex I (HSV-1). HSV-1 can affect just about any part of the mouth but most people associate it with a canker sore around the lips. Get it looked at for fun's sake.

 

[thepataphysician]

Originally Posted by whodini

How the hell has no one made a 'dick' joke yet? I'm disappointed in you all.

between the lesions and the injured back, the jokes are too easy to even bother.

Plus making jokes about someone with tongue lesions is kicking a man when he is down.

good luck at the doc's office.

 

[whodini]

Originally Posted by thepataphysician

between the lesions and the injured back, the jokes are too easy to even bother.

Plus making jokes about someone with tongue lesions is kicking a man when he is down.

good luck at the doc's office.
I thought that was the point: we kick Conne when we feel down. Am I missing something?

 

[Tck13]

Originally Posted by Connemara

I'm not really sure what these are. There are two small lesions on the right side of my tongue; one is red and one appears to just be swollen. I did some digging online and fond out that, among other things, tongue lesions can be a sign of HIV infection or precancerous cells. Should I wait a while and see if they go away, or would it be wise to see a doctor at once? Any physicians on the board care to comment?
Are you sure these are new? Some people have something called a "Geographic Tongue" which is basically benign lesions on the tongue.

Background: Geographic tongue (benign migratory glossitis) is a benign condition that occurs in up to 3% of the general population. Most often, patients are asymptomatic; however, some patients report increased sensitivity to hot and spicy foods. The etiology and pathogenesis are still poorly understood. The condition affects males and females and is noted to be more prominent in adults than in children. The classic manifestation is an area of erythema, with atrophy of the filiform papillae of the tongue, surrounded by a serpiginous, white, hyperkeratotic border. The patient often reports spontaneous resolution of the lesion in one area, with the return of normal tongue architecture, only to have another lesion appear in a different location of the tongue. Lesion activity may wax and wane over time, and patients are occasionally free of lesions. If lesions occur at other mucosal sites, the condition is termed erythema migrans.

 

[chobochobo]

This thread is useless without photos. Seriously though, pictures are essential for diagnosis, pm me if you wish.