I’ve got an urgent referral appointment with the oral health specialists at my local hospital tomorrow and I’m shitting myself!

[Fairylea]

Reassure me. Urgh. I’m so, so nervous! I’ve been referred for white patches on the underside and sides of my tongue that don’t seem to wipe away when brushed etc.

Numerous autoimmune conditions- Addison’s disease, asthma, hypothyroidism, anaemia, recurrent UTIs (on daily long term antibiotics) and pituitary tumour (microplactinoma- non cancerous). So yep, tons of stuff.

I’m 39, I have never smoked and I don’t drink, ever.

I suffer with chronic recurrent oral thrush. I put this down to my inhalers and awful immune system - I do all the stuff I’m supposed to do, brush twice daily, mouthwash etc. I use Daktarin oral gel almost daily and a dose of Fluconazole roughly every couple of months to keep it to a low level, although it never actually goes.

I have had some white patches develop under my tongue and along the sides that don’t go when brushed like the rest of the thrush does in same way. I went to see my dentist and he referred me and my appointment is tomorrow. Super quickly- one week after my dentist appointment.

I am thinking the worst and feeling so anxious. I know it could be something like leukoplakia and I am just hoping it’s nothing....!

Help.

I have two children, one of them with severe special needs and I can’t be even more unwell than I already am!

[MrsGolightyly]

I can't really help but I can reassure you that you will get through this, whatever it is.

[Fairylea]

Thank you.

I think it’s helped just typing it all out.

A bit anyway.

I know statistically it’s unlikely to be anything sinister but I’m a walking example for going against statistics!

Fingers crossed...!

[Herocomplex]

Good luck Fairylea It’s so easy to let your mind run away with you, but tomorrow may put you on the first step of dealing with the problem.

Better to know and be acting rather than not know and be wondering?

[Fairylea]

That is very true. Thank you.

I think I am just so anxious as my mum died of bowel cancer in March last year, she was only diagnosed 8 weeks before she died. We didn’t have a good relationship but I was very involved in the whole thing and it’s made me quite traumatised having seen someone go through all that. So I guess I’m on super high alert because of that.

But yes, has to be better to know.

[CMOTDibbler]

My dad had fast track referral for mouth ulcers that wouldn't heal. Had biopsies and various tests. In the end (and after a lot of worry), it turned out he had a rare autoimmune condition that unusually was only showing in his mouth

[Fairylea]

Thank you, I’m sorry to hear about the problems your Dad had, I’m hoping mine is something similar!

[PermanentTemporary]

Good luck Fairylea - I'm glad it's being investigated quickly and hope of course that it's something easy to treat.

[MrsGolightyly]

Please let us know how you get on @Fairylea

[DishRanAwayWithTheSpoon]

Have you gone yet Fairylea?

At 39, non smoker non drinker your risk is very low. And it doesn't sound like anything sinister judging by your description, but obviously I haven't seen you.

Its always better to be seen and know! Hope you have got it sorted!

[bathsoup]

Sounds like lichen planus. Good luck Fairylea!

[Fairylea]

Hi all,

Thank you for the replies.

Well .. he says he doesn’t look like cancer. So I should be relieved by that shouldn’t I otherwise he wouldn’t have said that? BUT to be sure he’s booked me into have 4 biopsies (4!!!) taken next Tuesday. I am and feeling sick with nerves.

He said it looks like leukoplakia or lichen whatever it is or even a total overgrowth of thrush - he said if it’s really bad it can harden in places. He said it looks very bad and he hasn’t seen anything so bad before.

So now I’m super nervous about next week and trying not to google...! They’ve given me a leaflet about the procedure and because of my Addison’s they will take extra care of me so I have to be in an hour earlier than most to be hooked up for IV hydrocortisone etc.

Fuuuuuuccccckkkkk!

[PermanentTemporary]

Oh Fairylea... I was wondering how it went for you. Always another barrier to jump.

Can someone go with you? If they say 'and would you like pain relief' just say yes...

[Fairylea]

I don’t really have anyone to take, apart from my teenage (17) year old dd who desperately wants to come with me but I’m not sure if it’s a good idea to take her or not! My dh will have to be at home for my disabled Ds (he goes to complex needs school 23 miles away by taxi and escort and needs someone to be at home when he gets in obviously). We have no other family - my mums dead and I have no siblings or other relatives and my dh is completely non contact with his. So it’s just us!

Another thing to get through.

[PermanentTemporary]

I would take your dd if school are ok but perhaps she shouldn't be in the room for the biopsies - I doubt they would let her.

[Fairylea]

Oh yes of course wouldn’t have her in the actual room, even if they said so - don’t think they will anyway. I will have to think about it. I don’t want to exclude her if she really wants to support me but equally don’t want to traumatise her!

Thank you for all the support everyone.

[MrsGolightyly]

Bless you, good and bad really, I guess, but mostly good. I've been through some horrid procedures and illnesses in the last five years. You think you won't cope but you do, you really do. We have an inner strength that we didn't know about.

[Fairylea]

Thank you, I really hope so.