Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Question for people who do not suffer with health anxiety

65 replies

Pompompurin1 · 12/05/2025 13:20

Hi there,

I wondered if people could give me a bit of perspective please… A question for those of you who do not suffer with health anxiety.

If you had a hard lump on the roof of your mouth for several weeks (about 3 to 4 mm in diameter and painless, normal skin over the top of it)….. and you saw two different dentists and they both said it was blocked the salivary gland and nothing to worry about…. But it didn’t go away…..

Would you:

A. Decide that it is a blocked salivary gland, think “great nothing to worry about” and forget it.

B. Continue to worry about it and monitor it.

C. Push for a referral to oral surgery

I am trying very hard to do A but failing, so I thought I would gather other perspectives as sometimes it’s easy to get caught up on your own head.

(I am seeking help for my health anxiety so no need to point this out, I know this would be pointed out with helpfulness in mind but I am already seeking help…)

OP posts:
SilverButton · 12/05/2025 13:33

As two separate health professionals have told you the same thing then I would go with A.

Lentilweaver · 12/05/2025 13:30

I have had many, many cysts, moles and discolourations. In breast, toes, tummy. All benign.

JaneInPain · 12/05/2025 13:29

I have a large lump in my armpit it has been there years

I saw 2 GPs who both said fatty lump, so I have not thought about it since, and I DO have health anxiety

SleepQuest33 · 12/05/2025 13:29

How long have you had it? My answer would depend entirely on that.

MinPinSins · 12/05/2025 13:29

I don't have health anxiety in the slightest, and definitely A. If it was painless, I'd just see it as a quirk of my body.

SwedishEdith · 12/05/2025 13:28

A. I did have a lump on my inner cheek. I guessed what it was, asked dentist's opinion. They agreed with me but sent me to see a specialist. He also agreed but removed it anyway to be sure. The point being, if they are at all concerned, they will take action.

lljkk · 12/05/2025 13:28

Is it painful?
Does it interfere with eating?

It doesn't sound like a problem.

DoYouReally · 12/05/2025 13:28

I would go with A but would lovely monitor it to see if it changed anything over the next few weeks.

Dentist see oral cancer and if there was even the slightest chance they thought it was an issue you woukd be referred onwards. They wouldn't risk their professional indemnity insurance if they were anyway lax in their referrals.

Oral surgery isn't easy and I sure as well wouldn't be having it unless unnecessary.

pinkdelight · 12/05/2025 13:26

Also worth adding, it's often said on HA threads on here that making threads about these things feeds the anxiety rather than helping it, so another reason to focus on tools/medication etc that help with the anxiety rather than fuelling further thoughts about the mouth situation.

StaySpicy · 12/05/2025 13:25

I would do A. But monitor it.

I currently have a small hard lump that's developed in between two fingers, that Googling suggests is a ganglion cyst. I haven't been to the GP about it. I'm just keeping an eye. If it gets any bigger I'll pop in and have them check.

If two separate health professionals have told you what they think it is, I would try not to worry. Just keep an eye on it and go back if it gets bigger/more painful/problematic to eat.

Munchyseeds2 · 12/05/2025 13:25

I would also do A

MaryGreenhill · 12/05/2025 13:25

I would believe the Dentists and go with A . The Dentists see Oral cancer in their everyday work life and they know what to look for .
Good luck OP .

pinkdelight · 12/05/2025 13:25

A.

Hope you're getting help for the health anxiety. That's the thing to focus on here. You've been told what the lump is and the worry is your anxiety nothing else.

FaceOrf · 12/05/2025 13:24

I’d push for a referral as I’d like to get it properly checked out but I wouldn’t dwell or obsess in the meantime being pretty confident that the opinions of two professionals is correct. That would be enough to reassure me but if I had a small amount of doubt or uncertainty I would like a referral.

Lentilweaver · 12/05/2025 13:23

I would go with A. After a while if the lump persisted, maybe B. Not C certainly.