Worried about my mum

[Toastsupper]

I’ll start by saying I have bad anxiety so I do tend to over think things but it’s genuinely something I try not to do (but fail)

She’s had an ulcer on the side of her tongue for 2 weeks now. She said it’s really painful. It’s now turned a greenish colour. Stupidly I have googled and have worried myself sick. I asked her if she’s going to go to the doctors and she said she’ll give it another week to see if it improves. I really want her to try and get seen sooner but obviously I can’t force her.

I need to snap out of it but I feel sick with worry

I agree she should get it looked at. How quickly can she get a GP appointment? You could suggest she makes one now 'in case she needs it'.

Alternatively suggest she asks a pharmacist (who might be able to help, or will advise her to see a GP. Then it's someone 'official' telling her).

She should see her dentist today, they can do an urgent maxillary facial referral immediately. Dentists are trained to assess fir mouth cancer

@DisplayPurposesOnly If she phones the GP surgery as soon as it opens there’s a chance she could get a same day appointment. She did see a pharmacist last week due to the pain (it was stopping her from eating) but they didn’t seem bothered and didn’t even look at the ulcer. They just told her to buy some cream. She’s tried a couple of different over the counter treatments but nothing seems to be helping.

@Hohofortherobbers I didn’t even think of the dentist. Thanks, I’ll mention that to her

I have a problem with anxiety too. In an effort to control it I give myself a 2 week rule for health worries like this. So if this was my mouth, I'd have taken it to see someone by now. (I also have a no Dr Google rule. DH will Google if he thinks it's sensible to and passes on reasonable information to me, from reliable sources - but doesn't tell me about and OTT stories/diagnoses where that one time a person has a splinter and that made their leg fall off etc)

Anyway my common sense suggests that a wound turning greenish does not mean it's getting better. Is she rinsing with salt water after eating? That would be a good idea. Also seeing a pharmacist or dentist for advice. Dentist might be able to prescribe antibiotics if needed. But yes, she needs medical advice or treatment at this point. I don't think waiting would be helpful

I agree with the suggestion to book with a dentist ASAP. GPs aren’t as trained in mouth related things and will often tell you to see a dentist anyway.

Google says it’s most likely thrush or a fungal infection. Get her to pop to a pharmacy, they’ll be able to give her a treatment.