Question for people who do not suffer with health anxiety

[Pompompurin1]

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…)

Did the dentisit say it would go away? If it didn't, within the timescale they suggested, I'd see GP.

If they didn't say it would go away, I'd go with A.

A

Things in your mouth often feel bigger than they really are, I'd only do something further if it became painful or bigger, otherwise wait until your next dental check up.

You might find it helps to encourage saliva production, maybe chewing gum?

A mix of A and B - I’d have asked the dentist how long it could be expected to last (I assume blocked salivary glands go away?), and if there were any signs I needed to look out for that indicated it becoming more of a problem. Then I wouldn’t be worried about it, but would monitor it based on what they’d told me.

I definitely don’t suffer from health anxiety but I would want a referral if it was still there after a month.

A, but I'd want to know what to expect and what I should look out for.

But it seems to be something that may never go away so why would you go back if it behaved as expected

I do have mild health anxiety, but rationally I'd go with A. Two different medical practitioners is more than enough! I'd probably ask them how long it was likely to last and if there's anything I ought to watch out for, and follow that advice.

However, as you probably know, health anxiety is not rational, so if my anxiety was flaring due to other major stressors in my life, I'd find it harder to do the above without obsessing.

Maybe I have a little bit of health anxiety but I would go to GP with a hope of referral. I had a blister like lump on my lip that kept coming back and was referred to the maxilofacial at the hospital. They diagnosed it as a completely benign blocked gland but recommended removing nevertheless. And they actually removed a bit of tissue around it, so played it safe.

I don't see it as matter of health anxiety but not wanting to take any chances with my health, as a mother, and trusting my instincts. Especially considering the state of the NHS.....

What you’re doing here is what nobody with HA should do - and that’s seek reassurance. Hard though I know it is not to

you’ve been told by experts that it’s nothing to be concerned over. That’s it. The end. And that’s what you have to repeat to yourself as you look into further help for your health anxiety

A.

I have a hard pimple on the back of my leg where an inseect bite once was and it's been there 20 years and I've never worried about it. I also have a fleshy blob on my buttock which the GP said was a lypoma and not to worry about it, I am doing that and have been for 15 years.

Bodies are funny things and lumps, bumps and discolorations do occur. Best to know what to look out for and get things checked but then you need to believe what you are told.

As long as it wasn’t painful, I would do A, but I would also listen to my gut and be mindful of any changes. If still there 6 months later but no change at next dental appointment, I’d ask them to check again.

I say this as someone with cancer (actually one of the lymph nodes removed was in my salivary system). My cancer, which I assume is what you are concerned about, was painful, it grew in size, caused an obvious crunching and popping sound and also caused the lymph nodes around it to be sore. It wasn’t just a little lump. It was quite painful and changed quite quickly. It was obvious something was not right.

I would keep an eye on things. Do push to have someone look at it if it changes, but also give it time to get better. Fwiw, salivary gland cancer is much more commonly in the glands that run in front of the ears down around the front of the jaw, not in the mouth itself. I know that doesn’t help though when health anxiety is telling you it’s definitely something bad though.

I have a laissez faire attitude to my health,so A. Especially after two experts have told me not to worry.

I'm covered in all sorts of lumps and bumps that don't worry me.

You'll be grand!

Knowing me, probably A, but I’d ultimately get it looked by a doctor if it stuck around.

A

I think I'd get an oral surgeon to assess it at the very least, if its not going away.

A.

What’s the point of asking your dentist (or two) if you ignore what they say?

This

A. If I were feeling diligent I might perhaps keep an eye on it and ask for it to be looked at again at my next check up.

A.

I definitely wouldn’t have seen two dentists either, and if it wasn’t growing or changing I probably would’ve only mentioned it at my next routine dentist’s appointment.

If it started to grow or change I’d go back for another appointment, but would only push for surgery if it was recommended or it was affecting my lifestyle.

I would push for it to be checked out further after several weeks but wouldn't assume it was sinister. I would still think it's just a block gland not budging but best check on the off chance it is something worse that needs sorting quickly.

I’d trust the opinion of two experts and go with A. If it continued for several months I’d likely seek a referral to have it removed.

I’d go for A, but after one one dentist appointment. It wouldn’t occur to me to see a different dentist for the same problem, when you’ve been given an answer

A.

I'd just think "oh, that's a bit annoying but will go away by itself presently".
I'd only consider anything else if it became painful, but while it was just... there...it wouldn't bother me and I'd stop thinking about it.

They've studied for years, they're the experts, and you've already had two identical opinions.

Good luck with treating the health anxiety.

A unless it materially changed over time for the worse. But even then I wouldn’t be worried about oral cancer, just that I might be getting an infection related to the blocked salivary gland (the treatment for which is probably simple antibiotics).

I would keep an eye on it and if it changes I would ask for C