Burning Mouth Syndrome

[sanityisamyth]

Does anyone have this? I know Google isn't a GP diagnosis but the symptoms seem to fit. The tip of my tongue (about 2 cm square) feels like it is constantly on fire. Painkillers (paracetamol based) doesn't touch it and it's constant. It says on a few websites it's linked with depression and my depression has just come back again - been on Fluoxetine for about 8 weeks again.

Is there anything that will stop it?

I had something like this and also had white spots on my tongue - eventually went. I do get a sore tongue if I drink too much white wine I've read it can be a menopause thing - dr didn't seem to gave any ideas at all Hope you manage to sort it out. Sorry I'm not much help

Thanks Bilbodog. I had it a few months ago and it went away but it's flared up again. There's no discoloration on the tongue or mouth or any other symptoms. It is driving me mad :(

It could be oral thrush - I had this (although many years ago now) and I went to the dr as my tongue was on fire. I remember dipping it in cold water it was that firey.

Thanks furball. I had thrush once before and had white fur all over it but it looks completely normal so I'm thinking it's not that. Can you have thrush with no colour change? It's only the last couple of cms that hurt - the rest is fine but the end feels like it's on fire.

Dentist here. There are a lot of causes. The conditionis more common in post menopausal women. It is virtually never the sign of anything even vaguely sinister. Your gp needs to rule out deficiencies of iron, vitamin B12 and of folate. Once these are investigated and resolved if required, consideration can be given to other treatments, including antidepressants. Really you need referral to an Oral Medicine Clinic. Or the maxillo/facial dept at your local hospital. Occasionally there is no medical cure and things needto be manager through CBT.

Thanks Bonzo :) that's really helpful. I will make a GP appointment. I'm on fluoxetine. It's seriously painful - making my eyes water and I can't eat or drink easily :(

If your gp is not helpful, see your dentist. It's a very real condition that some doctors (and maybe dentists) can be a bit dismissive of. A general dentist won't be able to very much, beyond reassure you that they cannot see anything sinister, but will be far more likely to refer you than fob you off. The reason I say this is that it has many similarities with a condition called (which also has a predilection for women of a certain age, and has no visible signs), which many GPs are dismissive of, but is quite treatable by the right specialist.

Sorry, the other condition is vulvodynia.

Thrush you can test out by getting some gel over the counter at a pharmacy.

I got it once and a pharmacist diagnosed it, no white fur, just paaaain. Now I'm a bit of an affiainado as Ds had it lots when I was bf and therefore so did I. It's a nasty little bugger!

Thanks everyone. Interesting about thrush sometimes showing without discoloration. I'll talk to my GP as its driving me mad. I'm early 30s (32 on Tuesday) so don't think it's menopause related (although you never know). Can't think of anything else!

Hi just wondering if you ever found out what this was as I'm suffering with this now and it's really getting me down x

Thyme tea with honey. Leave it to cool then take swigs and swill them around your mouth before swallowing. If you're not into herbal teas you mightn't like the taste but it works wonders.

Independent health food shops sometimes still sell organic thyme teabags, otherwise you can buy them online through eBay. Floradix and/or Vogel brands.