Sjogren's Syndrome Lip Biopsy

I recently had a lower lip biopsy to rule out Sjogren's Syndrome. I am awaiting the results


It's been about two days and there is swelling as well as pain and the middle part of my lower lip is slightly numb. Supposedly this is normal but I'm curious to know in general terms about how long it will take for a procedure such as this to heal.

I know it's too soon to say but I'm concerned about possible nerve damage.


On another note, It's been awhile since I've posted and I wanted to let those who are familiar with me that I'm still alive and kicking, albeit a bit worse for wear at the moment

I hope that you are experiencing little to no pain and that life is good

Take care

Post Edited (quahog) : 12/14/2008 2:07:54 AM (GMT-7)

Thank you for your reply Skeye.

And it's not at all hard to believe that the Discovery Health Channel would say that this procedure is incredibly painful.

Day three and more of the swelling has subsided but if I move my mouth a certain way or twitch my chin I'm overcome with pain.

Now, if that wasn't bad enough I'm also dealing with pain from my Wisdom teeth, I never had them out when I was younger and now I am regretting that decision. I had planned on speaking with an oral surgeon but because of the Biopsy I'm going to have to wait until it heals.

On another note, I guess I must have been gone for too long because I don't recognize that many posters and they certainly haven't responded to my post.

I'm a bit put off by this. One would think people more people would introduce themselves.

Oh Well

Hi, it's been a while since I've been on here, but my mother has Sjogren's.  She was diagonised (sp, sorry not real good at spelling) prolly 10 to 15 years ago.  She has more of the dryness of her eyes and mouth, and the fatigue.  I wish you all the luck and hope they hurry and are able to get you some more information.

Wanda Sue

I have been going through testing for 2 years now, with still no diagnosis. I was told I had MS , then Lupus, then wegners granulamatosis, now sjogrens. My neurologist is sending me to a dermatologist for a lip biopsy. One is this the doctor who did your biopsy and two I am going on vacation 3 days after my appointment. should I reschedule? Thanks for any advice

Just wanted to say that I have also had a lip biopsy and did not find it to be unduly painful or difficult during or afterward.  In fact, my stitches came out within a couple hours of the procedure, and it was really no worse than a small canker sore feels.  However, they only took 2 samples, and I read afterward that four is the minimum, so perhaps the doctor was not as aggressive as some.   At any rate, my rheumy's response was that it could be a false negative.  She continues to test and monitor symptoms.  So much for a definitive answer! (Which is what I was hoping for).   Pia Sava, sounds like we had similar experiences.   Hope your results this time help figure things out!

Lucy 

Hi all,

It's been quite sometime since I updated everyone on my outcome.

First the good news is my lip biopsy healed within a few weeks and a month later I had no more pain from it but let me tell you I would not have this done again.

Now for the bad news my biopsy was inconclusive. The surgeon did not take enough salivary glands. My PCP asked if I wanted to undergo another biopsy I literally laughed at him and told him he was NUTS!

I do have some partial numbness in the center of my lower lip and seeing as six months have gone by it's doubtful if it will ever go away. Fortunately it isn't all that noticeable.

So as for a diagnosis I'm still at square one. My PCP and a new Neurologist I saw are saying it's Fibromyalgia but to be truthful I don't agree with them.

Later

Glenn

I had a lip biopsy about 12yrs. ago with a positive result. However I do not recall having any problems after...maybe if it does not settle down you should have it checked out. My dry eye problem is now much worse and after having jel plugs inserted in lower tear duct (to try and conserve what little lubrication I may still produce) I am about to have ducts permanently closed as plugs do not stay in for long. I am having a lot of problems with painful lymph nodes which I think are more from the fibromyalgia than Sjogren's. Nobody in the medical profession seems to be sure which is causing the probs. I am a new member and hope to maybe be of some help to others while getting whatever support that comes my way

Hehe -- goggle glasses --- I read that yesterday as Google glasses and couldn't make heads nor tails of it! Glad my brain has a little more power today!

Sorry to hear you had a rough time with the lip biopsy.  As you said, the ice helps.  I found it best to eat soft foods for a few days so food didn't get caught in the stitches.  They just dissolved on their own real quick!  I found touching the outside of my jaw/chin hurt for a few days and then that magically disappeared too.  Have a good weekend.  Hope your results come out the way you're expecting.

Hi Chart?

Sorry to hear that you're experiencing as much discomfort.  You are doing the right thing with rinse and spit, but I know that hurts too (to purse your lips).  Apple sauce, ice cream alternated with chicken soup is what I did so I alternated hot and cold inside and out to reduce the swelling.

Sorry to hear you got a mile infection, but it's also that time of year that things are going around too.  Hopefully it will pass quickly.  Oh, tylenol helped too for for pain.

My husband is/was a saint through all of this too.  By next weekend, the stitches, etc. will resolve a bit.

Sorry you had a bad weekend.  Keep me posted on the results

Lynne (sjogrens, raynaulds, sle, fibro, etc.)

 

Hi Chart....

I am so sorry to hear you have had such a rough month from you lip biopsy.  Reminds me of the 6 month healing I had from lymph nodes biopsies in my neck.

Interesting that the rheumy and lab did not feel the biopsy met criteris for sjogrens.  Remember that there are other criteria's on the scale to be met, one is the shrimmer's (spelling) dry paper in the eyelid test which your eye doctor must have done to say you meet the eye criteria.  Not sure if the dental decay, etc. is another thing the dentist can use to meet criteria.

We decided against the Plaquenil in my case since it does not signifcantly increase tear/mucus/fluid production which is my primary complaints.  The pain I can deal with .  Your pain must be pretty high for you  to consider plaquenil.

I wish you the bes tand let me know if the Plaquenil helps.

Thank you for correcting, commenting:  I should have preferenced my statement: "pain attributed to inlamation"

 I understand, that by reducing the inflammation it reduces the pain.  Not to be be misconstrued as a pain medicaiton, it's the process of reducing inflammation, thereby reducing some of the pain (secondary benefit).

3 doctors: plumonary, rheumy, dry eye specialist and a dentist do not feel Plaquenil will help with my extreme dryness (in lungs/muscus membranes: eyes,nose,mouth, etc.  My pain I have is related to the dryness not inflammation.

Lynnwood I apologize if I possibly mislead someone.

 

Hi everyone,
I know this is an old thread, but my neurologist just ordered a lip biopsy to test for Sjogren's. I'm 27 and I was diagnosed with a UCTD in 2008, positive ANA but other subserologies negative. I developed peripheral neuropathy in all four limbs in Feb. 2009 thought to be small fiber neuropathy.
I had 2 positive QSART (sweat tests) consistent with small fiber neuropathy, and 2 EMGs were negative (tests for large fiber neuropathy). I also have dryness, although my rheumatologist hasn't had any Sjogren's specific tests done. But both neurologists I have seen suspect Sjogren's due to the small fiber neuropathy, which if related to an automimmune disease, pretty exclusively points to Sjogren's.
My other symptoms: fatigue, joint pains/arthralgias, muscle pain/cramping, TMJ, GERD, chest pain, VOR vestibulopathy, year-round allergies receiving weekly allergy shots, headaches, history of enlarged lymph nodes on 2 occasions, Vitamin D deficiency, elevated liver function tests, pituitary microadenoma (benign). I don't have flare ups really; I feel the UCTD symptoms the same level all the time for past 2 years.
I am currently on Plaquenil, Neurontin, Tramadol, Lexapro, Allegra-D. I have failed tx. with Cymbalta, Lyrica and Savella.

Anyways, so I found this thread because I wanted to know how other's experiences with the lip biopsy went.
Also, I am always wondering if others on this forum have autoimmune related neuropathy as well...
Take care everyone and best wishes.