Anything I should know before a lip biopsy?

[LilliaT]

I have a lip biopsy scheduled for Thursday, and the ENT said I didn't need to do anything beforehand (aside from making sure that I avoid Advil, Aleve, etc., for 8 days beforehand).  I asked if I should stop taking fish oil supplements beforehand, because I understand that people are sometimes advised to do so before procedures, but he said that wasn't necessary.

If you've done a lip biopsy, is there anything else you'd recommend doing -- either before or after the procedure?  Until today, I wasn't worried at all about the procedure itself.  (I have mostly just worried about what the results would be.  I'm dreading a positive result -- but I'm also dreading the continuing uncertainty that would come with a negative result.)  But I'm a little worried now about what the recovery is going to be like, given how dry my mouth is these days -- I'm worried that will impede healing or just make things generally unpleasant for a while.  The insides of my lips are where the dryness is the worst.

On top of everything else, it seems like the inside of my lower lip and the insides of my cheek are a little swollen.  I'm even getting a sore spot inside my lip, where I think my nightguard rubs against the swollen part.  So between the dryness, the slight swelling, etc., I'm picturing the post-biopsy days as being pretty unpleasant. 

Thanks for any suggestions or advice!

[Scottietottie]

Hi 

Have some paracetamol/tylenol handy for after having the procedure done.

Quite honestly, I didn't find the procedure traumatic. I've had far worse dental appointments! The dissolving sutures were a bit irritating - but not painful. I had minimal swelling and no numbness by the end of the day.

I hope your procedure goes as smoothly as mine did - because it really wasn't a big deal.

Take care - Scottie 

[bloodless]

Nothing to worry about. Scottietottie is correct. It's not that big a thing.
It was however a waste of money and time for me. 8 years later I still have numb spot. Good luck!

[katie1111]

I would describe it as more annoying than horrible.  You end up with an injured lip for a few days.  Worrying about it was worse than the procedure or follow-up.

Katie1111

[SjoGirl]

Do be sure to keep track of how you are progressing afterward. They will probably use self healing sutures, but sometimes they end up needing to be removed by a doctor (your PCP or a PA or walk in clinic can remove them if needed).

Ice helps as does Tylenol or whatever you use if you experience pain.

[LilliaT]

Thank you so much for the responses.  Did any of you find that you had trouble eating in the days after the biopsy?  The ENT made it sound like such a tiny procedure, so I was assuming I'd be pretty much fine the next day -- that I might have some discomfort, but that I'd be fine going to the office, etc., the next day.  But I've seen some online accounts where people were visibly swollen for days after, or could eat only pureed foods for several days. 

So I'm wondering if I should maybe plan to take tomorrow off, or to be prepared to have nothing but smoothies for the next few days.  (My biopsy is scheduled for 4:30 this afternoon.)  Thank you!

[Jasper]

Lillia .....

I had a lip biopsy 3 years ago. It went very well. My oral surgeon was very experienced. I had a tiny incision that was a little sore for a day. It healed well. I could eat solid food the same day. If I recall correctly, I just chewed the food on the other side.

I would not advise eating sourdough bread, corn on the cob, or apples, but fish, chicken, cooked vegetables, soft fruit, etc. would most likely be okay.

Best of luck with your lip biopsy.

[Wal]

How did your biopsy go, Lilia? I'm still putting mine off 😟

[LilliaT]

Hi Wal,

It went very well, and I'm optimistic that the recovery will be uneventful.   

It was done by an ENT.  He first applied gauze soaked with a topical anesthetic, and then gave me an injection (I think Novocaine?).  The injection hurt a little bit, but it was basically the same as getting Novocaine at the dentist.  The biopsy itself was quick and completely painless -- I felt nothing at all, excerpt for a little (painless) pulling when he did the 2 stitches.  Then I just sat there with a cold pack on the outside of my lip for a little while, and then I went home.  (I then used an ice pack for about 20 minutes every hour until bedtime.)  I took some Tylenol afterward, just as a precaution, but I'm not sure it was actually necessary.  I ate dinner about an hour after the procedure (mostly soft food), and rinsed with salt water a few times.  I had to be careful brushing my teeth.  Flossing was uncomfortable because I open my mouth really wide to floss, and that pulled on the stitches.  So I didn't finish flossing.

Today the inside of my lip is slightly sore, but not enough to require Tylenol.  (I don't even notice it unless I'm thinking about it.)  The ends of the thread from the stitching are a little annoying -- it sort of feels like I have a big crumb stuck there.  I'm nervous about things like yawning, or smiling widely, because I'm afraid it'll pull on the stitches.  But otherwise it's all been totally uneventful.  I'm at the office and and functioning pretty much normally.

So, assuming I don't get some horrible infection or something, it seems like the biopsy itself was nothing to worry about.  The bigger worry, of course, is what the results will be.  (This was one reason I had delayed doing a lip biopsy.)  I'm dreading getting a positive result -- because it would mean the loss of hope that it's not Sjogren's.  But I suppose even a negative result doesn't necessarily rule anything out.  So I completely understand why you've been putting it off. 

This state of limbo -- of having all these symptoms, living in uncertainty and dreading a Sjogren's diagnosis -- is so terrible and stressful.  Whatever you decide to do, I hope you have a good outcome.