Ulcer in my mouth

**gutless** · 10-26-2010, 01:41 PM

I have a lesion on my gum that I believe was started when I wasn't paying attention while brushing my teeth and used the wrong side of my toothbrush.

That was about 2 months ago and it still hasn't healed. My dentist referred me to a specialist, who wants to remove and biopsy the lesion.

I'm wondering what you all think about having this done. How will the surgery heal (I'd need stitches) if the original trauma won't heal? The specialist said it's important to biopsy it to make sure it's not Wegener's, as it could mean that the Wegener's is in another part of my body. I'm currently waiting for a hip replacement and a gyne surgery - neither doctor will perform the surgery until my Wegener's is in remission, which it's not. So I'm a little hesitant to have this small surgery performed - the lesion is tender but not unbearable.

Thanks.

**marta** · 10-26-2010, 02:11 PM

I know absolutely nothing and am an infant in the world of WG but as I'm sure you've already seen I ALWAYS have an opinion. I'm totally with you. I think it's nuts to do a biospy and create a new lesion to find out why a lesion is not healing on an immunosurpressed individual. If you know that Wegs is still active and the other surgeons wont cut you because of that, why would they want to do it to your mouth. As we talked about in another thread, it doesn't matter where Wegs is active in your body as the treatment is the same and being a systemic disease it likes to travel. So unless the reason is to settle their own professional curiosity, I can't see any benefits that outweigh the risks. I can see it being a problem if it's an infection - but in that case the solution is killing the bacteria or fungus not doing a biopsy.

Once again though, I know nothing and my reaction is totally a gut reaction, so take EVERYTHING I say with a grain of salt.

**Sangye** · 10-26-2010, 02:34 PM

Marta, I think you're doing great learning about Wegs! I have nothing to add-- you expressed my opinion perfectly.

**pberggren1** · 10-26-2010, 04:11 PM

I agree with Sangye Marta. And to add, you definitely know alot.

**elephant** · 10-26-2010, 10:54 PM

I agree with the above post. Lesions in the mouth are one symptom of vasculitis diseases. My sister had Nodosa ( autoimmune disease that attacks the blood vessels), and that was the first symptom she had, then the large rashes on her back and trunk and headaches. The only put her on high doses of prednisone for 6 months and she has been in remission for 10 years. She also has Raynauds disease.

**misskay** · 10-26-2010, 11:21 PM

one of my original symptoms was mouth ulcers. Small blisters along the gumline.... at the time I thought it was a reaction to meds in some way, then I was diagnosed with WG and did some research.... Use a medicated mouthwash available at the grocery, and brush your teeth often (yes, I know it is painful) to keep anything from becoming lodged inside the area and becoming infected. The good news is, they do go away as the WG gets under better control.

**JanW** · 10-27-2010, 01:08 AM

Why do they need to even make sure that the WG isn't in another part of your body -- in fact the assumption should be that it's WG, and since your WG isn't in remission, and you are continuing to be treated, there would be no further action taken on the biopsy.

**Sangye** · 10-27-2010, 02:23 AM

I think it's a very common mistake that non-Wegs specialists make.

**Sangye** · 10-27-2010, 02:25 AM

On the other hand... Gutless, as I look at your avatar I wonder if your mouth ulcers are coming from chewing on tennis balls. This would be a good time to break that habit.