Red Bumps/Sores - semi-painful on back of tongue

ok - 31 yr old male - in good health
although I am a smoker and have dated a girl who has told me that she has some form of oral herpes (that on occasion will leave her with cold sores) and a form of HPV that resulted in genital warts around the time of the birth of her child


anyways, Im kind of nervous now...and
I thought I had developed some sort of sore throat this last weekend and was very surprised this morning (when I checked it out in the mirror) to find that the back portion of my tongue looked red and swollen and appears to have red bumps on it - It is isolated to the back - like a line that seperates the back red area from the front-  and the rest of my tongue (front) has a whitish film -

They are pretty far back and kind of hard to see - far enough back so as I have a gag reflex if I try to feel them - The entire area of my tongue in the back is very mildly-painful and leaving my tongue sort of sore, even to move it or swallow.

thanks...

[bangaloreman]

Hi

What was the final diagnosis? I face the same problem.

[ang79990]

I wish i could be of some help considering I am feeling your pain. I hope u all the best and if i figure it out i will keep u in mind. I have a doctors appt with my gyno tomorrow to discuss this very issue.  ang

[bethie345]

If the bumps are on the very back of the tongue where the gag refelx is triggered, they are more than likely circumvallate papillae which are normal and everyone has them.  They should not be sore unless you aggrivate them.  They are arranged in a V shaped line (about 7 of them) and are several millimeters in diameter.  Many people discover these papillae and believe they have some sort of pathology.  Look online at pictures and see if this is it.  Good luck!