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Painful mouth and throat ulcers with dental conditions
My mother has been suffering from a host of conditions relating to her mouth for the last three months, and presently, her painful mouth and throat ulcers with difficulty in swallowing food. It all started with her teeth. Her old 'bridge' had worn out was to have been replaced. She had root canal treatment done to several of her teeth. However, we concluded that the dentist was incompetent because the pain was reccurrent and excruciating and one or other of her teeth were always being 'fixed' by the dentist. In conjunction with her teeth issues, she also developed these blisters, or aphthous ulcers in her tongue and cheeks. The combination of both these conditions -the toothache and the ulcers- had been driving her crazy for a while.
They (to refer to the parents, I live away) changed densits, and the teeth problems improved. Now her teeth have healed, but she still has to get her new bridge (which has been deferred to wait for her ulcers to heal). But now, the main cause of concern is her ulcers. These have gone from bad to much worse. She cannot eat anything because of the associated burning. They have consulted several general physicians, who have generally prescribed vitamins and some gel to apply to the affected area. The dentist claims that these ulcers are a consequence of her sharp teeth and grinding. They recently got a teeth 'guard' to wear, which has been extremely uncomfortable, and of little use (actually, the general physician claims that it has actually caused inflammation).
All the doctors agree that this cannot be cancer. However, none of them prescribe the biopsy, ostensibly because it involves taking out the tissue sample from her higly inflamed mouth, and because it is unlikely to be cancer (we are very eager to do). Now, the ulcers have spread to the throat from the tongue. They had some 'smear' test done yesterday to check for TB, which has apparently turned out negative. The blood tests indicate that the counts are quite normal. And in the meanwhile my poor mother continues to suffer (she has lost a few kilos from not eating). She has put herself on liquid diet now, only drinking Horlicks, mangoes and some types of juice. She claims that her ulcers have started healing, albeit very slowly. Some of them have even shrunk. But she's got some new ulcers in the throat now, which is making life really difficult since she cannot swallow.
I fear that this is a condition masking something very serious. We are at our wits' end as regards the diagnosis. (They live in Bangalore, India).
They (to refer to the parents, I live away) changed densits, and the teeth problems improved. Now her teeth have healed, but she still has to get her new bridge (which has been deferred to wait for her ulcers to heal). But now, the main cause of concern is her ulcers. These have gone from bad to much worse. She cannot eat anything because of the associated burning. They have consulted several general physicians, who have generally prescribed vitamins and some gel to apply to the affected area. The dentist claims that these ulcers are a consequence of her sharp teeth and grinding. They recently got a teeth 'guard' to wear, which has been extremely uncomfortable, and of little use (actually, the general physician claims that it has actually caused inflammation).
All the doctors agree that this cannot be cancer. However, none of them prescribe the biopsy, ostensibly because it involves taking out the tissue sample from her higly inflamed mouth, and because it is unlikely to be cancer (we are very eager to do). Now, the ulcers have spread to the throat from the tongue. They had some 'smear' test done yesterday to check for TB, which has apparently turned out negative. The blood tests indicate that the counts are quite normal. And in the meanwhile my poor mother continues to suffer (she has lost a few kilos from not eating). She has put herself on liquid diet now, only drinking Horlicks, mangoes and some types of juice. She claims that her ulcers have started healing, albeit very slowly. Some of them have even shrunk. But she's got some new ulcers in the throat now, which is making life really difficult since she cannot swallow.
I fear that this is a condition masking something very serious. We are at our wits' end as regards the diagnosis. (They live in Bangalore, India).
After visits to a few more doctors, they finally got an endoscopy done along with a biopsy of a mouth ulcer. The endoscopy shows that there are several ulcers in her GI tract (all the way from the buccal cavity to the duodenum). They suspect now that it is Crohn's disease (which is very disturbing). The biopsy results will be out tomorrow. This has been a harrowing time for her.
Has your mother been tested for "latex" poisoning? It sounds like every time she saw the dentist, he/she probably used latex gloves, with someone who is sensitive the more times she is touched with them the worse the problem becomes. The ulcers/blisters will be wherever she was touched, in the mouth this could be over all the surfaces while in treatment for the other things done. The dentist may also have used "gutta percha" in the root canals, this material is simply "latex" which could be leaking causing similiar problems. Latex allergies are often undiagnosed, in the USA it is a bigger problem and many doctors are now using latex free products. I don't know what they use in India but it would be well worth asking.
Your mother should also have a "Visalite" done, this is an oral cancel screening that uses a photo sensitive dye with a black light to see pre-cancerous formations. If she tests positive, they should then do a Tblue test to further diagnose her. These are common place in the US so again ask your dentist to get these diagnostics in their office or to send her to someone who already has them. It is worth the drive to make sure it's not cancer.
Lastly, HPV is linked to mouth cancer, have her examined by a Gyncologist to rule this out if it is of a concern.
But the blistering sounds very much like a latex allergy.
Good luck, Dana
Your mother should also have a "Visalite" done, this is an oral cancel screening that uses a photo sensitive dye with a black light to see pre-cancerous formations. If she tests positive, they should then do a Tblue test to further diagnose her. These are common place in the US so again ask your dentist to get these diagnostics in their office or to send her to someone who already has them. It is worth the drive to make sure it's not cancer.
Lastly, HPV is linked to mouth cancer, have her examined by a Gyncologist to rule this out if it is of a concern.
But the blistering sounds very much like a latex allergy.
Good luck, Dana
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