After I requested this post I found an older woman had made the inquiry on a British version of this website. The British doc there suggested gargling with an antiseptic mouthwash and forgetting about it (there was nothing to worry about).
I tried it, and it worked! Instantly the pain was gone. Wow. It stayed gone, too.
Thanks.
A related discussion,
What would be? was started.
A related discussion,
New STD - Medics have no answers was started.
This sounds like transient lingual papillitis, also known as "lie bumps". Its a short-lived swelling of the papillae. Typical treatment is topical analgesics and NSAIDS. Although the cause is unknown, it is not herpes, and not contagious.
Sorry Eric, that should read you will be "UNABLE" to get a definite diagnosis here. Good Luck.
Some possibilities could be:
Herpes, Candidiasis, Geographical Tongue, Recurrent Aphthous Ulcers, to more sinister conditions. The list could go on and you will be able to get a definite diagnosis here. I know you have seen an ENT specialist but they disappeared before your appointment, but if they come back, try to get another appointment. A examination in person is required to get a definite diagnosis. Good Luck.
The elevated white spots on your tongue are NOT herpes. I can tell you this for sure and I'm not a doctor. Have you looked very closedly at these "spots"?
If you look closely you may realize that they are simply an inflamed "bump" on your tongue. You tongue is not smoothe but consists of hundreds of small raised buds. Occasionally a single "bud" becomes inflamed. It will become white, swollen and painful. This is quite common and they can occur several times a year. My stepfather calls them "lye bumps" which I'm sure is not the appropriate medical term but rest assured its not herpes
I wish I could help, but the symptoms you describe do not sound like any STD I can think of; and no STD would cause continuing or intermittent symptoms like that for several years. It certainly does not sound like herpes.
It may or may not be pertinent to your question, but I am skeptical that you have recurrent oral herpes due to HSV-2. If you are going by symptoms plus a positive blood antibody test for HSV-2, that is insufficient; you would need a positive culture for the HSV-2 virus itself from a recurrent oral lesion to be confident that was the cause. But in any case, you can be confident herpes isn't the cause of the white spots on your tongue.
Sorry I can't be of more help-- HHH, MD