Hallo,
in January this year I had a lip biopsy which confirmed that I have Sjogrens. Although there were initial prroblems with the stitches not dissolving and having to be removed by a nurse, everything has healed but leaving my mouth extremely sensitive. It's not painful but I can feel the inside of my mouth all the time. I think its the nerves which were cut but does anyone else who has had the lip biopsy had the same experience. Thanks for any input.
I did not have the lip biopsy but. . . with any surgery this is a risk. I had thumb surgery two years ago. The rest of the nerve pain and discomfort was gone in 3 or 4 months but there is damage. I don’t notice it anymore but I can definitely see how it would be more distracting on your lip. The nerves will likely heal somewhat over time. You can talk to your doctor about scar treatment that might help, such as scar massage.
I had a lip biopsy that took a little while to heal but didn't leave me with the type of sensitivity you describe.
Thanks for your input. I will try and be more patient.
Gina,
I have so many systems of Sjogrens Syndrome, horrible dental, dry eyes, cough, skin joint pain all over…and since my mom has it I was diagnosed right away…
I decided to have a lip biopsy last month and just got my results back Salivary Gland tissue showing focal lymphoid Infiltrate with a focus score of 1 FOCUS /4MM SQUARE…
The Histologic Findings are not diagnostic of Sjogrens Syndrome.
Guess it’s all in my head
Chickadee- a negative lip biopsy does not change the diagnosis. It can be used towards diagnosis but I’ve heard of tons of times where someone had a negative lip biopsy even though they have Sjögren’s. I would hope that your doctor would continue to treat you appropriately regardless of the lip biopsy results.
Because I already am being treated for another autoimmune disease there was never a purpose for doing the lip biopsy. But even if I didn’t have another disease, I’m not certain that I would opt for the biopsy. I didn’t opt for the small nerve biopsy either, and am being treated for symptoms of small fiber neuropathy now.
Chickadee said:
Gina,
I have so many systems of Sjogrens Syndrome, horrible dental, dry eyes, cough, skin joint pain all over…and since my mom has it I was diagnosed right away…
I decided to have a lip biopsy last month and just got my results back Salivary Gland tissue showing focal lymphoid Infiltrate with a focus score of 1 FOCUS /4MM SQUARE…
The Histologic Findings are not diagnostic of Sjogrens Syndrome.
Guess it’s all in my head
I had a similar experience as Stoney. My docs did not opt for the lip biopsy, thankfully. They did the Sjo test first. When that came back with positive markers they did further, much more extensive blood work which confirmed the diagnosis (finally). I have neuropathy also but again, not diagnosed through a biopsy. I don't think our systems react well to anything invasive from what I have heard here. I'm sorry to hear that it is causing you such an issue. Hopefully they can suggest something to ease it for you while its healing the rest of the way.
Gina, it doesn't sound like its all in your head at all to me either. There is more than one way to get to a diagnosis so I second the hope that they will continue working on a treatment path that works for you.