Had a lip biopsy at about 4:30 today (in search of diagnosis, possibly Sjogren’s). The procedure was mostly uneventful but I was slightly grossed out by cooking burger smell from what I assume was a cauterizing tool? :eek:
Anyway, the local is wearing off and it feels kind of like when you bite your lip, but instead of biting, you slammed it in a car door. Would like to not feel this way for hours/overnight, any suggestions? Have been icing exterior and took a Tylenol which didn’t do shit. Please advise.
If it’s hurting on the inside, anbesol should help numb it. Hell, even if on the outside. Slather on that shit. Ibuprofen will likely work better for the pain, as it’s an anti-inflammatory.
Did your doctor not give you a phone number for his/her answering service? My dentist and my husband’s surgeons (yes plural, unfortunately) have always given us a number to reach them if something went wrong (intense pain counts) after procedures of varying levels of complexity. I would also be very surprised if there’s nothing about pain management in your discharge paperwork.
Does it look odd in any way? What did they tell you to expect?
I’d expect a biopsy in that location to be quite painful, but on the other hand unexpected severe pain might indicate something is going wrong and you don’t want to become a statistic.
Frankly, I would expect biopsy/cautery to hurt like a MoFo that night. Redness, fever, or other signs of infection would prompt me to call the doctor. But if someone sliced your lip this afternoon, it’s going to hurt tonight.
I am not a doctor. I don’t play one on TV. Please don’t mistake my observation for a valid medical opinion.
Thanks, folks. I did survive the night - wish I’d thought of anbesol! They did tell me it would be uncomfortable the first night and not to plan on eating a salad (vinegar) or chili for a few days, and to expect discomfort. I kept going with the ice until it was really time to go to sleep, and when the cold wore off, I found that it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. My lip is big on one side today and I’m talking kind of funny but otherwise it seems ok. Not quite the Elephant Man, or woman, as it were.
It’s not going to fall off! Glad to be feeling better. Now I have to figure out what to pack for lunch.