This is really weird–last night around 10:30 pm, I noticed the center of my top lip seemed to have almost a blister on it. I thought it was odd, but decided it would be wise not to pick at it.
When I woke up this morning, my top lip was swollen, for maybe 1/4 of an inch on all sides from the “blister.” Needless to say, I look pretty funny. When I pursed my lips, some clear fluid leaked out of the “blister.”
I called university health services, and they said it’s probably a cold sore. I’ve never had one before, and I didn’t think they caused swelling. I also don’t remember smacking myself in the lip. Any clue? How can I get the swelling down?
I had one of these things and it was much as you describe. While not recommending that you do this, I at first drained the thing several times, using a needle to get it going. It would be okay for a few weeks then come back. I ultimately had it cut out of my lip by an ENT Dr, mainly because when it was swollen I would sometimes catch it in my bite and that was no fun.
Cold sores do cause swelling occasionally. It sounds like on to me, but I’m no expert. It could also be a bug bite or just about anything. If you’re worried, get it checked out, especially if it lasts for more than a few days.
Here’s another possibility. Along the line where your lips change color, you’ll see a line of tiny white dots. Those are supplementary salivary glands. Sometimes they get clogged up, and the clogged gland looks like a pimple. Like a pimple, it will squirt out white stuff when squeezed. Unlike a pimple, it will go back to normal almost immediately after squeezing. At least, that what mine did.
Well, it was a cold sore. And since I don’t seem to recall ever having one before, the swelling and all is probably because it’s a primary infection. That’s the one thing I don’t like about knowing so much about how my body works–when something goes wrong, I know the whats and whys. Today I had a biochem seminar, and my professor does research on herpes. She mentioned she had to “infect some cells,” and then got all apologetic when she looked at me. But she admitted that people like me keep her in business.
On the upside, I paid a visit to University Health Services, and got a vial of anti-viral and a vial of Vicodin for only $10.
Too bad my boyfriend is visiting this weekend. No kissing for him.