NeuroTalk Support Groups - Tomorrow's lip biopsy and thoughts about flare ups of SFN

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- - Tomorrow's lip biopsy and thoughts about flare ups of SFN (https://www.neurotalk.org/peripheral-neuropathy/238072-tomorrows-lip-biopsy-flare-ups-sfn.html)

Quote:

Originally Posted by en bloc (Post 1217525)

The lip biopsy is not a horrific procedure. Just a little numbing of the area (no different than if you have dental work done) and then removing the glands. They typically put in a couple very small stitches and give you a few days of oral antibiotic...just in case. Infection is possible since it's involves the mouth and location of numerous germs/bacteria. I found the area healed within a short time and although I have a small bump on the inside of my lip (common), it is NOT bothersome at all. Home now resting up for the day - it's too hot here to do much anyway!

All depending on your pathology dept, it can take anywhere from a few days to two weeks to get the results. I certainly hope they use a grading scale (based upon foci present within the 4mm sq area) and not give just a general assessment of the tissue.

Please update us after your procedure and let us know how it went and how you're feeling.

Thanks Enbloc. It was pretty simple as you say. Only thing is that NHS shortages mean that I couldn't be given any water to drink after and a UK heatwave meant all of us were terribly overheated - complaining bitterly to each other as no air conditioning in the hot theatre! No antibiotics administered - just instructions to start rinsing with salty water after meals tomorrow. Hope mine doesn't get infected as the gallbladder keyhole wound did exactly a year ago!

They said I would get an appointment to see oral health consultant again in three weeks for the results. It's the same large university teaching hospital lab as Dolly the Sheep study came from so I think/ hope they know what they are looking for. She said it was the decisive test for Sjogrens so I'm very apprehensive about these results - if negative then what? If positive will it lead to further treatment? The letter from rheum registrar says that as no sign of inflammatory arthritis now, further immunosuppressants are not warranted. Nevertheless it will be good to have some clarity from this latest clipping at least. They got four salivary glands out - one "juicy big one"!

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAT52 (Post 1217531)

I hope you get some results. If it is positive or borderline, they will probably offer plaquenil. Have you ever tried it?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Healthgirl (Post 1217568)

I hope you get some results. If it is positive or borderline, they will probably offer plaquenil. Have you ever tried it?

Thanks Healthgirl. I was on Plaquenil with methotrexate and latterly on its own for 18 months. It worked well for me but unfortunately it gave me a slow form of anaphylaxis so was forced off it eventually. I've tried four DMARDs altogether now - three would have been drugs used for primary Sjogrens. This is why I'm not that hopeful that a diagnosis of Primary Sjogrens would help my treatment options.