I wish I had gotten to this site before my experience. I write this to relieve any fears you may have.
I had an oral herpes outbreak in addition to a mucocele and was misdiagnosted for over 3 months. The anti-virals actually reduced the size of the mucocele! When I stopped the anti-viral, the mucocele grew back. This is a coincidence so don't think that you can treat it with medicine.
When I returned to school, my nurse saw my lower lip and ordered me to a dermatologist. He treated it as an ulcer with a steriod and told me that if it didn't disappear in two weeks, I'd have to see an oral surgeon.
Two weeks later, I got a referral to an oral surgeon and met with him. He told me it was a mucocele and was not related at all to my herpes.
(This was frustrating because it took over 3 months to get to this point.)
I had the surgery 2 days ago and am so glad it's done. Here is what anybody who is undergoing the surgery should know:
The fee was $240.00 + consult fee for the removal without insurance (I have insurance, so my total bill was 2 office copays of $35 each.)
The procedure was only 10 minutes long and the entire office visit was less than 20 minutes long, too
.
The worst part was the administration of nova-cane (a pinch with a burning sensation)
The pain during the surgery lasted less than 10 seconds
My mucocele was the size of a large peanut with a very long pronounced root so my cut was quite large (Almost 2 inches long!)
I saw lots of blood. (If you're squeamish, consider sedated surgery; otherwise it's no big deal.)
I was sewn up and given a prescription for Tylenol 3 (read: Codiene!)
About an hour after the surgery my mouth began to hurt. I used an ice pack and took 2 ibuprofen tablets. 30 minutes later I was fine. I never had to use the Tylenol 3.
Now I only feel pain when I smile. (It's the stitches not giving way.)
My only complaint at this time is bruising and excessive dryness on my lips.
On a scale of 1 to 10 of the seriousness of this surgery I would rate it a 1.
A root canal, wisdom tooth removal, or a cavity filling is far more encompassing.
So, as Bobby McFerrin would say: Don't Worry, Be Happy
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