I hate hate hate this!

oh also - i read somewhere that some medications can create more fluid build up in the mucocele - making it larger. Has anyone else heard this?

From my wisdom teeth being removed, I was put on an antibiotic and the generic Vicodin. Think these contribute to it?

Sorry one more thing - do you need to see a dentist before an oral surgeon in order to officially tell you it's a mucocele and then refer you, or can you just make an appt with an oral surgeon to get it removed?

Hey, goingcrazy. Funny story about your doctor - like out of a sitcom or something.

My doctor punctured my mucocele before referring me to an oral surgeon. It brought down the size, but it came back shortly after. You can have a doctor or a dentist refer you to an oral surgeon. The way some health insurance plans go, you may need a referral - best to check with yours, but you might be able to just go direct to the oral surgeon.

thanks kadavy!

hey guys i thought i would give an update. i went to the dentist yesterday and they gave me a referral to the oral surgeon. got an appt today and got it removed. the surgeon said you can keep popping/draining it but the actual saliva membrane will still be there meaning it can still produce saliva - a chance for another mucocele. the surgery went fine, didn't feel a thing but watched him do it all and i almost passed out. got 3 stitches and my lip looks a little funny - hope it doesn't stay this way.

I had a mucocele for about 5months...initially went to my dentist to see what the heck it was. They said they were not quite sure and weren't going to mess with it...referred me to an oral surgeon. First appt. with oral surgeon he said right off it is a mucocele from biting my lip really hard. He said it would go away on its own and to leave it alone. Well it is the most annoying thing ever and I couldn't just leave it alone...which I know ended up making it last longer and be worse than it could have been. Just had it surgically removed 2 days ago by the oral surgeon...my bottom lip is fat and I have 4 stitches in it...the surgery was not bad...only lasted 30 minutes and I don't have a ton of pain with it. Annoying to eat and drink but hopefully it will heal quickly and I can forget about this stupid annoying thing!

good luck friday!

it's been a week now since i got mine removed and it's completely healed! swelling gone, stitches gone, etc. the only thing is - my lower lip is a little uneven but it's not very noticeable. there is also a small amount of scar tissue inside but it doesn't bother me. hopefully this stays a success story and one doesn't grow back.

Is your lip still okay? I might have to just save up for a surgery.

How long was your recovery time?

hey sorry it's been a while.

My lip is still good. It took about a week it to to heal - swelling, stitched, everything gone. I still do have a hard bump, which is scar tissue, where the incision was. it's not nearly as big as the mucocele was and no one notices it but me because I can feel it with my tongue. The top of my lower lip in the one tiny spot is still somewhat numb though. But otherwise, you cannot notice that I had a mucocele or surgery.

I would say the surgery is the best bet.

Hi im going into hospital on saturday to get mucocele and gland removed can any tell me whats involved will it be sore and is there much swelling

I have had a mucocele inside my lower lip for over 3 weeks now. I had figured out that is what this seemed to be, prior to making an appointment with an oral surgeon 3 weeks ago. In the mean time ,(a week ago), a dentist friend of mine looked at it just to make sure that is what I was dealing with, because I could not get an appointment until the 20th (today), and it was getting bigger. I could only find one oral surgeon in my area that was on my medical insurance plan. I thought he would do the procedure today, but he just looked at it. I am a massage therapist, who has been out of work since June. I am finally getting interviews, and now I am dealing with this. I now have an appointment with this doctor next Monday. He has scared me to death. He wants to give me twilight sleep along with local anesthetic. I thought this was always just a local. He said he would do it that way, but made it sound like it would be horrible. I really don't have anyone to drive me, and I live alone. I would have to really inconvenience a friend, to get a ride to the appointment. I also don't actually want to be drugged up, I really hate that. I also did not like this doctor, feel comfortable with him, or trust him. My dentist friend said he is a good surgeon, but he is not the one that my dentist or he would have recomended. However, I am very penniless and cannot see anyone outside my plan. Are there any other types of surgeons who could remove a mucocele? I have read on the Internet that there are less invasive ways to treat mucoceles now, such as laser surgery, but of course, this doctor does not have that kind of equipment. With my demanding type of work, I am very concerned about recovery time. After reading here that the surgery could cause lip numbness, I think I would rather have this thing in my mouth than have that happen. I am really not sure what to do.

I don't want to sound patronizing....but you're really worrying a bit too much, in my opinion (and I'm a textbook hypochondriac). I think the surgeon wants to put you in twilight sleep because he senses your apprehension.

My own experience...I've had one taken off my lower lip and one in my throat by my tonsil. I think your best bet on your lip is an oral surgeon, since they understand the anatomy of the mouth better than any other provider and all have a lot of experience with mucoceles. My lip removal went very smoothly...I was eating and drinking normally the same day, although it did sting a bit and I had a couple stitches. No significant swelling. And mine was removed the "conventional" way...no lasers...local anest...etc.

yes...I did and do have a bit of residual numbness in my lip, but it is rather insignificant and hardly noticeable...in fact not noticeable most of the time.

Yes you have the option of just living with it....i tried that with the one I had in my throat...but eventually it drove me so crazy I had to have it out.

I personally recommend you go ahead and have it taken out..and I wish you the best . Let me know how it goes.

I might be one of the scary cats for surgery as well. Im giving a lot of thought to it. Especially biopsy part of it.

You'll see my other note....I think you'll do just fine...press forward.