Over the past month and a half I have been battling with what I now know was a mucocele. I searched every website trying to figure out what it is, where i should go to have it looked at and what the treatment is like and didn't find much. I just want to write about my experience to help others who are having the same problem.
At first I thought I was getting a cold sore in my mouth. It was tiny little blister bubble on my lower lip. Over the course of about two weeks it kept growing till it was the size of about a skittel, maybe a little bigger. It had a bluish tint that looked a little bit like a vein until it drained after about the second time. After that the top layer of skin looked white. It didn't hurt but it got sore after rubbing against my teeth. Eventually it drained again and I thought it would heal and go away on it's own. Sure enough, about 3 days later it came right back only slightly bigger. The same process kept occuring until I got fed up and went to the dentist.
One monday morning I went to the dentist and he took two looks at me before he figured out that I had a mucocele cyst. He informed me that they do not go away on their own. He walked out of the room and the nurse came back with a referral for an oral surgeon. I ended up having a bill of over 100 dollars for a referral and I have good insurance.
It took about a week to get an appointment with the oral surgeon but the day before my surgery, I got a major cold and had to reschedule for yesterday (Nov. 13, 08). I was scared to death until I got into the office and then finally calmed down. The nurse took me into the room and the doctor came in right behind her. They gave me an IV and before I could even say my name I was asleep. (You do have the choice on whether you want to be put to sleep or just number). I have horrible anxiety and choose to go to sleep. Anyway, I was out and the next thing remember I was walking back out into the lobby. (it cost about 300 dollars) My mother had to drive me home since I had been put to sleep and I felt perfectly fine. I got home about 30 minutes after I woke up and that's when the medicine started to wear off. The gave me a prescription for Tylonel 3. While I was waiting for the medicine, i was in sone pain. My jaw, teeth and lip ached. The medicine takes an edge off the pain but doesn't get rid of all of it. It feels like you just bit your lip all day.
If anyone who is reading this is about to have the surgery, my suggestions would be to wear comfortable clothes to the doctor, have plenty of soup on hand (nothing to creamy because it sticks to your lips and you won't be able to lick your lips without feeling pain), bring a jacket because the medicine makes you feel cold, don't take the medicine on an empty stomach because you will already feel sick from being put under, use a lot of ice (the swelling doesn't really occur until a few hours after and bruising comes the next day), and have someone you love around to take care of you. I know it's only a lip but you will be so tired and not want to get out of bed for a while. Sit back and be pampered for a while. I had been under the impression that I would not be in any type of pain and so I made plans for the same day which had to be cancelled. It isn't horrible but it is umcomfortable and exhausting.
Hope this helps!
Jessica
