Hi julia
i know it's easier said then done but try not to scare yourself too much or jump to conclusions too soon-it may be an ulcer, a swelling, a harmless lump or a blister from eating/drinking something too hot. Visit your nurse like you said & see what she has to say-please let me know how you get on. I know this sounds harsh but perhaps this will scare you into quitting smoking
best wishes
liz x

Okay. I'll post another message when I get back tomorrow. Oh - and if you see the top of my message - I quit smoking over 18 months ago.

Oh I do apologise-my silly mistake.Well done for quitting.Hope your appointment went ok

Well it was just a nurse. She felt around in my mouth (with her bare hand - yuck) and said not to worry and make an appointment with the doctor, and it was probably a spot, ulcer or cyst(!).

My appointment with the doctor is next thurday (the 19th). It's terrible. The bonus is, that the fear is putting me off my food and the weight is falling off me, but it's also stopping me sleeping as well. I'm really annoyed because you don't need a qualification to stick your bare finger into somebody's mouth and say "don't worry, see a doctor". As far as I know, a brand new, painless lump under the skin is very bad news.

I spoke to nhs-direct, and they said it could be an infection of some sort, and asked me if i'd had a fever. I said "no" at the time, but watching myself today and thinking back - i've been much hotter and sweatier than normal, especially around my face, neck, and head (it's running off me - it's horrible). I've also been feeling a bit dizzy and tired. Obviously the weather might have something to do with it, so it's hard to tell (plus, I really want it to be an infection, so i'm jumping at any sign of a fever).

I can't beleive I have to wait until next thursday. It's my birthday on sunday and I was hoping to be all healthy, happy, releived, and well-rested by then.

Im shocked the the nurse didnt put a glove on her hand-yuck! This is how mrsa is spread!
I wouldn't say that what you've got is very bad news because you could be worrying for nothing. I can understand why you're stressed though because these kind of things occupy your mind 24/7 until you find out what the problem is-i'd probably be the same.I had a lump under my skin by my mouth (on the outside) & it turned out to be like an ulcer with fluid in (too much info sorry) so you never know,it could be something like that-like what the nhs direct said.I had antibiotics & it was cleared-simple as that.
I read that generally when people are sick/run down it shows in their mouth & tongue for example, mouth ulcers are a sign of being run down.
If you possibly can then try & put this to the back of your mind until the appointment because you don't want this ruining your bday or stopping you eating/sleeping because that's not good for you either.
Best wishes & keep me informed-i hope you can enjoy your bday even a little bit
liz x

I would skip the doctor and see a dentist asap.A dentist is much more familiar with the mouth.No offense to md's,but the mouth is not their specialty.Good luck to you!Patty

Hi everyone. I know a denist would have been better, but my dentist is in my parents home-town (hull) and i'm colchester.

I'm extremely loyal to this dentist because he's one of the best in the country and he's an absolute legend in dentist-form! He gave me cosmetic work on the nhs even though he's meant to be private-patients-only, and he's very quick and gentle and professional. One of my friends has incredibly ugly teeth, and after 10 years of different dentists, mine diagnosed a genetic deformity, and sent him on a four-year course of cosmetic work with a specialist in that kind of deformity! Sorry, i've digressed!

The point is, I got a train to hull to see the dentist about two weeks before the lump appeared. Annoying, eh?

Well, I saw my doctor today, and the lump is an "oral mucocoele" (pronounced "mew-co-sole") which is....

"this lesion presents as a solitary, cystic, translucent papulonodule. The patient may be very anxious that it is a malignant tumor. This lesion generally is found on the inner surface of the lip, and measure between 3 and 10mm. Mucocoeles are pseudocysts and contain mucin and are the result of obstruction of the secretory ducts of a salivary gland."

anyway, the lump has started to go away now - it's getting harder to find with every passing day, so all is well with the world.

Speaking of which - he also diagnosed an underactive thyroid - hooray!

Glad it was not anything serious!!Patty

Hi, I am an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, but not in usa, from what u described, I don't think it will be a cancer. I think it should be a cyst , just find a doc with litter surgery. It's okay, good luck