Found an answer about my tongue

[DebE13]

I've inquired and complained many times about my scalloped tongue. I'm trying to learn as much as I can about thyroid cancer so I don't walk into surgery blind. I joined a support group and was very surprised to find multiple replies to my question. It is thyroid related. When the thyroid is off it can make the tongue swell. In turn, it rubs against he teeth causing the painful scalloped edges.

I've had this problem for a very long time. Years and years ago it would happen but would resolve in a short time so I dismissed it as weird because it never lasted long enough to be too disruptive.

This was a matter of hours that I received numerous replies saying "yep, me too". How can doctors not know about this? Crazy .

[Lesley]

I, too, have scalloped tongue. However, my thyroid is fine. I have no idea to what mine is related. I just know it hurts like hell sometimes.

[DebE13]

That's good news that it isn't related to thyroid problems. You wouldn't think something like that could hurt so much. It's a good thing I don't walk around with my tongue hanging out because it looks real attractive too.

[Blueberry]

Interesting about thyroid problems and tongue issues.

I used to develop tongue sores. Thankfully it apparently wasn't serious. I had some tests done and they came back fine I was told by my doctor.

I believe I found that my sores were caused by a few foods. Eggs and chicken in particular seem to be trouble makers for me.

Thinking about it though, I guess too I began taking a few kelp/ iodine tablets around the same time that the tongue sores all but went away. I had read a few years ago that iodine deficiency was making a come back, leading to thyroid goiters. I had been eating little iodine fortified salt so figured taking some kelp might benefit me.

[DebE13]

There are certain foods that irritate my taste buds. It took me a while to catch on. I figured if my body was telling me it doesn't like a particular food, I probably shouldn't eat it!

[Joefnh]

Deb I get the same problem with my taste buds, if I have any food that is problematic my taste buds become red and inflamed; my tongue feels like sandpaper. The one food item that always sets that off is anything with even a small amount of soy in it, usually it's soybean oil that I missed on try label. I consider my tongue an early warning detector. Of course if a food item does that to our tongue, what does it do to our GI tract.

Joe

[Blueberry]

There are certain foods that irritate my taste buds. It took me a while to catch on. I figured if my body was telling me it doesn't like a particular food, I probably shouldn't eat it!

Oh, could have been the taste buds. Hard to say. My problem tended to involve most of the tongue, with some swelling, and good sized sores across with gashes on the side. Ugly to look at, and hurt a good deal too. It is nice to not deal with that much more.

Good luck with your thyroid cancer treatment! You might have seen in the news last week the mention by Dr. Otis Brawley of the cancer society to redefine some cancer guidelines, with a mention on thyroid cancer.

[DebE13]

Joe, it is annoying but you're right, it is a good indicator. It's so much easier o have an immediate reaction than try to figure out later what the culprit was. I'm still trying to figure it out.

Thanks Blueberry, I didn't see the news but I will be looking it up!

[tex]

How can doctors not know about this? Crazy.

If no one has ever done a randomized controlled trial (RCT) on the topic, and published the results in a peer-reviewed medical journal, then it doesn't exist, as far as doctors are concerned. They prefer to remain selectively ignorant of "unproven facts". So apparently there's some truth to the old maxim that "Ignorance is bliss". At least it seems to be true for many/most doctors.

Tex

[DebE13]

Oh, that's right, I forgot about that.

I can understand that proof is needed in order to classify symptoms with a disease but as I was reading through patient stories I thought if I were a doctor I would also want to look at they everyday lives of the people that live the disease in order to gain some practical knowledge. It doesn't take long to pick out common problems/complaints.

[Lesley]

You know, I have Clotramazole Troches around all the time. Technically they are for oral thrush, and you are supposed to suck them 5 times a day. I find that wehn the sides of my tongue get too sore I suck one and it relieves it. Leads me to wonder - has anyone had these sores biopsied? Do we know if they resemble thrush under the microscope?

[DebE13]

I've never had sores on my tongue so I have no opinion on that. When I first noticed my tongue I thought of thrush because of the white appearance. There wouldn't be anything to biopsy on mine because it is uniform scallops along both edges of my tongue. I also get inflamed taste buds too which hurt even worse.

[tex]

Deb,

I had those scallops on the sides of my tongue before I started taking a thyroid supplement, and I can recall having inflamed taste buds back in those days, also. I never had tongue sores either, just the scallops.

Tex

[JLH]

DD#1 (MJH on gene test) has something called geographic tongue.
http://www.celiac.com/articles/22436/1/ ... Page1.html

She also has severe nickel allergy (contact).

MJH
HLA-DQB1 Molecular analysis, Allele 1 0302
HLA-DQB1 Molecular analysis, Allele 2 0603
Serologic equivalent: HLA-DQ 3,1 (Subtype 8,6). The first one listed is the second most common celiac gene, often referred to as HLA-DQ8, while the second is a non-celiac gene that predisposes to gluten sensitivity.

[Lesley]

How very interesting. Unreal how it is all connected, yet the docs specialize and totally ignore the connections.