Log file lichen03 for
Chat room Dental_Study_Club

-- Log on lichen03 started at Mon Mar 02 16:18:10 PST 1998
Rees Buttercup, you bet!. Certainly that is not the only thing causing LP but it appears to be one. Interestingly, a toothpaste reaction will cause a specific type of lichen planus on biopsy.
Buttercup Our family has a history of autoimmune diseases-two of four children have dermotographism--but not LP. Just their mom.
Burkhart Anne, we get many questions such as yours. It would be interesting to conduct a survey and ask about any products that patients have tried to see if there have been any positive results.
Anne What is dermotographism?
Buttercup Dentist is upset that I have switched to baking soda, but at least the pain is alleviated.
Anne I found one citation on the web re ginsing. I take two capsules daily. Can't tell yet if any help.
Buttercup Shall I, or should the doctor answer that?
Rees Anne, LP seems to be caused by a number of different things. In some apparantly rare circumstances an autoimmune disorder will trigger it. In most instances, however, it does not appear to be an autoimmune response. I dno't think dermatographism is an autoimmune response. I believe it to be the situation when metals such as rings discolor your skin. Someone can help me here since I am out of my field.
Buttercup Another question: Had a biopsy many years ago, should they be repeated periodically?
Burkhart Buttercup, you are welcome to chat with other members.
Buttercup That's interesting. I always had metal allergies (except for pure gold). The dermatographism shows up as red welts when, for instance, my son shaves or itches a spot anyplace.
Burkhart Buttercup, you should be evaluated if any changes are noticed and the best person to make that decision is the practitioner that monitors you on a regular basis.
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Buttercup I don't have a dermatologist as I did back in the early '60s. She is the one who made the diagnosis. Had all three manifestations: mouth, weeping sores behind knees, and red rash around middle. She gave me a mouthwash and some tranquilizers.
Anne How many people who have oral LP have another manifestation also?
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Rees Buttercup, that does not sound like what I was talking about. There may be some forms of autoimmune liver disese that will trigger lichen planus but I know of no studies which describe what you are experiencing. Are you sure its lichen planus. Was the biopsy that you had several years ago from the mouth?
Burkhart Anne, this is difficult to answer. Some patients do not have anything other than lichen planus. However, you may have several diseases at the same time.
Buttercup The dentist looks at the problem every 6 months--just shakes his head. Recently had two teeth removed (lower right) and one (lower left). Seems somewhat better, except when I must wear this @#$% appliance.
Buttercup Yes, it was a mouth biopsy. Looking for cancer, they said.
Rees Anne, I think it depends on where your primary problems are. At our center, approximately 15% of those with mouth lesions also have skin or other mucosal lesions such as vaginal.
Anne Dr. Burkhart, are you meaning several places of LP or several different diseases?
Burkhart Buttercup, do you find more problems when the appliance is directly in contact with the tissue?
Buttercup Yes, absolutely.
Buttercup But only lesions are in the mouth.
Burkhart Anne, actually both.
Rees Buttercup, how is your condition being treated?
Buttercup It isn't. No one knows what to do so I just cope as best I can.
Buttercup I'm sorry, the last thing I want to do is leave. Been waiting for this since December. But I am late for a church meeting.
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Burkhart Buttercup, have we sent you any articles or educational material-write and let us know.
Rees We probably need more information from you regarding how severe your symptoms are, how often you have the sores, and whether or not they come and go. We also need to know whether or not you are taking any medications and whether or not you have allergies. At any rate there is usually a way to at least improve your sysptoms and make them more bearable.
Pansy Any correlation betwen amalgam dental fillings and LP
Anne There is a web site which lists articles written about LP. I'll send you the site name tomorrow.
Rees Pansy- that is also an interesting question. We have seen a very few patients with this type of allergic reaction to dental amalgam fillings. However, I recently visited a clinic in Europe where many patients react to amalgams there. There may be geographical differences. At any rate that is one more thing for your dentist to check and he/she can usually tell if there is any reason to be suspicious by the location of the sores and the types of lesions you have.
Burkhart Anne, what do you think about a survey with general questions on the dental /medical history of participants for those who would like to respond?
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Anne I think that is a great idea. Six of us have been corresponding, but without some structure, it is
Anne hard to compare.
Burkhart Hello MUD! How are you tonight?
mud Type HERE Dr. B...I am OK...still no help offered to me...I find the throbbing and dryness not so bad when I take serax..
Anne http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/gcrc/handbook/boyd.htm is the site name
mud Has there been anything new for us LP people??
Burkhart Anne, this is a great idea! Do you feel that you offer each other some emotional support? What types of information have you found?
Anne We have certainly offered each other support. And that is a real help when NO ONE around us
Anne has the same problem.
Anne Mostly we all feel it is stress related but have not come up with much more. Keep wondering about
Burkhart MUD, are you trying anything new?
Anne the amalgam fillings and autoimmune questions.
Anne What is serax? My only medication is Lidex gel.
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mud Dr. B...yes..I do believe as most that stress is a major factor...so I gave in and started to take serax...I feel much better...when I don't take it I can hardly eat...it hurts too much!
Laur Type HERESorry that I am so late! I had problems logging on!!
Burkhart All-What do you think about stress factors? Do you notice a difference when you are stressed?
Rees Anne, it sounds as though it's been a while since you saw a dermatologist about the autoimmune condition. There are new developments in that field and they may be better able to control it now. Didn't you say you last saw a dermatologist in the 60's?
Burkhart welcome Laur! What comments or questions do you have?
mud Anne...serax is a kind of antidepressant...I like it as it doesn't dull me...just helps the stress
Anne No, that was Butttercup. I see a woman in UNC's dermatology dept for my vaginal LP
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Burkhart Welcome Pat6! Do you have a question?
mud Dr. B...stress in my case does highten my discomfort and you can see the redness in my gums growing larger in size
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Rees Anne, as the dermatologist found evidence suggestive of an autoimmune disease? If so do you know what evidence?
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Anne I notice about a week's lag before stress causes outbreaks. My gums bleed profusely then.
Laur I am confused about the stress factor...I just went through a very stressful hysterectomy and since then my LP has really calmed down...almost to the point of being in remission..?
Burkhart Mud, have you been able to decrease your stress levels? Have you tried any stress management techniques?
mud Anne ...do you mean they just bleed or bleed if rubbed?
Anne Bleed when I brush my teeth.
Laur I was on high dosages of antibiotics for infection..could that have affected my LP?
Anne Dr. R. No, she has not told me autoimmune, I picked that up from the web. Peerhaps a mistake!!!!
mud Dr. B...I did find something that in my case of just red gums ...white lace...dry mouth ...I got some of those little picks and I clean with them...what a relief !
Rees Laur, occasionally antibiotics may cause a so-called lichenoid drug reaction, however, the most likely problem is that the antibiotics may have caused you to have an oral yeast infection. Sometimes that can act a lot like lichen planus in that it makes your mouth sore. It's fairly easy to check for that.
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mud Does anyone out there find they have to floss anytime they eat or the throbbing drives them nuts?
Burkhart Mud, do you have professional cleanings at regular periods during the year?
Laur I am saying that after being put on high dosages of antibiotics after my surgery---the LP calmed down dramatically!
Rees Nope, there are no studies to suggest a direct relationship. At any rate it's a good thing !
Laur I agree!
Laur Any steps I can take to keep things this way?
Burkhart Mud, are you under the care of a periodontist?
mud Dr. B...this is the second time logging in here for me and I am not hearing anything from you guys...I feel like you are just picking our brains..we need some imput..we have noone else who seems to care.
Rees Laur- for the most part we don't know the answer to that. However, as a general rule avoid mouthrinses and toothpastes that burn your mouth, be careful about spicy foods and check to see if there seems to be any relation between the next outbreak and something like chewing gum or a new toothpaste. Also start treating the sores very early when they begin. Don't let them become severe.
Laur Thanks...
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Rees Mud- I guess you'll need to talk with us on an individual basis. We need a great deal of information regarding you and your situation and it would probably be best not to try to go through that tonight. However, we will be happy to tell you every thing we know once we get your info.
aupton THIS IS THE SYSOP. ABOUT 5 MINUTES TO GO, FOLKS.
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Laur This is a very frustrating condition...
Anne Thanks for having the chat. I hope you folks will consider the questionnaire. Anne
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Burkhart Mud, we wish that we could offer some easy answers, but it is not that easy. Many patients are reporting that the information which is provided is comforting and others learn from your questions and responses.
Laur Since I got here so late/ Is there any way to read what occurred in the previous half hour?
Burkhart Laur, we hear this from many others. With any chronic disorder there is an element of frustration.
Rees Laur we will post the transcript hopefully by the end of the week. You'll be able to review the entire discussion.
Laur By logging in to this url again?
aupton LAUR GO TO THE MAIN SITE WWW.TAMBCD.EDU/LICHEN AND FOLLOW LINKS TO TRANSCRIPTS. IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS EMAIL US AND WE'LL GET ONE TO YOU.
Burkhart Laur, In our society, a person seeks help and expects a cure. When the disease is not cured, the person becomes frustrated. In addition, when there is an element of pain, it is exceedingly difficult not to be frustrated. We hope that as new information becomes available, we will be able to share that with dentists and patients as well.
Laur Thank you very much...novice here!
Anne Actually, what would be most helpful would be to hear what is new and what research is being done.
Rees Thanks for participating folks. We appreciate your input. Bye!
Burkhart Thanks to all of you for participating in the session. If you have any questions, please contact us.
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-- Log stopped at Mon Mar 02 17:07:28 PST 1998
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