Tuesday, January 30, 2007

You may like to know about the dang ulcers

Although it happens very infrequently now, it's still blardy painful and lasts forever! Like a week.

I used to have like 4-6 at the same time during my teen years. And my second sister will hook me by the neck to rub salts on them. YEAOUCH?? YA! YOU TELL ME!

There are many causes for ulcers to appear such as :
Damaging the inside of your mouth with very hot or acidic food, or hot drinks
Biting or chewing the inside of your cheek
Brushing your teeth and gums too hard
Poor fitting dentures (although most of us don't need it... yet!)
Certain medicines
Some cancer treatments
Diseases that affect the immune system
Dry mouth due to medicines or health conditions
Lack of iron, folic acid and most B-group vitamins
Stressed or run down, such as students or people under great pressure
Some women get them just before their period.



Ulcers are usually very painful, in my case, uber painful, and if left untreated, the burning raised red rim gets wider and looks very inflamed. It will take 7-10 days for it to heal. Now do not mistake that with cold sores, for they are usually on the lips and around the mouth. To reduce the pain, I remembered the doctor in Ipoh gave me Bonjela. Whilst it's effective as a baby teething relief, it didn't do much for me.

Personally, I would recommend using Kenalog in Orabase. If you nip it in the bud, that is, use it just when you notice you have an ulcer, it will be gone in two days. Dang effective! Kenalog is a paste used only once a day, usually before you go to bed. It forms a protective layer over the ulcer, giving it a chance to heal, while relieving the pain, redness and swelling.

Other methods are to suck on ice, drink heaps of water and avoid eating hot and spicy food. Or you can rub salt on it. Stings like mad for a while, then after that it will be numb. Haha, I know, so not funny. Donno where my sister got that idea and tortured me like that. Or you can use a gel that contains anaesthetic like lignocaine to numb the pain before you eat.

In any case, you should see a doctor if the ulcer/s last for more than three weeks or have not healed with treatment, larger than 1cm in diameter, bleeding, or occur often such as every 1-2 weeks. You should also be concern if ulcers occur with a sore throat, painless or with a rash on face or body, or diarrhoea.

But sometimes I'm a little bit sicko. Lazy (Ya, how lazy?) to apply at night and let the ulcer grow and heal by itself. LLC lor... (Lor lay chin)

Disclaimer: This information is not to be used as medical advice or substituted for treatment by your health care provider.

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