Leukoplakia

[BM]

After (yet another) stay in hospital, I have been diagnosed with leukoplakia (on the sides of my tongue and, to a lesser degree, at the back of my throat on one side). I first noticed it last Wednesday after a few drinks of a kind of alcohol that is not my usual tipple. As my friend put it, I had a "lizard's tongue". By the morning, it didn't look as bad, but it's still there and looks horrible. Is there anything I can do to minimise the appearance of the marks, or is this just something I'm going to have to put up with?

The good news is that my viral load is now down to 40.

[aztecan]

Hey BM,

Hairy Leukoplakia is relatively common in people with HIV whose immune system has been compromised to a fair degree.

Usually, the lesions on the tongue will disappear in a few weeks to a few months without further treatment.

From what I have read, if treatment is needed, it is usually treated with Acyclovir.

Hairy Leukoplakia is thought to be a result of infection with Epstein-Barr virus, which has a 90 percent prevalence in the general population.

Hairy Leukoplakia is seen almost exclusively in HIV positive people whose immune system has been substantially compromised. In recent years, it has been seen in some other people with substantial immune system suppression. I believe one case was someone with leukemia.

I don't know of anything that can be done to mask the symptoms, but there may be others here who do.

Congratulations on the drop in the viral load. That is certainly welcome news!

HUGS,

Mark

[denb45]

Hey BM,

Hairy Leukoplakia is relatively common in people with HIV whose immune system has been compromised to a fair degree.

Usually, the lesions on the tongue will disappear in a few weeks to a few months without further treatment.

From what I have read, if treatment is needed, it is usually treated with Acyclovir.

Hairy Leukoplakia is thought to be a result of infection with Epstein-Barr virus, which has a 90 percent prevalence in the general population.

Hairy Leukoplakia is seen almost exclusively in HIV positive people whose immune system has been substantially compromised. In recent years, it has been seen in some other people with substantial immune system suppression. I believe one case was someone with leukemia.

I don't know of anything that can be done to mask the symptoms, but there may be others here who do.

Congratulations on the drop in the viral load. That is certainly welcome news!

HUGS,

Mark

 Mark is correct, I had Hairy Leukoplakia it was one of the IO's that put me on Disability, it was treated with Torch e tablets, and yeast infection Meds, as well as Bactrim DS, but, don't worry, as your immune system improves, so will all of the other little nasty IO's that come up, I can tell you this tho.....when my Meds stop working,  Hairy Leukoplakia will rear-it's ugly head again, it always happens to me every 2 to 3 yrs., but that doesn't mean this will happen to you.........

[BM]

I recently discovered that using Listerine Total Care (see here: http://www.listerinepromotions.co.uk/) improves the appearance of the lesions in my mouth. Unfortunately, I don't know if this product is available in the US, or if it is, what name it goes by.