Oral HPV? If so, what do I do?

April 28, 2007 1:20 PM

Help! What's the best resource for HPV in the St. Louis metro area?

Specifically, I'm looking for someone in this area who knows something—you know, anything at all—about the diagnosis and treatment of HPV's manifestation as oral warts.

Eight years ago, I was diagnosed with genital warts, and about a year ago, I started to develop warts on my hand. That was disturbing, but that was it, you know?

But then six weeks ago, I came down with mono—and two weeks ago, I started to notice little white bumps on the inside of my cheeks, as well as slightly different white spots on my lips. My upper lip is swollen and, when stretched a little, looks as though it has dozens of little tiny white bumps inside. There are also several tiny white bumps on the surface of my lower lip.

So I'm thinking oral warts. The white spots on the inside of my cheeks, especially, look like images I've found of oral warts, and it makes sense, given that the warts on my hand already provide evidence that viral shedding from the HPV has taken place. Given that the mono has kind of knocked out my immune system, it makes a lot of sense why this would happen now.

But I still don't know definitively what this is, or how to treat it. I've done due diligence on this one. I've searched Google fairly exhaustively, I've read everything I can on the subject, and I've consulted with a general practitioner and a friend who works in a clinic out of state. But in general, I'm not getting a lot of useful information to work with, and most of the people I've talked to seem fairly dismissive of this. I can't help but think that may be because most of them have never seen a case of this.

I've found the phone numbers for national STD hotlines, but—surprise!—almost none of 'em operate on the weekend. The ones I have reached were of dubious value, considering that oral warts is a rare manifestation of HPV. Most of the hotlines are geared more towards general information—and the one national HPV hotline seems to have been rolled into a more general STD one.

So yeah—I'm looking for anything you've got, St. Louisans: references to doctors who specialize in this who you (or a friend, or whatever) have had experience with, references to the type of specialist I should be looking to see, less obvious references I might not have come across via Google, etc.

I've scheduled an appointment to see a dermatologist that's about a week and a half away—but right now, I'd like to know what I can do about this. It seems to be getting worse on an almost daily basis—and I don't even know if a dermatologist is the person I should be seeing about this!

Thanks in advance...

posted by anonymous to health & fitness (8 comments total)

i'm not a doctor, but that sounds like thrush. it's a fungal infection people get when their immune systems are down for the count. a primary care doctor should be able to take care of you.
posted by thinkingwoman at 1:52 PM on April 28, 2007

Hmm... I have no idea who you should see, but its usually pretty easy to make an appointment at Planned Parenthood quickly. Maybe they would at least be able to tell you who to go see. There is a great one in Forest Park.
posted by thebrokenmuse at 2:19 PM on April 28, 2007

I strongly suggest you take B-6 and folic acid - about 1600 mcg of folic acid a day. Little know fact that folic acid helps get rid of HPV.
posted by zia at 2:24 PM on April 28, 2007

zia, could you provide a cite please? As far as I'm aware, nothing cures HPV--it's like herpes that way; you can treat the outbreaks and that's all. (Though, of course, there is now an HPV vaccine).
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 2:50 PM on April 28, 2007

Folic acid most certainly does not help get rid of HPV. It may help treat cervical dysplasia, though.
posted by Justinian at 3:23 PM on April 28, 2007

For the manifestations inside your mouth and near your lip, the dermatologist is not going to be able to assist you directly. Although you may have done your internet legwork nothing will substitute for a doctors examination. You've mentioned that you "consulted" with a GP, did he or she examine you in person, or was this over the phone? I can only imagine that during a physical exam, if a doctor/NP didn't know what it was visibly, they would culture it.

I'm not sure if you're adverse to public services, but there is always this clinic which seems to specialize in STD treatment for the general public.

If its bothering you to the point of not being able to eat or drink without major discomfort, head to the ER and see if they can do absolutely anything for you or refer you to someone who can. Good luck.
posted by Asherah at 4:03 PM on April 28, 2007

I also totally read this question like you were looking for someone in StL with warts.

If you want to get an immediate opinion and rule it out as something as easily treatable as thrush, then I recommend St. Luke's Urgent Care. I know it's a bit of hike all the way out to Weldon Spring but DO NOT NOT NOT go to the ConnectCare on Delmar. If you aren't going there with a GSW, you'll have one when you leave. There's a list of Urgent Care midway through this page.
posted by pieoverdone at 8:54 PM on April 28, 2007

Not trying to be dismissive, and in fact I do recommend that you see a doctor in person, but I just want to say hang in there and really stop stressing...IANAD but I suspect that your worrying about it is what's making it feel like it's "getting worse every day". Even if it is getting worse every day, stress isn't doing you any good. (Also, really really not trying to be dismissive, but have you looked at pictures of Fordyce's spots? I flipped out when I first noticed mine and your description sounds a lot like them.)
posted by anaelith at 9:23 PM on April 28, 2007