Q: I have been under severe stress for the past 6 months caring for my husband, who has a terminal brain cancer. My gums started to itch in one spot, and then the next day all the gums were swollen. I have hypothyroidism and Fibromyalgia, Celiac Disease, and menopause is starting. An oral surgeon sent samples of my gums and some bone in my mouth to a pathologist for testing. What do they test it for?
A: The oral surgeon will test your gum tissues to see if anything can be seen under a microscope. I would suggest that you have your physician do a complete physical. It is likely that the stress is contributing to your gum problem. The combination of menopause and the other medical conditions with the stress is probably creating issues in your mouth. Please follow up with both the oral surgeon and your medical doctor.