Constant Swollen Salivary gland

Guest · Guest

I underwent radioactive iodine treatment last summer to treat my thyroid cancer. I experienced the rare side-effect of swollen salivary glands. Painful at the time but subsided after just a few days. No problems until recently when it reoccured. First on the right side, which returned to normal the next day. Then on my left side. This has lasted for over two weeks. Not as much swelling but still somewhat tender. I have s salty taste that "squirts" in my mouth every couple of days. It's not slimy like some have reported but very annoying. It gives me bad breath too. Just saw a new endricronologist on Friday that said this reoccurrence is rare and he knows of no treatment. I'm hoping it will subside and eventually not come back.

mercuryval · Newbie Joined: 14 Apr 2007 Posts: 1

I woke up the other day, and my parotid gland was all swollen... the gland beneath/around the ear and along the jawline. It is somewhat painful and sensitive. I went to the doctor 2 days later concerned that it was mumps. By this time, I had a 101 degree fever also. He put me on antibiotics, and I've been on them only for 24 hours now, and the fever is gone, but the swelling hasn't gone down. He told me to eat lemon drops and massage the swollen area because there is probably a stone or blockage that is preventing the liquid from being released into my mouth (i.e., saliva), which is why my face is swelling up.

It's helpful to learn that there are others out there experiencing this. Has anyone out there had to get the stone/blockage removed? If so, how did it go?

Inga · Newbie Joined: 18 Apr 2007 Posts: 1

I have had swollen glands, tingling tongue, sore swollen throat and face(feels like I have a facemask applied) for 12+ years. The pain and swelling vary from time to time and I can only know that dust and stress make it worse. I have tried many things homeopathy,accupuncture, Reiki,Sacral cranial adjustment and all the allopathic means such as antibiotics,endoscopy,ENT visits, MRI,CAT scans, nothing and no anwers. I had a bridge removed as I had it put in about the time the problem became noticable but this didn't help and am now thinking of removing my amalgam fillings for porcelain! It is interesting to read of others with a similar problem and I wish you all well.

Guest · Guest

I have had a swollen gland under right jaw off and on since November from dental surgery. It is painful and has caused numbness on whole right side of face. I have not discovered what trigers these episodes that will take days to recover from. However, I have found taking 1000mg of fish oil caps have helped me greatly.

Guest · Guest

I have had the same problem for years.

Here is what is happening. You have a "plugged" parotid gland. This may apply to some but not all of you. If you find yourself with a swollen neck while you eat rich or tangy foods (would A-1 sauce aggravate it?), your salivary gland is still producing saliva. But it is getting trapped. You can puch or massage on your neck where it is swollen or under your tongue to relieve the pressure. As far as I know there is no procedure to get rid of it. I have heard of surgery to correct it. Find a reputable ENT Doctor in your area to discuss it with. Good Luck!

Tammie270 · Newbie Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 1

Hi I just ran across this website. I wanted to let you know that I had the same thing about 10 yrs ago and I had a stone in my Salaiva Gland..I had it for several yrs before I went to the Dr for it because of no insurance..I ended up having to have my left side gland removed completely..It was suppose to be a day surgery ..in and out but I ended up in the hospital 4 days because my gland was really bad infected..now after 10 yrs my right side is doing the same thing..My mouth is very dry all the time when its really swollen and its painful when I eat or drink somthing...It swells alot when I eat somthing I have to chew for a while.

I dont know if its connected or not but I also had stones in my Gallbladder and had to have it removed about 10yrs before I got the stone in my Salaiva Gland
I hope this information helps.

Guest · Guest

My swollen salivary glands are definitely caused by eating and drinking the wrong things. I have a weakness for mustard and so think I'm off the hook when I can go for a week or two eating mustard. Whoops! No! Mine just came back, as usual mainly on the right side of my face. Fortunatley, I have a beard, which masks the condition so people aren't always gawking at me. Smile

This time it was caused by drinking Mountain Dew. So I have to avoid sour things. I've been on tomato soup since since Sunday. Great way to lose weight! On a scale of ten, it's not bad this time. About a "5." So give int a few more days, it will subside. But it is a sneaky condition! One doesn't want to live like a monk. But care has to be taken. There are a LOT worse things in this world than swollen salivary gands. I do attribute the underlying cause to dieretics that I take for high blood pressure. But who wants to trade a stroke for a temporary swollen salivary gland! Smile

Jerome Gilbert · Newbie Joined: 30 Jun 2007 Posts: 1

What do you do when Salivary Glands swell and hurt three or four times a year and have for many years

Guest · Guest

This just started happening to me. I get it on my right side on the top of the jaw line and just below the ear. It swells up and if I touch even slightly, it feels like it is going to pop. I do notice that if I put a cool, damp wash cloth on it, it helps relieve the pain and pressure. I really do hope they find out hwat this is, because I most certainly don't want to live with this forever. It can't be safe. If anyone who is reading his knows ANYTHING about this, I encourage you to please reply, it could really help!

Guest · Guest

I have the same swelling...everyone here seems to have swelling of the submandibular gland or the partoid gland...these are both salivary glands. We have stones, just like kidney stones. They are either in the glands or in the duct (usually they are in the ducts). The glands are in front of our ears (partoid) or beneath our chin(submandibular). They swell with blockage. Partoid stones are worse. There are other glands, but these are the most common affected. The stones block the salva that forms in the glands and does not allow the salva to pass throught the duct to the opening in the mouth. The stones sometimes come out on their own if you suck on sour candy and press on the swollen gland, ENT doctors can take them out via the inside of the mouth if they are close to the opening....otherwise we must undergo a "big" (ENT doc's word, not mine) surgery to cut the neck and take out the gland and duct. This leaves an ugy scar and can result in facial nerve damage. Not good options....lithotripsy is not available in the U.S., but used in other countries to break up the stones. The bad news is that the stones have to come out....they grow in size and will result in infection and ultimate surgery with more complications. I am researching alternatives, but not too much has been found. By the way, a CAT scan shows the location and size of the stones. In a few cases, the stones are opaque and do not show up. In rare cases, these are tumors in us.

Constant Swollen Salivary gland

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