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Discussion

sialadenitis

  • Expert

Hello All!

Hey- I've noticed some non-tender, non-painful swelling on the right side of my face for the past couple of weeks. The swelling extends from the zygomatic area to the ramus of my mandible.

I've done a little studying on the symptoms and have come up with a tentative self-diagnosis of sialadenitis. I am going to seek Medical advice from an Otolaryngologist. He's the same Doc who diagnosed my cholesteatoma about ten years ago. (Funny story: I had just recently been diagnosed and treated for a concerous polyp on my sigmoid colon. The cancerous polyp wasn ot a big deal, but it was somewhat unnerving. I sought Medical advice from the Otolaryngologist, sometime after the diagnosis and treatment of the cancerous polyp, for symptoms of drainage and improved hearing in my right ear. I hadn't been able to hear out of that ear for YEARS. Since there was the drainage, I thought it best to consult an Expert. When the Otolaryngologist saw the cholesteatoma, he said, "Hmm! This is something I don't see too often." "OMG!" I said. "What IS it?!") And so on and so forth.

Anyhoo... I don't want any medical advice or anything like that. I would like a sharing of knowledge, stories, etc. if you will. I'll keep you posted on the outcome. Think of me as a colleague on a little Medical Adventure.

Thanks,

Dave

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    • Featured Replies

    oops, i posted in the wrong thread

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    Ideas (not medical advice):

    Maybe you are like me, one to have had rather severe ear infections in your past that were not painful. You might have felt ill, but got over it on your own after a long time w/o seeking abx. and your cholesteatoma resulted? In my youth, I suffered two major ear infections w/o pain. One caused me to get quite ill. Have you r/o dental issues? Abscess r/t root infection can present this way. Most often minor swelling will give way to increased swelling and then severe pain, tx being root canal - but, in some people, there is no pain, eg no early warning signs except some swelling and positive periapical film. Interesting, let us know what you find if you want to. I also am one to try and chart my own way.

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    Good luck with your appointment, and keep us posted.

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    My young adult daughter had sialadenitis involving the parotid gland a couple years ago. The doc suggested that she try sucking on lemon drops for a couple days to see if that would help (since it is often caused by hyposecretion or duct obstruction). The idea is to increase salivary secretions which may help clear an obstruction. At the time, she did not have signs of infection. After several days, she develop a fever, pain, and warmth and had to go on an antibiotic to treat it. She has not had a problem since then.

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    • Admin

    Just a reminder to all (I know we all wish to be helpful!) of the Terms of Service re: posting medical advice.

    Thank you. :)

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    • Author
    • Expert

    Hey-

    onaclearday: Thanks for your perspective. I developed tinnitus about a year ago and consulted with the Specialist who performed the removal of the cholesteatoma and implantation of prosthetic ossicles back in 2000. He examined me out and ordered a hearing test. Everything checked out okay. I've recently had a clean six month dental checkup with x-rays and a cleaning. However, I believe that I was originally informed by the Otolaryngologist that asymptomatic ear infections are often a precursor for the benign growth of cholesteatoma. So, you may have something there...

    Ironic, anurseatlast: I'll often eat the lemon slice after I've drank my iced tea. It puts a pucker on my puss or a frown on my face, but doesn't seem to be a a prophylactic measure for sialadenitis! Hmm...

    Thanks for the info, well wishes, the kudo (?), and even the oops! I will keep you posted.

    Dave

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    • Author
    • Expert

    Okay. Here's the update, after an appointment with the Otolaryngologist today:

    Nothing significant. Accumulation of fat cells. Can have a CT scan done, but chaces are, it's nothing. So, I opted to keep an eye on it, and F/U PRN.

    The sx of BPPV are not associated. If the sx have passed, there's nothing else that needs to be done.

    I'm O.K. with this outcome. It's sorta like when I consulted an Orthodontist years ago for sx of TMJ: She said, "Your head has experienced so much trauma in your life, that things like this just happen."

    So, even though it's not grossly overt, I merely have an asymmetrical accumulation of adipose tissue inferior to my jawline.

    The Drama is over. Thanks for being there.

    Dave

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    Thanks for the update! Now go for a bike ride :D

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