SWELLING SUBMANDIBULAR SALIVARY GLANDS

[REE-REE]

I AM A 51 YEAR OLD FEMALE THAT HAVE HAD SWELLING IN MY SUBMANDIBULAR SALIVARY GLANDS(MOSTLY LEFT SIDE)FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 YEARS.  MY GLANDS SWELLS WHENEVER I SLEEP AND SOMETIMES WHEN I VIGOROUSLY CHEW ON SOMETHING. I VISITED THE EAR,NOSE THROAT DOCTOR AND WAS PRETTY MUCH TOLD THAT IT IS SOMETHING I HAVE TO LIVE WITH AND TO MASSAGE THE GLAND,AND SUCK ON LEMON DROPS WHEN SWELLING OCCUR.I HAVE ALLERGIES (RUNNY NOSE & SNEEZING)THAT OCCURS DURING THE DAY AND WAS TOLD TO DISCONTINE TAKING THE OTC ANTIHISTAMINES(BENEDRYL,SUFADED..ETC)BECAUSE THEY MAY BE DRYING UP MY MUCOUS SYSTEM. SOMETIMES A WHITE STRINGY THICK LOOKING SUBSTANCE(MAYBE DRIED SALIVA) COMES OUT, WHICH I HAVE TO PRESS HARD ON THE GLAND IN ORDER TO EXPEL IT THRU THE DUCT. WOULD DRINKING ALCOHOL AND/OR TAKING ANTIHISTAMINES CAUSE THIS?  I DON'T THINK I HAVE ANY STONES BECAUSE SOMETIMES DURING THE DAY
THE SWELLING GOES DOWN. ALSO, I NOW HAVE A HABIT OF PRESSING ON THE GLANDS, EVEN WHEN THEY ARE NOT SWOLLEN, WHICH ALSO CAUSES THE GLAND TO SWELL.  IS THERE A SPECIALIST I CAN SEE FOR THIS PROBLEM OTHER THAN A PYSCHOLOGIST?

[olivoyl_mh]

I too have recently had problems with swelling in the left gland.  I was also told to quit my zyrtec that i had been on for 10 years.  I understand your frustration.  My ENT Dr said about the only thing they can do i remove the gland all together.

[cjacques]

I'm 44 years old and it sounds like we're suffering from the same exact thing. I just can't stand this any longer. It keeps me up, and when it happens during the day, I just can't stop pressing on my gland to expell the **** that comes out of it. I was told by my doctor that there wasn't anything i could do either. I've been going through this for over 10 years now, and it happens almost daily now. I can identify with you because now I press on the gland a lot from habit. It happens mostly to my right side though, but yesterday both sides in one day, and today my eye lid. I feel like a freak, and look like a chipmunk. If you would like to write back please do. I wish there was help for us!

[charlie669]

I have the same thing. I had an X-Ray and it showed that I have a calculus duct stone and the symptoms DO come and go. So the fact that your symptoms aren't constant doesn't matter - get an X-Ray!

My swollen glands tend only to come up after certain triggers (sometimes brushing my teeth, sometimes eating certain things).

The ENT doc said the only way to stop the symptoms is to remove the gland completely. I don't fancy having this! Imagine pressing and nothing was there!

Anyone know of any remedies or therapies to remove stones without surgery?

[allicia25]

My daughter has the exact same symptoms.  We have been to the ENT over and over and he gives us the same story.  Stop taking the medicine and it will eventually become dysfunctional.  My daughter is 9 now but it started when she was 7.  She constantly presses on the gland, to the point it is a mark on her jaw.

I had to rush her to the Urgent care, yesterday.  They advised that it could be a food allergy; her glands swollen up so bad that her lips, eye lids, tongue we swollen as well.  She couldn't breathe well.  She was eating a sauce that was red.  He advised that this is the most common food allergy. Also, shell fish.  I felt this was interesting because I became allergic to shell fish when I was pregnant with her.  

I am going to watch what she eats and keep records of what makes her swell.  Hopefully, this data will help diagnosis the problem.

[Katy67]

My son has a lump on his jaw and has had two episodes of extreme hives (very large).  The doctors are treating all of this as an allergic reaction.  Any comments