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?

[megs100]

At the very least if your gland is consistently swollen or has grown larger you should attempt a round of antibiotics and if it makes no difference then you should request a FNA biopsy to be sure it isn't something serious.

If it really bothers you should have it removed.  Even if it isn't something insidious looking at the tissue will be able to tell your doc if it is from chronic irritation, benign tumor, or what not.

[stoney419]

I have had removal of gland. I passed stones and getting infections. I went to 3 ents  before they figured out what it was. I was told thyroiditis and put on thyroid meds and hair was falling out. Now it has been 8 years and I am swollen again and put on antibiotic, waiting to get mri     to see what is going on again. By the way way I had two surgeries on submandiluar gland. I had a extra glad. Anyone know what could be going on again?

[andysixx_123]

what do you mean by extra gland

[Dr Rajput]

Hi, welcome to the forum, the possibilities are infection beneath skin involving deeper structures such as salivary gland infection due to bacterial infections, particularly Staphylococcus aureus.  

Noninfectious factors include salivary calculi, tumors, sarcoid, Sjogren's syndrome. Infection needs appropriate antibiotic coverage and drainage procedure may be required if abscess is formed. Sjögren's syndrome is an autoimmune disorder. This syndrome is associated with dry eye, mouth and as well as skin. Schirmer test, Salivary gland, scintigraphy, Parotid gland sialography and Antibodies to Ro/SSA and La/SSB will aid in the diagnosis. Pilocarpine, Cevimeline against prescription can help to alleviate the symptoms.  

I suggest you to consult physician/surgeon to rule out the cause and appropriate treatment. Take care and regards.

[andysixx_123]

Thank you Doctor. But if the swelling comes after a meal(for me the trigger is chicken and rice together and sometimes sweets) and goes away after a while then  the possibility of a tumor can be ruled out or not? The gland is normally not swollen but it does seem to be a bit noticable on touching than the gland on the other side.

[Michelle1988]

I know it hurts.  I have one right now.  It feels like someone punched me in the jaw. I was prescribed antibiotics and they helped reduce the swelling.  That's all I've heard that helps a little.  Sorry.

[Steveo01]

I am 33 and my left submandibular gland swells every time I eat.  Especially spicy foods.  I did have a salivary gland stone when I was 16.  The gland is always a little bigger than the right side.  I have been to a general doctor, ENT, dentist, and oral surgeon and they all said I'm fine.  It is really annoying.  

[andysixx_123]

If they say its fine then maybe it is not something to worry about.
But keep a track of what causes it to swell and tell that to the doctors, it could help somehow.
Or avoid these foods that trigger swelling.
Keep that swelling under check, visit the doctor monthly or quaterly to just feel assured and get rid of any nasty thoughts popping in your head.

[jerseygirl53]

I have this, too! It's good to know I'm not alone, because my primary doctor and two ENTs have just shrugged their shoulders and said they didn't know why it happens. There's no rhyme or rhythm to my swelling-- it just sometimes happens, with terrible itching of the gland at the same time, but more often, I get just the itching. My test for Sjogren's syndrome was negative, as were the CT scans looking for stones. It's uncomfortable, unsightly, embarrassing, and annoying... but I'm glad it's not life-threatening. Although this didn't begin until I was in my 50s, I recently recalled that as a child, I was diagnosed twice with mumps... I wonder if it's related.

[andysixx_123]

Did you tell the part of being diagnosed with Mumps in your childhood to the Doctor? Maybe that could point somewhere.
Or try some other doctor.

[kim_michele]

I have been suffering with this for about 7 years, and have been to several doctors, all of whom eventually throw up their hands when a diagnosis is not found. The itching is intense and the swelling unsightly- it's actually changed the shape of my jaw. I had bloodwork done for everything, including Sjogrens' and everything came up negative, including CT scan. The most recent ENT (and I) seem to think it's allergy-related, due to the itching, but a bloodwork screen showed allergies to…nothing. I am going to see another allergist recommended by current ENT,  but I don't hold out a lot of hope.

Since I am not the only one, it seems clear that there is likely a cause that is common to all of us. It's affecting the quality of my life. I am wondering if any of you found a cause or relief?

[Burbridgebrapp]

Did you ever get a answer? Do you have other symptoms that are strange in your body that you possibly don’t think are connected to this? I have had this also for 10 years and have been in head and neck fir other reasons thoughts this was related. But the itching is nit allergies! It’s when that mucous gets backed up in the glands. It’s miserable and hit painful. So let me know.