I have had bilateral swelling of my submandibular salivary glands for the last seven years with the same stringy stuff (mucous plugs). It is painful when it happens, my eyes tear up and lasts for a good part of the day. I get episodes almost twice a week!
Had occusal X-rays and CT scan done. No stones!
Oral Surgeon/salivary gland specialist as well as ENT unable to figure out what is going on.
Somebody, please help. Am seriously considering getting them removed.
KL
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?
I have been going through the exact same thing. I can grab the yucky substance and pull it out of the duct. The pain and itching is aggressive and the swelling is horrific. If I dare eat while this is happening ; it swells up even more. I know this happens due to allergy or adverse reactions to chemicals in our food or medications. My allergy doctor says the only thing to do is avoid the things that cause this kind of reaction. No magical cures out there for this, unfortunately.
These mucous plugs seem to only subside with Prednisone. Unfortunately Prednisone cannot be taken for a long period of time. I was on it for nearly two years because I could not bear with the pain. I finally went to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon who specializes in salivary gland disease. Since I have autoimmune issues (Church Strauss, lichen planus and psoriasis), it is not far-fetched to assume that this issue with my glands is also part of my systemic issues. I ended up having a sialendoscopy and sialodochoplasty to fix the plumbing issue as my surgeon describes it. Please keep in mind that this is a palliative measure. I still experience slight irritation some eveninga but the dilation and shortening of the salivary pathways helps facilitate the emission of plugs without effort and pain is slight at best. I'm still trying to find the right immunosupressant to manage the condition but after rounds of azathioprine, methotrexate, arava, rituxan infusions, and cellcept, no luck. I will post again if I have any updates.
To charlie669: In reply to your glands swelling after brushing your teeth, I had the same problem. Certain things trigger the itching and swelling in my glands, but I'm not sure what they all are. One thing for certain though, I noticed that every morning after brushing my teeth, my glands would itch and swell. I would have to press on them to flush out the yucky mucous. One day I took the tube of toothpaste with me to my computer and looked up all the ingredients. Learned that the additive Sodium Lauryl Sulfate was the trigger for me. Changed my toothpaste to natural toothpastes, without all of those unnecessary ingredients, and the problem stopped. My glands still swell at other times, but no longer right after brushing my teeth.
Dear All,
I too have the same problem. I´ve had it for 9 yrs and have been to as many doctors, ENTs, scans, ultrasounds and you name it. I´ve now been referred to a specialist in allergies. I sure hope he can help. Kimmies message has a point! please do keep us informed. I gor mucus tested, got a biopsy and all neagitve. In my case, it usually becomes itchy before it swells. both sides are affected, but occassionaly, it starts from the left, then right. I feel extremely tired afte the itch and swell. I am constantlig on antihistamins, which do help, but also make me drousy.
All good advises are much appreciated.
Doe