Salivary Gland Stone

[jrice104]

I have had a saliva gland stone since December 2005.  I did not have insurance at that time so needless to say, I just had to live with it.  My gland on my left side swells and becomes very tender whenever I eat or drink.  In 2006 I visited an ENT, he ordered an MRI, which showed nothing.  I continued having problems over the years, the gland would swell and become incredibly uncomfortable, I would also experience ear ache during this time.  I went to another ENT for a second opinion, I was test for auto ammune disease and it showed nothing.  I decided at that time I would live with the problem.  Early this year 2009,  I became extremely frustrated with the problem.  The golf ball swelling would always seem to appear while eating out or when I was with a group of people.  The pain from the swelling became intense over the years and I decided that I could not live with this anymore.  I went back to my original ENT (have insurance now, thank god) and he ordered Ct scan, siolagram.  It showed a 3 mm stone.  I decided to have surgery to remove the stone.  My doctor said the stone was far down in the gland but he would do his best to get it out.  The ENT went in and dialated the duct of the gland and tried to push the stone through.  After an hour and 45 minutes he was unsuccessful.  He left the opening in my duct large (made an incision), so the stone could possibly pass on its own.  It has been two weeks and I am still experiencing swelling, minor pain and frustration over this.  My next appointment is April 27th.  
Has anyone experienced anything like this?  I have been told if it doesn't come out on its own the gland will have to be removed.  At this point I am fine with this.  I guess I'm wondering if anyone knows that if the stone could cause a disorder of some sort in the gland.  I mean it has been in there a long time and I wasn't sure if it damaged the gland or not.  I am incredibly frustrated over all of this and just want to get it taken care of.  I don't know if I should seek a second opinion, again or what.  Do I wait until my next appointment?  The ENT that tried to remove the stone does not do surgeries to remove the gland, he said he would refer me.  Should I wait or find another doctor on my own?  All I know is right now the gland acts funny, I have went about two days with no swelling, regardless of what I eat and then all of a sudden, it will swell, become painful and my ear will bother me. I don't know what is going on now.

[t2mills]

They come out through the duct.  

[diane493]

How do 'stones pass'?  

[t2mills]

Hi,
I had similar problems with the submandibular gland on my left side, it would swell when I ate and become painful, then subside.  I've had a couple infections and have passed a few stones.  My doctor has now recommended removing the gland even though I only get severe pain and infection once or twice every couple years or so.  

So I am wondering if you had the surgery, how it went, and any suggestions or thoughts I should consider beforehand.  Any info you can provide would be much appreciated as I am pessimistic whether I really need this surgery at this time.

Thanks,
Tim