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symptoms undiagnosed and frustrating
Has anyone every had these crazy sypmtoms and if so do you know what I might have?
I had a hysterectomy 3 1/2 weeks ago. The week before my original surgery date I developed a nasty ulcer in my mouth ( I think due to stress),. 4 days later the lypmph nodes around my left jaw line swelled up. I was given a 1500 mg anti-viral to knock it out. My surgery was a week and a half later. The night after my surgery I had pressure develope in the back lower left side of my head. That has continued now for 4 weeks. Pressure and pain, head aches in that area only, pressure behind my left eye only, sometimes pressure deep down in my left ear canal, a long with the lymph nodes only on my left jaw line that keep swelling. My Dr thought it was the mumps. That test came back negative. He also did an amalaize enzyme test ( not sure what for) which has not come back. He ha now referred me to an ENT which I can't see for another week. The pressure and pain is sometimes constant for hours and other times it's better. He just gave me a z-pack 5 day anti-biotic yesterday. I'm so upset and nervous about what is going on that I am tempted to go to the emergency room. Since I have only lived in Dallas for 2 yrs, my Dr has only seen me 2 times so he doesn't know my med histroy... not sure if that matters..... anyway, I just want to stop feeling horrible and most importantly to know what in the world this might be. Thanks, Mary
I had a hysterectomy 3 1/2 weeks ago. The week before my original surgery date I developed a nasty ulcer in my mouth ( I think due to stress),. 4 days later the lypmph nodes around my left jaw line swelled up. I was given a 1500 mg anti-viral to knock it out. My surgery was a week and a half later. The night after my surgery I had pressure develope in the back lower left side of my head. That has continued now for 4 weeks. Pressure and pain, head aches in that area only, pressure behind my left eye only, sometimes pressure deep down in my left ear canal, a long with the lymph nodes only on my left jaw line that keep swelling. My Dr thought it was the mumps. That test came back negative. He also did an amalaize enzyme test ( not sure what for) which has not come back. He ha now referred me to an ENT which I can't see for another week. The pressure and pain is sometimes constant for hours and other times it's better. He just gave me a z-pack 5 day anti-biotic yesterday. I'm so upset and nervous about what is going on that I am tempted to go to the emergency room. Since I have only lived in Dallas for 2 yrs, my Dr has only seen me 2 times so he doesn't know my med histroy... not sure if that matters..... anyway, I just want to stop feeling horrible and most importantly to know what in the world this might be. Thanks, Mary
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
You should check with your doctor to ensure the appropriateness of any of the patient education provided at MedHelp.
"milk gland 10 times a day" involves pressing from just in front of the ear and sliding your fingers forward, as if you were treating your salivary gland like a cow's teat that was being "milked"
If you've been on synthroid for 2 months, have you had a follow-up TSH to see how the thyroid's doing noe?
I hope your relief from the headache keeps up and you can resume your boot camp. Good luck!
Let us know if you go to the ENT next week...
"milk gland 10 times a day" involves pressing from just in front of the ear and sliding your fingers forward, as if you were treating your salivary gland like a cow's teat that was being "milked"
If you've been on synthroid for 2 months, have you had a follow-up TSH to see how the thyroid's doing noe?
I hope your relief from the headache keeps up and you can resume your boot camp. Good luck!
Let us know if you go to the ENT next week...
I forgot to update regarding the pressure, headaches, numbness etc....in back lower left side of my head. Yesterday was the first day that the symptoms were pretty mild. I think the combo of the anti-inflamatory in the morning and the muscle relaxer at night is really helping. You have no idea what a relief that is after having these symptoms for 5 weeks straight. ;) I was really hoping to resume my boot camp fitness class 4 weeks after my hysterectomy. I'm hoping to get back within the next few weeks.
Thank you for the update. If I do not see a descent amount of improvement by Wed, (one week from start of new meds and treatment for salivary stone) I plan to ask her for a referral to the ENT and I plan to bring all of my scans and reports to him/her. I would also like for an ENT to give me more information about the sinus cyst.
She did not mention warm compresses/heat to the gland. I will start that today.
For the past week I have been making 64 oz of water/cranberry mix every morning. 56 oz water- 8 oz cranberry juice. I usually drink most of it and sometimes all of it. I'm not sure what you mean by "milk gland 10 times a day."
My OB put me on Synthroid 2 months ago when the hypothyroid was diagnosed. It seems to be helping. I'm assuming the "suspicious area" around the thyroid is related, I would just feel better knowing what it is.
She did not mention warm compresses/heat to the gland. I will start that today.
For the past week I have been making 64 oz of water/cranberry mix every morning. 56 oz water- 8 oz cranberry juice. I usually drink most of it and sometimes all of it. I'm not sure what you mean by "milk gland 10 times a day."
My OB put me on Synthroid 2 months ago when the hypothyroid was diagnosed. It seems to be helping. I'm assuming the "suspicious area" around the thyroid is related, I would just feel better knowing what it is.
Any hearing evaluations done? Any ABR orderedto rule out a retrocochlear pathologies done at all? Any MRI done specifically for Acoustic Neuromas done at all? This type of MRI requires the use of gadalanium (sp) and if it not ordered, it is not used.
No ENG study done, no Dix Hallpike done in order to further investigate the dizziness?
Dr. Choi is correct in suspecting BPPV, but there are so many other symptoms going on here that are hard to explain. Some times we as human reach for other things when we think something is wrong. Not discounting anything you have to say. But maybe if the reall issue was resolved the pripheral issues will disapear.
I wish you the best, and you need someone that will give you a copious amount of time in the office.
No ENG study done, no Dix Hallpike done in order to further investigate the dizziness?
Dr. Choi is correct in suspecting BPPV, but there are so many other symptoms going on here that are hard to explain. Some times we as human reach for other things when we think something is wrong. Not discounting anything you have to say. But maybe if the reall issue was resolved the pripheral issues will disapear.
I wish you the best, and you need someone that will give you a copious amount of time in the office.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
1. muscle spasm causes many people to have pain in the back of their neck & head
2. allergies often cause post nasal drip which causes eustachian tube dysfunction leading to serous otitis media (otitis media with effusion) "fluid in the left ear only" means a left sided serous otitis media. R-tanna contains one of the oldest antihistamines - chlorpheniramine, which i took as a child. That will block the histamine response. Consider asking for a nasal steroid (rhinocort, nasonex, flonase, beconase, etc)
3. 7 weeks of parotid gland swelling is a long time for it to be just from a stuck salivary gland stone. I often consider referral to an ENT if the stone is further down the orifice and may be palpable from the
cheek, it may then be feasible to cut down to the stone through the
cheek; BUT branches of the facial nerve run very close to the duct so this
is a hazardous procedure. If a
stone in the parotid duct system cannot be removed via the mouth
more consideration should be given to treating it expectantly (ie by waiting for them to pass
spontaneously or at least reach the accessible oral orifice) unless the
symptoms are so severe as to justify superficial
parotidectomy.
for a Swollen Salivary Gland these are helpful ways to push out the stone:
Warm compresses & heat to gland 4 times a day.
Chew lemon 4 times a day.
Drink 10 glasses of water per day.
Milk gland 10 times a day.
Come back if not better in 10 days
The antibiotics is not for current infection, it's to prevent infection
4. Make sure your doctor follows up about the sinus cyst and thyroid function. Hypothyroidism is treatable.
2. allergies often cause post nasal drip which causes eustachian tube dysfunction leading to serous otitis media (otitis media with effusion) "fluid in the left ear only" means a left sided serous otitis media. R-tanna contains one of the oldest antihistamines - chlorpheniramine, which i took as a child. That will block the histamine response. Consider asking for a nasal steroid (rhinocort, nasonex, flonase, beconase, etc)
3. 7 weeks of parotid gland swelling is a long time for it to be just from a stuck salivary gland stone. I often consider referral to an ENT if the stone is further down the orifice and may be palpable from the
cheek, it may then be feasible to cut down to the stone through the
cheek; BUT branches of the facial nerve run very close to the duct so this
is a hazardous procedure. If a
stone in the parotid duct system cannot be removed via the mouth
more consideration should be given to treating it expectantly (ie by waiting for them to pass
spontaneously or at least reach the accessible oral orifice) unless the
symptoms are so severe as to justify superficial
parotidectomy.
for a Swollen Salivary Gland these are helpful ways to push out the stone:
Warm compresses & heat to gland 4 times a day.
Chew lemon 4 times a day.
Drink 10 glasses of water per day.
Milk gland 10 times a day.
Come back if not better in 10 days
The antibiotics is not for current infection, it's to prevent infection
4. Make sure your doctor follows up about the sinus cyst and thyroid function. Hypothyroidism is treatable.
Dr Choi,
Thanks for all the advice/support. I'm sure you don't hear that enough.
MRA of the blood vessles was clear which gave me much releif.
New Dr. basically said that I have 3 Completely different things going on, which combined are causing all of these symptoms. Based on my family history and the chronological order of my symptoms she understood why I was getting very nervous. She said as crazy as it may seem, that it is only coincidence that they all happened right on top of each other.
1- first, the main cause of the pressure in head, numbness, headaches all confined to the back lower left side of my head is mostly being caused by what she believes is a pulled muscle ( caused as a result of the operation, when they tilt your head very far back b4 inserting a tube down your throat) she thinks they may have pulled a muscle which is causing a lot of the symtpms & she thinks it is bringing on heavy tension head aches. So she prescribed Meloxicam (anti-inflamatory ).
2- When I inquired about the severe headach and scary eye spasms in the middle of the night, she said that I have allergies. She thinks this has contributed to the pressure behind the left eye and deep down in the left ear. My old Dr treated me once for allergies. She said I have fluid in my left ear only which caused imbalance and eye spams (don't remember medical term for tht) and she thinks this has also contributed to pressure and headaches. She said Ragweed and another alergen are vey high in Dallas from Sept to Jan. When I asked about the bloody nose on the left side only, she said that the left side of my nose looked irritated and that, it was also a result of allergies. She prescribed R-Tanna.
3. When I asked why my lymph nodes in the left jaw have continually swelled off and on for 7 weeks, she said that it is not my lymph nodes. She said that she suspects I have a stone in my salivary gland. (which I know you too mentioned early on) I am still concerned about that. But she said my soft tissue CAT of the neck was clear.(but if were clear, not sure why she thinks it is a stone) So, she wants me to try and flush it out naturally w/ sucking on a few lemon slices a day for a week.. If that doesn't work, then we may need to have a Dr put a stint in. She told me there is no need to see the ENT that I was going to see next week, so I canceled that appt. Part of me is wondering if that was a wise idea or not.
The only other things I still hace concerns about is the "suspected cycst" on my left sinus cavity (that I don't feel) and they mentioned something suspicious around my thyoid. (I was diagnosed w'/ hypo thyoid about 2 1/2 months ago and am on 75 mcgs for that) I am praying that I will start feeling the difference in a few days.
Thanks for all the advice/support. I'm sure you don't hear that enough.
MRA of the blood vessles was clear which gave me much releif.
New Dr. basically said that I have 3 Completely different things going on, which combined are causing all of these symptoms. Based on my family history and the chronological order of my symptoms she understood why I was getting very nervous. She said as crazy as it may seem, that it is only coincidence that they all happened right on top of each other.
1- first, the main cause of the pressure in head, numbness, headaches all confined to the back lower left side of my head is mostly being caused by what she believes is a pulled muscle ( caused as a result of the operation, when they tilt your head very far back b4 inserting a tube down your throat) she thinks they may have pulled a muscle which is causing a lot of the symtpms & she thinks it is bringing on heavy tension head aches. So she prescribed Meloxicam (anti-inflamatory ).
2- When I inquired about the severe headach and scary eye spasms in the middle of the night, she said that I have allergies. She thinks this has contributed to the pressure behind the left eye and deep down in the left ear. My old Dr treated me once for allergies. She said I have fluid in my left ear only which caused imbalance and eye spams (don't remember medical term for tht) and she thinks this has also contributed to pressure and headaches. She said Ragweed and another alergen are vey high in Dallas from Sept to Jan. When I asked about the bloody nose on the left side only, she said that the left side of my nose looked irritated and that, it was also a result of allergies. She prescribed R-Tanna.
3. When I asked why my lymph nodes in the left jaw have continually swelled off and on for 7 weeks, she said that it is not my lymph nodes. She said that she suspects I have a stone in my salivary gland. (which I know you too mentioned early on) I am still concerned about that. But she said my soft tissue CAT of the neck was clear.(but if were clear, not sure why she thinks it is a stone) So, she wants me to try and flush it out naturally w/ sucking on a few lemon slices a day for a week.. If that doesn't work, then we may need to have a Dr put a stint in. She told me there is no need to see the ENT that I was going to see next week, so I canceled that appt. Part of me is wondering if that was a wise idea or not.
The only other things I still hace concerns about is the "suspected cycst" on my left sinus cavity (that I don't feel) and they mentioned something suspicious around my thyoid. (I was diagnosed w'/ hypo thyoid about 2 1/2 months ago and am on 75 mcgs for that) I am praying that I will start feeling the difference in a few days.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Small white spots could represent small vessel ischemic changes which can be from age and hypertension and hyperlipidemia, and are common.
I'm sorry he didn't take into account your family history, that's too bad. Ask the next doctor to write down that history in your record.
It's reassuring that the CT & MRI was ok.
Good luck with your second opinion.
I'm sorry he didn't take into account your family history, that's too bad. Ask the next doctor to write down that history in your record.
It's reassuring that the CT & MRI was ok.
Good luck with your second opinion.
Update. I only had 2 margaritas with a meal and about 3 glasses of water w/ dinner so I don't think it was dehydration. And the massive head ache was confined to the lower left back area of my head where all of my symptoms have been for the past 5 weeks.
This morning, out of the blue, my nose started bleeding. JUST out of my left side. I immediately called my Dr's office. They had me come in and they drew blood to test the enzymes ( first one was never processed), CBC, and lyme disease (which I know this isn't) . He also ordered an MRA- which I requested b/c I knew it would take me weeks to see a neurologist. That was done at 5:00 tonight. A few hours later, my entire left arm got completely cold.
The CAT scan and MRI showed the following. A foriegn something at the base of my tounge. ?? My Dr wasn't concerned since he said it only showed in one scan and he said it could be a filling from one of my teeth. Then he said I had what appeared to be a cyst on my left sinus cavity. Which I don't feel. He never said how we would know for sure that was what it is, or what we will do about it. My biggest concern was that he said they detected small white spots on my brain. Again, he wasn't concerned. ???!! He said, "well that is fairly common, it could be brought on by high blood pressure." I advised my blood pressure has always been very low. Then he said, "high cholesterol can cause that." And I said, my cholesterol is very low b/c I eat healthy, and b4 the surgery I worked out 6 days a week. "Then he said, your migraines could have cause it." I told him, I have only had that one migraine early Sat morning. Then he said, "well didn't you say you were taking prescription Alieve?" And I practically screamed at him, "YES that was for my HYSTERECTOMY!!" As soon as the results are back from my MRA tomorrow and my CBC and enzyme, I plan to get copies of all of those reports, and my file, and move on to a competent & more experienced Dr. I can't believe that he would not be concerned with my family history of father dying at 49 of conjestive heart failure, mother having corroted (sp?) artery disease, one brother having 2 brain tumors,.....and much more in my family, and my symptoms of pressure, head aches, numbness only on the left lower back side of my head, migraine & eye spasms Sat morning, nose bleed in left nose only this morning.., left arm only going completely cold today..... and NO concern that it is something vascular.. Hopefully I will have some answers tomorrow.
This morning, out of the blue, my nose started bleeding. JUST out of my left side. I immediately called my Dr's office. They had me come in and they drew blood to test the enzymes ( first one was never processed), CBC, and lyme disease (which I know this isn't) . He also ordered an MRA- which I requested b/c I knew it would take me weeks to see a neurologist. That was done at 5:00 tonight. A few hours later, my entire left arm got completely cold.
The CAT scan and MRI showed the following. A foriegn something at the base of my tounge. ?? My Dr wasn't concerned since he said it only showed in one scan and he said it could be a filling from one of my teeth. Then he said I had what appeared to be a cyst on my left sinus cavity. Which I don't feel. He never said how we would know for sure that was what it is, or what we will do about it. My biggest concern was that he said they detected small white spots on my brain. Again, he wasn't concerned. ???!! He said, "well that is fairly common, it could be brought on by high blood pressure." I advised my blood pressure has always been very low. Then he said, "high cholesterol can cause that." And I said, my cholesterol is very low b/c I eat healthy, and b4 the surgery I worked out 6 days a week. "Then he said, your migraines could have cause it." I told him, I have only had that one migraine early Sat morning. Then he said, "well didn't you say you were taking prescription Alieve?" And I practically screamed at him, "YES that was for my HYSTERECTOMY!!" As soon as the results are back from my MRA tomorrow and my CBC and enzyme, I plan to get copies of all of those reports, and my file, and move on to a competent & more experienced Dr. I can't believe that he would not be concerned with my family history of father dying at 49 of conjestive heart failure, mother having corroted (sp?) artery disease, one brother having 2 brain tumors,.....and much more in my family, and my symptoms of pressure, head aches, numbness only on the left lower back side of my head, migraine & eye spasms Sat morning, nose bleed in left nose only this morning.., left arm only going completely cold today..... and NO concern that it is something vascular.. Hopefully I will have some answers tomorrow.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Your symptoms could represent:
1) dehydration from drinking alcohol
2) benign positional vertigo BPV (you experienced nystagmus when you layed down to go to sleep)
The CT scan can rule out a serious problem.
Will be praying for you as well.
If BPV is the culprit, you can have your doctor perform Epley's or Sermont's maneuvers to reposition your cannaliths.
1) dehydration from drinking alcohol
2) benign positional vertigo BPV (you experienced nystagmus when you layed down to go to sleep)
The CT scan can rule out a serious problem.
Will be praying for you as well.
If BPV is the culprit, you can have your doctor perform Epley's or Sermont's maneuvers to reposition your cannaliths.
The Z pack didn't do a thing. And the pretizone that my Dr put me on the week before never made the lymph node swelling go away. The NP ordered a CAT scan and MRI. She wanted them to scan the brain and the lymph nodes. Both were done Sat. The Dr that reads the scans is oot until Tues, so I won't know results until then. I had a very scary incident Sat night. My husband and I went out to dinner w/ my sister and husband since it was their last night in town and b/c we hadn't done a thing while they were in town since I wasn't feeling well. I ended up having a couple of margaritas w/ dinner, honetly thinking it would help numb the area in my head. HUGE mistake. I woke up at 4:00 in the morning w/ what felt like a cluster migrane just in that lower left quarter of the back left side of my head. I immediately took my prescription Alieve. It took almost an hour to get better. I had to sit up in bed to take some of the pressure off. The scary part was, when I finally went to lay down to try and get some sleep, I rolled over on my left side and my eyes immediately went hay wire, jerking back and forth from left to right, ( my visual was of my mini blinds in my room jerking back and forth from left to right very quickly). It scared the heck out of me and made me almost sick to my stomach. I rolled back on my back immediately and it only lasted for a little longer and was much slower then it went away. When I tried to lay on my left side a few minutes later it did it again. I laid on my back the rest of the morning. I had one of my worst days yesterday as a result. That whole lower left side of the back of my head had lots of pressure, pain, some numbness at times. I didn't get out of bed until 2:30. I am very anxious to see what they find in the scans. The NP did confirm that if there is an infection in my lymph nodes or head, that they can see that with the CAT scan. They did both a no contrast and a contrast w/ the red dye. I've been praying very hard that they can figure it out and that whatever it is can be easily treated.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
How'd the visit with the NP go today? Can't screen for viruses well, other than influenza.
Swelling of the Left jaw line, around the parotid gland, can be from various reasons: a stone preventing saliva from coming out, infection, cancer. It' important to have an ENT evaluate it.
Swelling of the Left jaw line, around the parotid gland, can be from various reasons: a stone preventing saliva from coming out, infection, cancer. It' important to have an ENT evaluate it.
I had general anesthesia.
My Dr referred me to an ENT since he hasn't figured out what is wrong. He once thought it was the mumps and th The ENT is off for the holidays and can't see me until 12/4. I need to clarify that in addition to the pressure in the lower back left side of my head, it actually feels like it is infected in there. I've never had anything like this before.
Called my Dr's office today to give update. The lymph nodes on the left side of my neck started getting tender, started getting chills for an hour, low fever, sore throat, and another ulcer is forming in my mouth. I hope to see the nurse practictioner tomorrow. I plan to ask for a strep test and a mono test. I didn't know if there was another virus or something I should ask them to test for and rule out. The Z-pack does not seem to be working yet. I've taken 3 pills so far. I hope to feel a difference tomorrow.
My Dr referred me to an ENT since he hasn't figured out what is wrong. He once thought it was the mumps and th The ENT is off for the holidays and can't see me until 12/4. I need to clarify that in addition to the pressure in the lower back left side of my head, it actually feels like it is infected in there. I've never had anything like this before.
Called my Dr's office today to give update. The lymph nodes on the left side of my neck started getting tender, started getting chills for an hour, low fever, sore throat, and another ulcer is forming in my mouth. I hope to see the nurse practictioner tomorrow. I plan to ask for a strep test and a mono test. I didn't know if there was another virus or something I should ask them to test for and rule out. The Z-pack does not seem to be working yet. I've taken 3 pills so far. I hope to feel a difference tomorrow.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
What kind of anesthesia did you have for hysterectomy, epidural? probably not, probably general
If epidural, this could be a CSF leak headache.
Amylase is elevated in parotiditis
Zithromax is a good broad spectrum antibiotic.
I'd call my doc before going to the ER, since they may be able to help you out over the phone and save you a trip
If epidural, this could be a CSF leak headache.
Amylase is elevated in parotiditis
Zithromax is a good broad spectrum antibiotic.
I'd call my doc before going to the ER, since they may be able to help you out over the phone and save you a trip
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