Swallon parotid glands

I have this problem going on for almost five years now, what happens is that almost every day my parotid glands swell up on either side of my face mostly right side. And when I press right infront of my ear, some stringy,slimy,mucus colored stuff shoots out inside my mouth from the salivary ducts. I have been to SOOOO MANY doctors but no one can find out whats wrong. MRI,X-rays,CT,blood tests, nothing shows anything, everything normal. It's very painful when I get this swelling.And the swelling stays there until that slimy stuff shoots out. Some times I am in pain for hours until I can get that stuff out. Has anyone ever herd of this, or know about this problem. My face use to be thin but now it's very round, and pear shape. I am not on any medications. Some one please help me. Sometimes the swelling gets so bad that it looks like I have a golf ball in my mouth, the swelling also sometimes reaches my throat but doesn't block my breathing. I have done so much research but nothing out of it.

[GravesLady]

Diagnosis of salivary gland disease depends on the careful taking of your history, a physical examination, and laboratory tests. If your doctor suspects an obstruction of the major salivary glands it may be necessary to anesthetize the opening of the salivary ducts in the mouth and probe and dilate the duct to help an obstructive stone pass.
http://www.entnet.org/healthinfo/throat/salivary.cfm
As a good health measure, it is important to drink lots of liquids daily. Dehydration is a risk factor for salivary gland disease.

[mungufuata]

Sjorgen's Syndrome

[simbacatz]

Thanks for the comments, they said it wasn't the sjorgens syndrome either,nor stones, nor cancer,you know that it really makes me mad that the ENTs don't care which tests I ask for, I asked three different ENTs if the can insert the dye in my glands and see how they are working, I am not sure what this test is called, but they won't. I don't know if they are lazy? Maybe they don't even know about this test but I believe a good doctor would have done all tests before they said that they can't find anything. The only option the give me is either live with it, or get my glands removed, which sounds really scary because parotid glands are the main salivary glands. All the doctors I went to seemed like didn't really care about me, I guess it's not them who have to go through the pain every day with a four year old daughter. I am sorry if I sound mean but I am just tired of this pain all the time. It's just sad that doctors would treat their patients this way.I meant how hard could this test be.

[lrdst]

I was looking on this site about something else and came across your post. I don't know if you have any other symptoms, but I also had a swollen parotid gland years ago. It was Sarcoidosis. The skin kind. They thought it was either that or Sjorgrens.I was put on Trentol, and my symptoms went away within 6 months. Don't know if that is what you have but I went through a lot of testing before that was found by an Infectious Disease doctor. Good luck to you.

[simbacatz]

Thanks, do you remember which testing was done that finally found the diagnosis? Did You get the swelling on both sides or only one side?

[lrdst]

On just one side- and the test I believe that confirms it is called an ACE test.It's been over 15 years since I have been symptom free, but I do think that was the name of the test. I answered you on your other thread too in case you didn't check this one.

[diamonds8876]

Hey,  I'm sorry for your problem believe it or not I have been living with the same exact problem for about 10 long years now.. Oh my god you dont know how happy i am to have found this. For a long time I swear I thought I was the only person out there with this problem specially since all the doctors i would go to would look at me like i was crazy. specially when i would explain about the stringy mucous stuff coming out from under my tongue. After years of of unintelligent doctors stuffing me with alergy (allergy) meds i finally referred myself to an ent from reading information on the internet about salivary glands. I have had cat scans and mri and nothing. Doctor suggested the same thing, live with it, drink lots of water- or have them removed cause they dont find stones or a tumor. One doctor actually told me it was all in my head. I read the last response that was sent to you about the scardoisis and as much as i would hate to have any disease i really hope that is what it is so i can finally get cured from this horrible condition. Please if you have any other information that can help me i would be forever greatful. Maybe at this point you have been dignosed and found a cure for this problem.. Its been so long that my symptoms are every day. My face is always swollen. I have to literaly have my hair in my face so coworkers wont notive. Please help!!!!

[frozenflat]

A related discussion, Similar Issues was started.