For the last 7-8 months, Ive been experiencing inner ear pain (below the earlobe, down the side of the neck - which is quite severe), and neck pain, at the front of my throat along the right side of my windpipe. At first, I thought it was my thyroid - so I had it checked and it was fine. My GP of course, made me feel like I was out of my mind and told me to take vitamins. I was feeling OK - it was not swollen glands like one would get when sick with a cold/flu - there was only a small swelling area that feels a bit "rough" and less like a tumor/cyst but more so just "bumpy". Its not round and doesnt really have a shape - its just along the right side of my windpipe and a bit towards the back (inwards, where my artery is)
The pain in my neck was increasing, getting more intense and much more frequent. It does not hurt to touch, but if I lean forward and come back up - I get a weird sensation in my neck. If I cough or sneeze, I may get a slight dull pain, perhaps a sharp one - it really varies. Sometimes I just feel very bizarre sensations in my neck - indescribable. The pain sometimes radiates upwards towards underneath my chin (only on the right side), and even as far down as my collar bone. I also have a hard time breathing when laying on my right side in bed, with a pillow under my neck - it feels like someone is sitting on my neck.
Other symptoms which I am not sure are attributed to the neck: pinching/needle poking pains on the right and left side of my abdomen at the bottom of the ribs, severe headaches to the point of nausea, back of the head/neck pain to the point of being bedridden (this could be bad posture, as Ive had it for a few years), exhaustion for no reason, bizarre hearing (sounds like people are either right next to me when they arent, or far away when they arent) and strangely (according to my eye doc) degrading eyesight - every year for the past two years Ive needed a new Rx.
So, 7-8mo later, I decided to go to the ENT and get it checked out. The ENT tells me after inspecting my neck with his hands and using a scope to check out my throat via my nose (wow, uncomfortable!) - the problem could be 1- an infected salivary gland, 2- a blocked salivary gland or 3- a mass in my salivary gland. So I have orders to get a CT scan this Wednesday. He said that it was not my thyroid as my pain/swelling is far too high on the neck to be that. He didnt seem to like the fact that I waited so long to come and see him - but he can thank my GP for making me feel like a hypochondriac for the delay.
Wondering if anyone has had any experience with salivary gland issues - masses in the neck, etc. that can shed some light on this.
Thanks in advance.