Related items culminating in face shape change?

[LavishAngelicLlama]

I have had a few medical incidents the past week that are puzzling doctors and I fear they may be related. I’d like additional ideas that I can take to my doctor for further discussion.

Vitals: Female, 38 yo, 5ft6, 270 lbs, Caucasian, non-smoker, 1 glass wine per week

Issues: Anxiety (100mg of Zoloft).

Summary – Lumps near ears lead to skin sensitivity pain more extreme than childbirth. Has now morphed into facial swelling that is warping the shape of my face so I look like a different person. Visit to hospital and additional discussions with my doctor. (Pictures at http://imgur.com/a/4Tt0U)

Day 1 (Mon)
• 04h30 – Awoke from my sleep by an ache behind my left ear and noticed swelling.
• 07h00 – Lump still present, now radiating down neck along the muscle.
• 12h00 – Ate normal lunch.
• 16h00 – Feeling very tired and cold. Tried to sleep, but could not. Pain starting behind right ear and down that neck muscle.
• 18h00 – Unable to warm up, got out of bed. Temperature 103.7. Called a health services line and was advised to proceed to urgent care (tier below ER). Judged pain to be 6/10. Head was hurting, but on the outside, not the inside (ie, not like a headache or migraine). Putting on a hoodie brought me to tears because skin had become extremely sensitive to contact / pressure.
• 18h30 – Arrived at hospital
o Waiting in triage, pain radiating down from head through neck and shoulders. Still skin sensitivity. Pain increased to 8/10 (on par with childbirth and prior to back surgery I had to fuse vertebrae).
o Get into examining room. Pulse was racing, but I was crying. Skin sensitivity was past elbows on arms and just above belly button on torso.
o Couldn’t touch bar of gurney because it hurt, almost like a dry ice burn. Uncontrollable shivering with a temperature of 104.
o Blood pressure cuff caused me to wail and splay my toes, felt like I was going to pass out. (9/10, more severe than childbirth or pre-back surgery) Blood pressure was 135/91, very high for me.
o Drew blood from both arms and did cultures. Left side more sensitive than right side.
o Doctor touched glands on left side at the base of the skull and I screamed. Pain continued long after he stopped touching me.
o Given 400mg ibuprofen and was able to fall asleep 35-40 minutes later.
• 22h00 – Woke up, pain about 4/10 and only in neck and head. Temperature still 102. Blood pressure was normal, but pulse was 120, despite being calm. Oxygen level was 95. Nothing in blood cultures. White blood cell count slightly elevated. Did an EKG because of heart rate, but showed nothing. Blood pressure was normal.
• 23h00 – Sent home with 400mg ibuprofen 3 times a day for 3 days and told if symptoms still present, return to urgent care.
• 23h30 – Ate a small bowl of cereal.
Day 2 (Tue)
• Overnight – Night sweats, soaking pajamas and bed. Woke up shivering and chilled. Temperature had increased.
• Skin sensitivity, pain and tenderness continued.
• Temperature fluctuated throughout the day between a low of 102 and a high of 103.8. Highs reached before taking next dose of ibuprofen.
• No food all day.
Day 3 (Wed)
• Overnight – Night sweats continued.
• 07h30 – Woke up with diahrea (Type 7 on Bristol Stool Chart)
• 08h00 – Ate a small bowl of cereal.
• 08h30 – Showered for first time since incident began. Noticed lumps on scalp that were very sensitive. Each about 2 inches / 5 cm in diameter, but not very high. Weight of wet hair hurt, could not comb hair, tied up hair uncombed.
• 3-4 additional Type 7 bowel movements throughout the day
• 16h00 – Ate a bowl of soup.
Day 4 (Thu)
• Overnight – Night sweats continued.
• Morning
o Pictures at http://imgur.com/a/4Tt0U become relevant.
o Woke up to notice cheekbones below the temple were swollen on left side. First symptom on my face. Point where the corrugator and procerus muscles meet was swollen and tender as well.
o Added symptom of nausea.
o Ate 4 slides of toast and a glass of milk.
• 11h00 – Went to previously scheduled GP appointment.
o More bloodwork ordered. Complete check of all glands, noting a lot of swelling. Muscle swelling or knots in the neck. Face and scalp painful to touch (not crying, but tears streaming). Ears, pupil dilation, throat all normal.
o Suspected to be cellulitis, but surprised at the location and presentation. After consultation with colleagues, was prescribed 500mg of cephalex, 4 times a day.
o Strongly urged that if symptoms worsen (even slightly) or any additional symptoms (vision, central nervous system, cognitive, etc) appear to proceed directly to emergency where a CT scan would be ordered.
• 18h00 – Last Type 7 bowel movement. Ate 3 chicken strips and a cup of stuffing.
Day 5 (Fri)
• Overnight – Fever of 101, but no night sweats.
• 06h00 – Took last regular dose of ibuprofen (pain had subsided). Left eye swollen. Nausea subsided. Ate no breakfast.
• 10h00 – GP called to check in.
o White blood count had normalized, but showed high levels of inflammation (?)
o Told her of itchy face. Warned of itch/scratch cycle.
o Strongly urged again to go to Emergency if vitals, vision or cognitive ability change.
• Afternoon – Ate a half bowl of soup and a slice of bread. Left outer ear (cartilage) swelling.
• Evening – Right eye now swollen, but temperature now below 100.
• 22h00 – First solid stool.
Day 6 (Sat)
• Face still very swollen. Left eye itchy and swollen almost shut. Right eye swollen.
• Left ear swollen, tender and itchy.
• Base of skull and neck on left side swollen and tender. Has begun to feel more like muscle pain (can rub it and it feels good).
• Right side swollen but it doesn’t hurt when I press on it.
• Continue to be physically fatigued.
• Itch subsided in evening.
Day 7 (Sun)
• 08h00 – Woke with headache (common when I need to go for a massage.) Took ibuprofen and fell asleep again.
• 11h00 – Woke up again.