swelling

[Sharon]

MY HUSBAND HAS HAD A BYPASS 13 YEARS AGO. SINCE THEN HE HAS HAD 2 SURGERIES TO IMPLANT
STINTS (A TOATAL OF 5). HE HAS ALSO HAVE VALVE
REPAIR. NOW HE HAS A SWELLING THAT GOES FROM HIS NECK THROUGH HIS JAW UP THE FRONT OF HIS
EAR. HE HAS NO TEETH BUT HAS BEEN TO THE
DENTIST AND BEEN FULLY X-RAYED. DENTIST SAYS
THERE IS NOTHING THERE.  EMERGENCY ROOM SAID IT WAS A TOOTH. FAMILY GP SAYS IT COULD BE A SILVA GLAD INFECTION BUT IT IS ON BOTH SIDES.
THEY HAVE GIVEN ANTIBIOTIC BUT THE SWELLING HAS GONE DOWN SLIGHTLY BUT NOT MUCH.
ANY IDEAS? WE ARE STILL SEEING THE DOCTOR BUT HE SEEMS TO BE AS PUZZLED AS WE ARE.  OH YES WHEN THIS STARTS YOU CAN SIT THERE AND WATCH IT SWELL. THIS IS THE SECOND EPISODE WE HAVE HAD OF THIS. THANKS FOR YOUR IMPUT.

[John]

About 2 months ago I noticed swelling in my right foot & ankle that would last several days then go away only to return a few days later. Soon the left foot & ankle would act up the same way. A month ago a painful rash developed on the right leg followed by the left. Pain is intense at times & swelling varies in degree but is ever present, as is the rash. Any ideas ?

[CCF CARDIO MD - DLB]

Without seeing him I am just shooting in the dark. The possibilities that your doctors have mentioned are all reasonable. Other possibilites include heart failure, that can lead to swelling of the veins that comes and goes and varies with  position. This would be a particular concern in someone with as long a cardiac history as your husband, but I would hope your doctors already considered this possibility. Cancers and thyroid disease can also cause swelling in this part of the body - again, I would expect your doctors have already thought of this.