Persistent swollen glands

[kittyface]

Please take this short symptom survey  :)

Does anyone have persistent swollen glands right under the jawbone?  Does it impede your swallowing?  Do you look like Kermit the Frog?

BTW, last time I checked with FibroSpect (3 yrs ago), mild fibrosis and inflammation.  I'm not on tx.

Thanks,
the Face previously known as Kitty but now looking more like frog

[spookwoman]

Have had a swollen gland under my jaw for 10 years plus. Everyone has told me its nothing or nothing can be done. Had had xrays and ct scans A dentist referred me a few months back to get it checked out by another ENT consultant. Scan done with dye and FNA biopsy were done. Today I got the biopsy result and was told there is a growth and I have to get it removed as they can turn cancerous. When it causes pain and discomfort they need to come out.

[lexman]

I have the same thing swollen glands under the jaw and I have HBV. No one can tell me anything definitive either.

[Forseegood]

Suffering Succotash! I know whatcha mean, like that lil Tex Avery dog, Droopy! I'm beginning to get a little jowly myself, he he he...but I have had  a little pain there in the lymph glands myself once in a great while, a lymph draining message, not too vigorous, kinda gentle, is really great for that....

[pigeonca]

BTW, I call him a Republic candidate, not Republican, since they keep calling the other party the Democrat party.  Until they can say Democratic, I say Republic.

[pigeonca]

There's a Republic candidate for the presidential nomination whose parotid glands are the size of golf balls.  Always wondered if he got it in that POW camp.

[Forseegood]

hey Kitty face, what's shakin down Texas way? :) Thanks DD and Thelma, for the great tips!

[goldenrule]

befire i treated i had same thing happen to me. Come to think of it, problay right after i contracted the virus, i had tender lumps under my jaw, that stayed for several months. then would come and go. After treating though, they are gone

[Thelma Roberts]

No one mentioned that squirting lemon juice into the mouth, or eating a lemon slice would cause the parotids to drain, and you would look more normal for a while! Mine have been enlarged fro 30 years and I look fat cheeked for sure. No pain or severe infection has been a good point. Good Luck!
tsrob

[simbacatz]

I get parotid gland swelling almost every day on either side of my face, and when I press infront of my ear some mucus colored, stringy, slimy stuff shoots out inside my mouth from the parotid duct. This has been going on for five years now. I have been to so many doctors but they can't figure out whats wrong with me. They have done blood tests, X-rays, MRI,CT,but nothing shows anything. Does anyone think it could be hepatitis C.My face is very round, pear shaped but use to be thin before this started. Someone please help.

[willows]

My sore face and I rate your post a 10!!!!  As one who went to the ER when my face and ear swelled up the first time, the doc had the blankest look about what to do.

You posted more info than this trained medical professional knew in his big talking head.  I think I will print it and keep it in my wallet!!  

Thanks for the validation this a.m.  I feel better, gonna go find a can of redbull to put on the swelling!!  

Willow

[willows]

Swollen paratiod glands are something that has just recently plagued me, when they swell up, they can hurt sooo bad.  I understand it's not really dangerous, but the last time it happended, I was left with a lymph node swollen on the right side of my face.  

Your post was very timely to for me, all this is just happened this time with more pain, so I'm going to see if my doc can help.  Can't wait to try to explain this to my GP, he doesn't know a lot about Hep C, I will be educating him.  I think I just need a lab to make sure my white count is not really high, make sure the infection is going away.

Paratoid glands swelling is so freaking random, sometimes I hate this virus.

[DoubleDose]

Don't forget, the HCV virus is not only hepatropic, but also Lymphotropic.  The lymphatic system becomes infected with the virus, and often the effects are readily seen in the lymph nodes, and glandular system.  Doctors sometimes do not have enough depth of knowledge about this virus, and can either overlook symptoms like swollen Parotic glands, lymph nodes, etc, or just not connect them to Hep-C.

There is a large body of medical literature over the past ten to fifteen years describing the effects of HCV on the salivary system, lymphatic system, connective tissues (rheumatology).  If you do a google or yahoo search on articles relating to HCV and sicca syndrome, HCV and Sjogren's Syndrome, HCV and arthritis, etc. you will find lots of thought provoking studies, medical cases, articles etc. relating these disorders to the HCV virus.

If your glands are having periodic flare-ups, and swelling painfully, then you probably are concurrently infected in these compartments as well as the liver and serum.  The swelling and painful reactions may come from the virus itself infecting these cells, or from the internal cellular immune responses, cytokines, etc. being provoked by the virus residing in these organs.

Not enough is written about the extra-hepatic problems associated with having HCV.  The liver gets 99% of the attention.  There is much more to this virus than just the hepatic issues.  We are finding out regularly how many problems stem from the virus.  

DoubleDose

[cc4mickey]

There are lymph nodes under the jaw.Go and check this out with your reg.Dr.You might need some anti-biotics.Hope thats all you need.(maybe your a kitty with the mumps)
cc

[DoubleDose]

One of the common symptons of HCV AND of the combination treatment is Sicca syndrome and a pseudo Sjogren's Syndrome.  They estimate about 35% of those infected with HCV have this syndrome for some period of time, usually worsening over time.  Also, the treatment itself can cause swelling of the salivary glands, and the Parotid glands.  Years ago, before any tx regimes, I had the salivary gland swelling, under the jaw.  Later I seemed to get more of the Parotid swelling on the sides of the face in front of each ear.  Now, three years after ending tx, and being SVR, I have chronic minor swelling of the parotids, and chronic dry eye and dry mucous membranes.  My salivary glands  under the jaw have not been affected for years now.  I think you will find that this is a somewhat common symptom, and varies in severity.  If you look up Sicca Syndrome, and Sjogren's Syndrome you may find info. relevant to your symptom.  Not much to be done about it though.  I do not think that it goes away unless you are a very fortunate SVR.  Mine seems to be permanent, but not as pronounced as when I was still HCV+.  

DoubleDose

[chcnme]

Hi kitty, sorry you're going through this.  I thought of thyroid, too, or infection (swollen lymph nodes and need for antibiotics)  although I think if your lymph nodes were that swollen under the jaw on account of an infection somewhere you would know it - you would be in pain, but maybe not.)  What DD said is very interesting.  I had heard of that syndrome before but didn't know what it was or that it involved the parotids and salivery glands and caused swelling like that.  Sheesh - we have some nice things that accompany HCV, eh?  

I hope whatever is going on that it gets better and resolves.  I'd get it checked our for sure.  Best of luck!

[mremeet]

I don't think I've ever had that symptom, although I did puffy jowls when I was taking prednisone. From what I've heard thyroid problems might cause that, and I believe thyroid problems are more common in women than men. Otherwise my tonsils used to swell up a bit, which I guess was them cleaning out the remnants of the ongoing/everlasting viral war. Since I've been on treatment they've shrunk down to nothing though, you can hardly even see them anymore. I'm hoping that means there's no more virus left to remove, but we'll see I guess.