Swollen glands: sx or no?

[shanro]

since around my 3rd week on triple tx (inc) I've had swollen glands in the back of head/neck and in front of and behind my ears... is this a sx?

[toby47]

I just looked up swollen glands and found these posts.
  For a couple of weeks, noticed my mouth was drying out quicker and quicker, just guessed it was another sx and would resolve itself at some point.Yesterday noticed my salivary glands were swollen.Its making sleep tough because you find you can't swallow.Any body find these resolved by themselves or what have you done about it.

[DoubleDose]

If anyone has any similar experiences with swollen glands during or after tx, here is a good thread with which to discuss the subject.  There were a few questions at the top of the thread, but no follow up to the thread.  Anyone else out there dealing with the salivary or Parotid gland issues??

DoubleDose

[DoubleDose]

I assume that you are all talking about the Parotid Glands?  They are the glands in front of the ears, that run down to the angle of the jaw.  As many of you may already be aware, HCV itself can cause a sort of 'pseudo Sjogren's Syndrome, which often includes swelling of the Parotid glands.  Treatment also can have the same effect, provoking auto-immune type reactions, like Parotid enlargement, dry and irritated eyes, joint issues, etc.

  I had both situations, in which before doing therapy I would periodically experience enlarged Parotid glands...sometimes swollen and painful, other times just enlarged, but without pain.  It seemed to come and go, mostly later in the course of my HCV infection. Subsequently, after two long tx'es I ended up with a more constant, daily mild enlargement of the Parotids, without any pain or other symptoms.  So far, I have found no answers to dealing with the swelling.  It seems to be a permanent sort of ongoing 'Sjogren's Syndrome' sort of issue.  I also continue to have dry irritable eyes, sinus issues, joint problems, and lots of fatigue....and I am 9 years post-SVR.  So my take is that its permanent, and its a treatment induced auto-immune manifestation.  I doubt its going to go away...I seen no signs of any improvement.  The real questions are what will this sort of auto-immune syndrome progress to over the long haul.....and is there ANY way to treat it?

DoubleDose

[joemc34606]

I feel like I have them everyday since I started, must be incevik because I never got this the first time. Feels like I have a sore, dry throat daily. 3 more weeks of incevik and I'll let you know. Joe

[researchmonkey326]

I had them for awhile - same locations and they were very tender and I had no fever either.  They've gotten better as time has gone by but I had plenty of bloodwork done to be sure that I had no infections as well as a chest xray because I got a cough about the same time.  From what I've read, it is not common but it is a documented sx.  Just watch that you don't start to have any symptoms of infection especially if you develop a rash.

[his3707]

you can look up swollen glands  or lymph nodes in the search this community to the right of your question and you will see some other posts on it.   My doc said it could be dry mouth from the treatment that is aggravating it.  I wake up in the night and in the am with my mouth so dry I can hardly swallow.  i have to drink water all thru the  night and then of course pee all night long.  hardly get enough sleep.  

[shanro]

i did have a sinus infection and was put on augmentin which was NOT ok... i had a drug interaction so i didn't complete antibiotics but it did end up going away on its own... i guess the swollen glands could be residual since i don't have a fever accompanying them, but i will definitely keep an eye on it... my doctor said that it's not a sx that's she's ever heard of... which is why i'm wondering if others on triple tx are having the same issue....

[his3707]

for many weeks, I had tenderness in the lower back of my head but I didnt know what it was.  Last saturday  I woke up with my left salivary gland was so swollen I couldnt open my mouth to eat.  I also had a fever of 99-101.  I went to urgent care and they gave me antibiotics because I also had a UTI.   It is now 8 days later and I still have a knot below my ear but it is much better.  I have heard others talk about it.  It should go away by itself HOWEVER, It could be a stone or infection.  You should have it looked at by a qualified doc who knows about sx of treatment.  the doc I saw had no idea about effects of interferon etc.   I also get tenderness in the back of my knees.