Hi there. Have a severely (severely) swollen salivary gland (the one in front of my left ear lobe). This has happened before, but not to this extent. It previously eventually went away with antibiotics. My doctor has given me a couple different ones (Augmentin currently) that have done nothing in a total of 5 days to reduce swelling. In fact, it has gotten MUCH worse. The pain is nearly unbearable. I have been completely unable to drain the gland in 3 of those days.

I was hoping that someone might have a good therapy for me to try...

Any thoughts are greatly appreciated!

[ 03. August 2002, 21:22: Message edited by: ABJ ]

Do you know anything about Homeopathy? My inclination is to say Silica 6X, 4 times a day; if it's the right remedy, I would expect an improvement within 3 days.

Snoopy

Better to have a few more symptoms Snoopy.

Describe the pain, onset of sympotms, modalitties of time, temperature, weather.
general thirst, general thermal state, tongue coating,
These are the homoepathic questions we're interested in whcih will help us decide on a remedy.

__________________
http://www.homeopathy2health.com

ABJ,

If you could go to the "questionnaire" topic, and just answer the questions pertaining to the
"chief complaint", that would be a big help to us.

Thanks Dr. Leela!

Snoopy

Hi again, thanks for the replies. To answer all of your questions...

1) No, I don't know much about Homeopathy at all. It's why I'm here. Modern medicine (which I've never been thoroughly fond of) has proven pretty useless in this situation. I'm very worried about this development and don't feel I have much time left before something worse happens because of it. Thanks for any help!

Good grief, that is some questionnaire! Hope this helps...Yeah I know, you only asked for the initial stuff...but it was kinda fun to do!

Answers to the questionnaire are as follows:
Name: AL
Age: 31
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 165

1) Chief Complaint: My left perotted (sp?) salivary gland is severely swollen. At least 1.5 inches outward from the side of my face looking into a mirror. The top has spread into the area below my eye. The bottom is below my jawline. The rear is into the skullbone behind my ear. The front is an inch or so away from the edge of my lips. I am barely able to stick the flat part of my index finger (I have narrow fingers) in between my teeth without excessive pain. I have not been able to drain the gland in over a week. Sensations include obvious pressure and weight in the face, sharp pains as well as aching pains. It is more sensitive to the touch along the center outside surface. The top, bottom, forward and back sections are less sensitive. It is very tight and hard. I'm taking double-doses of Vicodin every four hours due to excessive pain. After two hours, the pain starts coming back. If I go for over four hours, it's unbearable. I can't sleep, think, or anything. Personally, I have a very high tolerance for pain and can probably count on one hand the number of times I've used pain killers in my life. I haven't even used them for post-knee-surgery operations. This, however, is by far the worst I've experienced.

2) History: My first experience with this gland swelling was in 1996. Eventually it drained out, anti-inflammatories seemed to help at the time. Maybe a couple years later was the next incident. And a couple more for the next one. Over the past 1.5 years I have habitually gotten to the point where I manually drain the gland somewhat regularly as it tends to build up on its own.
In February, I had a similar experience where it swelled to considerable size (not as bad as current). Antibiotics and antiinflammatories seemed to help get it down to size, and I was able to drain the gland through it's own duct. 10-12 days ago, it began swelling and I was unable to keep up with it via manual draining. It was clogged and could not do anything about it. I saw my ENT (same one from February) and he prescribed heat, Dicloxacillin (antibiotic), Vicodin for pain, lots of water, and manually dialated my duct. This did not help me to drain at all. Friday, I saw him again with a much larger gland. He prescribed a new antibiotic (Augmentin) and said they may take time to kick in, and to be patient. Meanwhile, I have been completely unable to drain my gland (for well over a week now). It's now Sunday, and the gland is STILL growing. No drainage what-so-ever. The pain is much worse, as stated above, and I'm not convinced that this treatment is doing anything worthwhile.

3) Aggrivations: Anything that causes the gland to secrete (spices, citrus, foods with *taste*, practially anything ingested other than water). Touch. Opening my mouth. Sharp movements of the head. I haven't found much that makes it feel noticably better, frankly. Nothing natural, anyway (i.e. Vicodin).

4) Timeframes: No particular time of day makes it feel better or worse. The longer I wait, however, the worse it gets.

5) Additional Symptoms: Headaches, occasional chills (no fever, though). The chills could be due to the excessive amounts of water I'm ingesting.

6) Environment: I live at the beach in San Diego. Temperature is near 70's most of the day. Nights are usually comfortable, sometimes slightly moist. I have not noticed any changes in feeling during different climate situations.

7) Comfortable Positions: Sitting or standing upright, lying on my side (not the sore one). Sometimes lying on my back.

8) Body Stuff: I'm chilly in the morning, hot at night (always). Extremeties tend to be colder (all limbs are long and thin). I perspire heavily when exercising, everywhere. Don't perspire much when not, but would be in the armpits if I do. No color.

9) Tongue: It has had occasional numbness (very slight) and currently has a bit of a white color to it. It's hard to get a toothbrush on it right now, so some of that may be due to that. I've been drinking a LOT of water, and not much else lately. So, when I do eat or drink something else the strange "numb" sensation seems to go away.

10) Worries: I usually don't worry about the little things much...I do, however, put myself in situations where I have an AWFUL lot going on in my life, which tends to overwhelm me. I am a bit stressed out in my life right now because of it. I deal with stress and things of this nature on my own a lot.

11) Household: Usually disorganized and somewhat messy

12) When stressed, I cry very easily - when alone. Stupid happy moments in movies can even trigger it. Otherwise, I don't cry often.

13) When upset, I tend to take a few steps back and realize that 90% of the time it's not worth getting fired up over.

14) I tend to get frustrated much more than angry. When frustration is caused by myself or when I'm alone, I'm unfortunately pretty good at distracting myself from it. When it's with another person, we'll hash it out.

15) I don't get jealous very often...only time would be with a girlfriend. When jealous, I'll brood over it for a while and try to make sense of the situation. Then discuss it with the person if necessary.

16) I don't have many fears, if any at all.

17) My father's health has been the most difficult circumstance in my life. You name it, he's got it (health-problem-wise). I speak with him about it, and how his poor habits upset me. I've changed my life to avoid the things he (and his side of the family) does to set themselves up for problems.

18) The friends I've made. I've got the best ones out there.

19) Strict, fairly normal. Very loving parents. Good grades, etc.

20) Complacency bothers me in other people. I feel no need to express it, unless the person is very close to me. Most of my friends aren't very complacent though. It's just something I don't understand.

21) Me, and my inability to spend adequate time making them work (due to my above mentioned rediculously busy schedule). I'm also very (very) particular.

22) No recurring dreams right now.

23) Sushi makes me happy. <grin> I like doing my own thing. That makes me happy.

24) Web design. I'm learning the things at work right now that will allow me to do, on my own, what I want to in the relatively near future.

25) Politicians would run campaigns, for businessmen.

26) I get criticized for "disappearing". Meaning, I haven't seen the person in a while (see above). I receive praise on my intelligence, loyalty, and ability to get things done when I set my mind to them.

27) I would improve my memory.

28) I eat a LOT of food for my size. I'm usually quite comatose after a meal, regardless of its contents. My body spends a lot of energy on digestion. I don't like skipping meals...I occasionally get headaches and/or tremors if I do for a long time (this is being looked into, btw).

29) Sushi. I've already eliminated or reduced the intake of other foods. I eat quite healthy.

30) Don't like coconut. Don't like ginger (tastes like wet nap!) Nothing reacts funny to me.

31) Juices: at least one every couple days. Sometimes more (cold). Water: at least a glass or two a day (room temp). Sodas: never. Coffee: never. Tea: once a month (luke warm). Milk: never. Alcohol: rarely, social only (cold).

32) I sleep in a very sporadic schedule. It's something I'd like to improve. If days were 27 hours, I'd probably sleep normally.

33) Nothing excessive during my sleep that I'm aware of. I toss occasionally.

34) Trouble sleeping sometimes, yes. My mind is usually spinning at that time. I have to concentrate and meditate some to get to sleep every once in a while. I'll wake up around 8am almost all the time. Not always, but most of the time. I sleep on my side.

35-39) N/A

40) Augmentin (antibiotic), Vicodin (pain killer), Propranolol (tremors, just started taking a week or so ago).

41) Don't get sick very often. Flu only usually lasts one day, if I get it.

42) Childhood illnesses more than once...don't think so.

43) Vaccinations, don't recall. No adverse affects.

44) Surgery, yes... Incerceception as an infant (took my Appendix while they were in there). ACL reconstruction left knee. Scope right knee. Tonsilectamy.

45) Warts as a child. Frozen off (1980??)

46) I have fairly regular nasal drainage. Nothing abnormal about the color.

47a) No, larger doses
47b) I don't believe so
47c) Not that I am aware
47d) They irritate me, occasionally causing my sinuses to act up. Not always though.

48) Heart disease (excessive on my fathers side), Stroke (excessive on my fathers size), Diabetes. Most grandparents, aunts and uncles have passed in their 70's. Parents still alive.

49) My mother had contractions for nearly 5 months with me. Normal childhood. Parents were not very emotional with each other...verge of divorce around age 12-14, the worked it out. I've had seven aunts/uncles pass away (I have an old family) on my dad's side. There are three left, including my father. Various relationships, most ended somewhat amicably.

50) I hate standing in line <grin>

51) Flew home from San Diego to Michigan (my father)

52) Lately, pretty poor. Which is something I'm not used to or very happy about.

53) I appreciate it.

54) My procrastination, which I'm trying to get a better grasp on.

Thanks for any responses!

[ 04. August 2002, 19:24: Message edited by: ABJ ]

Dear ABJ

Is there any redness? heat? does cold applications or warm applications help? When you "drain" the area what comes out? clear saliva? pus? If antibiotics were given the doc suspects infection yes?

I think Hepar Sulph may be indicated before sil but wait for Leela or Snoopy to reply okay.

__________________
Man, do not pride yourself on your superiority to animals. For they are without sin and you in your greatness defile the earth by your appearance on it and leave traces of you foulness after you. Dostoyevsky

Slight tinges of red, yes. Hot/Cold does not seem to help one way or another. Neither does massaging. Yes, there is infection. Early in the game (when it could be drained) there was pus. Has not drained in over a week.

Thanks!

What Barb means--I think--is, is the swelling red and does it radiate heat? Or does it feel cold to you? Or is there no sensation of temperature?

And if pus came out before, what color was it?

Snoopy

[ 05. August 2002, 03:38: Message edited by: Snoopy ]

Are you drinking water because your doc told you to or are you very thirsty? How cold or warm is the water you're drinking? (Forgive me if you've already answered these questions. I'm asking as I go; still reading your answers.)

Snoopy

and was there any odor to the pus.

snoops - I saw your post to abj and emailed you the link and copied this to your other thread - but glad you got on.

__________________
Man, do not pride yourself on your superiority to animals. For they are without sin and you in your greatness defile the earth by your appearance on it and leave traces of you foulness after you. Dostoyevsky