(UPDATED) Salivary gland stone/infection?

[bin_tenn 1248]

Have any of you experienced stones or infection of the salivary glands, particularly the ones under the jaw (I forget the formal name of those glands)? If so, what symptom(s) did you have, and how did you get rid of it? Or how long did it take to resolve itself?

Asking because this evening I noticed a bit of an ache/tenderness under my chin, along the bone. I touched the area gently, and I could feel a really small (pea size, maybe a tad bigger) lump. Soft, very mobile, etc. But also relatively tender to touch.

I don't know if it's a salivary gland issue or something else. I do recall having something like it a few years ago, but I don't recall what I did - if anything - to get rid of it, or how long it lasted. I do know I didn't go to the dentist for it. Don't think I have a temp, and no other symptoms. No real pain, mostly only when touched so I'm keeping my fingers away. 😛

I do need to go to the dentist. I'm quite overdue for my regular cleaning due to dealing with a lot of other stuff. Tomorrow is Easter and I don't know if they're open, but I'll call. If not, I'll call Monday and set the cleaning appointment, and mention this to them if it's still there when I go in.

Just wondering if you all have any recommendations for how to possibly treat this in the meantime. Could the warm salt water rinse be useful?

Thanks!

[Mark G 1176]

Sounds like a lymph node bin.  There are many under the jaw line so if it's tender then look for anything like spot outbreaks in the area or a swollen gum.  Usually last a few days before they self resolve.

[bin_tenn 1248]

3 hours ago, Mark G said:

Sounds like a lymph node bin.  There are many under the jaw line so if it's tender then look for anything like spot outbreaks in the area or a swollen gum.  Usually last a few days before they self resolve.

Thanks, @Mark G. I was wondering if it could be a lymph node as well. I'll give it a few days and see what happens. I did check the area, as well as my gums, and I didn't see or feel anything that seems like it could be the cause. That's not to say there isn't something there, I just don't see anything that's obvious to me. It still sort of aches this morning, but really no worse than yesterday. I'll call the dentist or my doc if it persists or gets worse.

[bin_tenn 1248]

This afternoon my throat was looking very red/irritated, and was also feeling scratchy. With my son having been here last weekend and his mom had strep, it made me wonder. I want to urgent care, just got home a little bit ago. I wasn't about to go to the ER, would've gone to my primary tomorrow if urgent care wasn't open.

Fortunately the strep swab was negative! Doc said I have "a lot of post nasal drip" going on, possibly a slight cold, which could be causing my symptoms. He said the lymph node is fine, to leave it alone, and it could go away within a week, or could even last as long as a MONTH. Fine with me. Just glad it isn't strep.

He prescribed a steroid and an antihistamine to dry my nose up and reduce the PND. I'll have to pick those up tomorrow morning.

Otherwise all is well. No fever, no other swollen lymph nodes, no other aches/pains, etc. So here's to recovering hopefully within the next few days.

[Shanowl80 69]

1 hour ago, bin_tenn said:

This afternoon my throat was looking very red/irritated, and was also feeling scratchy. With my son having been here last weekend and his mom had strep, it made me wonder. I want to urgent care, just got home a little bit ago. I wasn't about to go to the ER, would've gone to my primary tomorrow if urgent care wasn't open.

Fortunately the strep swab was negative! Doc said I have "a lot of post nasal drip" going on, possibly a slight cold, which could be causing my symptoms. He said the lymph node is fine, to leave it alone, and it could go away within a week, or could even last as long as a MONTH. Fine with me. Just glad it isn't strep.

He prescribed a steroid and an antihistamine to dry my nose up and reduce the PND. I'll have to pick those up tomorrow morning.

Otherwise all is well. No fever, no other swollen lymph nodes, no other aches/pains, etc. So here's to recovering hopefully within the next few days.

PND is awful. Glad you got checked out. Smart thing to do especially since you might have been exposed to strep!

[bin_tenn 1248]

1 minute ago, Shanowl80 said:

PND is awful. Glad you got checked out. Smart thing to do especially since you might have been exposed to strep!

Indeed, it is awful! I told the doc I have it practically every damn day. So he said to take Claritin OTC or similar daily. He said even he uses Flonase daily because of it. I was taking a daily Claritin at one time, and while it helped, it didn't really solve it. So I may try Zyrtec or something else. I did take a Claritin earlier and it helped with my throat scratchiness.

If it hadn't been for the possible exposure to strep, I would've just waited. I've never had a problem waiting out a cold, and they typically only last two or three days for me anyhow.

[Chantsy 31]

Hey Bin. You answered a post of mine recently of a similar nature! I started with super sensitive salivary glands a week ago, no other symptoms for two days. Then the cold symptoms crept up-ugh. A week in and still fighting off the crude. It seems that the glands in our neck can get quite sensitive or enlarged when fighting off Illness. Hope you feel better soon!

[bin_tenn 1248]

8 hours ago, Chantsy said:

Hey Bin. You answered a post of mine recently of a similar nature! I started with super sensitive salivary glands a week ago, no other symptoms for two days. Then the cold symptoms crept up-ugh. A week in and still fighting off the crude. It seems that the glands in our neck can get quite sensitive or enlarged when fighting off Illness. Hope you feel better soon!

Hope you feel well soon! I'm feeling okay this morning, not quite as cruddy. Not messing with the lymph node this morning, but as far as I can tell without touching, it isn't as sore. I did take the Claritin yesterday afternoon and it cleared up a lot of what I was feeling.

[Jae 208]

Glad you got it checked out Bin. Lots of working parts in the head and neck.. most just annoying. 

My son's surgery was to remove a tumor on his submandibular salivary gland, that is the one you're talking about under your jaw. The BIG thing is... he had NO other symptoms, 0, nada, and no pain at all. 

Yours is clearly NOT the same. Yours, I am 100% positive is the annoying kind of issue. 🙂

[bin_tenn 1248]

1 hour ago, Jae said:

Glad you got it checked out Bin. Lots of working parts in the head and neck.. most just annoying. 

My son's surgery was to remove a tumor on his submandibular salivary gland, that is the one you're talking about under your jaw. The BIG thing is... he had NO other symptoms, 0, nada, and no pain at all. 

Yours is clearly NOT the same. Yours, I am 100% positive is the annoying kind of issue. 🙂

Oh yeah, I know it's a nuisance more than anything. I've always remembered that the concerning lymph nodes usually don't have other symptoms as well as no pain. I wasn't worried about that, I just didn't want strep.

How's your son doing?

[Chantsy 31]

 

1 hour ago, bin_tenn said:

Hope you feel well soon! I'm feeling okay this morning, not quite as cruddy. Not messing with the lymph node this morning, but as far as I can tell without touching, it isn't as sore. I did take the Claritin yesterday afternoon and it cleared up a lot of what I was feeling.

Thanks! Glad you are feeling well!

[Jae 208]

6 hours ago, bin_tenn said:

How's your son doing?

Thank you for asking, I really appreciate it. 🙂

He's doing well, healing nicely, it's not much more than a pink line on his neck which is amazing considering what he had done. Thankfully the nerves in the area were not damaged, one of the risks is drooping of lower lip ugh I was worried about that too. 

I'm still riddled with anxiety over it all, hopefully one day I'll calm down. I feel like we were all traumatized. 

hope you're feeling better 🙂

[bin_tenn 1248]

8 minutes ago, Jae said:

Thank you for asking, I really appreciate it. 🙂

He's doing well, healing nicely, it's not much more than a pink line on his neck which is amazing considering what he had done. Thankfully the nerves in the area were not damaged, one of the risks is drooping of lower lip ugh I was worried about that too. 

I'm still riddled with anxiety over it all, hopefully one day I'll calm down. I feel like we were all traumatized. 

hope you're feeling better 🙂

Ah, fantastic. I'm glad to hear that. It certainly could've had greater implications, but I'm glad it didn't. Hope his recovery continues well!

I am feeling better today. I may pick up some OTC Zyrtec and see how it does compared to the Claritin I'm currently taking. Until the past couple of years I've never dealt with anything related to allergies. First time for everything, huh? 😛

[LilyLabVA 56]

Hi Bin_Tenn, 

Sounds like you have got this sorted out but I wanted to let you know my husband had/has a salivary stone. It was confirmed by CT scan. Everytime he ate particular foods he would feel like a swelling sensation on the side of his jaw. He could feel a little knot there which turned out to be the stone on CT scan. If you need any other info I'd be glad to ask... this was several years ago but I remember both of us being very concerned at the time. It must have resolved itself over the months b/c I have not heard him complain about it for a few years now. 

[bin_tenn 1248]

4 minutes ago, LilyLabVA said:

Hi Bin_Tenn, 

Sounds like you have got this sorted out but I wanted to let you know my husband had/has a salivary stone. It was confirmed by CT scan. Everytime he ate particular foods he would feel like a swelling sensation on the side of his jaw. He could feel a little knot there which turned out to be the stone on CT scan. If you need any other info I'd be glad to ask... this was several years ago but I remember both of us being very concerned at the time. 

Thank you! My initial thought was a salivary gland stone because I didn't necessarily know there were lymph nodes in this location. Haha. Thanks for the info though. I'll try to remember it if I ever get something that doesn't fit this lymph node description. 😛

[Mark G 1176]

Glad you're doing ok, bin

[bin_tenn 1248]

1 minute ago, Mark G said:

Glad you're doing ok, bin

Yep, all good, thanks! Still haven't picked up any Zyrtec but life has been pretty crazy lately - a good crazy. So I haven't had much time. Haha. No worries though, I feel much better today.

Except I didn't sleep well last night. My own fault for staying up late watching a hockey game that ran until almost 11pm. Oops. 😛