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Sharing experience with salivary stone in the submandibular gland

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stefanie73552
stefanie73552

Hello, I wanted to share my recent experience with a salivary stone in the submandibular gland. I will say my experience with these stones was fustrating and painful.  Although it can be excurcitingly painful, there is often no quick solution to it. The first time I experience the problem was about 3.5 years ago.  After eating, underneath my chin would swell for 45 minutes to a couple hours.  While the swelling was uncomfortable, I don't remember it as particularly painful.  I went to a number of ENT appointments and had an x-ray taken, but the ENT was never able to confirm the stone, although we both felt pretty confident it was the problem.  

I was put on predisone.  I wish the doctor would have gone into more detail about how this medication can affect you.  I had horrible side effects, including: headaches, auditory hallucinations, extreme mood swings, chills and general discomfort.  The predisone did not seem to clear up the stones immediately, but a couple weeks after taking it the problem did go away.  

The gland did not give me much of a problem the next 3 years.  It might swell with a single meal every 8-10 months, but nothing of note. This last weekend it began swelling after every meal like the old days.  On a Saturday, the fourth of July, the gland swelled and did not go down after eating.  I rarely drink and I was drinking that day, I'll personally say that I felt beer very much agravated the stone and was at least partially responsible for it getting infected. 

Sunday the gland stays inflamed, over the next 48 hours the beginning of what would be excruciating soreness and pain began. It spread to the other side of my neck/chin, throat, jaw gone, teeth and even what felt to be my ear by the end of it.  I also had discomfort and pain when swallowing.  I have since come to understand that the lingering swelling was caused by the infection.  There was puss coming out of the gland underneath my tongue, which was one clue to the infection. 

On Monday I went to the ER and then followed up with an ENT specialist.  I was placed on Keflex (antibiotic) and ibprofen, at that point I declined the predisone as I wasn't sure it had done much the last time and it caused horrible side-effects.  I was also instructured to suck on lemon drops, drink lots of water, apply a hot compress and massaged inside/outside of the mouth on the gland.  I did all of these things as religiously as I could.  My plan with the doctor was to regroup in a week after trying these things. 

Monday night/Tuesday morning I had extreme pain and started to feel a lot of anxiety about feeling this way for an entire week.  I called the doctor Tuesday morning and told her what I just wrote (I was extremely emotional from the pain and lack of sleep).  I decided to try the prenisone again and she wrote a script for pain management.  I will say calling my doctor was a very good decision, if you experiencing worsening of your symtoms, even if it is mostly increased pain, please call your physician and find a better plan of care.  She ordered a CT for early the next week too.  

I took the predisone around 2pm this afternoon.  I continued with the others instruction (lemon drops, warm compress, massaging gland, etc).  Pain seemed to get to a more managable level about 4 hours after taking the medication and another dose of ibprofen (600 mg), still a lot of discomfort though. Well about 6pm I begin pushing a LOT of pus out while massaging the gland, it just kept coming for about an hour.  At this point I could finally visualize the stone on the base of gland and was excited because I thought this meant the doctor would be able to remove it.  Luckily for me, it popped right out.  I could immediately feel the gland relieving some of the pressure and an hour later am experiencing  only some lingering swelling (much reduced) and tenderness on the outside of my neck/chin.  No pain when swallowing anymore.  No pain underneath the tongue.  

If anyone is ever dealing with a similar situation, I'd love to answer questions about when helped me.  I feel like I was really scared and anxious through this process and I'd like to help others that might be going through it. 

3 likes, 33 replies

33 Replies

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  • dave34908
    dave34908 stefanie73552

    Posted

    I have been experiencing this nightmare for 5  months now, back in December I went to the doctor with a swelling on my left cheek and under chin, I was prescribed antibiotics and they did help with the swelling but after 2 days i got a bad allergic reaction and my throats felt like it was closing plus severe anxiety it was bactrim ds 800 mg,  I called the doctor and discontinued the medication, I was fine for about 2 weeks then the swelling started all over again so went back to the doctor, gave me a week of erythromycin did nothing , I had CBC blood test showed liver enzymes a little high and cholesterol a little high, doc said to cut back on meat and fried food, I then had Ana, sed reactive and other test to check for lupus, athritis ,and other stuff came back normal, so I then had a ultrasound which found a probable reactive submental gland 1.5 cm, now I have a MRI scheduled and I'm super stressed, the swelling is always there gets worse after eating or doing heavy exercise, also noticed my chin and neck feel more stiff in the morning, my doc says she still suspects a salivary gland problem so we're are waiting for my MRI exam, I noticed that I drank alcohol and my swelling and stiffness really became worse , it felt like it was pressing against my throat and I also had trouble swallowing, all this has been a nightmare as I just want this to end and be treated, can you give me some advice on how to cope and lessen the sumptoms? Really appreciate it ...Dave 

    • deborah98936
      deborah98936 dave34908

      Posted

      Get a CT scan with dye contrast (pronounced "cat scan") and have the Ear, Nose and Throat specialist (ENT) remove the gland and stone(s) through surgery.

    • chelle4846
      chelle4846 dave34908

      Posted

      I'm having a similiar experience and had the exact same test done, which all my came back normal. My doctor told me I had a reactive lymph node in under my chin that reacts from my salivary glands swelling and not functioning properly. when my ducts get blocked I get this white slim that comes out of my ghb land under my tongue. My salivary gland swell after I eat something. I massage and apply a warm compress. Once the duct becomes unblocked the saliva along with the white slim squirts out and it's a relief. I've been dealing with this for 2 years and recently had to change my blood pressure medicine because it was a diuretic which was dehyrating me and contributing to my ducts becoming blocked. This has been very frustrating. and experiencing fear of your throat closing. I pray for a solution!

  • pityriasisitch
    pityriasisitch stefanie73552

    Posted

    Hi Stefanie

    I just wanted to say it was encouraging to read your experience as I was starting to get anxious. I have had blocked glands several times before but the pain was always mild.

    This time it is unbearable. I am on antibiotics and co-codemol for the pain but I have not yet been able to eat solids and I'm worried it doesn't seem to improve. Being in pain all the time and not being able to eat and sleep just makes me feel so trapped!

    Having read your story I am now trying warm compress and massage as no doctor mentioned that to me.

  • tracey72458
    tracey72458 stefanie73552

    Posted

    Hi ya I'm having trouble with this, I've been poorly for 5 weeks now, infection for 4 weeks and 4 lots of antibiotics, left side used to swell up only when eat, but now just stays swollen all the time the last 2 weeks, its all swollen in front of the ear and higher, behind my ear, back of head, one side of neck swollen too, I'm fever ish, and last two days getting bad head pains, I'm tried all the time, I'm waiting for appointment with ent but can take 1-2 months, I drink loads of water suck on lemons, heat on it, nothing helps 😞 And strangely I've never had any funny taste in mouth, I'm so fed up now, i just want to feel my self again 😞

  • Jeanlallie
    Jeanlallie stefanie73552

    Posted

    Hi, 

    I have to say coming across what you wrote brought a lot of relief.

    I had so my anxiety and panic over what I'm going through. I went to the ER and the doctor didn't even do an exam, she said I had a swollen lymph node because of a cold and I'd be fine. I tried to explain it's something more and that this has Never happened over me having a cold.

    I was just in my bathroom almost in tears from the pain and I opened my mouth to look and there went the puss.

    This is when I decided to look up things and I came across you.

    Literally every symptom you had I have and although I'm still in pain my anxiety is much relieved and I want to Thank You so very much!!!

    Do you think I need to go to a doctor or just continue on until I get it out? I'm pretty sure I'm close to that.

    Again thank you so much!!!

    Angela 

  • joshua39188
    joshua39188 stefanie73552

    Posted

    I Am currently going through this ever since I was five years old I would get a swollen gland from time to time doctors always said it was a lymph node that was just acting up until about a month ago when it never went down it first started out only when I ate but eventually got to the point when I was in constant pain I went to the doctors and they recently recommended an ultra sound I got that done and a 5mm stone me was confirmed suck on a Lemmon they said well I did and that was just agony again and again I was going to work working 9 to 10 hour shifts and was in complete agony and I work outside and my job is physically demanding and not being able to eat was a nightmare I’m at the point now where I can’t even swallow my own spit I had gone to the hospital countless times with no avail until yesterday they told me I could see an ent this morning I went and finally something is getting done I’m soon to have that new surgery to remove the stone words can’t explain how happy I am to finally have this coming to an end I went years thinking I had cancer or something seriously wrong I wish nobody had to go through this it is literal hell 
  • joseph1943
    joseph1943 stefanie73552

    Posted

    I’ve been dealing with saliva gland stone for years ,recently it caused an infection for the first time than took antibiotics and almost all of swelling is gone but some times when I eat it flares up but doesn’t hurt.I believe a medication I was taking caused the stones .did your stones eventually disappear?and the ENT Dr told me there were a lot of stones in the gland and removing them was impossible and suggested that I have the gland removed and scheduled surgery to have it removed than surgery was canceled .Can you replied to me and tell me if the stones you had are gone or not.thanks
  • Jponce719
    Jponce719 stefanie73552

    Posted

    Hi Stefanie,

    I am going through the exact situation you’ve had with salivary stones. I’m currently on prednisone which I was hesitant about but finally had to start it because of the swelling and pain. My ENT wants to keep me on the prednisone and plan for surgery in July to remove the gland completely which I am extremely anxious about and I’m not sure if this is the best approach.. After reading your story I can relate and I’m at ease that you were able to have resolution. I’m going to attempt your approach but wasn’t sure how often you did your massage and do I use lemon drops all day long, how often do I apply warm compress (which I have been but stopped every since I got on Prednisone because the pain and swelling reduced significantly)? I would greatly appreciate your feedback. Thank you. 

  • joseph1943
    joseph1943 stefanie73552

    Edited

    Had my right salivia gland removed on May 11th and feel great ,had been suffering with stones in the duck and gland about ten years and the Dr said I had ten years of junk in the gland and I have not experience any difference in salivia and I can eat much better .
  • Kari1983
    Kari1983 stefanie73552

    Posted

    WOW where did it pop out and how big was it? I had a 10mm stone in my left submandibular gland and the ENT said it would never be able to pass through... so I had my gland removed along with the stone obviously.

    I had experienced the same swelling problems for years and as the stone grew it kept getting worse! I thought it had something to do with my far back tooth the whole time. One day I was eating a brat and took one bite with banana peppers on it and BOOM my left side of my face was so backed up with saliva that my eye was even swollen shut a little. I don't think they would have ever found this stone without the other health issue I was having... tonsil stones! I went to and explained the new problems I was having with my tonsils to the ENT and he just didn't feel like it was all matching up. He thought I was having too many different symptoms and he did a CT scan and when I came back in for consultation I was told the following.

    1- I had tonsil stones/tonsillitis which would flare up on and off but wasn't URGENT

    2- I had a tumor/growth on my left tonsil

    3- I had a 10mm stone in my submandibular gland

    4- Everything had to come out

    I was scared and did a TON of research. I couldn't find much about the submandibular gland removal. I only found like 1 story online from a blogger who had the surgery done! I made it through the surgeries and recovery but WOW that was a long journey.

    I saved all my photos so I can look back at my CT scan, my tonsils before and after surgery etc. but I doubt that I will forget all of that anytime soon!

    Glad you are okay hopefully NO MORE STONES for you!

    • mat71169
      mat71169 Kari1983

      Posted

      Hi Kari, hope your well. Ive just posted my stone story, did you get just the submandibular stone or your whole gland removed? best wishes. Mat

  • julie73220
    julie73220 stefanie73552

    Posted

    Hi there, I have very similar thing with my left gland under my ear and a weird sensation in my throat (since last September) which I feel I have to move my neck to get relief, I did go to the ENT in January who did a nose scope and who assured me there was nothing wrong, but i still have these symptoms. This is very interesting, did you have any sensations in your throat with this, what were your symptoms. Its OK to be told there is nothing wrong, but what is it then. Thank you.

  • minal65657
    minal65657 stefanie73552

    Edited

    Hello Stephanie, My 10 year old son has a salivary gland stone in the submandibular gland. It started in May , during the first lock down. At first we thought it was mumps, but that was ruled out. His pain and swelling was almost with every meal then. However, he now only has mild pain and not very often at all. The presence of a stone was confirmed by ultrasound scan. The consultant radiologist attempted to remove the stone using a wire basket under local anaesthetic, but he couldn't get the stone out. The Consultant is going to try the same procedure again next week. In the meantime, I have been getting him to suck sour lemon sweets, but the stone isn't coming out. Please let me know what sweets you used , how many times a day and any other tips for removing the stone naturally. I would be so grateful to hear from you.

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