swollen glands and ear pressure

[bubbles328]

i feel like a hamster or a squerrel today.  and i can't even spell that!  it's been a few days, actually.  my glads right under my jaw bone, and ones right in front of my ears are so swollen.  they are sore and feel puffy--more puffy than normal, that is (they've been enlarged/swollen most of my life).  it hurts to move by head.  my face (sinus area) hurts too, but i am not congested nor do i have a runny nose.

my ears feel pressure, too.  and i know i don't have a cold because i just had one about 10 days ago.  i even went to the doc to rule out strep, and rule out a bacterial infection.  i then had to go to the ENT to get my ear vaccuumed out because it got clogged.  sorry if TMI.

anyway, back to feeling like a hamster.  i called the rheum and they moved my June appointment to next week.  what can i do in the meantime?

[Piebird]

Are you sure you dont have a secondary infection from your cold?

I am dealing with similar stuff right now. I am starting to think I might have a sinus infection. I never have any nasal discharge so it is always hard to tell. TMI.

[Cricket]

Try a rice sock or heating pad, sometimes that helps along with massage of the partoid gland.  Sometimes it has to just go away on it's own.

Hope you feel better soon.

[eye2dry]

Bubbles328

I have the swelling too but is only in front of my left ear. You can't see it but when you put slight pressure you can move over it, smooth and hard, doesn't hurt unless I apply pressure. I was hoping mine was d/t allergies, recent surgery on that side of face in march,etc...My PCP felt it 2 weeks ago and said it needed to be seen by ENT.

Do you get it often and does yours reslove by itself? I have never had a swollen node or gland and do not know. I have waited a month now...I see ENT tomorrow for it.

eye2dry

[bubbles328]

I don't feel a separate node or anything, just general fullness and ache in those areas.  I hope I don't need to see the ENT, I just went there with the ear!  Plus it takes months to get in with that office!  I should know, I am a frequent flyer with my sinus issues.

I hope it isn't a secondary infection!  I don't have a fever or any of the other infection symptoms...

[irish]

When your glands swell up under your chin they tend to place pressure on the eustachian tubes. These are the tubes that drain the fluid out of your ears. When they press on these tubes the pressure builds up in your ears and makes you feel like your head is as big as a basketball.

I have suffered from this for about 17 years. I have had some really bad ear infections. I also will have a lot of discomfort. I have a nasal spray from my ENT that helps some. Astelin spray and also Flonase which is a steroid spray. I try not to use them both on the same day. They both cause some drying of the tissues.

I have had to have tubes put in my ears about 4 times now. Sometimes they fall out on their own and I am usually improved and don't need them again. I had a titanium tube placed once that was to be permanent but it got overgrowon with tissue and the hole plugged up. They removed that and just let me go. I did ok. Right now I probabaly have a little hole in my ear drum and I have to put in a special plug to prevent water from getting in my ear when I shower and wash my hair.

I think that this swelling of the nasal tissues and the tissues of the salivary glands is an ongoing thing. They can't remove all the weird swollen salivary glands. We have to learn to deal with it. I use heat, massage and often a ibuprofen will help with the inflammation just enough to help decrease the pain in my ears. Good luck with this and don't let it get you down. Irish