Glandular pain?

[Sharon]

I've had pain that comes and goes in my upper neck glands for awhile now
and now inner ear pain has begun to come and go as well. Usually in the evening.
Is this common in SJS or might it be an infection or something even more serious?
I'll be going to the doctor with this of course, but I need to know how to guide him
or I may end up leaving with nothing but a shrug from him.
THANKS!

[Joe S.]

I do not know if it is common with Sjogren's but it is with me. That is why I suggest a polar Fleece Mumps scarf. <(")

(It should be a penguin)

[irish]

I have had a lot of the ear pain and gland swelling over the years. I don't swell up huge like many people do but I swell up enough to cause some misery. What happens is the swelling causes pressure on the ducts that drain the salivary glands and this causes more swelling in these glands which can press on the eustachion tubes. This prevents the ears from draining off fluid ad can cause some pain.

It helps to place warm heat on your glands for awhile several times a day and then gently massage them to help loosed up the thick mucus that is plugging things up. Sometimes we do get an infection and usually this can end up with some miserable pain plus feeling ill and having a temperature and chills. You just have to learn to know the signs your body is showing you.

I have had a couple of bad ear infections in my later years and had tubes in my one ear 4 different times because of the swelling and accumulation of fluid after infection. This is on the side of my face that generally has the most swelling. Good luck with your doctors visit. Irish

[Sharon]

Thanks guys.

irish- The neck gland swelling is happening like clockwork every evening.
Do you think it's worth taking antibiotics to see if it helps?
How do I know these aren't signs of lymphoma?
I feel unwell all the time with various symptoms so it's hard to know what's what.

[irish]

I have no idea if antibiotics will help, but I do know that the swelling will increase during the day. Remember that every time we eat we stimulate the glands to produce saliva and what saliva is produced can back up. During the night with no food being eating the glands have a chance to catch up. Yopu probably need to go to your doc and have the glands checked and ask about antibiotics. Generally if there is infection a person will be really miserable and have pain that is higher on the pain scale. Once you have an infection you are better able to identify it the next time.

I know what yoyo mean about feeling unwell every day. I do too and have been this way for so many years that I don't remember feeling well. Try and explain that to a healthy person. lol

As far as lymphoma, that is always in the back of our minds and the docs should be aware of it also. You might have to remind them occasionally. Generally lymphoma results in swelling that does't go down, night sweats, low grade fevers., etc. The thing is, even though we are at higher risk for lymphoma we are no worse off than the general public now. The world has used Round Up chemicals for so many years that there is a great increase of people who are getting lymphoma. This in itself makes the doctors more on the lookout for lymphoma. Don't worry about it cause life can pass you by if you spent your energy worrying. Just live the best you can and take what comes. That is all any of us can do. Good luck. Irish

[Sharon]

Thanks irish, sometimes I think only sjoggies can understand sjoggies.
I think lymphoma has become more of a concern for me since beginning the Orencia
since it can increase the risk.

[quietdynamics]

How to Massage Salivary Glands./ Instruction/Pictorial/ Sjogrens
https://sjogrensworld.org/index.php?topic=22171.msg236146#msg236146

With most pain.. it is there during the daytime; we feel it more at night as life quiets down.
Watched granddaughter play and then complain of her swimmers ear at bedtime (quiet time with no distractions), just when we really need to sleep.. ugh.

There are recommendation to remember to stay hydrated to keep saliva thin.. so perhaps in summer a bit more water.
I also brush the inside areas of mouth when I brush my teeth .. to massage and hopefully keep clear small ducts. Can't hurt and I am already there, and brush tongue. I like Arm and Hammer toothpaste. Periodically can make a baking soda/peroxide paste for cleaning.

A Dr. appt. may be on the horizon.

[Sharon]

Thanks quietdynamics, those are good suggestions.
Still not certain what's going on.
These symptoms flared up with the biological Orencia I'm currently taking.

[vrystaat]

SS gives inflammatory changes in the salivary glands. Clinically severe cases of Sjögren's syndrome show the most marked histologic change. Large numbers of plasma cells are found in small foci Later in more severe cases foci of lymphocytes are found, and in larger foci. So it mainly involves the interstitium of the gland. This causes pain and enlargement. Only steroids and other immune suppressants can help.

[warmwaters]

I have it too, but in runs in 2-3 week long stretches.  I have also had several parotid infections, which were cleared up by antibiotics.

Just what you are describing - swollen glands and pain in the ears. Sometimes quite severe.

One piece of advice my doctor gave me was to eat lemon drops.  That stimulates saliva flow. That turned out to be bad advice, as I definitely had blockage, and it hurt a LOT.