Salivary stones

[Kristian]

Does anyone else get salivary stones (and/or Partoid Gland stones) from the oral dryness?

Wondering if anyone has found any good solutions to this?

Thanks,

Kristian

[irish]

I had my right submandibular gland removed in 2009 due to it being so loaded with gravel which is basically different sizes of small stones like sand. Right now I have been struggling with my lingual glands having "sand" in them. I sometimes will chew and feel like I am chewing on an old fiberglass curtain....this is basically how chewing on sand feels to me. Sometimes I will have some larger sand but I have only had one time when I had ducts that  ppen when the glands are trying to move the sand or gravel through. A larger stone won't pass that is for sure.

The only thing I have done over the years is to drink a lot. I sip a lot all day and will put warm packs on my face and glands and gently massage them frequently as needed. Gargling helps with rinsing off the tonsils to get rid of stones. I irrigate my nasal passages almost every day and this helps to keep the thick mucus cleared out of the back of your throat whoch keeps things from stagnating and forming stones in weird places. Good luck. Irish

[cccourt1942]

Kristian:  yes I had "them" and was dxed with Sialadenitis with my first (and must have been the worst as it WAS first) attack.  The warm cloths or heating pad will become your new best friends.  When the pain is worse than childbirth, your duct is completely blocked and you are suffering a bacterial infection.  btw: I am referring to my parotids only for that much pain.  I have had sub mandibular or sublingual a few times.  It's hard for me to differentiate those as they weren't chonic as the parotids were.  I was dxed and treated by an otolaryngologist for 3 years.  In addition, my GP would treat me if the ENT wasn't available.  After I learned about the warm cloths, I was able to preempt them frequently.  I hadn't realized I had discomforts which were warning signs until after that first PAINFUL one.  I was dxed w' SjS at about the end of the 3rd year of seeing him.  He never suggested SjS.  He was almost as old as I am, and upon diagnosis I realized he probably didn't know what SjS was!

The warm cloths:  I preferred placing a washcloth (folded in quarters) dampen completely, placed in a baggie (popped open) and heated in the microwave.  It will come out HOT HOT.  I wrap it in a hand towel, and place on the area.  BE VERY CAREFUL IF YOU CHOOSE THIS METHOD.  I burned my neck more than once.  When I would have a complete blockage, the heat felt so wonderful.  The burned neck, not so much!!! 


Upside down/backwards J massage: This is my name for it.  You can google parotid massage.  This will help you so much.  Once I knew what it was, I would find myself doing this "exercise" routinely in the evening.  It helps a lot.

I continued to have them after I started on pilocarpine.  Over the years, they have practically stopped.  I have been told (NO MRI to diagnose this) all but one parotid are atrophied---hardened. I will have an attack a couple times a year.  I keep an Rx of Cephalexen for those infections.  The doctor has to see the extension of your jaw from the stopped up duct once to know it hurts.  btw: That "growth" can happen in less than a minute.  I've had numerous witnesses to my events!!  It never occurred to look at it until my daughter saw it once.  Scared her to death! 


I do have some little pangs from my left parotid a couple of times a year (supposedly atrophied) but it will pass with massage and/or heat. 


Good luck.  Remember, with SjS all these aggravations are a matter of management.  Problem is there are so many aggravations.  And remember:  each of us is different.

ccc

[warmwaters]

I've not actually had stones, but have had several infections in the parotid. Had an ENT who suggested pilocarpine, and that's helping. I haven't had an infection since I started, and much less swelling and pain in the parotid. About a year since I started the medicine.

[Joe S.]

I am still dry but a couple of years ago, I pulled a 1/4 inch diameter stone out of each side.

[Kristian]

Thank you for all of the great responses!  I will definitely try the warm washcloths out.  I take Exovac 5 times  a day as I produce about zero saliva, tears, or nasal moisture without it.  I am thinking a visit to the ENT might be a good idea to make sure I don't have nay infection and that it is just stones passing from the dryness.

Thanks for all of the good advice, I will need it as I am still in my 30's and have a long way to go :-)

I am looking into some oral rinses from Therabreath that are supposed to help in stopping the formation of stones in the salivary glands, fingers crossed.

Kristian