HELP=-Need Surgery to remove stone in parotid gland

[ktfabian]

I've been in pain in the area of my left parotid gland for most of the week.   Tues. we went to one of two ER's in area  who took care of another problem I was having, but said they didn't have the means to answer the huge pain in the side of my face and muscle in neck, that I would have to call my  rheumatologist, which I did the next morning, but as is usual lately, I got no return call.  We saw our family doctor Wed., who also referred me to my rheumtologist, who still hasn't returned call.

By 3am last night, the pain was 10 on 1-10 scales, and I asked my husband to take me to the other ER in the area, who, low and behold, did a scan of my gland whic showed a stone too big to be move on through the gland by itself.  They didn't recommend a surgeon, but said something about it being removed by canulization (my DH remembers this, I was out on a combination of diaudid and valium).

So, who does this?  My rheumy is in Philadelphia, about  hours away, and is running 2-3 weeks behind on answering call-in questions. I called another rheumy who was recommended in my area, but he has no openings before July, and his receptionist said he wouldn't do this, and she didn't have a name of a surgeon he'd reffered.  I called my family doctor,but at this point, I'm not sure how informed she is on this topic or whether she could refer me to someone.

In the meantime, I hurt, hurt and then hurt somemore.  Can anyone suggest the type of surgeon I should be looking for?

Thanks, Tracy

[lighthouse33]

I would say from what I've read on the Internet it sounds an ENT (Ear Nose and Throat) doctor would do the surgery.  Here is a link to where they talk about the stones.  They don't mention the type of doctor though.

http://www.familydoctor.co.nz/index.asp?U=conditions&A=32843

Here is a website for head and neck surgeons at a CV / ENT Surgical Group that does the salivary gland surgery

http://www.cvsurgicalgroup.com/services/head-neck-surgery/salivary-gland-surgery/

[Scottietottie]

Hi Tracy 

Sorry you need surgery but with any luck you can get it done and over soon and end up in less pain. ENT sounds about right to me.

Take care - Scottie 

[jonnell]

Hi Tracey sorry you are in so much pain,  here is a hug from Jenna and I

[missyb]

definately an ENT

[Epson]

I saw a video where and ENT removed the stone through the salivary gland with a scope and what look like a very thin wire, no cutting no stitches. 

[irish]

Tracy, Call your GP and talk to his nurse. Tell her what has been going on. If you have to call the medical record department at the hospital where they x-ray and diagnosis of the stone was done. Have them fax you a persmission slip for you to sign so they can send the copy of x-ray to your GP. Get the GP to refer you to ENT ASAP. If you have to tell the nurse you demand to see the doc today! You need to be seen ASAP and treated with antibiotics and whatever til you are able to get to the ENT.

Gosh darn, I get so darn sick of jumping through the hoops. As a nurse I know what the hoops are, but I still get sick of having to do this. I get on my high horse and just keep calling until I get some action. I figure medicare, insurance and my pocketbook over the years have put a lot of doctors kids through college the least they can do is pay attention. Irish

[Patze]

Here, here Irish!!!!  I applaud you!!!!!!  I feel your anger as I too see members just miserable because their doctors only want to do the minimum.  I wonder what the doctors would do if we only pay them the minimum instead of what they charge?  Think that might get them to pay attention?

Hi Tracy, the others are so right, call the doctors office or his service (being the weekend and all), but you don't need to be in this kind of pain for a minute longer than it takes the doctor to either prescribe a pain killer or refer you to an ENT that can take you on as soon as possible?

I too would see an ENT for this kind of issue.  Can you call your local hospital and explain your situation and see if they will recommend an ENT maybe?  

Hang in there and I hope you find some relief soon!  Please keep us updated, okay?

Take care -

Patze

[kimbo]

Oh Tracy,

So sorry you are in such pain.

Yeah.... What Irish said.

Sooo aggravating that the medical community are the worst at returning calls. Especially when you are in such medical need.

Please keep us posted.

Prayers and hugs kimbo

[ktfabian]

Well-

It's been quite a week.

I still have my stone, I see a surgeon next week.  I could have seen one this past Monday, but the Friday before, my family doctor sent me back to the ER where the stone was discovered and told me there would be surgeons on over the weekend there who would take care of it.(this hospital is part of a large system and the area's trauma center)

After waiting 9-1/2 hours to be seen, I was treated by a very arrogant doctor who said there was no one who would take care of a parotid stone on the weekend.  By this time, though, the pain in my leg from the heel spur and the pain from the stone were SO outrageous, he did give me 2 shots of dilaudid.  When the oxygen levels in my blood started to drop to where the nurse felt I needed extra oxygen, the doctor told her no and to send me home.  He never came back to see how I was doing.

I'm sure you can imagine all the other germs and such running around the ER waiting room in the 9+ hours I was there.  I tried to wear a mask and sit in a little room away from everyone, but something got to me.  By Sat. afternoon I was so sick to my stomack and had diahrea.  By Sunday night,I was vomitting just bile and some nausea and pain medicine I had tried to take.  My throat was burning so badly - I couldn't sip water without gagging,  so off we went to the ER for an IV, potasium and IV Zofran to calm things down.  That was  a week ago, I  finally was able to start eating a little bit at a time today.

Now though, I'm coughing again with nice green, yucky sputum.  Called the family doctor's service and the doctor is putting me on Erythramycin, which is very hard on my stomach.  I'm allergic to  many antibiotics, so he doesn't feel he has many choices.  Hopefully, this will stop the infection before I get pneumonia again like I had early last month.

I did see the foot doctor for the heel spur and he's given me inserts for my shoes that help.  Hopefully I can dump the bronchitis or whatever it is before I see the surgeon on Thursday.

In the meantime, I believe my butt has been welded to our living room couch, because that's where I've spent the last week.

Thanks for the kind words and good information, Tracy

[irish]

Tracy, Sorry to hear that you had such a lousy week. Man, 9+ hours waiting to be seen in ER. Unbelieveable.

Chances are you are having all these infections because of the stone in your gland. It is probably chronically infected and draining bacteria that you are swallowing and causing you to have a gastritis (infection or at least bad irritation of your gut) plue the pneumonia and bronchitis. Get the darn thing out and I bet you will feel better. Make sure you find out from ENT doc how badly the gland was infected. Also, ask him if he thinks this gland is going to need to be removed down the road.

If the gland is chronically infected and is not secreting saliva it may have "bit the dust" as they say.Good luck. Make sure to drink a lot of fluid so that the gland is able to drain if possible. Irish

[Irishgirl61]

Perhaps a head and neck surgeon may be some one that you want to consult with.

[Redetha1]

I have your answer-- been there, done that.  Surgery is done by ENT doctor.  The surgery was easy for me.  They put me to sleep, opened up the duct, and removed the stone.  Doctor also stretched the duct to help improve the flow of saliva.  I had three stones in mine.  Should be done ASAP.  The surgery did not cause me any problem.  Done inside of mouth and  I was fine in a couple of days.   Gave me antibiotics, etc and it was soon over.  Was a great relief.  Good luck. Hugs, Redetha

[Katybarstool]

Hi Tracy

I'm on Erythromicin too at the moment - the GP gave me a gastro protective one.Perhaps you could ask about that if you need an antibiotic in the future.

Sorry to hear you habe been having such a rough ride, and hope it passes soon.

Kathyx

[ktfabian]

Irish-

You answered a question I was just about to ask - why am I getting infection after infection?  I see the surgeon on Thursday and I will be sure to ask him about this.

Redetha- Thanks for the info on the procedure.

The swelling has gone down quite a bit around the parotid gland, but you can still see it.  I saw my family doctor yesterday and she was surprised at how much it had gone down without any intervention except and antibiotic and steroids.  She took pity on my stomach and switched me to Zithromax from the Erythromycin.

Thanks for all of your thoughts, Tracy