Was "Cellulitis blows,"now, "Parotid problems"

[George K]

@brenda said in Cellulitis blows..:

Improvement yet, George?

Marginally better. Just marginally. No fever, but the entire parotid gland is still swollen and painful.

Able to sleep alright?

No. Because of my neck arthritis, I'm a side sleeper. Can't sleep on the right side because of pain. Went to bed at 10, up at 1 for 2 hours, slept from 3 to 5.

Anything that makes the face or head hurt is miserable?

Any pressure on it. Moving it.

A twist in the tale. My ENT called last night to ask how I'm doing, and I told him what I mentioned above. He wants to switch antibiotics - he was disappointed when I told him I was on Augmentin. So, that's the plan for today.

Additionally, there's a cause for concern on the CT:

Sam (the ENT) says he wants things to quiet down wrt infection and then follow up with a CT with infusion.

[Mik]

What did he put you on?

[George K]

@Mik said in Was "Cellulitis blows,"now, "Parotid problems":

What did he put you on?

We're going to switch to clarithromycin, I believe.

[Mik]

I'd suggest 5-10 mg oxycodone at bedtime. Less pain = more sleep.

[Doctor Phibes]

Ugh, this sounds miserable. Hopefully you can get some relief soon.

[Catseye3]

Yes, me too. So sorry you're having to go through this.

EDIT: It's good how your ENT friend seems to be working to avoid parotid surgery.

ANOTHER EDIT: Very important to drink your water. From experience, I know how hard it is to remember to do that. I try for a cup of water every hour, and set the oven timer to remind me. This works very well, when I remember to set the oven timer.

[mark]

So sorry you are going through this, George. Hope you get some sleep too. I like Mik's prescription.

[jon-nyc]

Ugh. I hope this resolves quickly.

[kluurs]

Crap - sorry to hear this. This is why people don't like to see specialists. They tell you the thing you're worrying you have isn't bad enough. I hope the hydration stuff works. I second the idea of massage .

[Rich]

All pain sucks...but pain that prevents rest sucks X 1000.

Hoping they're able to take care of this asap.

[Jolly]

@Mik said in Was "Cellulitis blows,"now, "Parotid problems":

I'd suggest 5-10 mg oxycodone at bedtime. Less pain = more sleep.

Man's a gas passer, wife is a trained ICU nurse. After she gets the IV line in, the possibilities expand exponentially.

[George K]

I have started IVs at home...

Just sayin'.

[Jolly]

@George-K said in Was "Cellulitis blows,"now, "Parotid problems":

I have started IVs at home...

Just sayin'.

Cats don't count.

[Mik]

Are you kidding? Would you rather start an iv on a human or a cat?

[George K]

@Mik actually, when I euthanized Oscar (our pug) in 1991, I started an IV on him.

[Mik]

Still easier than a cat.

[taiwan_girl]

@George-K :couple_with_heart:

sending positive thoughts to you!!

[brenda]

Oh, George, I am so sorry to hear this. Best wishes for relief and sleep.

[George K]

@taiwan_girl and @brenda thank you!

I'm about 75% better than I was on Sunday. Swelling is remarkably less. It was up to the top of my ear at its worst. Now it's just below the earlobe, and about the size of a thick, thick, half-dollar. If I massage it, I can taste something like pus coming out, so it is certainly draining well.

I still, on occasion, have a generalized feeling of "not well." Like when you get the flu, and you want to cuddle under a blanket.

The most common cause of a blocked salivary duct is a stone - sialolithiasis. However, my CT didn't show a stone. That could be because the stone is radiolucent (doesn't show up on x-ray) or because there's something else obstructing the duct from the outside.

And that's where the word "neoplasm" scares me.

I have an appointment with a head and neck surgeon on the 11th.

Once this all settles down, I imagine the process will be

1. Repeat CT scan (or MRI) to assess the neoplasm/mass
2. Do a FNA (fine-needle aspiration) to determine its nature
3. If benign, then either ignore it, hoping this doesn't happen again.
4. If benign, then do something to prevent it from recurring. Either put a stent in the salivary duct to keep it open, or remove the mass in surgery.
5. If it's not benign, then a parotidectomy is in order. Removal of the entire parotid gland. It's a major procedure which has, as its major risk, damage to the facial nerve which can cause paralysis on that side of the face.

Gonna be an interesting month, to say the least.

Look at this picture, and the parotid gland. Yeah, it was yuge. I couldn't sleep on my right side, and even touching the skin over the gland was painful

[Jolly]

Well, you're getting better and that's good! Now we just need some good healing prayers and thoughts.