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Post by needtime2scrap on Jul 7, 2024 22:31:38 GMT
Sorry, this might be long! This has been the weirdest week for sure. Last Friday (9 days ago) I had a sore upper left jaw, like it felt like my bite was off. The next morning the pain shifted down to my lower jaw, constant ache. No tooth ache or any kind of sore that I could tell. Sunday everything starts swelling along my lower jaw. During this time I'm doing round the clock pain killers (Advil/Tylenol) and icing in between. I couldn't chew anything on that side. I decided that if it didn't get better by the next morning I'd go in to to emerg. which is what I did. Pain levels were high (9 without meds, with meds maybe down to a 7) my jaw is swollen so much that it even hurt to swallow (I have no tonsils for reference). So my dh takes me in, they give me IV antibiotics, anti-inflammatories after checking my blood work. My WBC is elevated but not super high, my C Reactive Protein is up there (58.8mg/L instead of the less than 10.0mg/L which is normal) Dr. books me an ultrasound to check lymph nodes/salivary glands. I get a Rx for pain meds and anti-inflammatories. No antibiotics. I asked about that and the nurse said no, just these scrips, your blood work was normal. I thought it was weird but went home. I take the meds as directed with absolutely no relief, in fact the swelling is worse, and now the lumps feel hard and warm.
I go for the ultrasound, then back to emerg like I was directed to. Ultrasound says enlarged lymph nodes, no problems with salivary glands. Meanwhile the swelling in my neck is super painful and warm to the touch. Saw a different doctor who was surprised that they hadn't given me antibiotics since the first visit. After blood work, he gives me 2 different ones via IV plus a Rx to have at home. WBC count was ok, C Reactive Protein was 198.2mg/L, and my neutrophil absolute was high, and lymphocytes were low. We have no idea where this came from or what the source is. All through this I haven't had a fever at all. I'm slowly getting a bit better but still the swelling isn't coming down, though its less painful and I'm able to eat a bit more. I really want to find out what this is because its so weird to have the swelling come on within 3 days and not have a source. I'm going to make a doctor's appointment to see if I can find out what caused this. I'm starting to suspect my thyroid because of this and other symptoms I've been having and want him to do a full workup for that but is there anything else that it could be? I have lots of family (5 of 9 aunts/uncles) with thyroid conditions including Hashimoto's (cousin + 2 of her kids) and thyroid cancer (cousin), my sister just got diagnosed with an autoimmune disease.
If you've gotten this far, thanks for reading, I'm just stumped at what this could be and its a bit scary to have this hard lump on the side of your face and not know what it is. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
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Post by krcrafts on Jul 7, 2024 22:45:25 GMT
My friend’s young daughter recently had swelling that sounds similar and it turned out to be strep. Hope you can find out some answers and you feel better soon.
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Post by librarylady on Jul 7, 2024 22:48:57 GMT
Infection in a tooth?
I would check with the dentist.
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Post by ScrapbookMyLife on Jul 7, 2024 23:01:55 GMT
Sounds like an infection deep in the tooth roots, spreading to jaw bone.
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seaexplore
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,887
Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
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Post by seaexplore on Jul 7, 2024 23:05:15 GMT
Not to scare you but when my DH had swelling in his lymph nodes it was cancer. That was his ONLY symptom. We thought it was an infection, went to the ER, he had blood tests, was given antibiotics, CT scan, sent home. Blood work was all in range. Follow up later that week, they did a punch biopsy and it came back melanoma. Please push for an answer!
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Post by needtime2scrap on Jul 7, 2024 23:12:24 GMT
I'm nit going to lie, cancer did cross my mind more than once. It's definitely not a tooth thing, that was one of the first things we checked.
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seaexplore
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,887
Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
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Post by seaexplore on Jul 8, 2024 0:35:49 GMT
I'm nit going to lie, cancer did cross my mind more than once. It's definitely not a tooth thing, that was one of the first things we checked. Do you have any risks? Smoker? Tobacco use? Past cancers? |
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pilcas
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,239 
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Post by pilcas on Jul 8, 2024 0:44:44 GMT
I had a swollen lymph node without fever or pain and it turned out to be an auto immune desease. No expert here but I would think the sudden pain is more indicative of infection than cancer.
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Post by jill8909 on Jul 8, 2024 2:27:27 GMT
Tell your doctor how this has affected your ability to sleep, eat, drink, go to work, etc. It's always important to paint a picture so that they take you seriously.
Could be gum disease, and autoimmune thing. Not sure but sending best wishes.
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Post by grammadee on Jul 8, 2024 2:33:06 GMT
Mumps? Sounds alot like my symptoms about 50 years ago. The old school doctor looked at me, put an index finger in each cheek where the mandables meet. I almost went through the roof. He laughed and said, "You, my dear, have the MUMPS!"
Don't know if they have a blood test for that now, but I would ask.
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Jul 8, 2024 3:46:41 GMT
Mumps? Sounds alot like my symptoms about 50 years ago. The old school doctor looked at me, put an index finger in each cheek where the mandables meet. I almost went through the roof. He laughed and said, "You, my dear, have the MUMPS!" Don't know if they have a blood test for that now, but I would ask. Aren't you supposed to try a pickle? Think I read it is awful pain. I speak from no experience!! Disclaimer: I have never had mumps and would never try a pickle!! |
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Jul 8, 2024 5:44:43 GMT
Mumps? Sounds alot like my symptoms about 50 years ago. The old school doctor looked at me, put an index finger in each cheek where the mandables meet. I almost went through the roof. He laughed and said, "You, my dear, have the MUMPS!" Don't know if they have a blood test for that now, but I would ask. Ask about Mumps!! needtime2scrap |
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RedSquirrelUK
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,922
Location: The UK's beautiful West Country
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Post by RedSquirrelUK on Jul 8, 2024 10:26:38 GMT
Mumps was my first thought too. Have you been vaccinated?
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Post by needtime2scrap on Jul 8, 2024 13:11:50 GMT
I've been vaccinated for mumps so I don't think it's that. No previous cancer and never smoked in my life. I have been exposed to second hand smoke for the first 18 years of my life till I left home. My mom was a smoker and tried to do smoke away from us kids but that can only do so much.
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Post by calgaryscrapper on Jul 8, 2024 15:00:00 GMT
Contact your Dentist again and ask for more X-rays to be done  |
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Post by grammadee on Jul 8, 2024 15:02:49 GMT
I've been vaccinated for mumps I would still ask. Unless you have had a booster shot in the last ten years. |
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Post by heckofagal on Jul 8, 2024 15:04:50 GMT
So the doctor confirmed it’s not a clogged salivary gland? I’d try sucking on some hard sour candies like lemon drops to see if that helps.
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Post by heckofagal on Jul 8, 2024 15:06:42 GMT
My DH was vaccinated too, but he most likely had a case of mumps a few years ago.
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peabay
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,941
Jun 25, 2014 19:50:41 GMT
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Post by peabay on Jul 8, 2024 15:08:10 GMT
I'm not a nurse or a health professional in any way - but that high a C reactive protein (based on googling) indicates an viral or bacterial infection. Let your brain go there instead of the big C.
Keep us posted!
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Post by crazy4scraps on Jul 8, 2024 15:14:48 GMT
My mom had similar pain on the side of her face. At first I thought it might be due to a recurrence of shingles but when I took her to the doctor it turned out to be an infected tooth that ended up needing to be pulled. My sister was supposed to take mom to the dentist every six months when she took her kids, and it turned out she hadn’t taken mom to a dentist in two YEARS! 😱
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Post by Lurkingpea on Jul 8, 2024 15:24:33 GMT
I would push for biopsy. I have a family member who never smoked, not around smokers who has lung cancer that presented as a sore in their mouth.
It is most likely something less terrifying, but I would be pushing for every test to be done. If nothing else the more they rule out the quicker they can find out what it is.
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Post by needtime2scrap on Jul 8, 2024 16:33:12 GMT
I'll definitely ask about mumps but would it only present on one side of your face? I would think that mumps would be both sides. So far no sores in my mouth at all but a dental follow up would be a good idea too.
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Post by kristi521 on Jul 8, 2024 17:25:28 GMT
I know you mentioned thyroid possibility, but I have Hashimotos. I have done the swing from hypo to hyper and have never had any symptoms like you have described.
I hope you get answers, and relief, soon. That sounds like a pain to deal with.
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Rhondito
Pearl Clutcher
MississipPea
Posts: 4,853
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Post by Rhondito on Jul 8, 2024 17:35:00 GMT
I'll definitely ask about mumps but would it only present on one side of your face? I had mumps on one side at a time. I know you mentioned thyroid possibility, but I have Hashimotos. I have done the swing from hypo to hyper and have never had any symptoms like you have described. My daughter has Hashimotos and she hasn't had these symptoms either. I hope you find an answer soon! |
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Post by mom on Jul 8, 2024 17:44:26 GMT
Im sorry you've having to go thru this! It sounds scary!
I am voting that you need more x-rays for something dental going on. Autoimmune issues would be my next guess.
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Post by lurker on Jul 8, 2024 18:17:02 GMT
That sounds awful - hope you get some answers soon.
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Post by calgaryscrapper on Jul 8, 2024 18:56:39 GMT
My husband lost his hearing on one side of his face to mumps when he was a child.
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seaexplore
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,887
Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
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Post by seaexplore on Jul 8, 2024 19:23:43 GMT
I've been vaccinated for mumps so I don't think it's that. No previous cancer and never smoked in my life. I have been exposed to second hand smoke for the first 18 years of my life till I left home. My mom was a smoker and tried to do smoke away from us kids but that can only do so much. You can ask to have your titers ran. This will show immunities. If you're not immune to everything you should be, ask to be vaccinated for it - once you figure out what's going on. |
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Post by grammadee on Jul 8, 2024 19:41:51 GMT
I'll definitely ask about mumps but would it only present on one side of your face? I would think that mumps would be both sides. Mine was just the one side. |
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ddly
Pearl Clutcher
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Jul 10, 2014 19:36:28 GMT
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Post by ddly on Jul 8, 2024 19:47:35 GMT
I had a high C-reactive protein and send rate for over a year. Two weeks after doing new labs in mid June, I was diagnosed with Lyme disease. Never in a million years would I have guessed that was what I had. I was convinced it was Lupus.
This all started last year when my knee got so swollen and painful I couldn’t bear weight on it. Went to urgent care where they did a D dimer test because they were worried it was a blood clot. High D dimer, no clot. The following week I had my whole body cat scanned. D dimer stayed high. Dr. couldn’t find an hematologist to see me. Fast forward a year and I had some new symptoms. She did new bloodwork including a Ca 125, CRP, Sed rate, Rhuematoid factor and ANA screening. CA 125, Rheumatoid factor and ANA were all normal. CRP and Sed rate were high plus she had added Lyme. She mentioned it but I didn’t give it much thought. My AB Igm was negative and my AB Igg was positive and I was reactive to 9 out of 10 bands. We think I’ve had it for at least 2 years.
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