Salivary Glands and RAI

[loonette]

Hi, I would like to know if anyone has experienced salivary gland problems associated with RAI.  I just experienced what I think is some kind of salivary gland attack.  What do you think?  After RAI (9/11/09), I experienced very thick saliva.  Of course, I drank lots of water and sucked on sour candies since I didn't want the horrors other people have talked about.  No problems really.  Then, on 1/11/10 I experienced the worst pain in my life on the right side of my face.  It began when I brushed my teeth.  I had a hard time spitting out the toothpaste because of the extreme pain.  Found out that I could not put any food in my mouth because of a shooting pain going from the lower jaw up to before the ear.  It caused this area to be tender and puffy.  I could talk, swallow, and make a chewing motion so it appeared it didn't have to do with TMJ.  No eating except water.  The second day, it moved to the left side with the right still being tender.  The third day, both were tender but getting better.  I massaged, did warm compresses, took meds.  I saw my dentist (thought teeth sensitivity), a nurse practioner who didn't know (GP didn't have any appointments until APRIL--that's another issue), and called endo (NO relationship to RAI).  Any thoughts on this would be helpful!!

[Barb135]

Sorry - didn't mean to leave you out; you are very much here and we appreciate your input very much.

[Totie]

Yes I am still around.

The surgery helped me. My ENDO at the time actually discovered my painful lump underneath the jaw line. She sent me back to my ENT with the diagnostic results & told me he did not take care of the issue to go back to her & she would. Prior to that I was always put on antibiotics, mouth wash & told drink plenty of water & suck on candy.  Nothing helped and I dealth with it for about 4-6 months.

My ENT did apologize about missing it completely.

I am in Central Texas.

[Barb135]

This is a very old thread and none of the above poster participate in the forum at this time.  

Your issues would get much more attention and be easier to respond to, if you would start a new thread of your own.  You can do that by clicking the orange "Post a Question" at the top of this page; you will get a blank form into which you can type your questions.  When finished, click the green "Post a Comment" button just beneath where you typed.

[ashleydckrsn1]

OMG!!  I thought that I was the only one!! I am 30 and I started having problems in my early 20's...the 2 holes under your tounge where saliva comes from gets clogged....if I maddage the knots that form under my neck on each side, there is a stringy white substance that comes out...it is sooo painful..went to a well-known hospital and they dismissed thyroid isues (Thank God)..diagnosed me with Salenditis..gave me pain meds and told me to drink water and suck on lemons.. DID NOT WORK!!!  sometimes they area between my neck and lower ear ewll up and get as hard asa rock...both sides of my neck are swollen now...it is so uncomfortable..I went to ENT to get help..sd that I need to drink water and suck on sour candy..I inquired about surgery...she sd that it is too risky and that it could damage my vocal box...i see that one of the responders has had surgery..I would like more information if possible bc Im too young too be in this much pain and not have any answers...

[stella5349]

tot -

Tell more about the removal. Where? who?

[stella5349]

Learn something new everyday... I had no idea you had those removed.

I am managing mine - but I will admit. Mine do hurt at time. In fact - have been pinching some lately too. I think stress does it for me too .

[Totie]

I had RAI done almost 15yrs ago along with TT.

I don't know if the salivary gland problem was in relation to the RAI or not, but I ended up having to have mine removed. I was told I had chronic salenditis (sp?). It was extremely painful to eat (right side).

My ENT did try different antibotics, but all those did was give me oral thrush..I am so much better now...

[nissah46]

Hi there, it absolutely does have something to do with RAI.  Does your endo specialize in thyroid cancer?  I had problems starting 6 months after my RAI.  It was on the left sometimes,  right sometimes, or both sides.  Did you have a high dose of RAI?  The higher the dose, the more chance of salivary gland damage.  It helps to massage the gland.  I now do not produce enough saliva, so must always have water while eating.  Some doctors don't recommend sucking on sour candies after RAI, but at the time I was told to, so I did. Now I wish I had left the candies at home, but its done.  Good luck
Trish