THIS TIME - I am asking for help again!

[stella5349]

I was trying to find the words on how to ask this of all of you. I didn't want to sound weak or anything like that - but .....

I need some help from our community,

I went to the UW hospitol Monday morning and got some answers I have been longing for - for about 6 yrs since this whole thyroid thing took hold of me.

As some know - I have had chronic swelling under my right jaw - whicjh I keep chalking up to a lymph node enlargement. I was on every antibiotic in the world I think and of course I had no infection.

I believe what was said yesterday has finally unlocked the swelling - yet it is permanent damage now.

After my RAI ablation for Graves - no one told me about the excessive flushing we are to do after that procedure. What happened (through the ultra sound I had yesterday) The iodine concentrated very heavily on my right side of the thyroid bed - it is no bigger than a piece of yarn on the scan and since I took in so much on that side my saliva gland on the right side was also scarred. Due to that scarring and now after 6 years later I know have something called Thyroid; radiation sialadenitis.

If you can - please read this link http://jada.ada.org/cgi/content/full/138/12/1582.

What I am looking to ask from all of you - is I need to see if I can at least find out how I can suppress the pain of this swelling gland/node.

I am begging for suggestions here and hope some can offer me suggestions on how I can stop this swelling.

Two years now - I have had this discomfort in my neck and it is starting to show on the outside with my appearance. See me photo and there is visuable evidence that I have this swelling on the right side of my neck.

The gland was measured to be about the size of a jumbo egg - maybe a tad longer - and that was on a "good" day. Sometime it is twice the size and it becomes most uncomfortable as it is today.

Again - any suggestions on how to keep this at bay for me would be great. Yet if anyone has a "solution" to RID it entirely - I'm up for that too :)

Thanks

[laura1967]

Heh Stella....I would try some moist heat over the area, and maybe try some natural anti-inflammatory such as Tumeric, etc. If you stop at the health food store, ask them what blend of natural anti's they have. I like Ayurvedic combinations too!

[blksapphire]

Hello Stella.  
You have come to the right place.  Our home!
You do so much for us.

Ditto on that Happy Dance for you!!!!  I will do some research and see if I can find out any ideas/suggestions to help you.
I am in the link and do more searching.

BTW... I see my endo tomorrow because I have a "elephant leg" swelling on the right side of my neck.  Not a pretty site.

Keep us posted Stella and let me know what I can do to help.

Terri

[4helen]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16910918?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_Discovery_RA&linkpos=3&log$=relatedarticles&logdbfrom=pubmed


http://pt.wkhealth.com/pt/re/ordi/abstract.00044299-200609000-00007.htm;jsessionid=J1TW1FBrDyKrtc8pFQLVJ1v0hLNr1wG3GxBd1TnPD1HzYzhf0sWg!136317464!181195628!8091!-1

Hiya S---Sorry to hear of this complication----don't know if these links will help but they mention a procedure of 'sialoendoscopy' which sounded plausible.  : )

[MKlacza]

Just googling some info on this disorder for ya...

http://www.kfkronenberg.com/Sialadenitis-Eng.pdf

[KD9ER]

Stella--

Happy Dancing too!  I'm glad you finally have a diagnosis.  Sad that there seems to be no relief.  I'll do some research for you to see what I can come up with.  Have you tried C's suggestion with that cream?  Capsasin would be another along that line which may provide some relief.  It works for my achy joints when my Hypo is going nuts.  ***hugs***  

I'll let you know what I find.  :)  Right now I'm off to sleep (maybe...I'll be trying really hard) as I need to be up in less than 5 hours.  Wee...  :)  "I love this crazy, tragic, sometimes almost magic, awful, beautful (^insert Thyroid) life!"

-K

[mommy2two2008]

Stella - I know Totie had her submandibular (also called submental) gland removed not too terribly long ago... are they not saying its an option?

Too strange that you have this going on.... I have been having the same symptoms (swelling of other glands apart from the thyroid: submandibular, neck node, and parotid/ear) for the last year, w/o RAI.  I feel for you dear, I know its he//!

In fact, I am on my 4th round of antibiotics in the last 10-11 months for the same problem.