I was recently diagnosed with sjodren’s and I would like to better understand my particular flare ups. The most troublesome thing is the swelling of my salivary glands. They swell so much my face looks distorted and the pain. It does occur on both sides but not at the same time. Sometimes it will feel a little tender and then while chewing, there will be a sharp pain and the swelling begins instantly. The swelling is usually bad, but this last time it was pretty extreme. Can someone explain what is happening?
I wish I could help you but I don’t understand this disease at all. I was diagnosed in march and I have no clue. I don’t even know what a flare up is. Does ice packs help with the swelling?
We have had a discussion about painful glands a little while ago- there might be some info to help you. Certainly massaging your glands may help so that you don't get blockages and then infections. Here's the link:
Hope this helps!
1 Like
I get the glands in the throat under the con swelling (or pain and tenderness) but for me its usually the sign that a flair is happening. The massages Jules mentioned do help a lot too.
I was diagnosed with sjogrens 4 years ago. My main complain was horrible swelling in my salivary and parotid glands. So painful, that it hurt to chew. The first few bites of food would cause excruciating shooting pain in my jaw, and the swelling in my parotid glands and salivary glands would get as large as a large marble and would hurt to turn my neck. Sometimes it was one side effected and sometimes both.
First, before the connection was made that I had sjogrens, I was given rounds of antibiotics, which did work, temporarily, then after a few weeks the swelling would come back. It is a prime symptoms of this illness. Once I was finally diagnosed, after putting many years of symptoms together, I was able to start treating it effectively. Still acts up occasionally, but not nearly as often as originally. Still experimenting with different meds, I have not had much luck with anything but prednisone, but don’t want to be on it forever. Most of the other meds I have had serious side effects or reactions to. So at this point, it’s prednisone, but I can manage it on about 7.5 mg per day, which is considered a very low dose.