Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Swollen Salivary Gland? Anyone Have?

Sarah8793

By Sarah8793
in Related Issues & Disorders

Recommended Posts

Sarah8793 Enthusiast
Sarah8793
Posted

For about 3 months now I have noticed that I have this swollen gland in my neck. Saw the ENT today and he thinks it is a swollen salivary gland. He mentioned Sjogren's disease as a possibility but I don't have ANY of the other symptoms. Interestingly I have been getting gluten accidentally for several months and have now discovered the source and eliminated it. I'm wondering if this swollen salivary gland is an inflamation due to the gluten. Any thoughts? Has anyone else had this as a symptom and had it go away on its own? My ENT wants to do a CAT scan to gather more info. on it and make sure there aren't any lymph nodes involved with it. Any thoughts? Thanks!!

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Gemini Experienced
Gemini
Posted
For about 3 months now I have noticed that I have this swollen gland in my neck. Saw the ENT today and he thinks it is a swollen salivary gland. He mentioned Sjogren's disease as a possibility but I don't have ANY of the other symptoms. Interestingly I have been getting gluten accidentally for several months and have now discovered the source and eliminated it. I'm wondering if this swollen salivary gland is an inflamation due to the gluten. Any thoughts? Has anyone else had this as a symptom and had it go away on its own? My ENT wants to do a CAT scan to gather more info. on it and make sure there aren't any lymph nodes involved with it. Any thoughts? Thanks!!

You may still have Sjogren's even though you do not have the other symptoms, such as dry eye and mouth. My niece used to swell up like the Hindenburg on one side of her face and none of the doctor's she saw had a clue. She had no other symptoms. Then, I was diagnosed with Celiac and I knew I had Sjogren's because I had terribly dry eyes and mouth. I asked to be tested and it was positive.

I told my sister, mother of my niece, about my diagnosis and told her that her daughter had Sjogren's....I was positive she did. Sure enough, she tested positive also. She is a young girl, 22 years old, and I have noticed that the younger people tend to not have as much problems with eye and mouth symptoms in the beginning. As you age, things become drier anyway and that's when I stated to exhibit more pronounced symptoms. Sjogren's behaves very much like Celiac, symptoms vary wildly and to degree's of discomfort.

Another tell tale sign is dental problems so if you have that, it might very well be Sjogren's. Have the blood test for antibodies done. They are called SS-A and SS-B. If elevated, you have Sjogren's.

Sarah8793 Enthusiast
Sarah8793
Posted
  • Author
Have the blood test for antibodies done. They are called SS-A and SS-B. If elevated, you have Sjogren's.

Thanks Gemini for this information. My ENT is reccomending a CAT scan with and without contrast dye for this Monday. I'm wondering if I should still do that or if having the blood work done first would be less invasive? He did mention doing bloodwork after the CAT scan. Is there a cure for Sjogren's disease? Is it dangerous our just annoying? Thanks!

Gemini Experienced
Gemini
Posted
Thanks Gemini for this information. My ENT is reccomending a CAT scan with and without contrast dye for this Monday. I'm wondering if I should still do that or if having the blood work done first would be less invasive? He did mention doing bloodwork after the CAT scan. Is there a cure for Sjogren's disease? Is it dangerous our just annoying? Thanks!

Keeping in mind the ultimate decisions have to be yours, I always opt to start with the least invasive testing. Doctor's always start looking for the worst case scenario, which can cause discomfort and worry to the patient. Blood testing is so simple, I would start there. CAT scans, with use of dyes, can cause allergic reactions. My family are prone to that.

Sjogren's has no cure but can be minimized a bit with a strict gluten-free diet. There are varying degrees of discomfort....mine are more of a pain than debilitating but I worry they will get worse with age. My eyes are not too good and I may have to start taking more aggressive measures to help with that. Not looking forward to some of the suggestions, either! :( I wouldn't classify it as dangerous but you can have some pretty serious side effects to the dryness problems, like dental problems, vision problems, infections, etc. I manage mine OK but the remark last time from the doctor was that I had become used to the level of dryness I am experiencing.....you compensate. They think I should be more aggressive and I'm sure they are right but it all gets annoying and serves as a reminder that aging is not fun!

It is important to manage Sjogren's properly, such as going to the dentist more often for cleanings.....I go 4X per year. Also, use lubricating eye drops and if need be, a Rx drop for dryness. Ohterwise, you can be very uncomfortable. Funny enough, I have never had any swelling from Sjogren's ever, just the dryness problem and dental issues. So, maybe that will be what you experience from it......not as much dry but more inflammation issues.

Drink plenty of water also as that really helps.

Now ask for the blood work and wait to see what that says. Good luck and keep us informed.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      127,713
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Andra
    Newest Member
    Andra
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121k
    • Total Posts
      70.4k
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • RMJ
      High blood test numbers - with scales. Any advice?

      By RMJ · Posted

      I’d say celiac is likely.  Please continue to eat plenty of gluten until your endoscopy to be sure that any gluten-related damage can be seen.  Plus it gives you one last chance to enjoy your favorite gluten-containing foods. I hope the endoscopy/biopsies give you a definitive answer. 
    • TexasCeliacNewbie
      High blood test numbers - with scales. Any advice?

      By TexasCeliacNewbie · Posted

      I do also have the bloating, gas, constipation, hair loss, an auto-splenectomy that no one can see any reason for and some elevated liver enzymes that don't seem to have a cause, I also have joint pain and some spinal compression fractures that have no explanation.  I am only 42 so haven't had a bone density test yet.  My calcium was normal, but my D was a little low.  They haven't checked for any other vitamin deficiencies yet.  My blood test for an autoimmue disorder was quite high but my Thyroid was all normal.
    • TexasCeliacNewbie
      High blood test numbers - with scales. Any advice?

      By TexasCeliacNewbie · Posted

      Hi, I have been having a lot of back pain and gut issues for 8 weeks or so.  I saw the GI on Monday and my results just came in from the lab.  Some of these number are high and off the little chart from the lab.  I am reading this correctly that I most likely have Celiac, right???  It would explain a lot of things for me.  She does have me scheduled for a colonoscopy and endoscopy in  2 weeks to do the biopsy.  I posted this prior, but forgot to put the range assuming they were all the same.  Someone advised me to repost with the ranges for some insight in the meantime. Immunoglobulin A, Qn, Serum 140 (normal) - Normal is 87-352 Deamidated Gliadin Abs, IgA 256 (High) - Moderate to strong positive at or above 30 Deamidated Gliadin Abs, IgG 65 (High) - Moderate to strong positive at or above 30 t-Transglutaminase (tTG) IgA 31 (High) - Moderate to strong positive above 10 t-Transglutaminase (tTG) IgG 10 (High) - Positive is at or above 10
    • trents
      Colonoscopy with large area of inflammation

      By trents · Posted

      Usually, the blood testing is done first and the endoscopy/biopsy follows for confirmation if there are positive antibody test scores. Historically, the endoscopy with biopsy has been considered to be the gold standard for diagnosing celiac disease. If the tTG-IGA scores are very high (5x-10x normal), some doctors will forego the endoscpoy/biopsy and grant a celiac disease diagnosis without it. So, if you are starting with the endoscopy/biopsy that may be all you need to arrive at a diagnosis. Another possibility would be for the GI doc to do a blood draw for antibody testing on the same day you come in for the endoscopy/biopsy.
    • AuntieAutoimmune
      Royal Caribbean Only, Please

      By AuntieAutoimmune · Posted

      Thanks,Scott. Yes, I had already seen those 
×
×
  • Create New...