Salivary gland worries.

[aj109]

For about 6 years now I've had this pressure in the right side of my jaw, under the jaw and ear. Years ago I panicked and thought it was lymph nodes because one had swollen up (I did get sick a few days after this). For years I didn't touch my neck in fear of what I would feel but about a week ago I started feeling around and discovered that I can feel my salivary gland under my jaw, it is bigger on the right side. It feels squishy I guess, it doesn't stick out of my neck and I think I can feel a tiny moveable lump inside it. Is it normal to feel the salivary gland under your jaw? After this I figured that the pressure was also my other salivary gland, of course I did the stupid thing and Googled and now I'm scared.

I do get slight pain in the one in my jaw sometimes and the pressure does get worse after eating, I also do suffer with a dry mouth and crusty eyes and jaw tension.

[aj109]

Anyone?

[wnsos]

Hi there. Not really sure about which gland is where, but I've had intense tension and aches in mine/my throat that seem to get worse when I start to panic or tense up. (It's fine when I type this but out of this box I feel nuts!) docs confirm the more we panic the more we tense and feel things. Incredibly steep battle against the mind sometimes. Have you seen a gp to ease your worries? A good one will explain and answer your questions xx

[aj109]

I've been too scared to see a doctor about it.

[cattia]

It sounds like it could be tmj, that can cause swelling and tenderness. It's annoying but essentially harmless and super common with anxiety.

[BikerMatt]

I get this from time to time and went to see an ENT specialist in 2011. Your saliva gland has a duct running into your mouth, which can narrow or get a salivary stone causing an obstruction, which causes saliva to enlarge the gland as it cant all get through the duct. Try eating something really sour which will increase your saliva and eventually work any stones through the duct. You can also try lightly massaging the gland. Try not to worry in my case when I get it my gland can gets pretty big.

[aj109]

Thanks. I'm trying to get it out of my head but the C word keeps coming back to me. Since I've had this for 6 years, surely I'd be dead by now if it was something bad?