Jump to content

  • 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
      131,486
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Julie Reynolds
    Newest Member
    Julie Reynolds
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      Unusual bright yellow but odourless discharge

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @Celiac50, Most Celiac patients with a Marsh score as high as yours are more likely to suffer from fat malabsorption and deficiency in fat soluble vitamins, Vitamins A, D, E, and K.   Vitamin A toxicity does not cause Celiac disease.  Your Vitamin A toxicity was probably developed after your diagnosis and subsequent over-supplementation.  Fish contains thiaminases, chemical compounds that destroy thiamine, Vitamin B 1, making the thiamine unusable.  Excessive intake of foods containing thiaminases can precipitate low thiamine.   Low thiamine can also be a result of bacterial or yeast infections.  A high carbohydrate diet encourages Candida and bacterial infections.  High carbohydrate diets promote SIBO and Candida because they feed on the excess carbohydrates and suppress the beneficial bacteria.  Other types of bacteria can take advantage of this and set up housekeeping outside the gastrointestinal tract, including bacterial vaginosis. Thiamine Vitamin B 1 can alter the microbiome.  Thiamine has been shown to suppress Candida, SIBO, and other bacterial and viral infections, and favor the growth of beneficial bacteria.  My SIBO cleared once I supplemented with Benfotiamine, a form of thiamine that has been shown to promote intestinal healing, and a B Complex.  Thiamine works in concert with the other B vitamins and magnesium. Thiamine helps to lower histamine levels by calming mast cells that release histamine at the slightest provocation.   Following the Autoimmune Protocol diet also helped immensely in getting my digestive system calmed and able to tolerate more foods. Have you discussed with your doctor and dietician supplementing essential B vitamins while healing?  What is your Vitamin D level?  Vitamin D helps calm the immune system.  
    • cristiana
      Has anyone ever had Low Ferritin with Elevated MCHC levels?

      By cristiana · Posted

      Update - my Active B12 is 36.  Apparently lab results between 25 and 70 suggest a possible deficiency, anything below 25 is a confirmed deficiency, above 70 is normal.   I am thinking this could be the explanation for my elevated MCHC. Anyway, yet again I find myself bumping along the levels of low normal by British NHS standards, which isn't great, because from what I understand, in the UK our normal levels are set low and 'lower normal' levels would be considered a deficiency in such countries as Germany and Japan. Regarding B12 levels, it doesn't look as if my levels are low enough to be offered B12 injections.  That being the case, I remember reading that sublingual tablets can still be very effective but one particular type is better than another - I can't remember which type.  Can anyone help?
    • cristiana
      Unusual bright yellow but odourless discharge

      By cristiana · Posted

      Hi @Celiac50 If you are after a vitamin A test - sorry - I'm tired so not sure if I'm reading this correctly - perhaps you could try a home test?  I'm in the UK and am currently a bit perplexed about my own vitamin issue and thinking of going to a private lab for tests.  My issues is suboptimal Active B12 (only 11 marks off deficient) but no health professionals seem to be taking any interest in it although this is  my fault as last time I saw my Consultant I failed to mention my symptoms - I had so many other questions to ask him.  Anyway - here are the details for an A test: https://www.medichecks.com/products/vitamin-a-retinol-blood-test?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=11996732820&gbraid=0AAAAAD9XHFyeAOrxlryOpWS_jXwZ8PCc1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIyrjj2Pb2jwMVnJJQBh22CTkVEAAYASAAEgIGDPD_BwE
    • Scott Adams
      ointment .

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      If you have DH you will likely also want to avoid iodine, which is common in seafoods and dairy products, as it can exacerbate symptoms in some people. This article may also be helpful as it offers various ways to relieve the itch:  
    • Scott Adams
      Diagnosed with potential Guillain Barre could it be celiac related?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      This is a very complex and difficult situation, and your intuition about a potential link to celiac disease is medically plausible. While Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) is often triggered by infections, it can also be precipitated by other immune system events, including a significant gluten exposure in a person with celiac disease. The timeline you describe—neurological symptoms appearing after the GI symptoms subsided—is classic for post-infectious (or in this case, post-exposure) GBS. Furthermore, there is a recognized, though rare, neurological condition directly linked to celiac disease called Gluten Ataxia, which affects coordination and can cause gait problems. However, the rapid onset of paralysis and cranial nerve involvement you experienced is more characteristic of GBS than typical gluten ataxia. It's also important to know that a negative EMG early in the course of GBS does not rule it out, and "Functional Neurological Disorder" (FND) is not purely psychiatric; it is a real and complex disorder where there is a problem with the functioning of the nervous system, not its structure, and it can be triggered by physical illness or stress. The most critical step is to continue working closely with your neurologists. You should absolutely bring up your celiac history and your theory, as it is a relevant piece of the diagnostic puzzle. They may consider specific antibody tests related to gluten neuropathy or ataxia to help differentiate the cause. 
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.