Persistent Swollen Glands & Facial Swelling: Causes & Relief

Question
Hi there,

For the last year the glands in my neck have been up and down and more recently (start of 2011) the glands behind my ears have been up also and my face swollen.  I have been to the Dr about this who did blood tests which came back clear and gave me a course of antibiotics which had no effect.  The glands worsened and I was prescribed more antibiotics which made it better overall but only for a short time.  The other symptoms seem to be a feeling of general pressure in the left side of my face which is difficult to pinpoint - sometimes it is in front of my ear, sometimes it feels deep within my ear and sometimes like a "rushing" sensation.  I was sent to an ENT specialist who performed an endoscopy on me and referred me onto have an ultrasound scan.  In between appointments I noted a lump in front of my left ear which feels a little like gristle but if it is pressed it is a peculiar feeling again; I mentioned this to the US Dr and he scanned over it and said it was just a swollen lymph node in my salivary gland and not anything like cancer etc.  I am still concerned however and wondered if you had any idea as I still feel something is wrong and it tends to keep me awake at night worrying.  It is hard to tell whether my jaw is stiff or not; I have normal movement but the glands swollen make this stiff.

Hope you can help.

A

Answer
Since you had blood tests... you have been screened for HIV and lympoma.  

Sometimes scalp sores, even minor can cause some glands to enlarge.  Some dental or gum disease can do it.

Salivary glands can get infected or clogged but there is usually other pain and swelling.  

There are a lot of lymph nodes in the head and neck that can swell on and off so if it has been looked at, they should simply be followed for persistence.