Dr. Freeze Question...

[dogface]

Just curious as to if yo uhave any ideas...

About 6 months ago I woke up in the middle of the night coughing, and hacking (non-smoker) so much so that I was basically regurgitating and I couldn't stop the coughing or the regurgitation process for about 30 minutes. There was alos a very, and I mean very intense pain in my lower right jaw...almost brought me to tears the pain was so bad, all I could do was truly stuff my mought with a cold rag and bite down... (Really didn't help!) As menitoned earlier the coughing etc last about 1/2 and hour, then jaw pained stayed until I finally fell asleep, and woke up without the jaw pain.

Well last night again I woke up almost exactly the same feeling excepot this time no reguritation, but I was salivating and spitting saliva at quite a rapid interval, and had that very intense jaw pain again. Epsisode with coughing etc lasted at least 1/2 hour again, and jaw pain stil there until I woke up. Then pain was gone... well the pain started about an hour again again (4:25 CST and it's 5:25 now) with no reall coughing or regurgitation.

Got any ideas on what the heck it is! Partally scares me a bit, but mostly is just plain uncomfortable!!

I will attempt to make a Dr. Visit tomorrow, but just curious if you have had anyone present with something like this, or what the heck it maybe....expecially if there is cause for concern and I should go in now.

Thanks for the reply...

D.G.

 

[saint]

My guess as a 3rd year dental student would be one of the following:

1. A submandibular gland infection. This fits the area you described (lower jaw, towards the back) and could explain the increased salivation. I personally have had a parotid gland infection and honestly it was one of the most painful things I have ever had. Those glands are encapsulated and don't have much room to expand so when they get inflamed it is quite painful). I'm not sure why you would be getting recurrent infections but if this is the case an antiobiotic course of Pcn or something similar would alleviate the infection. Another possible thing with the submandibular gland is a sialolithiasis, which is a stone similar to a kidney stone. This actually can cause recurrent inflammation, which made me think of it since you had this occur 6 ms ago.


2. A pulpally involved tooth that is possiby abscessed which could be draining down the back of your throat causing the cough. (hence the cough at night when you are on your back).

Let me know what it turns out to be, this is all i've got from a dental aspect, i'm sure the good doctor can cover systemic possibilities.

 

[dogface]

Thanks saint, I can prettymcuh rule out the tooth since I had a recent visist and everything was ok. But the submandibular gland infection has possibilities.

I have been off and on scik for about 10 days or so, slight congestion in the chest etc., fatigue and was admited late last week to the ER for a increased heart rate, and high BO, with some diiziness.

The kept me for about 4 hours, fond nothing cardiac wise, but mentioned maybe dehydration etc., after they checked for clots etc, chest x-rays, blood anlysis... but this came on as mentioned last night and is still lingering. (I was supposed to see my FP this week, but he was busy, so will try this week to clear it up.)

Thanks for the info..

Dr. Freeze care to take share a thoght when you get on....

D.G.

 

[dr. freeze]

disclaimer for Eddie Haskill: anything i say should be taken as information only and i recommend that you see your PCP above all else

to be honest, i truly AM hesitant about answering anything medically related in this day and age as almost anyone can be sued....

agree with saint though

probably has somethign to do wtih gland......could even be TB, especially with the cough you are describing...probably would have seen it in CXRay though...

of course you gotta be concerned with a possible malignancy, but usually you have noticed a mass it is unlikely....usually any malignancy concerned wtiht eh oral cavity correlates with old age and hsitory of smoking although in the glands malignancies are not really related to smoking...

if you have dry mouth a lot or dry eyes, you could have Sjogrens syndrome...it can present with painful submandibular swelling...

i would go see the docotr....probably nothign to be worried about....nerves can get inflamed very easily in that region especially related to stress -- and upper respiratory symptoms can either aggravate nerves or that same bug can find its way to other places in you...

since we are all a little bit different anatomical wise, we can express different symptoms with common colds.....probably and hopefully that is the case for you....

check up mostly for reassurance with doctor and take anti-inflammatory next time it happens.....

hope this helps

 

[dogface]

Much appreciation in the answer! Appointment is made for this week...

I may have some more questions for you medicine related more as a question based on your thoughts not on your practice or for medical advice but to understand how you are trained, and the thought process when it comes to treatment...

If you are ok wiht that let me know, and I will ask MJ for you e-mail addy, or you may get mine from MJ.

Thanks again to both of you!

D.G.

 

[dr. freeze]

sure thing dude...glad to help in any way