UPDATE: DIAGNOSIS What kind of Doctor would I go to for this?

A couple of days ago, I started to experience mild pain on my face by my ear. The pain felt like a pimple right before it surfaces on the skin so I just figured that was it.

By today, the left side of my face by my ear/jawline (but not all the way down my jawline) is a bit swollen. It's a very mild discomfort when left alone. When touched, it hurts.

I'm thinking possible TMJ but my mouth doesn't hurt nor do my gums. Now I'm thinking possible ear infection?

Should I see a dentist? An ENT? I have no idea! I'm also in between insurances since DH was laid off last week and I'm still waiting for mine to kick in.

If anyone has any insight as to what this might be, please let me know!

Thanks!

ETA: Hearing out of my left ear sounds like when I have a cold, if that makes any difference. From what I can tell, my glands in my throat/neck area aren't swollen.

ETAA: It apparently now hurts when I chew. - Not my teeth, the lump or whatever it is that is growing on my face near my ear.

Update on bottom

Message edited 3/18/2013 10:13:31 AM.

What kind of Doctor would I go to for this?

I would start with your primary. It could be a sinus infection or ear and the primary can deal with it.

Re: What kind of Doctor would I go to for this?

What kind of Doctor would I go to for this?

I would say you either have a toothache or you pulled a muscle on your left side.
Eat a very soft diet for a few day: soup, eggs, yogurt and see if this will help.
It happens every few months to me and no chewing for a few days usually helps.

If it's TMJ often you will hear a click sound when you open wide.

Re: What kind of Doctor would I go to for this?

do you grind your teeth?

Re: What kind of Doctor would I go to for this?

Re: What kind of Doctor would I go to for this?

I've sort of narrowed it down a bit. It sounds like an inflammation of my salivary gland, specifically the Parotid gland.

I need to stay off webmd and google. I'm convinced I have Mumps.

Re: What kind of Doctor would I go to for this?

Posted by ElizaRags35

Posted by gina409

do you grind your teeth?

Yup...

I wish my insurance would just go through already so I can see someone about this. It's getting uncomfortable. My ear hurts, my neck hurts, my cheek hurts.

Re: What kind of Doctor would I go to for this?

Posted by gina409

Posted by ElizaRags35

Posted by gina409

do you grind your teeth?

Yup...

I wish my insurance would just go through already so I can see someone about this. It's getting uncomfortable. My ear hurts, my neck hurts, my cheek hurts.

that is what all this is from! u need a night guard!

i am no doc but worked for a dentist for yrs who did them

my pro opinion lol

What kind of Doctor would I go to for this?

Have you been sick recently? I have the same pain and there is a gland there that always gets swollen when I'm getting over a virus.

Re: What kind of Doctor would I go to for this?

What kind of Doctor would I go to for this?

you can go to an ENT for the parotid gland. my MIL just had this and went to her ENT and is on antobitics

Re: What kind of Doctor would I go to for this?

Sounds like salivary gland. My mom had that a few times. I think eating something sour helps. Like lemon. Look up ways to treat swollen salivary gland while u wait for your insurance to kick in. Doesn't help to try a natural approach first. My moms primary treated her when she had it so I don't know what kind of dr for that. I would assume ENT

What kind of Doctor would I go to for this?

Thanks for the replies! I think I'm going to go to a walk in center tonight and hope that OOP is not too expensive. My dad said he'll help me out if it's $$$.

Re: UPDATE: What kind of Doctor would I go to for this?

I went to Urgent Care tonight and was referred to an ENT and for bloodwork. There's a small nodule behind my ear.

Hope it's nothing!

Re: UPDATE: What kind of Doctor would I go to for this?

Posted by ElizaRags35

I went to Urgent Care tonight and was referred to an ENT and for bloodwork. There's a small nodule behind my ear.

Hope it's nothing!

Re: UPDATE: DIAGNOSIS What kind of Doctor would I go to for this?

Update 3/18:

After going to Urgent Care 2x, my primary 1x, and ultimately going to Stonybrook ER this weekend, I have an inner ear infection that affected my glands. Since my original post, the swelling spread down to my neck and then up the back of my head where I had 2 "bumps" on each side. After days of pain and dizziness, I went back to Urgent Care on Saturday where the idiot Dr. said he had no idea what was wrong with me and that I should go to the ER to get the swelling in the back of my head imaged and checked for tumors b/c the bumps were not where my lymph nodes are. I went home, cried, then DH took me to Stonybrook where the Resident took the time to check me out and actually looked deep inside my ear and noticed the infection. He also said that the bumps were very much where my lymph nodes are.

So, now I'm on antibiotics and the swelling is going down and I'm in a lot less pain... just feeling pressure around my ear and in my head a bit.

Re: UPDATE: DIAGNOSIS What kind of Doctor would I go to for this?

Hope you feel better real soon....