Do I really have mumps?

[PhatNeckMendoza]

I’m 33, fully MMR immunised as a child.

I started with tender swollen glands a week ago which swelled overnight Saturday going into Sunday with immense pain. DH made me to the drop in clinic to be checked on Sunday.

My neck is very painful to touch or move my head, it hurts when I swallow, but I would say the pain is more in my neck than my throat and I have occasional sharp pain in my ear (same side as the swelling).

Drop in clinic said likely mumps … but I just feel like the swelling is more in my neck than my cheeks. I rang GP this morning over 50 times and was unable to get through. 111 said it’s a GP job and to try again tomorrow.
I understand if it is mumps it is viral and I just have to let it run its course, but what if it isn’t and I need antibiotics?

I have taken a rubbish picture, which I feel makes the swelling look less than what it is in real life.

What do you think mumps, or not?

When dd was 3 she got an infected parotid gland that had that swelling. I thought mumps at the time but GP diagnosed tonsillitis. But then the next morning she woke up with a clear infection moving up the side of her face. Poor thing couldn't move her head as her neck was so sore.
She was admitted to hospital for a week for IV antibiotics.
Hope you can get to see GP today and you feel better soon.

I had mumps when I was 19 and remember being in complete agony
, couldn't even lift my head from the pillow, the nurse just looked at me and said I had mumps and there was nothing they could do. I was then ill for months afterwards it really floored me, please rest as much as possible!

Almost certainly mumps. The pain was excruciating when I had it. I'm sorry for you!! Not sure you need a doctor though, it's a virus.

Sorry you're poorly. Breastfeeding doesn't mean you can't have stronger pain relief though. The breastfeeding network drugs page has info sheets and you can check in with their pharmacist (IME lots of Drs are woefully uninformed when it comes to meds and breastfeeding).

The BfN say in terms of over the counter meds if paracetamol and ibuprofen isn't enough ..

Dihydrocodeine is the preferred opiate analgesic if mothers need stronger painkillers. This is because it has a cleaner metabolism than codeine and is less associated with adverse effects in the baby. It is frequently used as the drug after caesarean section. It can be purchased over the counter as Paramol™ . https://breastfeeding-and-medication.co.uk/thoughts/dihydrocodeine-and-breastfeeding  

@8MinutesToSunrise it was dihydrocodeine that I requested, after being given that after my most recent c section, but she said she couldn’t give me anything more than paracetamol and ibuprofen.

After 40 phone calls I am number 8 in the queue for the doctor, hopefully they’ll get me a phone appointment with someone who can prescribe me some stronger pain relief.

If not I will send DH for some Paramol, I had no idea it was available OTC, thank you!

GP confirmed diagnoses of mumps today, I am feeling rotten and very teary.

I asked for a prescription of dihydrocodeine and he said he would give me zapain but to use it sparingly, when I looked up the brand this is cocodamol which the breastfeeding network says isn’t suitable. So it looks like another night of pain for me and if I am not feeling any better tomorrow yet another phone call to ask for a change in prescription.

Loooks like the mumps I had ! Same symptoms too

If your have had a baby recently do you remember if they tested for various stuff?
I can’t remember what the test is but I think it was a blood test I must have had around 12 weeks pregnant when it showed I had no antibodies for Rubella, despite also having Mmr as a baby. Apparently it’s common they only last 20+ years sometimes.

Had to wait until baby was born as it’s a live vaccine, but in hospital when he was a day old it was on my notes and they gave me a single dose Rubella only vaccine to protect in future. so it’s possible your Mmr has ‘run out’? Even if just Mumps part. Once your better maybe ask for a blood test to check

This happened to my DD1 just as she got to the end of her first year at uni in summer 2014.

On the way home in the car after term had ended she began feeling a painful neck and salivary glands, and she had swellings much like yours. It was mumps. A couple of others in her halls of residence also had it.

She had had the MMR vaccine and all recommended boosters as a young child, and had also got herself another booster shortly before leaving for uni. I think it took about a week or 10 days to subside. She just had to ride it out with painkillers because it is viral.

Just bad luck I guess, and I hope you are feeling better soon.

@Caspianberg this happened to me with my first child 13 years ago, I was told I am likely the 1/20 who it isn’t effective for.

I wasn’t sure if I had a rubella only booster before I left hospital or another dose of MMR. This is something they no longer test for though, as I asked about it in my 2 most recent pregnancies but wasn’t tested.

I just hope I start to feel better soon as I have 2 under 2 and a teen and it’s quite hard work on a normal day!

@PhatNeckMendoza that sounds like mumps the pain is awful and then honestly for about a week I had no energy at all, couldn’t even walk to the end of the road (also not a wimp and always have bags of energy) it’s brutal I’m not surprised they try to keep it stamped out!

good luck and get well soon

Op how old is your baby? They changed the guidelines on codeine when breastfeeding as is can make young babies sleepy so isn't suitable for use straight after birth. If your babies a bit older a lower dose will probably be OK. I took it while breastfeeding before they changed the guidelines, but my baby was older by then anyway. Just something to consider if you feel you need to take it.

@MigGirl Only 3 months. I had a few dihydracodeine left from when he was born that will sort me for tonight, so I’ve taken one. Although it doesn’t feel like it’s making much difference at the minute, except making me feel a bit sickly.

DS was misdiagnosed with mumps OP. Turned out he had a very very bad strep throat which needed 6 weeks of antibiotics to shift.

@PhatNeckMendoza - oh that’s interesting. Ds is only only 3 and I had the blood test to see if low in anything. But not in uk.

I had mumps at uni when there was an outbreak (assumed I was vaccinated but turns out I may have missed that one as an 80s baby). Had the swelling for a week and it wasn't fun but then I became very ill (struggled to stand / couldn't walk to the toilet etc). I nearly phoned an ambulance for myself as I felt like death. Thankfully I recovered well but it was scary.

I can 100% see why they introduced vaccination!

No one I lived with caught it though so that was one positive

My relative had mumps a couple of years ago, also vaccinated. Unfortunately I think it is becoming more common as there are more anti vaxxers around.

@thinkfast how did they find out what it really was?

When he was still unwell 3 weeks later I took him back to a different GP who said he wouldn't override the first GP's diagnosis but thought he didn't have classic mumps presentation. He referred us to a paediatrician. The paediatrician immediately said not mumps, suspected a bad case of strep throat and swabbed his throat, which confirmed this.