Saliography tomorrow (Salivery gland ) So scared

[catpark]

Getting a saliography done tomorrow. Have had a swelling on the side of my face on and of for nearly 2 months now. Doctor thinks it's my salivery gland. Ultrasound didn't show any stones so they think it is damaged in some way. I had radioiodine ablation last year for thyroid cancer so they think that has caused some damage.

So I have to get this saliography thing done, basically they are going to stick a tube into the salivery duct inside my mouth, inject dye and take x-rays to see were it all goes. I am terrified as needles and dentists are not a favourite of mine plus I can't open my mouth very wide, so how on earth are they going to get a tube into it etc. ? Also you get no anaesthetic or even sedation !

Anyone had this done before ? If it is damaged can it actually be fixed and how ? It would be quicker just to take the whole thing out !

Thanks.x

Hi i had this done last year. The saliogram was fine, hardly any discomfort. Mine showed a narrowing of the salivery gland which the consultant wasnt overly bothered about, unless it was causing me a lot of grief which it wasnt. I also had ultasound on my salivery and parotid gland as well. He also checked lymph glands down into my neck. You get the results there and then which is great.
Good luck

Well it's been causing me lots of bother. Keeps swelling really badly and can hardly eat it's so painful. Did they say what they do if it shows a problem ? How long did it take to do ?

Hi

I was told that they could put a small tube in where the stricture was and inflate it to stretch it wider. He also told me that simply pumping in the liquid during the saliogram could help stretch it also.

The whole procedure of the saliogram was about 10 mins and that was taken up with positioning your head for the X-rays.

Hope it goes well for you.

Hi catpark just wondered how you got on yesterday?

Sue

Hi catpark I think you kindly replied to my thread on a blocked salivary duct. I hope everything went well yesterday and it wasn't too unpleasant.
I am still waiting for my 'emergency' ENT appointment.