Need the Dis Doctors

[gate_pourri]

I woke up this morning with a severe pain under one of my ears. I don’t know how to explain it, but if you put two fingers right under your ear, it is that soft spot (like right under/behind the lobe). It hurts terribly when I touch it, open my mouth wide and when I swallow. My throat feels a bit raw, but really doesn’t hurt. Any idea what this could be?

 

[luvwinnie]

Sounds like your lymph nodes...is there any swelling?

 

[Dodie]

Mumps? Hopefully you've called the doctor.

 

[gate_pourri]

Sounds like your lymph nodes...is there any swelling?

I don't know how I would tell, but I don't think so.

 

[luvwinnie]

Mumps

Another viral infection, mumps spreads very easily and often affects young people. Fever, loss of appetite, pain behind the ear especially during eating are the symptoms

If it continues or you get a fever, I'd see your dr.

 

[themarquis]

yeah that sounds like a lymph node. They can get swollen and painful anytime you have an infeciton in your body. If your throat feels funny, maybe you are getting a viral infection. Mumps would be a possibility but it seems so unlikely, unless you have heard of any outbreaks in your area.

 

[Doctor P]

yeah that sounds like a lymph node. They can get swollen and painful anytime you have an infeciton in your body. If your throat feels funny, maybe you are getting a viral infection. Mumps would be a possibility but it seems so unlikely, unless you have heard of any outbreaks in your area.

There have been some ongoing mumps outbreaks in the area of the OP, so I would not eliminate that possibility without a doc's exam.

 

[claudia]

sounds like a blocked Eustachian tube. With a sore throat you may be getting a cold. If you don't want to see the doc just yet, try some Sudafed and see if that will unblock the tube.

 

[themarquis]

There have been some ongoing mumps outbreaks in the area of the OP, so I would not eliminate that possibility without a doc's exam.

aha! I didn't know that... I looked up some stuff on mumps a few minutes ago, and it does sound like a possibility, because of the severe pain she describes.

OP: to see if there is any swelling, examine your face in the mirror. Do you see any puffiness or difference on that one side? Feel the two sides of your face under your ears with your fingers. Do you feel any difference? Poke at the two sides -- is one more puffy or soft feeling than the other?

 

[gate_pourri]

aha! I didn't know that... I looked up some stuff on mumps a few minutes ago, and it does sound like a possibility, because of the severe pain she describes.

OP: to see if there is any swelling, examine your face in the mirror. Do you see any puffiness or difference on that one side? Feel the two sides of your face under your ears with your fingers. Do you feel any difference? Poke at the two sides -- is one more puffy or soft feeling than the other?

Thanks everyone. I am a little worried about the mumps. I haven't heard of any outbreaks, and I had the MMR vaccines (and boosters), but I guess it isn't out of the realm of possibilities.

As far as I can tell, both sides of my face look the same. I really don't have any experience with swelling though. As far as everything else, besides being a bit tired today, I feel fine. I don't have a fever (opposite actually, only 97.8 degrees), I don't have a headache, very very minor throat irritation and ate a rather big lunch. hmmm...

 

[Hercules10]

Turn your head and cough...oh, guess that won't help huh?