Extremely swollen glands under jaw

My name is Jeff and for about a year now i have had a bad tooth in the back bottom part of my left jaw. I admit my stubbornness, for I went the entire time without having it removed, i found that aspirin and other pain relievers helped. I also don't have health insurance, I'm young and newly on my own. So the pain started to come back a few days ago and that was when the left side under my jaw started to swell and become painful. The next day the bottom half of my face looked as though I had a half of a softball growing inside. It's extremely unsightly and very painful, there is also a very slight discomfort in my right ear, occasionally. After going to the emergency room they gave me penicillin and lodine, neither of which seems to be working. I cannot and have not eaten in two days due to the pain, and my sleep is suffering too. I am making an appointment with a dentist, but until then what can help me? This only seems to be getting worse...

So i took your advice and returned to the ER and they gave me a new antibiotic called Clindamycin 150mg where i am to take 2 capsules 4 times a day. Can i be sure that this will work, I've seen no improvement yet though i just got them a little over 12 hours ago, and will taking a couple extra everyday spped up the process or could that cause more problems for me?

I agree with Joy. Do not ever double up on medication until and unless your physician has advised you it is safe to do so.

Among my thyroid and adrenal issues, I also have chronic ear infections. Bad ones. I know that once I start taking the antibiotics (Augmentin XR (2000 mgs a day) that it still takes about 48 hours for me to start seeing any type of relief.

Your body needs time to adjust to the medication and to let it start working in your system.

As for pain and swelling, Tylenol works great for pain. And for the eating? You still need to eat. Whether it is soft food or liquids or food run through a blender and drank from a straw, you still need to eat. Eating will help your immune system fight off the infection and keep you healthier. If you can't tolerate food, drink juice, water, broth, try some yogurt or applesauce. You can also try some crackers or bread. Soft foods that are easy to get down without too much effort.

I hope you find the relief you need soon and the dentist is able to help you.

Teresa

I had a tooth pulled several months ago so when I noticed a small swollen area on my chin I went to the dentist to see if an infection had settled in. He said no, not likely, x-ray showed nothing. Two days later I swelled up so much I looked like someone beat me with a bat. Went to ER - salivary gland infection, antibiotic. two days later, no better. Went back to dentist who then performed two root canals to drain infection. was then sent to oral surgeon. His top class xray machine picked up an infection that had eaten a hole in my jaw bone. Had surgery to clean it out and was put on another round of clyndamycin. Then it finally started to clear up. That was one of the worst "sick" episodes I had ever been through. I am so traumatized over this that I am terrified to go back to the dentist to get the root canals finished.

All said and done. It can sometimes take as much as two complete rounds of antibiotics to totally clean up an infection. Especially if it is a stubborn one like mine was. All that I had went thru would have been avoided had the dentist put me on an antibiotic the first time I complained to him about the infection. Now he and I know better but that doesnt change the fact that I cannot force myself to get back in there and finish the work.

take care of yourself and your teeth. Those infections can be bad and stubborn. If you don't notice a difference in the swelling or pain within 2 days then something else will need to be done. But, it can and probably will take the whole prescription to get it totally cleared up. make sure to do your follow up as well and get that tooth out.

let us know how it is going and what happens next.