We are not doctors and it wouldn't be right for us to suggest things.

Your doctor is the professional. I wish you could take your daughter to a specialist or another dr just to get another opinion.

I am sure he has ran a complete blood panel on here but I do know that other drs look for different things in the blood.

Something is going on and its not fibro. I am sorry and I know you want us to say it is fibro but we cant do that.

I am sorry your daughter is so sick. Can they admit her into a hospital and they run labs on her and monitor her symptoms?

Hope she gets better soon,

i understand about budgets but I also understand that health is priceless, so ask the doc what he thinks is CAUSING the parotitis. That's the salivary glands (oh, how med school anatomy can come back to me) and while it's usually bacterial, there's a lot else can go on---and here's my concern. Notice: I AM NOT A DOC.

Autoimmune disorders and fibro mimic each other. A lot of symptoms overlap. And some autoimmune can cause parotitis. I know that basically b/c my rheumy and GP always double-check me for autoimmune once or twice a year even tho' I was dx'd with fibro 18 years ago---just to be sure nothing was missed that's lurking. And my dentist checks my salivary glands twice a year, too, with my medical history. So that's why I know a little.

Best of luck to you, and your daughter, and I hope your GP can find answers.

Has your doctor taken a culture to determine exactly what type of bacteria he is attempting to treat with antibiotics. I've seen several references to dehydration as being one of many culprits. Is your daughter will hydrated with water - not coffee, tea or soft drinks like Coke? You may be able to glean some additional pointers from this information:

What are the parotid glands?

The parotid glands are the saliva-producing glands buried within each cheek. The saliva they produce comes out of a tiny opening (duct) within the cheek on either side, usually at the level of the upper back teeth.

What is parotitis?

Parotitis is an inflammation of one or both parotid glands. There are a number of causes, but the clinical picture remains broadly similar.

Acute bacterial parotitis

This is an acute inflammatory response to bacterial infection which causes erythema (redness), pain, swelling and tenderness over the gland on the side of the cheek along with the appearance of pus from the opening of the duct on the inside of the cheek.

It was previously common in dehydrated and debilitated patients, often in the postoperative period, but is now more commonly seen after radiotherapy or in patients with a compromised immune system.

Treatment comprises correction of the lack of fluids (rehydration), antibiotics and pain relief.

Chronic recurrent parotitis

This refers to repeated episodes of discomfort and swelling of the parotid gland often after eating. It is caused by decreased flow of saliva often secondary to either blockage of the duct by a stone or the formation of a duct stricture (narrowing).

It is treated conservatively with gland massage, methods to stimulate the flow of saliva, eg lemon juice, and antibiotics if required. Surgery to remove the gland is possible but its benefits need to be balanced against the risk of damage to the facial nerve (which allows the muscles of facial expression to function).

Damage to the facial nerve can cause paralysis of one side of the face. X-ray treatment (radiotherapy) and treatment with steroid tablets have been described but are felt generally to be ineffective.

Viral parotitis

The commonest viral cause of parotitis is mumps. It usually affects 4 to 10 year olds and causes painful swelling of both parotid glands.

Recurrent parotitis in children

This condition is thought to be due to distension or ballooning of the ducts (the medical term is ectasia). It results in the same symptoms as acute bacterial parotitis. It is usually caused by bacteria called streptococci and treated using penicillin. It is usually self-limiting and therefore surgery is rarely required.

Tuberculosis

The parotid glands may become infected with the same bacteria causing tuberculosis or 'TB'. Treatment is with anti-tuberculous antibiotic therapy.

Less common causes of parotitis
Sjogrens syndrome. This is a condition in which arthritis is associated with a decrease in activity of the glands of the body that produce saliva and tears. Some people with this condition are bothered by a dry mouth and intermittent salivary gland enlargement. The diagnosis is made with blood tests or by examination of a biopsy of tissue from the inside of the lip.
Bacteria similar to tuberculosis (called atypical mycobacteria) can give rise to a condition which usually infects children. Unlike tuberculosis it is often resistant to antibiotic treatment and therefore requires surgical treatment by removal of the infected salivary gland.
Actinomycosis is an infection of the parotid gland which may also involve the overlying skin. The diagnosis is made by detecting granules of sulphur, produced by the bacteria, on microscopic examination. Treatment is with a prolonged course of penicillin for up to one year.


Read more: http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/parotitis.htm#ixzz2wnbdM91n

If your current treatment regimen is not working, she probably needs to see a specialist before it morphs into a more serious situation. We are not doctors. I hope your GP can come up with a viable solution. Take care.

Thank you all. We are going to the doc this morning and with your input I feel a lot more confident that we can help. My daughter is quite possible dehydrated - she drinks mostly milk at the moment, but I am concerned that she isn't drinking enough, so we will start remedying that immediately. I will ask him to check for what type of bacteria is causing this. And ask him about autoimmune disorders too. I will also get a second opinion from a younger doc in the practice if we don't find a satisfactory solution today.
I know you are not doctors, but your input, opinions and experience has helped me so much. It helps us to know what else to look for that we may have been missing.
Thank you.

An update in case anyone is interested...Our GP took more blood for tests. Should have the results about Wednesday. He gave my daughter a hug because he said he is strong and she needs strength :-) He is really sympathetic about her pain and is as gentle as possible with her even when taking blood. It helps.

Lowernotes, Hydration is HUGE for a healthy body. My motto is: 8 ounces of water for every hour of the day I'm awake. It's easy to cut back b/c of pain---getting up to use a bathroom is he** for a lot of various reasons---but hydrating is essential to health overall. For one thing, for us FMers, we need to keep our systems "flushed" to deal with meds and so on.

Keep us updated on how she does:-)

Hey all, I am said daughter mentioned and I just waned to let you all know that although I have a fever and I don't feel so great physically, I'm doing ok emotionally because of the support you are all giving me through my mom on this forum, Thank you so much for your advice and support.

God Bless

Feel better "said daughter." Let us know how your tests turn out and how you're feeling. (I've been reading these posts, but I didn't have any ideas more than what others have said.)

There is a mouthwash and a toothpaste for dry mouth called biotene. You might wish to ask the doctor if it would help using it. My thought is that the mouth is supposed to be moist and that dryness is probably conducive to infection, or not healing. So, something that promotes moisture might help healing and or might prevent further infection.

Could this be allergic? Maybe it is not a good idea to drink milk. Milk causes a lot of problems for some people, including allergy-type symptoms.

Emily, Allergy is something I hadn't considered. A mouthwash is a good idea. We have tried cutting dairy from her diet in the past and she just gets worse. I think she needs the amino acids from the milk, but there may be something else she is exposed to that is causing trouble.

An update - The blood test results came back this morning...
TB negative, Glandular fever negative, Thyroid is fine, White blood count is OK - no major infections, Negative for leukemia. The doc says we just have to wait this out as it is just fibro related and nothing that can be helped by any other medication. He is keeping her serotonin booster at the same dose and has given her a more effective painkiller that is new on the market here. It seems to be working and she is feeling a lot better. She didn't sleep last night, but did manage to sleep this morning - all morning. Her mind is mostly clear of fog for the first time in weeks. She is starting to be able to eat more than cold stewed apple and jelly (the dessert - not the spread), so the swelling is definitely going down at last.

Good to hear:-)