I knew nothing about such glands!

[lilacsigil]

As st_aurafina wrote last Saturday, we have suddenly acquired a great deal of knowledge about the parotid gland. Mine suddenly swelled up - so fast that the side of my face was visibly expanding - so we ended up at the hospital worried I was having an allergic reaction. It turned out to be parotiditis or parotitis, which gives the same effect seen in mumps. I'm now realising that many of you reading this journal were born in the age of the mumps vaccine and thus may not even know what it looks like (but Wiki will help!). The swelling all went down over the next two days, and I just have some residual soreness in my jaw, some difficulty chewing and an appointment for an ultrasound on Tuesday. It may be related to the diagnostic radiation I had in March (message has been left with endocrinologist), it may be related to the staph infection from the cat bite, it may be completely random. At the speed it hit, it's almost certainly nothing more serious.

Anyway, Batman! We've been putting in a new computer system at work, so I am so tired I can hardly think. Playing stupid free games and cross-stitching has been helpful in soothing my whirring mind.

Comments

[salinea]

ouch. Glad you're okay now.

[lilacsigil]

It's still a bit sore when I chew, but much better.

[gehayi]

I'm glad you're back, and I'm sorry that you got sick in the first place.

[lilacsigil]

Much better now - and that's a lovely icon! Natalie Dormer is an amazing actress.

[gehayi]

Thank you. angevin has been making a plethora of "A Game of Shakespeare" icons. Here's another one that's lovely.

[senmut]

I am wishing for it to be the last speed bump in the road to full recovery, and wishing you the best!

[lilacsigil]

Thank you! It's been a long and confusing road!

[challyzatb]

Ouch. Wishing you well.

[lilacsigil]

Thank you! I'm feeling much better as long as I don't eat anything very hard or very chewy.