Question: Hello. I put this query into the General Health category as it seems to effect multiple systems at this point and time. Based upon your professional opinion please forward to appropriate professional:
I am a 38 year old male, 6'4" with no notable medical history save starting a few months ago. I recently went into see an MD about general discomfort in the left side of my face (my left), he found a swollen gland or bump just below my skull where it meets the neck on my left side slightly below and behind my ear, but behind my mandible. After palpating the area and cleaning out my ears and no ear infection, and ruling out parotitis as that gland seems to be functioning normally and isn't the cause of the pain as we did the "sour test", he said it might be inflamed due to TMJ or some such, but I had doubts about this because I don't grind my teeth and the pain seems to be more nerve-based or XXXXXXX between throat and neck (the pain migrates from high, about the upper mid-molar, down to that swollen gland, then sometimes down underneath my lower jaw about mid-mandible - and repeats this migrations pattern). I have had dental work some months ago, upper left molar that never really felt right, that might be contributor. So, I went to the dentist five days ago, and he said indeed this tooth needs a root canal, but wasn't overly infected or notable, just based upon high temp and pressure sensitivity; but still I don't think that is all the problem, and to me doesn't explain how the pain radiates to different parts of my face and neck (by the way, on a 1-10 the pain is not constant and can go from a 0 to 1 to a 3 or 4, but never keeps me up at night, and comes and goes). And on the dentist's xray he said there wasn't notable or significant inflammation or infection in my sinus cavity above the tooth. Now, for the most recent manifestation, and main reason for this inquiry. The dentist put me on Penicillin pending the root canal (which I haven't scheduled due to insurance reasons) in case the tooth was the cause of the swollen gland or pain in my face, but the pain hasn't really abated, and now I am getting yellow blotches on my right forearm skin that seem to come and go - and changes in intensity of color (faded to yellow and hard to see in florescent light, but can see it better in natural or sunlight). I am not sure if there are a couple medical problems conspiring coincidentally at the same time (tooth meets infection meets problem with penicillin in my body meets inner organs or something more serious) or if you have an idea on what might connect these dots. I was not concerned until I saw the yellow blotches (perhaps 5 or 6 distinct, 2-4 centimeter blotches on my forearm skin, in random patterns). I am currently taking penicillin every 6 hours for the last four days. The yellowing on my forearm is limited to my right forearm skin (the part that gets the most sun) and seems to not migrate into the less-damaged or baby-skin in the inner arm or upper arm. My left arm has no yellowing. Also the yellowing does not itch or hurt. the gland in the back of my neck also hasn't shrank, nor has the discomfort in the area abated. Also, I just noticed a small yellow, about 2 mm) blotch, on my upper bicep skin of my right arm. Thank you so much for your opinion and candor. - XXXXXXX