I am a 51 year old female that have had swelling in my submandibular salivary glands(mostly left side)for approximately 3 years. My glands swells whenever I sleep and sometimes when I vigorously chew on something. I visited the ear,nose throat doctor and was pretty much told that it is something I have to live with and to massage the gland,and suck on lemon drops when swelling occur.I have allergies (runny nose, sneezing,constant itching and fluid feeling in ear canal)that occurs during the day. Anytime during the day I may get a nasal drip. I was prescribe nasonex and told to discontine taking the otc antihistamines(benedryl,sufaded..Etc) because they may be drying up my mucous system. Sometimes a white stringy thick mucous looking substance(maybe dried saliva?) comes out, which I have to press hard on the gland in order to expel it thru the duct. Would drinking alcohol and/or taking antihistamines cause this? I don't think I have any stones because sometimes during the day the swelling goes down. Also, I now have a habit of pressing on the glands, even when they are not swollen, which also causes the gland to swell. Is there a specialist I can see for this problem other than a pyschologist?