Speaking from his rural village of Muhuyu, outside Thohoyandou, Kwinda says he was living a normal life until 2011 when his cheek began to swell slightly.
“When this swelling started, I thought it was a tooth problem,” he told OurHealth. “I tried to (go for a consultation) at the local clinic, but they said there was nothing wrong with my tooth and they could not find anything.”
But the swelling continued and in June 2013, the pain became unbearable.
“By June last year, the swelling had started to grow bigger and bigger,” Kwinda added. “When I went to the Donald Fraser Hospital, they referred me to Polokwane where they also said there was nothing wrong with my tooth.”
Kwinda says he was simply left without a diagnosis – and without any further referrals.
“Although doctors told me that they could not see anything wrong with my cheek, I feel that the pain is unbearable,” he said. “My other worry is that this cheek is growing bigger and bigger.”
Kwinda is unemployed and unable to pay for a second opinion by a private doctor but is appealing to anyone who can help in solving his medical mystery.
Health care professionals in the Vhembe Health District who are interested in helping Kwinda can contact Health-e News at editor (at) health-e.org.za.
