@mikkimcc
I have had this same thing for over 10 years. It came on suddenly, used to only impact one side of my face but now can be either side or sometimes both at once. It is severe deep itching of the glands by my ears and itchy down my jaw on the same side. Often but not always right around eating. It only seems to be relieved once the swelling gets large enough and may or may not come back over next several hours to days. I have seen many doctors for this-ENT, GP, neuro, allergist, had X-rays, MRI’s, etc. last ENT told me he sees this occasionally and they don’t know what it is and if I figure it out to please let him know. Neurologist told me it might be atypical trigeminal neuralgia and that I should be happy it is just itching. I also had someone say it my be related to cold sores/herpes. I have come to think it is some combo of that. It seems to follow the nerve pathway of the Trigeminal Nerve and is relived once the swelling gets very puffy so pressure on the nerve and also seems like it is similar itch burn to a cold sore. I don’t get any open cold sores just the itching but I do take a lot of acyclovir so maybe that partially suppresses it? If anyone else has a similar experience or any answers I would love to hear from you. I did have COVID but this started years before COVID existed and had a sudden onset and then it has come on sporadically but regularly ever since.