Earplug recommendations?

Has anyone here dealt with mumps in their early 20s??
Here’s my situation—I woke up yesterday with this swelling behind, under, and slightly in front of my ear. It was pretty tender to the touch. I went to see my doctor today, and she ordered some blood work because she suspected it might be mumps. My results came back totally normal, though. She just told me to keep an eye on my temperature, use cold compresses, and come back tomorrow if things get worse, or wait until Wednesday for a follow-up.
Honestly, I'm just left feeling confused. I still don't know if it actually is mumps or not. To make matters more complicated, I'm supposed to meet my boyfriend tomorrow. I've heard that it can be dangerous for guys, and I really don't want him catching whatever this is. Now I'm sitting here wondering if I should even be kissing him...
😢

It’s a bit odd that you caught mumps—given your age, you really should have been vaccinated against it. 🤷

Regarding how contagious it is: yeah, mumps spreads for a few days before symptoms kick in and stays active as long as there’s swelling in the face or neck. Your boyfriend could definitely catch it—and while he ought to be vaccinated too, you can never truly tell with these things...

Don't sweat the infertility stuff. If mumps hits the testes in men, it usually only affects one side.

Did your doctor run any blood tests to confirm the diagnosis?

Typically, what you see with mumps is elevated amylase levels in both the blood and urine.

Just stay home, rest up, and stick to soft foods—don't make your jaw muscles work harder than they have to. Use cold compresses. You can take some Advil or Tylenol if you have a fever (and you probably will have a moderate one).
Avoid going for walks outside; it's rare, but mumps can lead to complications like meningitis.

If your fever spikes or you get a persistent headache, call your doctor immediately.

Well, it looks like things are settling down. The swelling is gone today, and honestly, I don’t have a fever at all. I actually feel pretty great. 🙂
I was definitely worried about what would happen if I caught it even after being vaccinated... 🤷 but I did make sure to get all my shots.
I’ve got a follow-up appointment tomorrow, so we’ll see what the doctor has to say...
Thanks for getting back to me 🙂