Swollen lymph nodes, referred for a scan. Scared

[Tisverycold]

I've had a swollen lymph node in my neck for the past 6-8 weeks. This coincides with a very sore throat on one side, and ear pain on the same side. I've also had fatigue and days where I've felt so unwell I couldn't function.

A new symptoms that has sprung up today is I'm producing more mucus from the side of my throat that I'm having problems with.

I have another enlarged node on my collarbone but I'm pretty sure that came up after a my recent flu jab, so I'm not that concerned about that one as I think it has gone down a little.

I've had 3 loads of antibiotics to no avail incase it was a bacterial infection which it wasn't, then had two blood tests which were fine apart from a borderline elevated white blood cell count. Checked for deficiencies and all perfectly fine.

GP is now referring me for a scan and mentioned "speeding it up" which has of course worried me more, though I appreciate the fact she's being thorough.

Has anybody had my symptoms then a scan and everything been ok?

My first thoughts were lymphoma ive been googling but I don't have night sweats and haven't lost weight as far as I can tell.

I would appreciate any reassurance on the matter, thank you

I have no experience but didn’t want to leave you unanswered. Try not to google you will always get the answer you don’t want. And if you’re anything like me you will ignore all the less serious causes and go straight for the worst one xx

Thank you Grumblina, yep that describes me perfectly

I've been wondering about post nasal drip and eustachian tube dysfunction, but as soon as she said she wanted a scan done ASAP I've gone into panic mode.

Scan referral is sent off and I'm seeing my lovely GP again Tuesday.

I have children, one of which is disabled, so even the slightest possibly of something sinister happening to me fills me with terror

Step away from Google!!!

My mum had something similar this time last year- had first felt the lump in her neck in February.

It was something sinister, but turned out to be a very treatable hpv strain, caught at stage 1. She got the all clear in early summer.

Between the initial C word being mentioned and finding out what type/stage it was, my sister and I googled ourselves insane. We were sure that it was the worst case scenario, forgetting that the only people that could advise us properly were mum’s actual doctors and even then only after they’d completed their investigations.

When that happened, it was like a weight had been lifted as they were so positive about her treatment plan.

Please be kind to yourself while you’re waiting- it’s a really tough spot to be in

Thank you grapefruit, I'm so sorry your mum had to go through that but what brilliant news that must have been for you all for her to get the all clear.

Would you mind me asking how her lump presented?

In my case it's not visible to the naked eye, i only know of its existence because I was checking for raised glands when I became unwell and felt alot of discomfort in my throat.

I've already googled myself silly so there's little point in me searching anymore, I've read it all small mercies

She felt it below her ear, on the side of her neck. By the time it was diagnosed 7 months later it was actually visible, making one side of her neck look slightly thicker than the other. It shrunk v quickly during radiotherapy.

It was a shock, but her ENT consultant was almost blasé that she’d be ok.

These are just my mums experiences, and I don’t want to be giving you a list of things that you start driving yourself mad over trying to spot!!! I just wanted to give some perspective that even if it’s not a simple infection for example, it’s not necessarily as doom and gloom as google would have you believe.

Mine is in the front of my throat, quite centralised. Think where it swells when you have tonsilitis or other bugs but just one the one side (tonsilitis has been ruled out)

Neutrophils have been monitored over two blood tests and haven't increased so there's no bacterial infection present, but I've had enough antibiotics to fight off the plague anyway.

I appreciate you sharing that about your dear mum, so often when there's a question of anything like this we instantly think of a death sentence (I do, I'm a chronic worrier) so It's both reassuring and comforting to hear of cases where that absolutely wasn't the case

Hi, I had a ultrasound scan on my neck for the very same thing last month. I found two lumps on my neck one small and one big enough that you could see it sticking out, very scary.
I went to the doctor and she wasn't worried about the small one but the larger one she appeared worried and asked if I could pay for a private scan which would be done in a few days.
I was seen six days later and omg I was so scared I asked the doctor at the hospital scanning me if it was the c word! Thank god he said no 👍
He asked me loads of questions and after the scan he said I actually had a lot of lymph nodes up in my neck some quite large that I wasn't aware of!
He thought it was caused by inflammation, the nodes have shrunk but are still there.
So I understand your worries I was thinking all sorts but it was ok so could possibly be the exact same for you.
Have you been around anyone sick recently?

I had similar,plus a temperature and it turned out to be Glandular Fever

I had raised white blood cells too, but it was because they were fighting the infection

That's great news @kissmelittleass thank you for another reassuring reply. MN is calming me down a bit!

Yes I've been around illness, my children had a visible cold a few weeks ago (though this was after my throat/ear problem began) but I myself have also had back to back bugs for the past 6 or so months. I was in hospital with something unrelated, which knocked my immune system for six, and ever since then I've not had one month of feeling healthy.

This current 'whatever it is' is the most recent thing but a concern to my GP because it has been going on consistently for so long, and the lymph node isn't going away.

I have a couple of questions if you don't mind? Whenever you have a moment ofc.

How much was a private scan? And secondly, did you have problems with your ear too?

My ear is driving me bonkers, its throbbing and stinging as i type (ditto that side of my throat) and the ear has gotten worse for sure. When all of this began, my pain/soreness was more focused in my throat but now it has spread to my ear ten fold.

GP looked inside and said there was inflammation but ear drops haven't helped.

After exhausting antibiotics and two blood tests she said it's definitely time to take a better look and see what's going on.

Thank you @Missillusioned it is interesting you say that because I was considering that a week or so ago, I'm guessing my ear pain resonates with you too?

I've had GF in my teens, but have discovered that sometimes it can come back, though unlikely, but not impossible.

I didn't have eat or throat pain, but GF can manifest differently in older adults apparently (I'm over 40).
I had fever and incredible fatigue and glands up in neck and throat and also in my abdomen. Once the Epstien Barr virus that causes glandular fever is in your body it can stay there for life - it's a type of herpes virus. And come out when your immune system is low, like shingles.

@Tisverycold I'm in Ireland but I guess wouldn't be much different to here it cost me €120 to have the scan done by a consultant, my doctor faxed them and the consultants secretary rang me two hours later to book me in six days later.
There is no nhs here! and waiting for a public scan even when there is a concern can take months sometimes!
My son also has a monkey nut size lymph node found about three years ago on side of his neck and he got a public scan appointment for Nina months later!! So I had to have a private scan done then too, he actually had his biopsied and thankfully all was clear. He still has it, same size and was rechecked last year by the doctor as he feels it makes him gag at times like when brushing his teeth but generally doesn't bother him.
As long as it's benign and it is then they are happy with it.
Rambling on now but in answer to your other question yes my ear was achy too slightly painful and funny enough my jawline on that side was for a few days yet I hadn't had a cold.

@Tisverycold just to add the consultant asked had I been around anyone sick as I was well enough, I told him one of my kids a few weeks previously had a slight cold for couple days but very minor and no one else caught it. He thought although I didn't get sick that this is what probably caused the inflammation?

Yes you're right missillusioned, prior to now I always thought that once you'd had the primary infection of GF you wouldn't get it again because you'd have sufficient antibodies, but given that my immune system isn't in great shape at the minute then it is entirely possible.. Thank you!

Glad yours and your little boys lumpy nodes turned out to be ok kissmelittle, it's frightening enough when it happens to you let alone your children. We're so fortunate to have the NHS here but in cases of worry like this I'm not opposed to paying roughly that amount to have things rushed through privately, it's alot but a small price to pay for peace of mind I think!

It's worth noting that my CRP levels and ESR levels are "perfect" according to my GP, which is a good sign i think? AFAIK those are the worrying ones.

it's just the "borderline elevated" wbc which could be anything from GF (come to think about it) or something else viral

Trying to think positively today!

I do have some nose congestion too, not so much so that I can't breath properly but noticeable enough for me to be aware of it.

I don't think that's a common complaint from people with something insidious is it. Feeling a bit silly now. I've focussed alot on the lymph node whilst ignoring other symptoms that point to less sinister things.

It's the whole mention of scans that set me off

Just chipping in to recommend regular use of Neilmed Sinus rinse. I almost permanently suffer from nasal congestion and this makes a big difference to me catching colds, sinus infections, hay fever symptoms etc etc. It's the only treatment I can access that is completely free of side effects. (And no, I'm not on commission).

Thank you dilkhush, I think I'll get some sinus rinse today. Willing to try anything that might help.

Catching colds and viruses one after the other is bound to block everything up. I spoke to a pharmacist a few weeks ago for advice and she said it's possible that the tubes can get clogged up after illness and cause all sorts of problems

I have tried virtually everything over the years and many things worked for a few months but then stopped working (anti histamines, no dairy for instance). The only time I was symptom free was when I was pregnant and BFing so there must be a hormonal link for me.

I don't know your age, but you might want to see if you are asthmatic - they'll be an asthma nurse at your GP surgery and doing a peak flow test at home for a few weeks will tell you. I think my asthma is caused by post nasal drip (yuk) but the asthma meds (and lovely Neilmed Sinus Rinse ❤️) mean that I recover from a cold in a normal timeframe, instead of being debilitated for weeks on end. It's made an enormous difference to my life.

Oh, I also had a CT scan last week. They're trying to find out if my underwater hearing (since April) is caused by blocked eustacian tubes or fused inner ear bones. Or both. I had to buy a thing called Otovent from the chemist to blow up balloons with my nose! Apparently it makes the muscles around the eustacian tubes work but it's usually just for kids and I'm 50...

Very thought provoking dilkhush.. I've never considered I may be asthmatic. I'll query that on Tuesday when I see my GP.

I was actually wondering about post nasal drip myself as I have an increase in sour but clear mucus coming from the side of my throat that is affected, and makes me want to spit into tissue quite often on some days (sorry gross I know!)

Definitely going to buy some sinus rinse today. I'm going through a process of elimination, I've had anything dental and bacterial ruled out so far.

And I'm 25

It's definitely worth considering. I was the classic mildly neglected child of medics. Looking back, I think I always had asthma but nobody looked until I stamped my foot at the GP surgery when I was 45. Turned out I had the lung capacity of a 75 year old.
I think it was unnoticed partly because I was at boarding school so when I had 3 days in bed 6+ times I year I just went to the infirmary and my parents were not inconvenienced (or possibly even told). I never wheeze, my only symptoms were coughing, low energy and very slow recovery from colds and coughs. I also came down with a cold pretty much every time I got cold and wet.
IMO Anyone who produces a lot of mucus in their head should always have asthma in the back of their mind as a possible complication.

Low energy and slow recovery from colds definitely applies to me.. hmm.. you have me wondering now.

I'm sat here this afternoon yawning like nobodies business and I've barely done much so far today.

The mucus is a new thing but noticeable nevertheless

@Tisverycold try this for the mucus I buy it in Boots here so assuming they sell it there? Brilliant stuff