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Swollen Lymph Node

Posted , 3 users are following.

jackspeech
jackspeech

Hi,

I've been visiting doctors and specialists for months now and after no luck with any of them, I'm turning here for guidance on my next steps in terms of seeking out answers.

I'll try and make my story as short as possible. I moved to the US from Australia in January. In late April I noticed a lump on the left side of my neck. It was quite large. I visited a doctor, he ran tests for mono, checked for strep (it wasn't either), gave me some antibiotics and sent me on my way. I later had a single night of night sweats (it's never happened again). The lymph node stayed swollen so I visited the doctor again and he referred me to an ENT specialist. I visited them, and they referred me to a radiologist where I had an ultrasound and a FNA biopsy. They ruled out lymphoma and said it was responding to a viral infection. Over the entire course of the year I have had tests for HIV, mono, herpes, hepatitis, syphilis you name it, and they've come back negative.

The ENT specialist and general doctor both told me my body must have fought it off and that the lymph node will go down over the next several months.

It's been another 2 months since I've last seen them, and I know they said several months, but I'm a worrier and still uncertain. I have slight headaches (which I never used to get) on the left side of my head and my nose feels more congested than usual ever since being in the US.

Can anyone help? Does anyone have any idea on what this could be or what I should get tested for? I know there's 1000s of things it could be and I'll probably end up waiting until March when I return home to get it sorted because so far the US health system has let me down.

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • Purpledobermann
    Purpledobermann jackspeech

    Posted

    It really could be a number of things...but you seem to have ruled out quite a few of them actually.

    Unilateral swelling is a bit inconsistent with viral causes and requires more follow-up - what was your FBC like? Lymphocytes? WBC? 

    Most importantly What was your CRP value at last blood test? Assuming you had bloodwork done a couple of times since onset?

    Which lymph node are we talking about? Mid-neck on the left or closer to the ear or closer to jawline?

    Have you had a dental x-ray recently?

    That may be another thing to look into.

    Has thyroid been looked into (long-shot but you never know and better to be safe).

    Let us know how it goes.

    • jackspeech
      jackspeech Purpledobermann

      Posted

      Thanks for responding! The swollen lymph node is left side upper middle (it's not direct middle but it's not very top of the neck either). I have a smaller lymph node on the right side that has been swelling up then going back down.

      I had a dental X-ray about a year and a half ago for wisdom tooth removal and everything was fine.

      Not sure on the values of blood tests results because they never released them to me sad including results for the FNA. I got 8 pages of results with no values and it just says that there's no signs of lymphoma.

      ENT gave me a spray for my nasal congestion and that's about it. Didn't been mention chronic sinusitis.

    • Purpledobermann
      Purpledobermann jackspeech

      Posted

      I would ask for another dental x-ray, just in case, now that the node is enlarged.

      And feedback on your blood tests should be requested! If CRP was elevated there was infection. If lymphocytes were elevated....likely viral (since you excluded lymphoma). If WBC was elevated, this would point to bacterial infection (as would be supported by elevated CRP).

      These are basics that would need to be covered before 'wait and see'...

      Do you have tonsils or were they removed?

      Chronic sinusitis would mean you have infective matter brewing in your sinuses long-term. Could be the culprit.

      If none of the above...a thorough thyroid check-up should be initiated.

      I hate when things are left to 'wait and see' with conditions that appear to be quite persistent.

       

  • ihavenonickname
    ihavenonickname jackspeech

    Posted

    has the UShealth system let you down or has the physician you choose let you down...sounds like a lotvif possibilities have been ruled out which is sometimes the way.

    When was your last dental visit?

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