Persistent sore throat and neck pain.
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To start, I am a 23 year old female. My symptoms started last May when I had an endoscopy done of my stomach. I woke up the next morning with a sore throat on my left side that hurt terribly when swallowing and neck pain. A few days later, a gland popped up under my jaw. The gland is soft and moveable, so every doctor I have seen regarding this issue doesn't seem too worried about it. I didn't go see a doctor about this initially, I just assumed it was a sore throat and would go away on its own. Fast forward to where we are now, 8 months later and I'm still having issues. My throat is almost always sore, on both sides now. I also have ear pain on both sides. It hurts to swallow and just generally feels irritated. It comes in flares. When it flares, I can take antibiotics and it helps for a few weeks, but it always comes right back. The gland is also still there. I have seen an ENT about this 3 separate times. She ordered a CT scan with contrast of my neck which came back as no pathologically enlarged nodes identified and no masses identified. The only thing it showed was "mildly prominent tonsillar tissue," which my ENT identified as my lingual tonsils. I had my palatine tonsils removed when I was 4.. She did a scope in her office and said they were enlarged, however she did not feel like they were large enough to be causing my issues. The gland hurts terribly. It doesn't hurt to touch, but its almost like a burning throbbing sensation. I feel the same pain in the same area on my right side, however I cannot feel a gland there, only pain. The area where my palatine tonsil was on my right side has now popped up a lump in my throat, which the ENT said was "leftover tonsil tissue" and she believes it's the start of my palatine tonsil growing back (which apparently can and does happen). My throat is always red and my papillae on the back of my throat are always inflamed. 3 months ago my neck began bothering me terribly. It aches at the back of my neck on both sides and is very stiff. I assumed I needed a chiropractor, and I have seen one but it has not helped. I have noticed my neck only bothers me when my throat flares up. The front of my neck always has a burning sensation as well. I went to the doctor last week for an unrelated issue and my fever was 100.4. I didnt even feel sick, only my throat was hurting as usual. This is the 3rd or 4th time I have ran a low grade temp with my issues that I know of. My ENT has referred me to a specialist, however my appointment isn't until mid-February. My ENT feels confident it isn't cancer as no masses or signs of cancer were identified. But she doesn't know what it is. My bloodwork is normal with normal WBC count so she doesn't believe it is infection. I am also always fatigued. I can sleep a full 8 hours and be ready for a nap 3 hours after waking. I am at my wits end. I feel like I have been sick for 8 months straight now and no one knows why. As you can probably guess, I have googled my symptoms and I am terrified it is cancer that hasn't been detected yet. I am also terrified of having my lingual tonsils removed as I have heard the recovery process is excruciatingly painful and long. I also have not been able to find anyone else that has the same symptoms as I do. I will attach a picture of the lump inside my throat where my palatine tonsil was and also the back of my throat for better visualization. I apologize for the long novel, but I appreciate anyone who takes the time to read it. Any advice or help is greatly appreciated. 
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