Swollen Lymph Nodes / Mono
Posted , 8 users are following.
My story...
I was at work one afternoon a month ago & noticed a lump on my neck - I went to the doctors the following day and had an ultrasound & a full blood count. The ultrasound showed a few swollen lymph nodes in my neck. That night I went to the gym and another lump popped up.
I went to see an ENT for a follow up and he said it was the start of a throat infection and gave me antibiotics. The antibiotics did nothing and over the course of that week my symptoms got worse. One tonsil was very swollen, the other coated in white. I was having night sweats, had an on/off mild fever & I was having upper left abdominal pain & generally felt awful. My throat was never sore. I also had some heart palpitations, dizzy spells and my chest generally felt uncomfortable. I also was experiencing chronic fatigue.
I went back to the ENT and requested a EBV Test. This came back positive and I was sent to see an infectious diseases doctor. He went through my symptoms, felt my spleen and said it was enlarged. He agreed on the Mono diagnosis. I had a chest X-ray which came back clear and 3 days later a ultrasound on my abdomon which by that point the spleen pain had gone and all results came back normal.
I had a liver function test which was very high and my bloods were retested and monocytes and lymphocytes were both very high. My whole body ached.
After nearly 2 weeks of very healthy eating and at home relaxing, my symptoms gradually decreased.
During this period I was very worried about lymphoma and Lukeimia - I went to see a number of doctors who all agreed on the mono diagnosis.
My bloods were re tested and the liver function returned to normal after about 3 weeks and my lymphocytes are still slightly high at 51%. I have been given iron tablets for 6 months as my iron levels were slightly Low. My blood was looked at and the hemotoglisgt said there are reactive lymphocyte cells. Apart from that the blood looks normal.
I am still incredibly anxious as 4 weeks on my lymph nodes are still enlarged. After a further ultrasound there are a number of lumps in my neck & a couple under my arms & small ones in my groin.
My chest is also still feeling uncomfortable & the fatigue is lingering, but not as bad as it was two weeks ago.
I went to see a surgeon who said he would remove & test one of the lymph nodes to rule any bad things out, but I am extreamly nervous as this will involve general anesthetic.
Does anyone relate to my symptoms? Do you think I should have the biopsy in 2 weeks time or leave it for now?
I was thinking maybe to have bloods done again in 2 weeks and have an ultrasound on the nodes & then decide from there.
Any tips or advise would be great!
0 likes, 23 replies
craig07920 kirsty60141
Posted
Hey Kirsty,
So sorry to hear you've been going through mono and have had such a terrible month of symptoms and worry with it (which is only understandable). I just want to reassure you that all of the symptoms you describe sound like classic mono, many of which I had too when I went through it a number of years ago.
As the guys have been saying vitamins and herbs can really help, it sounds like you have been doing all the right things - perhaps as well as the ones you are taking, making sure you are taking a good strong multi-vitamin per day (I take Immunace Extra which is on sale here in the UK), a B100 complex and/or Co-enzyme Q10 per day (great for energy levels and nervous system) and immune boosting herbs like oregano, siberian ginseng and echinichea are great too. Also for a week or two taking 1/2 tea spoon full of baking soda in plain water and drinking twice a day they say is very good for helping fight viruses, I've found it helpful too.
Really hoping and praying this bother with your lymph nodes settles down, it definitely can be very normal during mono and I had one in particular in my neck which persisted for a while, but it did go away eventually - it was one of the last symptoms to go I think but want to reassure you that these things do go away. I hope that you don't have to go through any procedures or anything, of course do take the doctor's advice if they think it is something that needs done or not - just hoping and praying that the doctor can offer the right help and advice and it can reassure you. It frightened me too when you read how EBV can be linked to other things, it's scary to read but please be assured that the overwhelming vast vast vast majority of people with mono make a full recovery with time and don't have any other issues - one thing I tried to think on to counter those worries was that they say somewhere in the region of 75 to 90% of the western world gets infected with EBV at some point in their lives, often as a baby or child when the effects are not so bad as an adult, but this high percentage of people are generally fit and healthy and don't get any other health issues as a result of contracting this virus at some point.
Thinking of you Kirsty and remember you ARE going to get better - if it still takes a little time don't panic, but can be normal with this, but you most definitely WILL get there and this thing does go away with time. Hang in there and do let us know how things are going, the guys on the forum here are really great and supportive.
Great to read some great words of encouragement and advice from Ryan, Caroline, Dominika, Mono too, and Diane - thinking about each one of you too.
Craig
kirsty60141
Posted
I have been unable to sleep the past few nights and have been suffering from awful night sweats.
I think my lymph nodes have come down slightly in my neck. I have another ultrasound on them today. My left tonsils are still inflammed and has a yellow spot on them also I think yellow/white patches appearing too.
I am feeling exhausted and anxious. I am now 6 weeks in...
Is this normal?
dominika20801 kirsty60141
Posted
craig07920 kirsty60141
Posted
Hi Kirsty,
I do want to reassure you like Dominika that what you describe, this awful fatigue and swollen lymph nodes, absolutely is very normal for mono, not that it makes it any easier to deal with I know. This phase you're going through right now is by far the worst Kirsty, so remember just take a step back and get plenty of rest and just cope with getting through each day right now when feeling this way, removing stress and taking time out for as long as you need.
Thinking about you and remember this thing DOES get better - even if it takes a bit of time, absolutely you will get there. Everyone seems to recover to different timescales with this but please please do know that things do get better with time. Of course do go back to the doctors and let them know that's always wise and ask them to keep on top with blood tests etc, but definitely does sound like the mono is the cause of these symptoms.
Hoping you are able to get a better sleep at night from now on and remember take extra naps during the day also if you can and just take things slowly for now - thinking about you and do keep in touch and let us know how things are going. As Dominika says rest is so important, frustrating I know when all you want to do is live a normal life, but that will come again hang in there! Message any time!
Craig
kirsty60141
Posted
Hi guys
As an update, I had a FNA on one of the enlarged lymph nodes today. Results should be back in 2 days.
Please keep your fingers & toes crossed for me.
The tiredness is still lingering & my left tonsil still is swollen and has a yellow spot on it. Apart from that and the enlarged nodes, I am ok.
Hope you are all keeping well.
craig07920 kirsty60141
Posted
Hi Kirsty,
Really hoping the results of the FNA can bring reassurance and put your mind at rest, sometimes the waiting for results can be the worst part and hope that you can get the results as planned within 2 days.
Thinking about you soon, having a tough few days myself and feeling a bit overwhelmed so just hoping and praying God helps us all on the forum right now. You've been so kind and helpful to me with your words in the past Kirsty and definitely keeping my fingers crossed for your results and still believing you are going to get through this tough time and get better again. Trusting God with it all.
Craig
kirsty60141
Posted
Hi guys
As an update, I had a FNA on one of the enlarged lymph nodes today. Results should be back in 2 days.
Please keep your fingers & toes crossed for me.
The tiredness is still lingering & my left tonsil still is swollen and has a yellow spot on it. Apart from that and the enlarged nodes, I am ok.
Hope you are all keeping well
ryan98291 kirsty60141
Posted