So as a summary, I’m 28F, had a bad cold in early January this year for about a week or so, felt fine for almost a week after recovering but then started getting a constant fever (38C+), headache, nausea, swollen lymph nodes in my neck, and fatigue. Occasional night sweats that I’ve had on and off for a few years (not sure if it’s due to overheating under my duvet).
Been to my GP several times since mid-January, out of hours doctors and A&E. They initially assumed I had sinusitis (since I had recurrent sinusitis last year and deal with chronic non-allergic rhinitis) so gave me different antibiotics (doxycycline, amoxicillin, co-amoxiclav), none of which helped my fever or feeling generally ill.
Had a sinus and temporal bone CT in February, came back normal in both areas.
Started getting shortness of breath with exertion (such as getting up out of bed or going up the stairs) alongside heart palpitations, so went to A&E who almost dismissed it as anxiety before they realised I’d had a chronic fever for over a month at that point.
A&E did a chest x-ray which was normal, ECG normal but urine test suggested a UTI so I was advised to finish my current antibiotics and report back (I had 2 days left of a six day course of co-amoxiclav). Finished my antibiotics, still had a fever (so a chronic daily fever ranging from 38-38.8C). Had another urinalysis at my GP’s which came back normal/no UTI, but at my GP inspection he noted I still had a fever and swollen lymph nodes in my neck.
*Blood Tests*
Had 2 blood tests 1-2 weeks apart, no issues. My ESR (7mm) and CRP (<5.0) both normal (last full blood test was on around the 19th February I believe).
My thyroid function was normal (TSH 1.005 mU/L and T4 was 12.5 pmol/l).
My white blood cells are on the lower end of normal but still not low enough to cause concern (4.5 x10*9/L). Only other things of note was low Urea in my Renal profile (possibly due to drinking a lot of water due to suspected UTI) and lower/normal Iron (15 ug/L, the laboratory commented that less than 14 ug/L is likely Iron deficiency). Everything else in the normal range, including B12 and red blood cells.
*CT Scan*
Had a CT scan of my neck to my abdomen on the 2nd March, everything normal except a small follicular ovarian cyst (during ovulation) and:
“There is mild enlargement of the right submandibular salivary gland with no focal lesions. Small multiple non-specific lymph nodes seen in both sides of neck, largest in right submandibular group measured 9 mm
in short axis.” + my parotid and thyroid glands were also both normal.
*Current status*
My GP spoke to a Haematologist after the CT who said:
“Recent FBC and PAN-CT is normal; No concerns from our end.; Would advise:; Look for other causes of night sweats and keep under monitoring for B symptoms and lumps increasing in size or new lumps.; Look for any underlying chronic inflammatory conditions/infections for chronic pyrexia as per your guidance.”
It’s currently the 14th March now, my in-ear temperature is 38.2C (just taken, ranges from 37.8-38.3C most days), still have swollen lymph nodes in my neck and I can still feel the swollen salivary gland on the right side of my neck. My GP and I have no clue what this could be since my inflammatory/infection markers as normal/unremarkable.
I haven’t had any weight loss (maintained my weight), no noticeably itchy skin, normal appetite. I do have a chronic cough but I also have chronic rhinitis and a hiatus hernia, so post nasal drip is not particularly uncommon to me. I still get random heart palpitations and shortness of breath (such as difficulty taking a deep breath/feeling like I need to yawn but can’t).
Should I pursue this, and if so, is there anything I should request to rule out cancer? E.g. biopsies or ultrasounds? Thanks for any advice
