Enlarged left tonsil & swollen lymph nodes in neck

Hi.

I’m new here but here goes. I’m almost 25 with 3 children & since about January, I’ve had what feels like bout after bout of what I assumed was tonsillitis. I’ve been to the doctors for it twice & was prescribed 2 courses of antibiotics twice too but nothing caused my tonsils to swell back down. Even in between my assumed bouts of tonsillitis, they never swelled back down either. I seemed to keep getting a sore throat on my right side, I think my right tonsil is slightly swollen but my left is definitely worse like maybe 3 or 4 times bigger. So this has been going on for a few months. In April, I got referred to the ENT department which was classed as a urgent referral but my appointment had been cancelled & I finally was seen last week on the 23 May, I assumed the whole appointment was to see whether or not I fulfil the criteria to finally get my tonsils removed but that didn’t even get mentioned. I explained to the consultant what had been going on for the last couple of months & he checked my tonsils & said they definitely swollen. He then wanted to put a camera up my nose which he did straight away & then said that my tissue behind my nose & everywhere seems really swollen. He then checked my neck & said he found 2 lumps & that he wanted to send me for a ultrasound there & then which he did. On the ultrasound, on my left side where my tonsil is extremely swollen, there seemed to be a massive lump that was pulsating. It looked massive on the screen & the radiologist were focused on it for a while compared to the other side & even brought a second radiologist in quoting he wants to get a second opinion whether these photos are okay. He then said they definitely swollen & I probably need to get them removed no matter what but no biopsy needs to be done just yet. Maybe it was to put my mind at ease I don’t know but when I got sent back to the consultant, he then wanted to send me for a urgent MRI on my neck within the next 2 weeks, he sent me off for 13 different blood tests & prescribed me with antibiotics for 2 weeks which so far is proving useless with the swelling. The consultant then arranged another appointment for 3 weeks time (15 June). The consultant never mentioned or talked about what he assumed it was or whatever but when I went for my blood tests doing, I had 3 sheets of paper with me of what they was testing for. In the clinical notes bit, it said Waldrye’s ring hypertrophy, cervical lymphadenopathy & he questioned whether I had a lymphoproferative disorder & what was the cause & I assumed they trying to find the cause of it with the blood tests (FBC, kidney & liver function, glandular fever, HIV, stuff like that). I researched those terms with google & found that they could possibly be investigating cancer. I know it could be amongst other things. I never got told this, I never asked. I feel stupid that I didn’t now but I was just in shock at the appointment. Anyway, the day after my consultant appointment, I received a phone call from the MRI department arranging an appointment for the 30 May. But it confused me because I got told I would need to make my own appointment when a letter came through for me & now it’s been arranged for me the day after so now I’m sort of thinking that my blood tests wasn’t normal & that’s why they fast tracked the MRI & arranged it for me.

I think I posted on here for some advice & to hear some similar stories really. I just hate this waiting game I just want to know answers & finally know what’s wrong with me! I’ve been poorly on & off for months now so it’ll just be a massive relief to finally know even if it does mean I’ve got some kicking *** of some sort of cancer to do!

Sorry for the long post & thanks in advance

Parents
  • Hi Kirstylouise93, I was wondering how you got on with your MRI results. I am currently going through almost the exact same thing as you, 2 course of antibiotics for suspected tonsilitus, nothing helping with my left tonsil swollen and lymph nodes all swollen on left side as well as a sore throat, mainly on the left side. One node is particular is really big and I can feel it pulsing under my jaw really strongly.I was seen by a different doctor who has now given me an urgent referral to ENT. I’m so worried and nervous as I have a gut feeling that something is wrong. Seeing as your symptoms sound so similar to mine I’m hoping you got a positive result and nothing sinister was found. 

  • Hi Cmarie19

    Just replying to see how things turned out with your situation. I am currently experiencing the same thing right now, swollen left tonsil swollen left side lymph nodes and slight sore throat on the left side, after having been prescribed antibiotics and nothing worked I'm now currently awaiting an "urgent" appointment for a camera to be inserted down my nose to find out what's going on.

    I am extremely worried and didn't know I had anxiety until this started. Would you be able to let me know whay happend with your case if possible.

     

    many thanks 

  • hey shell09,

    How did your appointment go?

    Im currently suffering with exactly the same symptoms as you. One enlarged tonsil and swollen lymph nodes.

    I've been referred to ENT, but I've got to wait 10 weeks for appointment. 
     

    Feeling pretty anxious about it all!

     

  • Hey, i have something very similar. Left side enlarged tonsil, both sides swollen lymph nodes, but a weird feeling on my right side that seems to come & go...

    going to ask GP for an ENT referral as my bloods were normal..

     

    how did your ENT appointment go?

  • Hey,

    Yeah very similar symptoms. ENT initialling said that they thought I had quinsy. But I had my check-up appointment on Monday and they have found a 'nodule' on my tonsil. So I'm booked in for a tonsillectomy/histology. Pretty nerve wracking!

  • Hey Walsh123, 

    Just wondering how your tonsillectomy recovery went & if your results were ok? 
     

    I saw an ENT consultant today who has advised I have a tonsillectomy, due to having a large right tonsil and palpable lymph nodes to right side of neck (which I've had for 3years and was told they looked fine by a GP at the time) He wasn't able to see much through the camera up nose & mouth. He wasn't the most gentle consultant and said it may be lymphoma. 
    yes I smoke and I know if it's cancer it's self inflicted but I'm so scared. 
    just wondering if anyone knows if I can get away with doing a biopsy only without having to have a tonsillectomy. He said he's advise a tonsillectomy and biopsy doesn't always show anything. 
     

    so scared 

  • Hey 

    How did your appointment go? I hope it went well! 

     

    I had Tonsillitis for the first time last year & 3 times this year. My right Tonsil never went down. I regularly have swollen lymph nodes as I have myalgic encephalitis. I do have a weakened immune system. ive been mega ill with a virus since October and feel better one day then ill the next again. Should I be worried about my tonsils?

     

    I hate bothering the doctors because I know they get fed up with me contacting them all the time however I'm ill regularly So what can I do! 

     

    Thanks all the best of luck to everyone here 

Reply
  • Hey 

    How did your appointment go? I hope it went well! 

     

    I had Tonsillitis for the first time last year & 3 times this year. My right Tonsil never went down. I regularly have swollen lymph nodes as I have myalgic encephalitis. I do have a weakened immune system. ive been mega ill with a virus since October and feel better one day then ill the next again. Should I be worried about my tonsils?

     

    I hate bothering the doctors because I know they get fed up with me contacting them all the time however I'm ill regularly So what can I do! 

     

    Thanks all the best of luck to everyone here 

Children