I know this has been asked before, but it is always helpful to discuss again, plus each case is unique of course.
I'll start by saying I'm 32 and a registered health professional, and to say we are the WORST patients is an understatement. I've spent days researching and, despite knowing many of the answers, still feel myself searching primarily for reassurance.
Monday. My youngest son (6) said his throat was a bit sore and asked where his tonsils were, so together we looking in the mirror and pointed them out....this was when I discovered my asymmetric enlarged tonsil which, on an area of the tonsil has the appearance of a mucus retention cyst. The next day I emailed my GP and sent a photo, triggering an urgent ENT for the 21st of March 22.
I've read some threads in this forum and so expect a nasal scope of all my upper airways on this first appointment as has been discussed in many of the threads. Should I be expecting any further investigation or scans at this appointment? It's at 18.20 in the evening so I am guessing not.
What I am finding very confusing is that of all the images I have googled (and that is basically all that is available on Google at this rate) none have the swelling to the extent of mine with just a section of mucocele. They're either all mucocele, or they're very less swollen (still with mucocele) in comparison to my own. Mine looks like a 2cm diameter marble sized tonsil with a section, around a 6th of the size, of mucocele. My fear is that the mucocele is camouflaging a worse underlying issue, but the rational part of me wants to believe it is just a mucocele and nothing worse. This is based on similar images (but not the same) and a reasonable medical mind (obviously rationale leaves us health professionals when it involves ourselves or our familis though, and I am trying to remember that!).
My question to this somewhat lies with, is tonsillectomy and biopsy most likely to happen here? I have frequently suffered tonsillitis and was always aggrieved they were never taken out at a younger age. I feel I have suffered needlessly over the years after suffering frequently preteen. This restarted again in my 20s. I have been to medical examinations in the past and incidental findings have been that I was suffering tonsillitis at some of these appointments unknowingly as I have had an absence of pain. I was told by a locum that frequent sufferers of tonsillitis can experience mild tonsillitis painlessly due to over exposure and this was likely happening at the time. I haven't knowingly had tonsillitis since approximately pre covid now but I have had a lot of issues with my teeth over the past 2 months though, so know this swelling is less than 2 months old as I was always looking in my mouth due to pain.
Other synptoms I feel are relevant are frequent, very mild sore throat, I mean real mild, more like dry throat, very occasional feeling of a frog in my throat, struggling to swallow some tablets but not food and mild halitosis. I'm exhausted 24/7 regardless of how much rest I have had and I've had frequent ulcers/decline in oral health over past year despite frequent brushing plus a salivary gland that keeps blocking in the roof of my mouth. There is eft sided uvula deviation with redness and I have had very occasional mild ear ache on the affected side and tinnitus rarely too. My subclavicilar node sometimes is palpable too. On top of these relevant symptoms I've also a lot of small cysts in my breasts which were checked (and I was treated) appallingly. So much so I wish I had gone back and demanded to be checked again.
I'm unsure how I'm going to battle my mind for the next 10 days but I would love opinions on whether people feel a tonsillectomy with biopsy sounds the likely approach here. I'm not sure I can handle the wait and see approach, and with some other symptoms (that I don't think are related) bugging me too such as LRQ sharp pains occasionally, two episodes of blood in my urine over the past 6 months, mucus in my stools, an itch on the back of my neck/hairline, a new neck mole and a suspicious looking mole on my back, I am not sure I feel comfortable with a lack of thorough analysis this time!!! I want the biopsy for reassurance and am looking for reassurance here that others think I will get it.
Has anyone ever explicitly asked for a biopsy to calm their mind? I'm aware of the horrific recovery of tonsillectomy, but with the frequency I contract tonsillitis and the airway and dysphagia issues tonsillitis causes me anyway... I feel it may be worth it.
Apologies. I think I am delving too much. Any replies are welcome. All will be helpful, even if just for my morale. Thank you all so much and I wish you all the best with your own journeys.
