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Swollen tonsil

Nk_91
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Hello everyone 

 

I know they're a lot of posts about similar stuff but wanted to ask a couple of questions. I'll briefly go over my concern first. 
 

I'm 32, female. Ex smoker but vape daily. I had a really bad painful throat (mostly on one side 2-3nmonths ago) I didn't see anyone and carried on as normal. The throat pain stopped and then started again a couple of weeks later. Its been on and off for around 3 months now.

Recently I haven't had any pain but just some discomfort on the left side. Two weeks ago I noticed one tonsil was swollen. Felt well in myself. Went to the GP to get the throat looked at, especially the one swollen tonsil.  He had a look and said there's no sign of infection. And as I'm well in myself to just wait it out. If in 2 weeks it's still swollen he will refer to ENT.

Went back today and saw the same doctor. It's still swollen but he said if I want to see an ENT I should just go private!? He made me feel like it's suddenly not so important, when it was his idea to refer me if nothing changed. He said my nose is congested and that could be causing the tonsil to swell. He said I don't fit the criteria to be referred as I'm 32 and haven't suddenly lost any weight or anything else alarming. He was very assertive telling me to go private. If my husband wasn't with me and pushed for a referal I don't think I would have got one today.

My throat (occasionally) the swollen tonsil side feels dry and scratchy and occasionally there's a dull ache. Sometimes it feels as if there's something stuck in my throat. I get my symptoms aren't that crazy but I don't want to play it down either. Especially as an ex smoker. He did say I'll warn you now, they might do a biopsy and you might be treated where they are lots of people around with cancer. Not sure why he mentioned all of that to be honest. 
 

so anyway, has anyone had anything similar and it turned out to be an issue due to a congested nose? (I don't feel like my nose is that badly congested at all) Are they likely to do a biopsy on my first appointment? Have I wasted my GP's time because he made me feel like I did. I'm not worried its cancer, I've learnt not to worry about things without facts but I do want to rule it.  I've got two young children I have to think about. So any similar experiences? What happened at your ENT Appointment?

 

sorry for the long post and thanks for reading 
 

 

Parents
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    Hello NK,

     

    im going through a similar thing to you, I also took my husband to the dr with me as knew I would be easily fobbed off. I don't think you were wasting the drs time at all, these things need checking out. 
     

    I've got one swollen tonsil for about 6 weeks now, no ill feeling to accompany it, the dr gave me cortisone to try to reduce the swelling but it didn't do anything at all which made me start to worry, when I went back she referred me to the ENT because I also have night sweats, she did say that the tonsil looked benign and I know they can swell up for years without it being anything sinister. Anyway in my case the ENT has found another swollen lymph node in my neck that he wants checked out via a CT scan, which I'm having next week and then I have to go back to the ENT. I don't think I would have got the referral if I wasn't having night sweats to be honest. The doctor also sent me to have a chest x ray which showed no abnormality. Anyway the wait is horrible I know, have you got a date yet for the ENT appointment? There are plenty of chats in here of people who's swollen lymph nodes turned out to be nothing at all and they've had them for years. Reading those reassured me a bit, perhaps it'll help you too. My story so far probably doesn't but wanted to share as we're in a similar boat. 

    Oh I forgot, the ENT also said that if it was just for my swollen tonsil he wouldn't have been worried, its just the fact that he found another that made him order the CT scan.

    Hope you haven't got to wait too long!  

     

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    Hello NK,

     

    im going through a similar thing to you, I also took my husband to the dr with me as knew I would be easily fobbed off. I don't think you were wasting the drs time at all, these things need checking out. 
     

    I've got one swollen tonsil for about 6 weeks now, no ill feeling to accompany it, the dr gave me cortisone to try to reduce the swelling but it didn't do anything at all which made me start to worry, when I went back she referred me to the ENT because I also have night sweats, she did say that the tonsil looked benign and I know they can swell up for years without it being anything sinister. Anyway in my case the ENT has found another swollen lymph node in my neck that he wants checked out via a CT scan, which I'm having next week and then I have to go back to the ENT. I don't think I would have got the referral if I wasn't having night sweats to be honest. The doctor also sent me to have a chest x ray which showed no abnormality. Anyway the wait is horrible I know, have you got a date yet for the ENT appointment? There are plenty of chats in here of people who's swollen lymph nodes turned out to be nothing at all and they've had them for years. Reading those reassured me a bit, perhaps it'll help you too. My story so far probably doesn't but wanted to share as we're in a similar boat. 

    Oh I forgot, the ENT also said that if it was just for my swollen tonsil he wouldn't have been worried, its just the fact that he found another that made him order the CT scan.

    Hope you haven't got to wait too long!  

     

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