One swollen tonsil and two swollen lymph nodes

Hi,

I'm not sure what to say as I know nobody can diagnose me. I'm just hoping to have somewhere to vent and hopefully someone who's been in similar situation can shed light on what in going through.

In February I had severe tonsillitis. My tonsil swelling was so severe I couldn't breathe if I lay down. The gp gave me antibiotics and I felt better after a few weeks.

A few months later i noticed that when I swallowed i could feel something in the back of my throat so I checked it and noticed that my right tonsil was enlarged and the left one was flat . I went to the gp and they gave me antibiotics which did nothing. I went back and he referred me to ENT.

I saw the ENT and he put a camera up my nose and throat and said he couldn't see anything but my throat looked red and the tonsil was bigger on the right side. He sent me for an MRI scan. The MRI scan came back clear but I have 2 10mm swollen lymph nodes on the right side below my ear. The ENT said he wants to remove my tonsils for histology. 

I am now waiting for the surgery but the waiting lists are long and it's been 2 months. Since then my throat is sore on the right side  I have pressure in my ear and jaw, my lymph nodes haven't gone down. Doctors keep giving me antibiotics which are not working.

I've been very anxious the last few days because no one has told me what's wrong. I'm panicking they have missed something and I'm sat here waiting. I'm not sure what to think. My throat and neck feels so uncomfortable. Anyone been through similar? Thanks

  • Hi there your sounds similar to mine I have bad case of tonsilites in March that lasted for 4 months turned out to be strep, I was givin antibiotics it would work but then come back a week later my tonsils never swelled up not that I could see when I opend my mouth but I always got white pus on them so I was sent down cancer pathway ENT consultant did the same as you looked down my throat sent for mri and everything was clear and I was discharged. And still now Iam severely highly sensitive when it comes to anything about my throat I would constantly feel like one side has a slight aching pain even a tonsil stone scares me and like you I can’t help but think maybe they missed something. Iam learning to not think about my throat as anxiety can cause the feelin of something being stuck in throat and some days are better than others recently I had a tonsil stone and I’m my 37 years never had one and since going through it has made me a very paranoid person with my throat. You’ve had the all clear from your mri so that should reassure you and I hear that sometimes once you have tonsillitis’s it can lead to and enlarged tonsil for a while 

  • Hi sweetcheeks5, thanks so much for replying. It's nice to talk to someone who understands what I've been going through! 

    My throat had not felt normal for months, its a horrible feeling that you just can't ignore! It also fuels my anxiety.

    It's strange because doctors have asked me if I have a history of having tonsilitis and I have only ever had it that one time.

    Did they offer to have your tonsils removed? They have advised to have mine removed and I'm just waiting for the surgery which I'm very anxious about. I have swollen glands on the one side of my neck and pain in my throat. Even though the mri scan hasn't shown much, with my symptoms I worry what's going on in there! 

  • Hi did you have you tonsils removed ? 

  • Hi, yes I did 8 weeks ago. The biopsy results came back as chronic tonsillitis x

  • How was your recovery? My husbands surgery is next week. Thanks 

  • Hi, the recovery is hard, I will not sugar coat it.

    His throat will be very painful for 2-3 weeks. He will also feel very tired. So rest in bed as much as he can, set a routine of taking painkillers and do not miss a dose, try and drink as much fluids as possible and eat what he can. It's worth it is the end though. Wishing him a great recovery, he will be fine :-) xx