Hi, I'm 19 and experiencing something simular to this!

In the last 6 months I've had bad tonsilitis a couple times and was put on penicillin for 10 days and it cleared pretty quickly.

A few days ago I noticed my right tonsil looked rather large / swollen, (the only reason I noticed was because I had a very slight amount of pain in my throat) I didn't really have any other symptoms. I wasn't certain of how long it had been like this prior me noticing.

I initally thought it wasn't tonsilitis as I hadn't been experiencing any of the same symptoms as the last couple of times I'd had it. The thing worrying me was the fact there was no pain, which then made me question as to why this might be. So, I made the mistake of googling 'one enlarged tonsil' and it got me here.

I rang the doctor and they put me on the same course of antibiotics as previously, (not giving any indication of what she thought it might be). I've been taking them for 4 days and nothings changed, still looks swollen and enlarged. If it were my usual tonsilitis it would have gone down significantly by this time. The doctor said ring back in a week if nothings changed and we'll arrange a face to face appointment. 

I also had a small hard lump behind my right ear which I first noticed about 2/3 months ago. I thought it was a cyst at the time (sorry gross). It has got significantly smaller since then but I was panicking about whether this could have something to do with all of this.

I'm really worried as I'm a smoker, I don't know if I'm over reacting. Just thought I'd share this with you as reading this thread has helped!

Eve x

Hello Eve, just wondering if there's any updates on your health? X

So glad I've found this forum...similar to you all including 'Dr Google'. Right tonsil swollen but no pain...had a virus/cough that took me three weeks to get over and throat still felt a bit 'off' so I shone a torch down there. My tonsil is kind of tear shaped and points backward down my throat. Get 'crackling' sensation in my ears when I swallow but that's normal for me...it's like everything becomes a symptom when you're stressing out. Anyway sent a photo to Practice Nurse (not doing appointments face to face due to covid) and she initially said looked smooth and probably nothing to worry about. She said she'd show photos to the doctor but I heard nothing back until today when she phoned and said I have an emergency ENT appointment as the doctor says it doesn't look 'normal'. She said not stress as the letter will mention cancer but this is the only way to get an appointment. My wisdom teeth are also playing up so have an x-ray and appointment with the dentist on the 21st. Fingers crossed and thank you all for sharing...seems like most have a good outcome despite what Dr Google says.

So, the lump inside my mouth wasn't even my tonsil. Was seen at ENT...even though the lump looks abnormal the doctor said I could just ignore. Good luck to the rest of you.

Hi Eve, I just wondered if you have any update? I'm in a really similar position right now x

I am so pleased I found this thread. A couple of weeks ago I got in touch with my GP stating that I had one tonsil larger than the other and felt some tickling at the back of my throat, so was a bit concerns. I first noticed my tonsil enlarge about 5 months ago when I got what I think was tonsilitis. I have since had similar painful swallowing once or twice, but it cleared and I decided that if it happened again I would contact the GP. The GP saw it thought I needed an urgent 2 week ENT appointment, they couldn't see me 'formally' so referred me to a weekend GP to have a look, they also looked at it and said i needed an urgent ENT appointment. The appointment is booked for next week. But honestly, the wait has been horrendoes. 

The GP has had me on a two week course of antibiotics which has cleared the pain in my throat. But now because of the stress and anxiety of it all I feel like I have a lump in the back of my throat. Yes.... i have googled a lot, which tells me that its globus. (at least i am telling myself it is harmless). I am 37 and a past light smoker. 

Its the not knowing and anxiety thats getting to me at the moment. 

Thank you all for posting your experiences, to be honest, hearing that others have gone through similar and have been ok, gives me a great sense of hope. 

Hi everyone,

New here. Really pleased to have found this thread too as I noticed a swelling in my left tonsil post tonsillitis and it never went away. I no longer have tonsillitis symptoms but it's been a couple of months with the swelling still. 

Finally contacted my GP who was only allowing over the phone consultations due to the pandemic. He said it's probably nothing, but told me to take some nasal spray as this may be a factor. I'm 25 and a non smoker. He said that GPs were not allowing physical checks of throats and noses due to the situation... 
Fortunately, I had a thought in the back of my mind prior to the call that I should take a photo of it... So I explained to the GP that I have photos and sent them through to him. He immediately rang me back and said I'm being reffered to an ENT (which is a little alarming) as i'm definitely right. It does look abnormal, but he actually said its not just my tonsil it seems to be the left side of my throat that has abnormal swelling. 

So now I have a bit of anxiety and it's just a waiting game. He did say its a very very low chance that it's anything sinister.. but all bases should be covered, hence the referral. 

So it's just a waiting game, but I think reaisng other posts on this thread has really eased my mind a little. I'm trying to avoid Dr. Google but I can't help but need to find out what it is! 

My advice: In this current situation if you are concerned about any throat issue or nasal issue.. take a photo to send them! If I hadn't... I would not have been referred! 

Hi everyone!

I am really glad I came across this forum, it's definitely calmed my nerves down. I too noticed that my right tonsil was larger than my left about 4 months ago. Having no other symptoms, I was really confused. I contacted my GP and had a telephone appointment where she then asked me to send her a picture of my tonsils. She to put me on some antibiotics and book me in for a face to face appointment once I finished my course of antibiotics. The antibiotics didn't do it's job and my tonsil was still inflamed. I was then referred to an ent doctor which I had a telephone appointment with and also sent him a photo. He decided to book me in for a CT scan. I'm 24 and I'm really starting to worry. I haven't had my scan yet so it's just a waiting game.

Hi All, 

I thought I would do an update from my last post. 

So I finished the two week course of antibiotics and that did nothing to my tonsils. 

I then got an appointment to see an ENT consultant, and oddly enough also a MaxiFacial consultant at the same hospital. 

When I spoke to the first consultant they said that it looked to them like tonsular scarring and nothing to get worried about. However they would refer me for an MRI just to make sure. 

The second consultant said exactly the same, that he was not concerned and concurred with the first colleague. 

I have since gone for the MRI and awaiting the results. I had to have a dye put in through a cannula, which was less than fun as it gave me momentary 'motion' sickness. But that passed quickly and the MRI went well. 

I have an appointment for a follow up in about 4 weeks time, which I am taking to mean that I have fallen off the priority list. 

I am now not worried at all about having cancer. But the anxiety and stress I gave myself in the initial couple of weeks now feels totally disproportionate. 

I wish everyone well, and hope if nothing else this thread helps you to stay calm until all the tests have been done and completed.

Ps. Do remember, Dr Google is totally crap!