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Really concerned... one swollen tonsil and other symptoms.

Dani22
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Hi all,

 

I'm new here…

I don't really know what I am looking for coming on here to chat, as I know none of you will be able to diagnose me… I guess I'm just looking for somewhere to vent and see if anyone can shed any light at all on my situation and what I am experiencing. It'd be great to hear from others who have been in similar circumstances :)

 

I'm 22 years old, and have been suffering for the past 2 months with an array of symptoms, which I believe could be either lymphoma or tonsil cancer. I have no risk factors for tonsil cancer (I don't smoke or drink and I am well under the age bracket) however I do for lymphoma (I had gladular fever when I was 18 and my great aunt has had lymphoma, although I realise this is not an immediate family member)

 

 Firstly, I noticed one day whilst brushing my teeth that my right tonsil was hugely larger than the other. It takes up I would say a third of my throat, and is hard to the touch. At the time, it was not painful and this was the only symptom I had experienced. I had been aware that my tonsil was larger than the other a few months before I started worrying about this so I have no idea how long it has been this way (although the first time I noticed it, it wasn't as big as it is now.) So of course as many do, I took to my best friend/worst enemy Google, and immediately found all sorts of horrible things this could be. Everything pointed at tonsil cancer or lymphoma due to the asymmetry in my tonsils… and so I then went to see my GP straight away.

 

He sent me away for a week to see if it went down on its own… it did not. I went back the week after and he put me on a course of antibiotics which did nothing to take down the swelling apart from making me really sick. He then took some blood tests and all my blood counts came back fine, except I was low on iron and B12 which he has prescribed me a 6 month course of tablets for. He referred me to an ENT however, as he could see how worried I was about this.

 

I do not have private healthcare so this referral was through the NHS, unfortunately after 3 weeks the appointment had still not come through, so I decided I really could not wait any longer and so booked myself in to see a private ENT consultant whom I used to see when I was younger for ear problems. I decided to pay for this. During this 3 week wait, I started to develop some more symptoms. My ears are very painful, and I feel like there is a constant pressure on them and on my neck and jaw (it is hard to explain). It has been quite intense and painful and difficult to ignore. I also keep feeling like my heart is stopping? (I know its not) as though someone is sitting on my chest and I cant catch my breath quickly enough. My GP said this could be due to my low iron however as this is a symptom of anemia. I have no swollen lymph nodes, however I did have one that was quite painful under my arm but that seems to have gone down now...

 

The ENT took a look at my tonsils and asked me lots of questions about my symptoms. He also felt my neck and head for swollen nodes but said they felt normal. He said I did the right thing by going to see him, and that he did not think my tonsils indicated anything sinister but that I should schedule a tonsillectomy just incase. I am due to have my tonsils out in 3 weeks, and they will send them for tests which will take a week to know if it is malignant or not.

 

I am super worried, and this is causing me unbelievable amounts of anxiety and stress. I am constantly miserable and cant help but think the absolute worst, especially now the pressure on my ears and jaw is constantly there, it is a constant reminder of how ill I feel. Whilst I know that realistically, the pressure and soreness in my ears, throat and jaw could be unrelated to my tonsils, I cant help but think that this is definitely cancer. I also realise that I do not have the classic symptoms of any swollen lymph nodes either so I could be overreacting for nothing.

 

I would just really like to hear from anyone who can possibly relate to how anxious Im feeling waiting to find out what is wrong, and anyone who has been in a similar situation. I cant talk to my family or boyfriend about how I feel as they just tell me im being crazy and fob me off. They're not interested at all especially my mum. :(

 

If you made it all the way through this horrifically long post, thank you! I wish you all the best, and thanks in advance for any help. :love:

 

Danni xx

  • Offline in reply to jessieka01

    Hi I know this is such a long time ago, but just hoping you had a good outcome ??  Xx

  • Offline

    Hi, just came across this thread. Had recurrent tonsillitis in 2019 and was referred to ENT, they gave me the option of having my tonsils out or carrying on as I was with antibiotics each time it happened. I chose not to have them out (thanks to a colleague giving me a horror story about when her son had his out). I only had tonsillitis once after that in 2021. I’m now 38, my left tonsil has remained the larger one since 2019, but it is only now that a GP has said this could be a sign of cancer. Had bloods done and like Danni, they came back low in iron, vit B12 & vit D. Have a swollen lymph node in my neck but the hospital refused the doctors request for an ultrasound on it, as apparently I don’t meet the criteria. I had a cold in July and haven’t felt right since. Had my ENT appt this morning, he couldn’t feel anything of concern when checking for the lymph node, and due to my age, and non smoker & non drinker, said it’s 1% chance of cancer, but will have a tonsillectomy this month so they can check them and make sure. Lost my mum and best friend to breast cancer so stuff like this is really worrying and quite triggering for me. Never had an operation before and the fear of bleeding afterwards really worries me too. 

  • Offline in reply to Dani22

    I am going through the same thing.

    I notice how sick I have felt 2 months ago.

    First went to doctor 6 weeks ago.

    After two wasted visits, the doctor suggested cancer.

    I have been given antibiotics and having bloods done in a week.

    If antibiotics don't work the she said she would refer me to the ENT.

    I really didn't want to have tonsils out but don't want cancer either.

    I just feel really sick and worried.

  • Offline in reply to David1970

    Hi David, I’m sorry you are going through this too. I had my tonsils out 6 weeks ago. I was dreading it and had previously turned down the operation when I was offered it a few years back due to recurrent tonsillitis. I’m still awaiting my biopsy results (the hospital have had the results at least 2 weeks, but they send them by post and don’t release them over the phone, nothing arrived on the post yet, hoping no news is good news). As much as I didn’t want to have my tonsils out, I knew really it was the only (and best) option. What symptoms have you been experiencing? Sounds like you’ve been having a bit of a battle with your doctor. 

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