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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 Jessieka, 

     

    I hope you're well? 
     

    have you heard anything back yet? 
     

     

  • Offline in reply to jessieka01

    Hi, 

     

    would you mind updating? My husband has been referred for to a ENT for tonsil asymmetry and a slightly enlarged left side on tongue at base. Worried sick. 
     

    Thanks 

  • Offline in reply to Abbie.M

    How are u getting on I'm having the exact same symptoms it's getting me so down. Been like it for 3 months xx

  • Offline in reply to louise123x

    So I had my ENT appointment and he said they I have ulcers down my throat and on my tongue and little blood blisters at the back of my throat which he thinks may be a lingering effect from a bacterial infection. I suffer on and off, had a few weeks where it didn't bother me at all and then some where it's all I can feel and stress about. I've been using difflam to help as nothing else seems to work.

    xx 

  • Offline in reply to Abbie.M

    So, 

    Had a sore throat for about 2 days max about a 5 weeks ago so decided to look down my throat, my right tonsil was huge and bumpy! Literally after them 2 days I have had no symptoms at all, Phoned the doctors and they basically said take tablets and see how it's goes, i did that for about 2 weeks and it did go down a little, so I decided to ring again and got put on a 10 day course of antibiotics, it has gone down abit more and doesn't seem as bumpy but it is still enlarged, I phoned again and I am getting a face to face appointment on Monday, 

    Obvs google says its cancer so my anxiety has been all over the place, so fingers crossed it's nothing

    Will keep this page updated

  • Offline in reply to NGblgm

    Hi! I'm in the same boat, did you ever find out what was causing your symptoms? 8 months of not knowing what's causing mine is driving me batty...

  • Offline in reply to louise123x

    Hi Louise, I've been having the same symptoms for about 7-8 months. Did you ever work out what was causing your symptoms?

  • Offline in reply to Tommy00

    Update

    Went to the doctors, they said it doesn't look like anything to worry about, looked down my throat etc, felt under my jaw and says it feels fine, says it's common for 1 tonsil to stay enlarged after an infection, asked me questions etc and said im not giving off any cancerous symptoms, obvs they know what they are looking for,  been reffered to the ENT to double check and to go from there but thats in 2 months so we'll see what happens then

  • Offline in reply to Dani22

    Hi there, 
    I was wondering if anyone was able to help give me any advice. 
    I am an 18 year old girl and I had swollen tonsils for a week before my trip away to see family. Luckily it went on time naturally and I remained okay for majority of my trip. Unfortunately, on boxing day I woke up with an extremely infected throat with only one tonsil affected. I took some pain killers, numbing spray and lozenges to sooth my throat till I got home where I was able to seek a doctor and get prescribed some antibiotics. I have taken the full of course but during my course the infection swapped to the other side of my throat and tonsil, I am suffering hugely with this as I am struggling to eat and drink and it is just tiring,  having been in bed or in pain for almost a month. It looks like the infection on both my tonsils has finally gone but both are still huge and swollen and I am still in pain to swallow. Please bear in mind I have also suffered horrible earache too!  I think I am going to see a doctor tomorrow to see if he can prescribe me anything more for swelling. It seems that they have never gone down since the last time I suffered tonsillitis. 

    If anyone has had similar to this please share me your story as I am so panicked that I may have chronic tonsilitis and the last thing I want is to get them removed

    Many thanks Chloe x

  • Offline in reply to Jubis

    Hi

    how did you get on? I no it's been a while but my two year old has a one side enlarged to and I'm worrying like mad 

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