painful enlarged neck lymph nodes

Hi there! I've been reading through a few threads on here for a while now so I know it's a great place to turn to for advice and reassurance, but this is my first post so please bare with me if I ramble at all!

I'm currently awaiting an appointment with ENT (obviously delayed because of Covid and our local hospital isn't very big and is currently dealing with huge amounts of covid patients so potential waiting time for ENT is up to/around 4 weeks - this is for an urgent referral which is what my GP has put through for me, and has sent an email asking them to please hurry the referral up if possible).

In February I saw my GP as I was really unwell feeling - tired, sore, blocked nose, enlarged sore glands and a new lump on the bottom of my neck, etc (all cold/flu like symptoms but weren't getting any better, I had gone to her after having had these symptoms since before xmas as I don't like to go to doctor when I know it's nothing urgent but due to it being months they were present my partner made me go see her) 

She tested me for mumps due to the swelling in my neck and lump in my jaw in front of my ear (that's been present since I was 15 and first got tonsilitis but only gets big and sore when I'm fighting off an infection otherwise it disappears) which came back negative so she gave me antibiotics and told me to stay off work for a week to rest. 

Four weeks ago my partner again made me go back to GP as all of the above were still present only the lump at the bottom of my neck was slightly bigger and I could feel a few more lumps/glands in various other places on my neck which were all sore. She did a full blood count and put me on strong antibiotics - the bloods all came back normal with the exception of my ESR which was at 25 so she repeated the bloods the following week to see if inflamation had changed, which it hadn't, so she again repeated them a third time 10 days later and gave me another load of different strong antibiotics to take until I got those bloods done. They came back all fine again except ESR which had gone down slightly to 23, so she emailed ENT to ask them to hurry the referral up as she wants my neck to be scanned. (in the third test she also checked for glandular fever which came back negative) 

She said she has no idea what's causing this I have no other symptoms besides the lumps/pain in my neck & jaw and tiredness, my temperature fluxuates between 36.1 - 37.4 degrees so that's fine, my chest is clear, I have no throat pain. I have been feeling on and off extremely hot/cold sweats but I put that down to stress from lockdown as I have an anxiety disorder and what with having a 3 year old and 5 year old (who's currently under mental health diagnosis) and my partner is working still from home it's pretty stressful here most days. 

I've seen other people have put a little background info to help clear up any questions so here goes - I'm 27, I've had englarged glands under my jaw as long as I can remember but they're only ever slightly tender if I'm unwell (in the words of the ENT consultant I saw when I was 15 "the biggest glands when someone is healthy she'd ever seen" ) I had my tonsils out just over 2 years ago as had repeated tonsilitis multiple times yearly since 15 years old (again, the surgeon doing my op took them to allow dr's to study as they were so enlarged when no infection present), I have JHS, Vertigo (but that's really managable it hardly occurs anymore) and PCOS - I feel like I've literally been falling apart since having my son in 2014 as I've been tested for so many things since having him due to being on and off unwell with bad symptoms since, have had three operations - 4 if you include my section for having my daughter - (it was a traumatic birth for my son too, not sure if this is relevant but I'm totally clueless so thought I'd throw it in in case!) Last year I was screened for colon cancer as I (TMI sorry) have bad rectal bleeding and mild to moderate stomach pain but the consultant didn't find anything and put it down to internal hemmoroids he'd spotted far up - this is still an issue but I kind of just get on with it as I was just relieved they didn't find it was anything worrying.  All four of my grandparents passed away from cancer - both my grans had breast cancer though I'm pretty sure my paternal gran also had skin cancer and she suffered complications from both in the end, I have no idea what type my granda's had. My aunty had bowel cancer too. As far as I'm aware these are my only family members with cancer history. 

Although my GP said she doesn't think there's anything to worry about in regards to the lumps, I'm a bit uneasy about why she'd put in an urgent referral then try to hurry it up more, she also told me to call back immediately to get in to see her if I get a temperature or my lumps/pain get any worse. 

I really just wanted to see if anyone else has been/is going through similar and if so what the outcome was please? I'm slightly more relaxed after having my scare last year ( the consultant who sent me for the test basically said my chances weren't great of being healthy and I probably had cancer so I was a mess until they gave me the all clear!) and don't really think it is cancer but as I said, the fact GP is wanting me scanned ASAP makes me a bit more nervous. 

Any help/info would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks! x

(PS. sorry for the subject and where I put the post live, it was the most relevant to what I'm asking about amongst all the options!)

 

  • Hi! Sorry to hear you're going through this. I've just put a post on here as I'm in a similar situation. I'm currently waiting to see ENT as an urgent referral from my GP. Should be within two weeks from 6th May but who knows with covid. Symptoms started two months ago. Fatigue, low grade temps up to 38 and enlarged neck glands. Blood tests normal except for showing low iron. I'm on meds for that now. They ran an inflammation test. Normal. So now I'm waiting to be seen. I've not lost weight. Still have a good appetite but for two months I'm still getting low grade temps and enlarged neck glands. They don't hurt to touch but my neck can feel achey. My dad had lymphoma. Sadly he passed away over 6 years ago. It's all a but worrying. We will have to keep each other posted as I guess we might have similar appointments. I'm going to phone tomorrow to try and chase mine up. I was referred 6th may and should be seen by 19th May. So far no appointment. It's scary isn't it. I have young kids. I don't need this right now. But then who ever does? Thinking of you x

  • Hi rlc! I have no idea what happened but I sent a reply to you last night and now it's vanished! ‍♀️

    Unfortunately I don't have much time to reply right now as it's feeding time for my two wee gremlins lol 

    I was basically just saying that definitely please keep in touch and I will do the same! Though, I really hope your referral gets picked up really quickly, covid or not, what with your family history of lymphoma - I'm so so sorry for your loss of your dad ️

    If you need a chat anytime please feel free to message me! The waiting about is so frustrating and worrying so if you need to vent or anything at all please don't hesitate to contact me. 

    Keep in touch, I'm thinking of you too xx

  • Weird, my reply to you just now also disappeared so I'll write it again. I've had a cal today to ask me in for a neck ultrasound on Tuesday, so two weeks since I was urgently referred. Not sure how accurate they are but hoping they are reliable. Depending on that I may or may not see and ent specialist in the afternoon. I will be really nervous! Hoping you get your appointment soon! Here for you too if you want to message. Xxx

  • The joys of internet, you spend ages typing something only for it to disappear forever! ‍♀️

    That's brilliant they're seeing you so soon and getting things moving for you! I'll keep everything crossed and keep you in my thoughts for Tuesday that all comes back clear and it's something minor that can be easily remedied for you ️ keep me posted please! 

    I know how nervous you must be but at least it's all going ahead quickly for you now, just think at least you don't have to wait too long now for answers, and then come Tuesday you'll know what's going on better. Hopefully like I said you'll get good news that it's something easily sorted. 

    Aw I'm not holding my breath for mine! I live in Inverclyde which is apparently the covid capital of Scotland so our wee hospital is pretty busy just now with patients but as much as I want to know what's going on I don't mind waiting knowing how much is being done at the hospital right now. I know it's hard but try and have a nice chilled weekend with the kids and forget about everything until your appointment, I really do hope you get good news xx

  • Just wanted to clarify, I didn't put the female emoji on the last post don't know how that got there lol x

  • I hope you'll be seen soon! Can you go back to your GP and ask them to chase it up? Thank you for thinking of me on Tuesday! I will keep everything crossed you get your appointment soon and I'll update you when I know more. I hope you have a good weekend too xxx

  • How did it go on Tuesday for you? Hope you're alright xx