I have been seeing my ENT for the last few months and they are scratching their heads to figure out what the problem is. I feel that they are drawing for straws at this point, so I figured I would ask this board what they think. In September I had pain in my lymph nodes on the side of neck just below my jaw. I had a throat infection about a week prior. I went to my PCP and she gave me antibiotics. They didn't bring down the swelling in the lymph nodes at all. She then did a run of blood tests to check for mono and lupus which both came back negative. She did a CBC and my white cell count came back a little low, but my monocytes on the differential were high. That is when she referred me to the first ENT. He looked down my throat and immediately came up with lingual tonsilitus and said they needed to come out. I opted for a second opinion because I had a tonsillectomy at four years old. When I went for the second opinion, which was about four months since the beginning of the swelling they looked and said that yes my tonsils were there and they did look enlarged. However, they wanted to get at the root of the problem. They ran another CBC and a diptheria/TB test. The diptheria/TB test came back negative and my white cells did make a recovery and were back in the normal range. The sent me for a CT scan and the scan showed that I had a few calcified lymph nodes. The largest one is on the right and just above a scar from a surgery on an abcess from 12 years ago. I always thought that that lump was scar tissue, but apparently not. It has never increased in size and has always been the same since that surgery. They did an FNA (fine needle aspiration) on that node and the test came back saying that the cells were reactive I believe, which suggests that it isn't cancerous. However, the docs say that they want to pull the whole node now to make sure there isn't any lymphoma anywhere. I guess my question is that if the FNA showed that it was benign what are the odds that taking the whole node out will change that result? I still am fighting chronic tonsillitus and everyone that hears me talk can tell I have a tonsil problem. Could tonsillitus set in every four to five weeks and keep my nodes swollen this long? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I apologize for the novel, I just want to make sure I give all the information I have.

Hiya... I can understand your worry... Yes you can get Tonsillitus as much as that.... I used to get it all the time... Had my tonsils removed at the age of 22... My glands were forever up and down.... they take quite some time to recover and worrying will not help.... There is nothing to suggest you have a cancer.. You have had all the tests ..I would have the node removed or the abcess seen to as that could be the underlying factor for the tonsilitis....
I wish you luck and hope that you feel better...
God Bless Janie xoxoxoxoxo

You also dont mention whether or not your a smoker ??

For what it's worth - another opinion in favour of the tonsilectomy. A family member had chronic, recurrent tonsilitis for many years. Finally had them removed at around 30 years of age, with no side-effects or long-term complications.

Tonsils are intended to keep particulates from entering the airway and lungs. But, if they're chronically inflamed or infected, then there's a pretty good chance that they are unable to do their job. There is a possibility that you're risking spreading whatever is infecting your tonsils into your airway/lungs.

There's usually an underlying reason for all these infections, and it may still be worth your while to find out. How's your breathing? Are you a mouth breather? Do you snore? Have a lot of allergies? Bad or chronically congested sinuses? Use a lot of decongestants?

Hey there, I am a patient at MDACC lymphoma clinic. My case is refered to as a "difficult" case. My stage is w/w, that stands for wait and watch. I have all the lymphoma symptoms and the "B" symptom sweats are drounding me not just drenching me. I did not see any symptoms of lymphoma in your post except for the lymph node enlargement that were not going down. How big are the lymph nodes that are in question? My onc does not biopsy a lymph node untill they are at least 2cm prefering 3 cm and if enlarging the node will reach 3cm in a short time or else they wait and watch...Small lymph nodes do not throw up a red flag. The best biopsy is removal and there is not much to it you are asleep and may be alittle sore but not bad. My last biopsy was from my groin and I went home same day and walked out on my own and then climbed stairs to get into my home. If the ENT is concerned of possible lymphoma then he needs to refer you to an lymphoma specialist. There are alot of web sites with info on lymphoma and the symptoms. Type into search box and then select and read. One more thing my lymph nodes are not sore or tender, they are rubbery hard, like cement hard and I have them all over my body, some you can see and feel some only the CT shows them. There are so many medical conditions that will cause enlargment of the lymph nodes, it is not just cancer that will do it, so do not think that you have cancer untill the biopsy says so. Worrying is not good and if it is cancer then you are going to need that energy for fighting the beast. I pray you do not have it cause to live this nightmare is an experience I could have gone with-out. My mom was dx 2 wks ago with cancer! IS IT IN OUR WATER?!!!!! Just kidding, take care and let me know if I can help you, I hope I have helped some but top priority is get the opinion af a cancer doc, preferably a lymphoma specialist..