Nicola,
The fact that your lymph nodes are painful, is actually a good sign. I kept trying to tell myself that mine (I had 2) were "painful," realizing that usually meant an "infection." Anyway....when my one lymph node took on a life of it's own, and was growing quickly & NOT painful...kind of hard and rubbery and angry (right above my right collarbone)--all the doctors became highly suspicious. Doctors don't know everything--but, the fact that so many doctors believe it to be an infection, is good....although, infections are certainly not fun, either.
Do you have a cat? You know "cat scratch fever" acts like lymphoma. I have 3, and I was SO hoping that might be what I have, instead of "Hodgkin's."
Stay positive & insist on some more tests. As far as what kinds of tests to insist on, I'm not sure. Maybe the more informative ladies on here might have some answers for you.
In the meantime, do everything possible to support your immune system. I've been drinking green tea & I swear, I think it's helping. I haven't started chemo, yet---and I don't think that's going to interfere with it---I'll have to see next week.
Stay positive.....keep seeking.....but, never give up the ship.
Singer
How do I get my doctor to listen to me? 
I hope all of you are doing well! Well, I called my ENT because my lymph nodes keep on getting bigger and bigger and more painful, and he just wants to keep me on antibiotics, because he thinks its an infection. Now, I have been on antibiotics for two months and they don't help. I don't know how I can get thru to him. This is my 4th doctor for this problem and I still don't have a diagnosis. I still have fevers everyday and all of my other symptoms. I just don't know how to make them understand that obviously the antibiotics aren't working and that it's something else!
Re: How do I get my doctor to listen to me? 
everything is o.k., and I can start my treatment this week.
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