Frustrated and Nervous, Multiple Symptoms - 11-13-2010 11:20 PM
Hello, Mo here.
First of, all of you who are diagnosed are so wonderful to talk to everyone who posts here with questions and fear about symptoms. That is wonderful of you guys to help people like that.
So, without further ado, let me become another one of those people...
9.25
I've had symptoms now for 6+ weeks. Began with a huge tongue bite, which made me notice a scalloped/slightly enlarged tongue, which I had never noticed before. Nothing much else.
10.5
About 2 weeks later I had a tight throat and external ear pain--left only. I started feeling around in my neck and I feel some non hard, perhaps swollen lymph nodes on the left.
10.19
About a week later, throat became officially sore (still more to left) and I was feeling weak/lightheaded, so went to PCP, who measured my temp at 99.9, took a bacterial throat swab for strep, and, I think, kind of dismissed me. Told me to go to ENT if symptoms persisted in two weeks. No bacterial infection, though it could be viral, I suppose.
10.27
Symptoms did persist and got worse in the next week (mouth swelling, etc). Then got a bit better, but not completely.
10.10
This brings me to current/ongoing symptoms (all on left side):
-tight and sore throat, specifically ulcer feeling at base of tongue on left, which doesn't look particularly inflamed visually
-left ear, head, neck very mild pain/tightness/fullness
-awareness of lymph nodes in left (clicking when swallowing)
-tender spot behind left earlobe/jaw, slight bit firm
-bit of soreness in spots on left neck when I probe with firm pressure
-Lymph bump in left neck still there, though doctors don't seem to notice this
10.10
Visited ENT (pretty solid one, a surgeon, sees cancer). Scoped throat only (not nasal cavity), and found absolutely nothing at all. I mean no redness, inflammation. Nothing. Says to wait three more weeks, and if still having symptoms, come back in, redo scope, and possibly consider scan. No one has done blood work.
Now, I have looked enough to know that you all will probably just tell me to get a biopsy.
But I just wanted to post. Am thinking of seeing another ENT this week/asap for second opinion.
I am 40, female. Really healthy overall--exercise and good weight. Never smoked. Moderate+ alcohol. Do have HPV, but have been screened for cancer causing strain(s) and don't have those (16).
Do you all think I should wait 3 weeks or try to see another ENT? I am just so frustrated. The discomfort and worry is exhausting me as well.
Thanks so much!
First of, all of you who are diagnosed are so wonderful to talk to everyone who posts here with questions and fear about symptoms. That is wonderful of you guys to help people like that.
So, without further ado, let me become another one of those people...
9.25
I've had symptoms now for 6+ weeks. Began with a huge tongue bite, which made me notice a scalloped/slightly enlarged tongue, which I had never noticed before. Nothing much else.
10.5
About 2 weeks later I had a tight throat and external ear pain--left only. I started feeling around in my neck and I feel some non hard, perhaps swollen lymph nodes on the left.
10.19
About a week later, throat became officially sore (still more to left) and I was feeling weak/lightheaded, so went to PCP, who measured my temp at 99.9, took a bacterial throat swab for strep, and, I think, kind of dismissed me. Told me to go to ENT if symptoms persisted in two weeks. No bacterial infection, though it could be viral, I suppose.
10.27
Symptoms did persist and got worse in the next week (mouth swelling, etc). Then got a bit better, but not completely.
10.10
This brings me to current/ongoing symptoms (all on left side):
-tight and sore throat, specifically ulcer feeling at base of tongue on left, which doesn't look particularly inflamed visually
-left ear, head, neck very mild pain/tightness/fullness
-awareness of lymph nodes in left (clicking when swallowing)
-tender spot behind left earlobe/jaw, slight bit firm
-bit of soreness in spots on left neck when I probe with firm pressure
-Lymph bump in left neck still there, though doctors don't seem to notice this
10.10
Visited ENT (pretty solid one, a surgeon, sees cancer). Scoped throat only (not nasal cavity), and found absolutely nothing at all. I mean no redness, inflammation. Nothing. Says to wait three more weeks, and if still having symptoms, come back in, redo scope, and possibly consider scan. No one has done blood work.
Now, I have looked enough to know that you all will probably just tell me to get a biopsy.
But I just wanted to post. Am thinking of seeing another ENT this week/asap for second opinion.
I am 40, female. Really healthy overall--exercise and good weight. Never smoked. Moderate+ alcohol. Do have HPV, but have been screened for cancer causing strain(s) and don't have those (16).
Do you all think I should wait 3 weeks or try to see another ENT? I am just so frustrated. The discomfort and worry is exhausting me as well.
Thanks so much!