I had mono two years ago. Since then I seem to get sick often. I have a swollen lymph node on the right side of my neck. I went to the doctor thinking it may be a goiter due to my thyroid but my tests came back normal. I am a little concerned about my gland staying swollen. I was also diagnosed with genital herpes. I have an outbreak about once a month.I take valtrex everyday to keep the herpes under control. I have spent alot of money on doctors and I still dont know what is causing all these problems. Could you recommend something that might make my gland go back to normal.The doctor told me that when I had mono the gland probably swelled and wont go back to its original size. Every time I get sick or have a herpes outbreak my gland hurts and feels hot.Any info would help. Thank you.To any people that can help or have similiar stories e-mail me at skipperwd@aol.com
Follow Ups:
Re: swollen lymph nodes
Posted by Walt Stoll on February 06, 1999 at 15:21:50:
In Reply to: swollen lymph nodes posted by Susan A. on February 05, 1999 at 19:43:32:
Hi, Susan.
Welcome to this BB. I know you must be new to the BB since you are asking the questions you are.
Your mono was your first "wake up message" from your bodymind trying to get you to change something. Since you were not told about this way of looking at things (by your conventional docs), OF COURSE your body mind is having to send you more messages.
The messages are finally getting loud enough that you are here looking on the internet.
You need to become a serious student of "wellness". See the homepage for this 'site and read about wellness.
THEN, if you still have more questions, write again.
Walt
Re: swollen lymph nodes
Posted by aimee on March 22, 1999 at 20:44:32:
In Reply to: swollen lymph nodes posted by Susan A. on February 05, 1999 at 19:43:32:
I have a swelling under my left chin. It goes away with antibiotics, but then it reoccurs. My Dr. said it was reflux lyrngitiis. I don't think so. I also have a weird clicking noise in my throat that occurs with this swelling. Please help me.
Follow Ups:
Re: swollen lymph nodes
Posted by Walt Stoll on March 23, 1999 at 18:00:30:
In Reply to: Re: swollen lymph nodes posted by aimee on March 22, 1999 at 20:44:32:
Hi, Aimee.
Reflux laryngitis makes no sense at all.
However, what you DO have is spastic pharyngitis. This is ALWAYS due to a focusing of total-body bracing which has been discussed on this BB for years.
Read what you can find about this mechanism and, then, if you still have questions, write again.
Walt
Follow Ups:
Re: swollen lymph nodes
Posted by melissa on March 25, 1999 at 18:39:30:
In Reply to: Re: swollen lymph nodes posted by Walt Stoll on March 23, 1999 at 18:00:30:
I have a swollen lymph node on the left side of my next. It has gotten larger and other nodes are also becoming inflammed. I was put on an antibiotic to see if the swelling would go down, and it has not. My blood results indicate that I may have allergies. Could my swollen lymph nodes be caused by allergies. My other blood work was within normal limits.
Follow Ups:
Re: swollen lymph nodes
Posted by Walt Stoll on March 27, 1999 at 09:48:21:
In Reply to: Re: swollen lymph nodes posted by melissa on March 25, 1999 at 18:39:30:
Hi, Melissa.
Allergy cannot cause enlarged lymph nodes directly. They CAN make one more susceptible to infection in respiratory & intestinal areas (your neck is both) and THAT would cause nodes to enlarge.
If the nodes continue to be enlarged, AND YOU ARE NOT CHECKING (feeling) THEM MORE THAN ONCE A MONTH, you need to consider a biopsy for an actual diagnosis. Just touching a node once a week will cause even a normal node to enlarge. SURELY, your docs explained that to you before all the antibiotics? If the pathology comes back "reactive hyperplasia" you need to get serious about "wellness".
Walt
Follow Ups:
Re: swollen lymph nodes
Posted by steve on March 30, 1999 at 12:56:26:
In Reply to: Re: swollen lymph nodes posted by Walt Stoll on March 27, 1999 at 09:48:21:
hey i was diagnosed with mono about a month and a half ago.
i had really bad tonsilitis and that went away in about 1 week. ther weariness then followed and came and gone along with the fever. i have felt pretty good the last week but i still have a swollen lymph node on the side of my neck. u can feel it better if i turn my head to the side. i went to 2 doctors and they both said not to worry about it its probably from mono although i took 2 blood tests and they were all rather normal except the liver count was a tad high but coming to normal. should i worry about this lymph node because im a hypochondriac and i think there is something wrong??
Follow Ups:
Re: swollen lymph nodes
Posted by Walt Stoll on March 31, 1999 at 16:04:45:
In Reply to: Re: swollen lymph nodes posted by steve on March 30, 1999 at 12:56:26:
Hi, Steve.
How often do you touch the node to see how it is doing?
Walt
Re: swollen lymph nodes
Posted by steve on March 31, 1999 at 21:06:34:
In Reply to: swollen lymph nodes posted by Susan A. on February 05, 1999 at 19:43:32:
hi dr.stoll
yes i touch it many times a day to see hows it doing and that might be the cause why it hasnt gone away yet. if i keep my head straight u cant even see the swelling or feel the node. it is only when i turn my head to the side that u can see it. i feel pretty good just a bit tired at times but im getting over mono. i was reading on cancerous stuff and got a little paranoid which is usually the cause of my stress along with alot of other stuff im always stressed out. im always worried about something that the doc must think im crazy by now. he said not to worry about it and pretend likes its not there but it is there and thats why im worried. my cbc count was normal with just a little high on the liver but its coming way down to normal he said. so i just want your opinion on this matter.
thanks
steve
Follow Ups:
Re: swollen lymph nodes (Regular touching causes enlargement.)
Posted by Walt Stoll on April 01, 1999 at 10:13:51:
In Reply to: Re: swollen lymph nodes posted by steve on March 31, 1999 at 21:06:34:
Dear Steve,
NOW, how did I know that?
ANYONE can take a normal lymph node and just feel it once a day to make it enlarge.
You HAVE to break the habit. It will start getting smaller in a couple of weeks but YOU will not know it because you must not even check it for a month. THEN, when you see that it IS getting smaller, you will be reassured enough to leave it alone till it disappears.
IF you are successful in not touching it for a month, AND it has not gotten smaller, you need to have a biopsy.
Let us know how you do.
Walt
Re: swollen lymph nodes
Posted by steve on April 01, 1999 at 11:11:00:
In Reply to: swollen lymph nodes posted by Susan A. on February 05, 1999 at 19:43:32:
thanks you so much for your opinion. ive been really paranoid the last couple of weeks because of these lymph nodes and that is probably the reason. i was just unsure why they werent going down if my mono was supposedly gone. how long is the average time for a node to go down? ive had 3 people feel it and they all tell me its going down but i just am thickheaded and dont believe them. is that weird that u can only feel it if i turn my head to the side? if im looking straight ahead u cant even feel it. your opinion means alot so write back and tell me what u think
thanks
steve
Follow Ups:
Re: swollen lymph nodes
Posted by Walt Stoll on April 02, 1999 at 09:47:15:
In Reply to: Re: swollen lymph nodes posted by steve on April 01, 1999 at 11:11:00:
Dear Steve,
In medical school we are taught to have the patient turn their head toward the side being palpated to make it easier to feel the nodes. If we want to SEE them, we have the patient turn their head the other way & use oblique light.
Usually it takes about 6 weeks for nodes to go down AFTER whatever caused them to be enlarged is gone----if it is mono OR touching.
Walt
Follow Ups:
Re: swollen lymph nodes
Posted by steve on April 02, 1999 at 11:40:08:
In Reply to: Re: swollen lymph nodes posted by Walt Stoll on April 02, 1999 at 09:47:15:
thats good news then since i think i got rid of mono about 2 weeks ago. many people i have had feel them said it has shrunk from when i first had it. therefore, it most likely is from mono?
thanks for the good news.
would u think it was from mono?
steve
Follow Ups:
Re: swollen lymph nodes
Posted by steve on April 02, 1999 at 14:38:16:
In Reply to: swollen lymph nodes posted by Susan A. on February 05, 1999 at 19:43:32:
hey dr stoll, i just went for my followup at the docs and he just said my splene and liver felt good and normal and took a blood test to make sure its ok for me to play sports. anyway about the node, he said it should go down on its own but if not go ask my ENT doctor about it and have it cut out. the other doctor told me not to worry about it its cervical hyperplasia????? whatever that is. can u explain a little bit on that?
thanks
steve
Follow Ups:
Re: swollen lymph nodes
Posted by Walt Stoll on April 03, 1999 at 11:06:10:
In Reply to: Re: swollen lymph nodes posted by steve on April 02, 1999 at 11:40:08:
Hi, Steve.
Originally, yes. Your doc should have told you. Also, remember, if you don't make your doc tell you stuff, the library has books for lay people that explain stuff like this.
Personally, I would not GO to a doc who didn't care enough to enlist ME in the healing process.
Walt
Re: swollen lymph nodes
Posted by Walt Stoll on April 03, 1999 at 12:14:02:
In Reply to: Re: swollen lymph nodes posted by steve on April 02, 1999 at 14:38:16:
Hi, Steve.
The correct term is "lymphoid hyperplasia" which is the most likely pathology report if you had it biopsied. My bet is that you will not need to biopsy it IF you keep from checking it.
Walt
Re: swollen lymph nodes
Posted by steve on April 03, 1999 at 16:12:19:
In Reply to: swollen lymph nodes posted by Susan A. on February 05, 1999 at 19:43:32:
dr stoll,
thanks for your opinion u are great
why dont u move to rhode island so i can see u from now on
haha
so yes u do sound correct in saying that if i dont touch it it should go down.
my doc told me lymphoid hyperplasia is what it is and not to worry about it since i had mono and all its symptoms a few weeks back. i had the swollen splene, liver, bad tonsilitis and fatigue. so therefore the nodes are swelled up when i had mono but i was just curious and worried why they havent gone down yet. they are the only cause for my stress and i feel relieved now that u said that term along with another doctor. plus im only 20 years old
tell me what u think and write back
thanks again for all your help
steve
Re: swollen lymph nodes
Posted by steve on April 08, 1999 at 18:35:41:
In Reply to: Re: swollen lymph nodes posted by steve on April 01, 1999 at 11:11:00:
hey dr stoll
i had to re do my cpu so i lost the address to all my posts
however im trying hard not to touch the nodes and hopefully they will go down
ive been to 2 docs and one says lymphoid hyperplasia and the other to ask the allergy doctor in 6 weeks
so if i had mono and the nodes enlarged do u feel that my mono was the cause? tell me what u think
Follow Ups:
Re: swollen lymph nodes
Posted by Walt Stoll on April 09, 1999 at 12:33:34:
In Reply to: Re: swollen lymph nodes posted by steve on April 08, 1999 at 18:35:41:
Hi, Steve.
I thought I had answered this several times.
Certainly the mono caused the lymph nodes to enlarge. I thought you were wondering why they were STILL enlarged.
Walt
Re: swollen lymph nodes
Posted by steve on April 09, 1999 at 12:52:18:
In Reply to: Re: swollen lymph nodes posted by steve on April 08, 1999 at 18:35:41:
yeah thats what i was wondering
im sorry to keep bothering u
im still nervous but im gonna refrain from touching them now that u told me that
i just never heard of lymph nodes staying enlarged from mono thats all
so are u tellin me not to worry and that the chances of me being fine are very good?
i feel rather fine just a bit nervous thats all
Re: swollen lymph nodes
Posted by steve on April 11, 1999 at 00:53:44:
In Reply to: Re: swollen lymph nodes posted by steve on April 01, 1999 at 11:11:00:
hi dr stoll i have a quick question
i know u said many things can cause lymph glands to swell so i have a history of bad sinuses and now i am always all dried up in my nose and i have alot of mucus in the back of my throat that i can see and i always have to cough it up
i was wondering if that can play a part in swelling of the glands?
and also since im a hypochondriac, i would love to be reasuured that there is nothing seriously wrong with me like cancer or something so are my chances very good?
thanks
Follow Ups:
Re: swollen lymph nodes (Chronic Sinus mechanisms.)
Posted by Walt Stoll on April 12, 1999 at 10:26:35:
In Reply to: Re: swollen lymph nodes posted by steve on April 11, 1999 at 00:53:44:
Hi, Steve.
There are three basic mechanisms that cause chronically thickened sinus drainage.
One is the bracing attendant to TMJ. This directly increases the drainage and the congestion by blocking the venous return via the pterygoid plexus.
The second is the same mechanism that causes one to have a dry mouth when they are scared. We produce about the same amount of mucus when we are scared BUT it is a lot thicker. The average person makes more than a quart & a half of mucus every 24 hours, That is why we swallow every few minutes.
The third is allergy which is caused by LGS which in turn is caused by the same bracing that causes the TMJ and THAT comes from the same "fear stimulus" in the hypothalamus mentioned above.
When you have this of course the lymph nodes will enlarge. If it were me, I would not be worried about cancer but would be learning how to rid myself of what you already know you have. THEN, your nodes would not enlarge.
Walt
Re: swollen lymph nodes
Posted by steve on April 12, 1999 at 11:23:51:
In Reply to: Re: swollen lymph nodes posted by steve on April 01, 1999 at 11:11:00:
ok well im not sure if i have allergies or not but i do have a deviated septom.
my nose is constantly dry and i tried nasal spray but no luck. i use a humidifier at night but it does very little. it clears up more as the day goes on however. i do have alot of mucus and i notice i swallow alot and sometimes its visible. i was worried about the nodes because from what ive read they enlarge due to an infection. well wheres my infection???
if the doc said that the mono test was normal about 3 weeks ago then thats why im confused. so i figured that the sinuses could be triggering the nodes
does that make sense?
steve
Follow Ups:
Re: swollen lymph nodes
Posted by Walt Stoll on April 13, 1999 at 10:46:30:
In Reply to: Re: swollen lymph nodes posted by steve on April 12, 1999 at 11:23:51:
Hi, Steve.
You cannot have chronically stuffy sinuses without the lymph nodes having to work overtime to prevent the germs, that grow in plugged sinuses, from getting into your blood stream. There does not have to BE infection for the nodes to enlarge----only that the nodes are working harder than the normal sized nodes can do the job.
Walt
Follow Ups:
Re: swollen lymph nodes
Posted by steve on April 14, 1999 at 11:10:16:
In Reply to: Re: swollen lymph nodes posted by Walt Stoll on April 13, 1999 at 10:46:30:
so u believe that the sinuses could be the cause of these nodes not goingdown yet?
steve
Follow Ups:
Re: swollen lymph nodes
Posted by Walt Stoll on April 14, 1999 at 13:51:11:
In Reply to: Re: swollen lymph nodes posted by steve on April 14, 1999 at 11:10:16:
Possible.
It is most likely due to a combination of allergy, tmj, bracing, touching AND any viral infection you may have had.
Walt
Re: swollen lymph nodes
Posted by steve on April 15, 1999 at 10:17:35:
In Reply to: Re: swollen lymph nodes posted by steve on April 01, 1999 at 11:11:00:
hi dr stoll
even though the doc said that the mono test beack on mar 20th seemed to be normal, i feel like im still feeling the effects of it. although my tonsils are not swollen ,i still feel tired and have swollen lymph nodes. i also have a lot of stress and worry that i do not sleep well at night. i am always all dried up in my nose on top of it. i think that my nerves are probably doing all of this to me but thank god i have an ENT appt tomorrow. should i tell him anything specific or just let him do all the work?
and how rare is lymphoma so i dont have to worry? what symptoms are different than mono?
steve
Follow Ups:
Re: swollen lymph nodes
Posted by steve on April 15, 1999 at 19:28:41:
In Reply to: Re: swollen lymph nodes posted by steve on April 01, 1999 at 11:11:00:
hi dr stoll
i have done so much reading on mono off the archives i think i can be a doctor!! haha
all the symptoms sound like what i have
i expereience alot of stress and anxiety and am currently on paxil
i have insomnia where i cant sleep at night
during the day, i always have sweaty palms and every time i feel something or an ache i think there is something major wrong. my satisfaction doesnt come til i feel the actual nodes and thats terrible seeing that they wont go down if i do that
what do u think i should do and what do u think of paxil??
steve
Re: swollen lymph nodes
Posted by Walt Stoll on April 16, 1999 at 12:41:03:
In Reply to: Re: swollen lymph nodes posted by steve on April 15, 1999 at 10:17:35:
Dear Steve,
If we have learned anything from the 100 years of conventional medicine monopoly is it that we cannot pay anyone enough to do our thinking for us. Think about it.
ANYONE who gets mono has to have long standing stress-effects that have compromised their immune system. Your present symptoms are likely due to those factors and not to the mono.
If you have read the archives about EBV, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic Fibromyositis, etc., you wouldn't be asking these questions.
Walt
Re: hernia??
Posted by steve on April 18, 1999 at 12:22:42:
In Reply to: Re: swollen lymph nodes posted by steve on April 01, 1999 at 11:11:00:
hi dr stoll
this is a totally different topic for a sec but i got a question. im an athlete and play basketball every tuesday night and when i woke up wednesday morning i noticed a little swelling in my groin area but it doesnt really hurt that much at all. i didnt know if i may have strained a muscle or have a hernia. i know that most hernias are on the sides of your groin but mine is right in front and not on the sides. can u tell me your advice and the symptoms of the hernia?? do all of them usually hurt cuz mine doesnt so it may be nothing but ive been back and forth to doctors that i dont want to go again now for something different.
thanks
steve
Follow Ups:
Re: hernia??
Posted by Walt Stoll on April 19, 1999 at 11:58:33:
In Reply to: Re: hernia?? posted by steve on April 18, 1999 at 12:22:42:
Hi, Steve.
This sounds like a strain of the piriformis muscle. look at an anatomy book to see if it is in the right place for that. If this is what it is, it will go away on its own in a few weeks.
If you have a painful hernia they will almost always have a bulge you can feel when you are standing up or coughing.
Like most things, if it persists you should have it checked out.
Walt
Follow Ups:
Re: hernia??
Posted by steve on April 19, 1999 at 16:02:55:
In Reply to: Re: hernia?? posted by Walt Stoll on April 19, 1999 at 11:58:33:
hi
this swelling is right above and to the left of my penis
i went to the doctor today and told him about it and he had me turn my back to him and he felt around the groin area and made me cough and stuff he said it was nothing!!!
i hope he is right
it is not that painful but it sounded like a hernia to me because u cant feel it when im lying down but when i stand up u can feel it. but i guess the doc knows more than i do and he said it was nothing
so i looked online about that muscle u mentioned and i only found it talking about a hip muscle but this is right above and to the left of my penis
so u still convinced on that muscle?
im figuring the doc must know what a hernia feels like right?haha
get back to me
steve
Follow Ups:
Re: hernia??
Posted by Sara on April 19, 1999 at 16:13:36:
In Reply to: Re: hernia?? posted by steve on April 19, 1999 at 16:02:55:
Steve,
Don't you just love it when the doctor tells you it's "nothing" when you know perfectly well that there is SOMETHING there? (Can you tell this is one of my pet peeves?) So I assume he meant it's not a hernia - but then what is it?
When my husband was still in the Navy, and we were at the mercy of military medicine, just about every doctor we saw just didn't feel the need to explain things (must be something about the military training - it's "beneath" them). It took me a few years, but I finally got to where I wouldn't leave their office until I got all my questions answered. You can imagine how much they enjoyed my visits ;-)
I hope you find out what the swelling is, and hope it's nothing serious.
Sara
Follow Ups:
Re: hernia??
Posted by steve on April 19, 1999 at 16:29:28:
In Reply to: Re: hernia?? posted by Sara on April 19, 1999 at 16:13:36:
hey
yeah i know they dont explain nothing
but im a hypo so thats why he probally thinks im nuts
but he said its probally just a strain but hey hes a doc and thats his job to help people so im sure it must be pretty easy to know what the difference is between a strain and a hernia
i hope hes right
steve
Re: hernia?? (rectus abdominus)
Posted by Walt Stoll on April 20, 1999 at 10:33:46:
In Reply to: Re: hernia?? posted by steve on April 19, 1999 at 16:02:55:
Hi, Steve.
I was mixed up about where I thought you said this was.
This is a minor atrain of the insertion of the left rectus abdominus muscle. The left suspensory ligament of the penis might also be involved but only secondary to the rectus abdominus involvement.
Your doc is correct (once examined, this would be hard to be wrong about) about this not being anything for you to be worried about. It will disappear in the same time as what I said about the piriformis muscle. In the meantime, you should avoid lots of situps since that would aggravate this problem.
Let us know how you do.
Walt
Follow Ups:
Re: hernia?? (rectus abdominus)
Posted by steve on April 20, 1999 at 13:46:27:
In Reply to: Re: hernia?? (rectus abdominus) posted by Walt Stoll on April 20, 1999 at 10:33:46:
hi dr stoll
if it is what u say then how come u cant fel it when im lying down?
if its a strained muscle with no pain, is it normal that it sticks out a little while im standing up?
steve
Follow Ups:
Re: hernia?? (rectus abdominus)
Posted by Walt Stoll on April 21, 1999 at 14:27:41:
In Reply to: Re: hernia?? (rectus abdominus) posted by steve on April 20, 1999 at 13:46:27:
Steve,
What is the function of the rectus abdominus?
Of course, your symptoms would be EXACTLY as you describe.
Walt
Follow Ups:
Re: hernia?? (rectus abdominus)
Posted by steve on April 21, 1999 at 15:28:27:
In Reply to: Re: hernia?? (rectus abdominus) posted by Walt Stoll on April 21, 1999 at 14:27:41:
no i have no idea what the function is of that
but i went and he said no hernia so i guess hes right
but u are more informative so thanks
so my symptoms are the same as a strain right?
Follow Ups:
Re: hernia?? (rectus abdominus)
Posted by Walt Stoll on April 22, 1999 at 10:36:11:
In Reply to: Re: hernia?? (rectus abdominus) posted by steve on April 21, 1999 at 15:28:27:
Hi, Steve.
If you look at a picture of the rectus abdominus, you will see that it is the muscle most used for situps.
Your symptoms ARE those of a strain (the simplest muscle injury).
Walt
Re: swollen lymph nodes
Posted by Me on May 03, 1999 at 22:05:15:
In Reply to: Re: swollen lymph nodes posted by Walt Stoll on March 27, 1999 at 09:48:21:
I have HPV and I have noticed my lmph nodes have been enlarged for more than a year. Is this because of the HPV ?
Follow Ups:
Re: swollen lymph nodes
Posted by Walt Stoll on May 05, 1999 at 13:00:59:
In Reply to: Re: swollen lymph nodes posted by Me on May 03, 1999 at 22:05:15:
Dear Me,
Likely.
What are you doing to improve your general level of wellness/immunity? Without that, your future is grim.
Walt