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Dr Stoll,
I have read through your archives, and have found them interesting. I have a question for you. About three years ago, at the start of allergy season, I got sick with a sore throat, earache, etc., and had a lymph node quickly enlarge right above my collar bone. Of course when I felt it, I freaked out, looked at sites on the internet and decided I had cancer. Over a period of about 2 months, after seeing 2 doctors, my normal doctor sent my to an ENT. He did a biopsy of the lump, and actually drained it. It was practically gone, he said it was a cyst. He said it was nothing to worry about, but if I moved my arm around enough, I could see there was still part of a lump. It never got bigger, I just wanted it gone. He put me in the hospital and removed it, for my sake. It came back benign.
Here it is three years later. We just got back from vacation, I woke up with a sore throat, earache, etc. It's the start of allergy season, almost the same time of year as last time. My neck started to ache, and I found a swollen node (much smaller than last time)towards the back of my neck, kind of on the side. I also found three other ones right below where my skull meets my spine, kind of to the right. There's also one behind my ear, so I took out my earrings that I wear 24 hours a day. I am unable to stop checking them! 20 times a day at least! I have a doctor's appt. scheduled for Monday, but what is your opinion on what could be wrong? I was also told that since I have allergies pretty bad that my immune system is very sensitive, and that if I had cancer, I wouldn't have allergies. Is this true? I'm scared to death of lymphoma!
In Reply to: swollen lymph nodes in neck posted by Wendy on May 03, 2001 at 21:23:31:
Hi, Wendy.
Unless you are able to discipline yourself to not touch them, you are going to have an interesting set of scars from your biopsies.
You need to look at this as a brain chemical problem that makes you compulsively do this. See the archives. Let us know what you learn.
Walt
In Reply to: swollen lymph nodes in neck posted by Wendy on May 03, 2001 at 21:23:31:
Hi Dr.Stoll,
I have a question for you. About a 6 weeks ago, I got a rash on the bottom of my lip. A lot of pus was coming out, and it would crust the bottom of my lip. Since I was too embarressed to go see a doctor, I stayed in doors, and I didn't remove the crust (to let the healing process do it's thing). About 3 weeks ago, I got a lump in my throat. About a week and a half ago, I started feeling another on the other side my throat. I went to the doctor last week, and she said that the two were related, and gave me a medicated cream for the lip, and some antibiotics for the throat (she said it was lymph node swelling). She told me to take the anitbiotics for a week, and if the swelling didn't go away, I should return. Could you tell me what you think of my case, and in the worst case what could happen? I am a 22 year old, asian female, who eats very healthy, and is very fit. Thanks in advance for your council.
Niki.
In Reply to: Re: swollen lymph nodes in neck posted by niki on May 18, 2001 at 11:02:08:
Hi, Niki.
Your rash was a virulent form of impetigo and the best treatment is topical and systemic antibiotics. Since you did not get that early, your lymph system did it's job of saving you from blood poisoning. This is a bad place to get this problem.
In the future, if you get this, start hot compresses (see archives for hot soaks) and, if you do not see improvements in 24-48 hours, see a doc for antibiotics at once!
Your being in "good shape" is likely what saved you! Removal of the crust with each soak is the best treatment. Leaving the crust on was the worst thing you could do.
Namaste`
Walt
In Reply to: Re: swollen lymph nodes in neck (Impetigo--archive in skin.) posted by Walt Stoll on May 20, 2001 at 08:19:42:
Hi Dr.Stoll,
It's been almost 1 month now, and the rash isn't fully gone! It's 95% better, but it's been like that for the past little while (my lip is fine for 2-3 days, but then it will start to pus the clear liquid, and then it's fine again, and the cycle continues this way). I continue to use the ointment the doctor gave me for my rash, but the antibiotics for my throat were stopped after 7 days (i.e. 2.5 weeks ago). The lump is noticably smaller, but not fully gone and the second one that was there is now gone. However I am still worried. Why is this taking so long to heal, if it should only have taken 7-10 days to heal? Do you think that it is related to me leaving the crust on my lip at the beginning of all this? I'm probably worried for nothing, but I just want to know what's going on. Your diagnosis last time was very helpful and accurate. Thank you, and I hope you can tell me why this damn thing hasn't gone away yet. One last thing: for the past 4-5 days my stomach hasn't felt well, but I'm pretty sure it's not related...just thought I'd give you all the info.
Thanks for everything,
Niki
In Reply to: Re: swollen lymph nodes in neck (Impetigo--archive in skin.) posted by Walt Stoll on May 20, 2001 at 08:19:42:
Hi Dr.Stoll,
It's been almost 1 month now, and the rash isn't fully gone! It's 95% better, but it's been like that for the past little while (my lip is fine for 2-3 days, but then it will start to pus the clear liquid, and then it's fine again, and the cycle continues this way). I continue to use the ointment the doctor gave me for my rash, but the antibiotics for my throat were stopped after 7 days (i.e. 2.5 weeks ago). The lump is noticably smaller, but not fully gone and the second one that was there is now gone. However I am still worried. Why is this taking so long to heal, if it should only have taken 7-10 days to heal? Do you think that it is related to me leaving the crust on my lip at the beginning of all this? I'm probably worried for nothing, but I just want to know what's going on. Your diagnosis last time was very helpful and accurate. Thank you, and I hope you can tell me why this damn thing hasn't gone away yet. One last thing: for the past 4-5 days my stomach hasn't felt well, but I'm pretty sure it's not related...just thought I'd give you all the info.
Thanks for everything,
Niki
In Reply to: Re: swollen lymph nodes in neck (Impetigo--archive in skin.) posted by niki on June 06, 2001 at 10:11:07:
Hi, Niki.
This has not been adequately diagnosed or treated. You must have a germ that is resistant (and becoming more resistant as we communicate) to all of the antibiotics. Has a culture and sensitivity been taken? This must be done after all antibiotics have been stopped for at least 4-5 days (including topicals) and the doc must take a scalpel and make a small cut to make it bleed. The culture must be taken from the bleeding place.
Let us know what you learn.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: swollen lymph nodes in neck (Impetigo--archive in skin.) Inadequate treatment! posted by Walt Stoll on June 08, 2001 at 09:43:50:
Hi Dr.Stoll,
I went to the doctor yesterday. She gave me a quick look, and she said that I had a slight alergic reaction to the medication. She gave me a different topical antibiotic, and I am in the process of using it, and it seems to work much more effectively. Should I continue on using this, or should I stop, go see a different doctor, and have him take a culture and sensitivity.
Thanks,
Niki
In Reply to: Re: swollen lymph nodes in neck (Impetigo--archive in skin.) Inadequate treatment! posted by niki on June 08, 2001 at 13:45:45:
Hi, Niki.
If it works, she was right. If not, you know what to do.
Let us know.
Walt
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