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Hello, I Have Been Having A Number Of Different Things

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Posted on Sun, 6 Sep 2020
Question: Hello, I have been having a number of different things going on the past four months. Everything started when I had my first bout with strep. I have never had it before, and I was also diagnosed with Influenza type A simultaneously. After being treated with antibiotics, a couple of weeks later I began feeling fatigued, I slept longer, headaches, diarrhea, and I noticed my right tonsil was about 4x’s more inflamed than my left tonsil. I got tested for Covid and it came back negative. I went to an urgent care where I was treated from strep again, even though the strep test came back negative. Around this time, I also felt neck pain and stiffness as well as hard ball that can only be felt when I do certain movements; I was told my left occipital lymph node was swollen from possibly fighting an infection. I was treated with antibiotics, such as amoxicillin, metronidazole, and rocephin shots, but nothing helped with the swollen tonsil/dry throat and headaches. Fast forward to two weeks ago, I began getting low back pains, short, sharp abdominal pains, and testicular pain randomly. I have also gone from being 180 lbs. this time last year to about 159 lbs. without trying. I’ve gotten CBC blood test twice; everything is normal. I tested negative for HIV, STD’s, and mono. I have gotten a testicular ultrasound and everything was fine. Some of the initial symptoms have wained off, but others persist. The testicular pain, abdominal pain, excruciating headaches, neck pain, swollen right tonsil and left occipital lymph node, and now the inability to sleep more than 6-7 hours a day. I also noticed that I had small specks of blood of toilet paper when I whipped and what seemed to be small pockets of blood in my poop. I could just be assuming it was blood or it could just be a hernia because I have also has an itchy anus, but thought it might be relevant. Needless to say, my quality of life has seriously downgraded, and I’m only 24 years old. I keep getting sent off to different places but not really getting any idea of what I might be tackling with. I would just like a general idea of what might be going on. If I am overthinking that something serious is wrong I’m willing to accept and work on that, but any kind of direction is better than where I am at now.
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Follow up: Dr. T Chandrakant (0 minute later)
Hello, I have been having a number of different things going on the past four months. Everything started when I had my first bout with strep. I have never had it before, and I was also diagnosed with Influenza type A simultaneously. After being treated with antibiotics, a couple of weeks later I began feeling fatigued, I slept longer, headaches, diarrhea, and I noticed my right tonsil was about 4x’s more inflamed than my left tonsil. I got tested for Covid and it came back negative. I went to an urgent care where I was treated from strep again, even though the strep test came back negative. Around this time, I also felt neck pain and stiffness as well as hard ball that can only be felt when I do certain movements; I was told my left occipital lymph node was swollen from possibly fighting an infection. I was treated with antibiotics, such as amoxicillin, metronidazole, and rocephin shots, but nothing helped with the swollen tonsil/dry throat and headaches. Fast forward to two weeks ago, I began getting low back pains, short, sharp abdominal pains, and testicular pain randomly. I have also gone from being 180 lbs. this time last year to about 159 lbs. without trying. I’ve gotten CBC blood test twice; everything is normal. I tested negative for HIV, STD’s, and mono. I have gotten a testicular ultrasound and everything was fine. Some of the initial symptoms have wained off, but others persist. The testicular pain, abdominal pain, excruciating headaches, neck pain, swollen right tonsil and left occipital lymph node, and now the inability to sleep more than 6-7 hours a day. I also noticed that I had small specks of blood of toilet paper when I whipped and what seemed to be small pockets of blood in my poop. I could just be assuming it was blood or it could just be a hernia because I have also has an itchy anus, but thought it might be relevant. Needless to say, my quality of life has seriously downgraded, and I’m only 24 years old. I keep getting sent off to different places but not really getting any idea of what I might be tackling with. I would just like a general idea of what might be going on. If I am overthinking that something serious is wrong I’m willing to accept and work on that, but any kind of direction is better than where I am at now.
doctor
Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Further investigations would help to get a proper diagnosis

Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your query and detailed history.
Noted it well and understood the concerns.
My thoughts and advise - to be discussed with your Doctors:
Blood culture and sensitivity sometimes can diagnosed a general condition that is causing so varied symptoms.
FNAC of the occipital lymph node or others, particularly of those near enlarged tonsil on right side. Ultrasonography and guided FNAC helps more.
CT scan or MRI to know the cause of 4X enlargement of right tonsil - can be cyst or other cause and to know the status of the lymph nodes.
X-ray/CT of chest to see for any nodes or lung pathology.
Ultrasound of abdomen for liver, spleen, lymph nodes and usual findings.
IF the right tonsil is not regressed then even tonsillectomy and biopsy can be thought about if all other investigations are not much indicative.

All these investigations to rule out any serious disease - as per your history of losing weight, unequal tonsils, nodes, pains history.
To continue symptomatic and supportive treatment in the form of anti-inflammatory medicines that suit you.
The above investigations may help to get a specific cause and thus have guided management.

I hope this answer helps you and your Doctors to get a proper diagnosis so that an appropriate and specific treatment can be done.

Dr T Chandrakant.
General and ENT Surgeon.
NOTE: please give feedback.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj
doctor
doctor
Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (0 minute later)
Brief Answer:
Further investigations would help to get a proper diagnosis

Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your query and detailed history.
Noted it well and understood the concerns.
My thoughts and advise - to be discussed with your Doctors:
Blood culture and sensitivity sometimes can diagnosed a general condition that is causing so varied symptoms.
FNAC of the occipital lymph node or others, particularly of those near enlarged tonsil on right side. Ultrasonography and guided FNAC helps more.
CT scan or MRI to know the cause of 4X enlargement of right tonsil - can be cyst or other cause and to know the status of the lymph nodes.
X-ray/CT of chest to see for any nodes or lung pathology.
Ultrasound of abdomen for liver, spleen, lymph nodes and usual findings.
IF the right tonsil is not regressed then even tonsillectomy and biopsy can be thought about if all other investigations are not much indicative.

All these investigations to rule out any serious disease - as per your history of losing weight, unequal tonsils, nodes, pains history.
To continue symptomatic and supportive treatment in the form of anti-inflammatory medicines that suit you.
The above investigations may help to get a specific cause and thus have guided management.

I hope this answer helps you and your Doctors to get a proper diagnosis so that an appropriate and specific treatment can be done.

Dr T Chandrakant.
General and ENT Surgeon.
NOTE: please give feedback.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. T Chandrakant (34 minutes later)
Thank you for your quick response! My fear is that I have some form of cancer, but not knowing what I am actively fighting against is the most nerve wracking part. I’ve been getting inconclusiveness answers from my doctor so I’m not sure if she is ultimately trying to narrow down the source of the problem or if it is time for me to get a second opinion elsewhere.
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Follow up: Dr. T Chandrakant (0 minute later)
Thank you for your quick response! My fear is that I have some form of cancer, but not knowing what I am actively fighting against is the most nerve wracking part. I’ve been getting inconclusiveness answers from my doctor so I’m not sure if she is ultimately trying to narrow down the source of the problem or if it is time for me to get a second opinion elsewhere.
doctor
Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (43 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
ask for further investigations, second or Specialist's opinion.

Detailed Answer:
Very true.
It is very important to get to the exact diagnosis as soon as possible.
All the above investigations will help to confirm or rule out what you are and me too thinking.
Yes, in such a case it is best to get second opinion of another Doctor or even a Specialist.
4 months is a long time to suffer without an appropriate diagnosis. Request for further investigation.

Take care.
Please give feedback once the investigations or second opinion is done.

Dr T Chandrakant.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng
doctor
doctor
Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (0 minute later)
Brief Answer:
ask for further investigations, second or Specialist's opinion.

Detailed Answer:
Very true.
It is very important to get to the exact diagnosis as soon as possible.
All the above investigations will help to confirm or rule out what you are and me too thinking.
Yes, in such a case it is best to get second opinion of another Doctor or even a Specialist.
4 months is a long time to suffer without an appropriate diagnosis. Request for further investigation.

Take care.
Please give feedback once the investigations or second opinion is done.

Dr T Chandrakant.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. T Chandrakant (1 hour later)
Is there any particular specialist I might need to seek, based on my symptoms and history? Thank you once again.
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Follow up: Dr. T Chandrakant (0 minute later)
Is there any particular specialist I might need to seek, based on my symptoms and history? Thank you once again.
doctor
Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
ENT and Oncosurgeon

Detailed Answer:
ENT Surgeon and Oncosurgeon for enlarged tonsil - to start with. Any other Specialist on their recommendation.


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng
doctor
doctor
Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (0 minute later)
Brief Answer:
ENT and Oncosurgeon

Detailed Answer:
ENT Surgeon and Oncosurgeon for enlarged tonsil - to start with. Any other Specialist on their recommendation.


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. T Chandrakant (7 hours later)
Hello, I actually saw my GP this morning to address concerns. She said my enlarged tonsil seems to look scared and could be due to my gag reflex. I was prescribed with sertraline and hydroxyzine, which to my understanding are both anti-anxiety/anti-depressant medications. She felt the bump in the back of my neck and said that it felt for like a muscle than a lymph node and that getting the area massaged could help with the pain in the area. Although I am willing to try the medication in case I am indeed just anxious about what I’m feeling, I was almost expecting some additional testing to be recommended. Is this a normal course of action to take?
default
Follow up: Dr. T Chandrakant (0 minute later)
Hello, I actually saw my GP this morning to address concerns. She said my enlarged tonsil seems to look scared and could be due to my gag reflex. I was prescribed with sertraline and hydroxyzine, which to my understanding are both anti-anxiety/anti-depressant medications. She felt the bump in the back of my neck and said that it felt for like a muscle than a lymph node and that getting the area massaged could help with the pain in the area. Although I am willing to try the medication in case I am indeed just anxious about what I’m feeling, I was almost expecting some additional testing to be recommended. Is this a normal course of action to take?
doctor
Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (36 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Have second opinion also.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your belief in me, but your Doctor has advised you something after clinical evaluation and had an actual interaction, hence can not really comment on this.
My thoughts: as expressed above. Try to have second opinion of another Doctor. We already discussed this before.

Dr T Chandrakant.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
doctor
Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (0 minute later)
Brief Answer:
Have second opinion also.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your belief in me, but your Doctor has advised you something after clinical evaluation and had an actual interaction, hence can not really comment on this.
My thoughts: as expressed above. Try to have second opinion of another Doctor. We already discussed this before.

Dr T Chandrakant.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
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Dr. T Chandrakant

General Surgeon

Practicing since :1984

Answered : 19780 Questions

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Hello, I Have Been Having A Number Of Different Things

Hello, I have been having a number of different things going on the past four months. Everything started when I had my first bout with strep. I have never had it before, and I was also diagnosed with Influenza type A simultaneously. After being treated with antibiotics, a couple of weeks later I began feeling fatigued, I slept longer, headaches, diarrhea, and I noticed my right tonsil was about 4x’s more inflamed than my left tonsil. I got tested for Covid and it came back negative. I went to an urgent care where I was treated from strep again, even though the strep test came back negative. Around this time, I also felt neck pain and stiffness as well as hard ball that can only be felt when I do certain movements; I was told my left occipital lymph node was swollen from possibly fighting an infection. I was treated with antibiotics, such as amoxicillin, metronidazole, and rocephin shots, but nothing helped with the swollen tonsil/dry throat and headaches. Fast forward to two weeks ago, I began getting low back pains, short, sharp abdominal pains, and testicular pain randomly. I have also gone from being 180 lbs. this time last year to about 159 lbs. without trying. I’ve gotten CBC blood test twice; everything is normal. I tested negative for HIV, STD’s, and mono. I have gotten a testicular ultrasound and everything was fine. Some of the initial symptoms have wained off, but others persist. The testicular pain, abdominal pain, excruciating headaches, neck pain, swollen right tonsil and left occipital lymph node, and now the inability to sleep more than 6-7 hours a day. I also noticed that I had small specks of blood of toilet paper when I whipped and what seemed to be small pockets of blood in my poop. I could just be assuming it was blood or it could just be a hernia because I have also has an itchy anus, but thought it might be relevant. Needless to say, my quality of life has seriously downgraded, and I’m only 24 years old. I keep getting sent off to different places but not really getting any idea of what I might be tackling with. I would just like a general idea of what might be going on. If I am overthinking that something serious is wrong I’m willing to accept and work on that, but any kind of direction is better than where I am at now.