Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Justjules]

Had a bit of a sore gland in right side of neck a couple of weeks ago but couldn't feel it swollen or a lump, then got intermittent sore throats but now mainly down right side right at back. Well looked around throat with a torch and could see a creamy white patch the size of an ulcer on the fold just behind tonsils.....feel a bit rubbish with it on and off and it comes and goes but neck can be achey with it......well, you know what I am thinking!!! If it was just a sore throat I could understand but 'patches' in throat and with pain spells 'something nasty' as oral cancer doesn't present with symptoms until advanced.....panic, panic!!!  Just as the head whooshes and fainty feelings have stopped here we go again but this time with evidence....

[Elizabethrose]

Oh sweetheart, don't be alarmed, there are loads of really nasty bugs going around at the moment!!

I'm very rarely ill, rarely pick up colds etc BUT my weakness is my throat. I've had this many times and always get it after long haul flights. It can be many things but most likely a streptococcal infection. If you are feeling peaky and your glands feel swollen or tight, it sounds as if your immune system is fighting it.

My first point of call is always salt water gargles but if it continues and your body is not winning the battle, a quick visit to the GP will get it sorted. My plan of attack is always; salt water gargles, sliced lemons and honey in hot water with a lemsip thrown in for good measure, hot nourishing foods like soups and casseroles and most importantly, lots of rest!

Tuck yourself up on the sofa under a throw with a hot tea and a good book; ride the storm!

I wish you well x

[linz57]

Poor you, you sound so frightened so hopefully I can alleviate some of your fear, along with Elizabethrose's post.
It does indeed sound like a bacterial throat infection, (a kind of tonsillitis) my son  had a nasty dose of this this back in the late spring and a course of antibiotics cleared it up. Pop to the doctor in the morning if you can, just to get checked over as these things can get very painful .

[Justjules]

Thanks ladies. I hope it's viral but had sore throats and tonsillitis in the past but it never made my neck hurt or ache plus it comes and goes which is worrying and lasting over two to three weeks? I am terrified of going to Drs.

[Justjules]

Did it hurt in and around your neck Sparkle? This patch is just behind tonsil area....I have to look at it with a torch to see it properly. My mum saw it yesterday. It seems to travel right down to my collarbone a bit too....God, I hate this worry all the time!!

[linz57]

My son's  pain travelled from his neck to his collarbone and even up the side of his face JustJules, it was all one sided too. He had previously suffered  bouts of tonsillitis but nothing as severe as this one and the doctor said there were different strains.
Yours could well be viral and your immune system could be struggling to fight it off but you're best letting a doctor check you out, then at least you'll know

[Elizabethrose]

Mine get larger and larger and can start to merge, they can also creep down my throat. It sounds as if you may need ABs, sometimes you can get away with it but other times it's best to see a GP.

When I'm fighting anything, the pea size glands under my left armpit swell and become painful. My husband can be ravaged with the dreaded lurgy for weeks on end and I just have swollen glands. Our immune systems are a powerful force! (May the force be with you!! x)

When you're feeling poorly, it's far too easy to become anxious. See your GP and put your mind at rest.

I hope you feel better soon Justjules x

[Justjules]

It's definitely nothing to do with tonsils as they look fine and I know how bad tonsillitis feels so not that.  Nothing looks red or inflamed either.  I have had a boil in an awkward place recently and a big angry spot on my forehead, which I never get, plus a cold sore!! Wondered if it was all connected somehow. X

[CLKD]

Down there won't be oral cancer anyway 

[Justjules]

Thanks for that reassurance CKLD!!!   

Why can't I be a grown up about this and just go and get it checked out instead of worrying myself senseless and jumping ahead to all the possible treatment scenarios???!!! 

I did say that it was right side but don't know why, as it's the left (not that it makes any difference really!).  Not had the sore throat for a few days now but still got painful achey neck but gland isn't up as far as I can feel and isn't painful to touch like it was but it's still not 'normal' is it for it to be hanging around this long, plus not complying with the usual symptoms of a sore throat or infection i.e. no temp or redness I can see, just this worrying 'creamy white patch' less than the size of a 5p piece and the neck discomfort...... apparently most cancers present like this and not redness as people think - yes, I've googled but on the no more panic site to see if anybody else had something similar so saw the explanation from an ex-nurse - never learn do we? x

[Elizabethrose]

Oh Justjules, I feel so sorry for you. What you are putting yourself through is far far worse than visiting your GP. The trouble is at this age there are so many things that are aching (or just downright falling off), that there is always something new to worry about.

I wish I could offer some advice on how to deal with HA, but I can't. I've never suffered with it and have no experience of it BUT can you 'change places'? Can you imagine that your child is struggling with what you're experiencing at the moment. What would you advise them to do? I bet you'd say, 'right come on let's get to the GPs, get this sorted, let's put your mind at rest'. I bet you'd stuff them in the car and set off immediately!

Forgive me if I sound preachy. I know that you are a bright, intelligent woman, that you know you are causing yourself greater hardship just worrying about this instead of going to the GP. It is almost 100% likely to be something minor and benign, you will skip home afterwards, with the weight of the world lifted from your shoulders. If it did turn out to be a nasty, well it would be far worse ignoring it anyway, far better to catch something early and get it treated!.

Now you can tell me to clear off and stop preaching!  xx

[Megamind]

Do you think you have mouth cancer or throat cancer? I know two people who had throat cancer. They both had extremely hoarse voices that they kept losing before diagnosis (and both recovered from the cancer by the way). Mouth cancer, you could get a mouth ulcer but it would last weeks. Do you smoke? Mouth cancer is mainly in smokers. Out of curiosity, I just googled mouth cancer symptoms and I have loads of those symptoms including the loose tooth! I always have a sore tongue  with red patches etc. I don't think googling is the answer. You can easily convince yourself you have those symptoms and I imagine if you have health anxiety, that would cause your mind to experience the symptoms? If you don't want to go to the Dr, book a Dentist appointment and most dentists nowadays check in the mouth for mouth cancer symptoms.

I still think you had some kind or virus which is possibly now on its way out hence why your sore throat has disappeared. Please don't worry it's anything untoward.

[Justjules]

I don't know Megamind, I always have to jump to the worst possible scenario and catastrophise everything unfortunately.  I looked at 'head and neck cancer' as well.  I've never smoked but my parents did heavily until they gave it up in their 60s as both started to suffer with respiratory problems.  My lovely Nan died with cancer of the tongue which was dreadful, but she was 98!  Loads of people I  know have had the throat and cold virus going around but typical, I never seem to get the ordinary run of the mill stuff like just a cough or cold so that's why I think mine is going to be different to everyone else and be terminal all the time!!!

Elizabethrose, you're not being preachy at all - I need it sometimes!  I try to imagine what other people would do in this situation and then think right, I will do the same but then I chicken out with the fear    x

[CLKD]

I often get a soreness down one or both sides of my throat 'cos I sleeps with my gob wide open: apparently  .  I snore too: apparently ……..

How is the sensation today?  Our bodies dry out as oestrogen levels drop ………

[Justjules]

It's an ache and some discomfort tonight CKLD but I've been feeling and prodding a bit lately and contorting my mouth looking deep into it so it won't be helping!