Something Doesnt Seem Right....

pjo13 · Regular Joined: 03 Jul 2006 Posts: 11

To me something just doesnt seem right... I am an otherwise healthy (for the most part) 18 year old female. In the past i have had some "strange" illnesses, including shingles at age 13, supposed arthritis at 13 (turned out to be chondromalacia patellae), and in January of this year was diagnosed with chorinic ethmoid sinusitus (not responsive to antibiotics) after being sick for 5 months striaght. Luckily, my sinuses have been doing much better since winter is over, but over the past month-ish i have been fairly fatigued, experiencing hair loss, and have an asymmetrically enlarged tonsil (painless). Had blood work done. Results were slightly decreased alkaline phosphatase levels, and very high EBV VCA IgG (2035) and EBNA (834). This led to daignosis of an old mono infection. But heres what doesnt seem right to me. My EBV levels would be indicative of an infection 2-4 months prior to testing. This means i was feeling fine when I should have felt sick, and now im all out of whack when i shoud be feeling better? Also, upon independent reseach, i have discovered that during mono infection, alkaline phosphatase is usually elevated, not decreased. To top it off, mono would not be causing my obvious hair loss. Over the past week or so, i have also been experiencing pain in the right side of my chest when inhaling (to the right side of my sternum, mid chest area). Something just does not seem right to me. Of course i worry about lymphoma, but am i just driving myself crazy? Any opinions would be helpful...Thanks

pjo13 · Regular Joined: 03 Jul 2006 Posts: 11

oh i also forget to mention i have enlarged lymph nodes under my jaw...also painless...same side as enlarged tonsil. They are defintely bigger than they used to be, but Dr. still claims they are within "normal range".

ceaves · Regular Joined: 12 Apr 2006 Posts: 36

Does the doc know about the enlarged lymph node and the enlarged tonsil? Did he say that they are both in the normal range? I know you are tired, but have you had any weight loss, fevers, or itching? I had some similar symptoms as you and before they caught on to a mass in my anterior mediastinum (chest cavity) they tested me for a load of autoimmune diseases. It sounds like you have had some in the past? Anyway, if you feel out of whack talk to your doc. If he doesnt listen go to another one. I hadnt been feeling right for a while but my doctor didnt seem to think much of it. I finally found one who listened, and now I am on the path to finding out what is wrong. I had a PET scan and my chest mass and an adjacent lymph node lit up. I find out on Wed. what all of that means. Anyway the point is, you know if somethings isnt right, so make them find out! Good luck.

-Chelsea Wink

pjo13 · Regular Joined: 03 Jul 2006 Posts: 11

The doctor knows about lymph node and tonsil. She says lymph node is within normal range, but definitely that the tonsil markedly enlarged. I do have itching, but I hesitate to consider it because I frequently get eczema. im not so sure about the fevers (i dont take my temperature regularly) but i can recall some recent times people told me i felt very hot to the touch. But I wish you well in your tests, and hopefully i can get some answers soon!

garyba · Regular Joined: 10 May 2006 Posts: 14

Any night sweats?

pjo13 · Regular Joined: 03 Jul 2006 Posts: 11

Occasionally, but i wouldnt say its an every night thing.

pjo13 · Regular Joined: 03 Jul 2006 Posts: 11

hmmm thinking back on it now i wonder if my Dr. is suspicious of something. She had said if my swelling doesnt go down she wanted to see me in a few months for a ct, and after the bloodwork results came in they told me if i wasnt feeling better in a week (they had told me i should be feeling better by now if it was the mono that was getting to me, but i wasnt, and still arent) to do more testing. The problem is, i dont really have months to wait. In September i will be leaving for college, and while im sure i could get excellent medical care at school (my college has a world renowned hospital attached), that would really make things harder for a freshman just starting out! Also, something new i noticed....another small lump, maybe the size of a bb, a few inches above my collarbone, kinda by where your neck goes out into your shoulders. On my right, same side as swollen tonsil/lymph nodes/chest pain. Just thought id mention that. PS. Thanks to everyone who has taken their time to read and/or reply to my worrysome babbling.

pjo13 · Regular Joined: 03 Jul 2006 Posts: 11

Just to keep things up to date....All symptoms have continued..although now im pretty sure that small lump in my neck is nothing...just my mind getting the best of me. New happenings: yesterday i noticed a small lump behind my ear, just behind the hairline, but waiting to see if it could possibly be a bug bite and go away before i think any more of it. Also, just out of pure curiosity/boredom ive began taking my temperature, and noticed it is slightly elevated (99.0-99.3) alot of the time. Next Dr.'s appt. is Thursday, interested to see how it goes.

pjo13 · Regular Joined: 03 Jul 2006 Posts: 11

Went to Dr.s today. Had more blood work and a chest xray. Appearantly the chest x-ray was clear (i actually have no idea but im assuming), and within an hour and a half of having the chest x-ray my Dr. had called me back and ordered a chest CT. Im glad things are actually getting done, lets just hope they come up with some answers finally! My regular doc (NOT the one who told me I had mono) agrees with my that she doesnt think mono is whats causing all my problems, but that there is definitely something not right and we need to figure out what it is. Well off i go....

pjo13 · Regular Joined: 03 Jul 2006 Posts: 11

So frustrating!! CT came back clear, which is good, but its now we dont know whats causing my chest pain. Should here the blood work results today or Monday (most likely Monday). I hate this...why cant anyone just figure out what the hell is wrong with me. I hate that I just graduated and should be out having a great summer, but instead im so tired all i ever do is just lay around...and that as an 18 year old GIRL that all my hair is falling out...and why my tonsil is so big that it takes up half my throat...and that it hurts so much to breathe deeply that i stopped doing pretty much any physical activity...and nobody can tell me why!!!! Sorry for my rant, but i just needed to get that off my chest

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