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Q: Could One Swollen Tonsil Be Nothing?
asked by: rach0729 on October 27th, 2006
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I'm sorry for cross-posting in ent and cancer forums, but i'm not really sure where this should go...

Three weeks ago exactly I woke up with one enlarged tonsil, on the left side. Upon further examination I discovered that the swollen tonsil was covered in little white spots. My first thought was that it must be the beginnings of strep throat (which i've never had), but it seemed odd to me because I didn't feel any pain. I scheduled a doctor's appointment that very day. After examining me, the doctor confirmed there were little white spots on both tonsils, and mildly swollen lymph nodes my neck. He told me it must be either a strange case of strep (because I felt no pain), or a strange case of mono (because I wasn't feeling exhausted or otherwise ill). He gave me a blood test and a prescription for a 10-day course of antibiotics (penicillin). He called me the next day and told me that the blood test had confirmed it was neither mono nor strep, but to keep taking the antibiotics and schedule a follow-up if they didn't help.

After my ten days of penicillin, there was no real change except for the fact that the little white bumps are gone. The tonsil is still swollen and painless. I'm not very self-aware when it comes to my body, and can't tell whether or not my lymph nodes are at all swollen at this point since I don't know precisely where they are. I scheduled a follow up appointment, which is happening in a couple of days.

I've done a lot of internet research over the last few weeks, and quite unfortunately there don't seem to be many things that cause one swollen, painless tonsil. It's pretty much tonsilitis, tonsil stones, hiv/aids or lymphoma, according the every online resource that exists about the problem. It's not tonsilitis because it's caused by strep bacteria, which the blood test confirmed is not my issue. I ruled out tonsil stones because the white spots weren't hard or large or smelly, and eventually they went away. I'm not promiscuous or an iv drug user, so i'm praying it's not hiv - however, I can't rule it out - I have had unprotected sex twice - once in a monogamous relationship, following sti/hiv testing for both me and my partner, and once about a year ago with a trusted friend who's sexual history included at that point only two monogamous relationships and the occasional tryst with me. (i am going to be responsible and ask for an hiv test at my follow-up appointment.) that pretty much leaves lymphoma, which is a really unfortunate option - but it seems silly to think this could be cancer when I feel more or less fine otherwise.

I'm a 24 year old female non-smoker. I'm overweight and don't have the best diet or exercise habits, but other than allergies and asthma, i'm generally healthy. Other than the tonsil, the only change in my health lately is the fact that my allergies (dust, pollen, etc.) have been really bad, to the point where i'm not sure my allergy meds are working very well anymore.

If anyone is still with me after all of that...Has anyone experienced something like this? If so, what did it turn out to be? Could some random virus just happen to affect just one tonsil and not the other, and otherwise be asymptomatic? Or is there a chance that it's really nothing at all, and my tonsil is just being stupid? I just need a little reassurance so that my hypochodriacal tendencies don't get the best of me and send me into a tailspin as I wait for this next doctor's appointment.
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Herbie23
replied on November 13th, 2007
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I Have the Same Thing Now...
I HAVE THE SAME THING NOW...AND I FEEL WORRIED ABOUT IT.. MY DOCTOR GAVE ME CO-AMOXICLAV 500MG/125MG FOR 5 DAYS BUT UNTIL NOW THE PAINLESS WHITE SPOTS ARE STILL HERE ON MY TONSILS.. Question
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rach0729
replied on November 13th, 2007
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Re: I Have the Same Thing Now...
herbertesteban wrote:
I HAVE THE SAME THING NOW...AND I FEEL WORRIED ABOUT IT.. MY DOCTOR GAVE ME CO-AMOXICLAV 500MG/125MG FOR 5 DAYS BUT UNTIL NOW THE PAINLESS WHITE SPOTS ARE STILL HERE ON MY TONSILS.. Question


My weird spots and swollen tonsil stuck around for a while, and then they went away on their own. It turned out to be some mystery illness - maybe a virus or something, but ultimately it went away after a couple of months. My doc gave me blood tests and throat cultures and various things, and nothing was wrong. So I wouldn't worry about it!
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Herbie23
replied on December 25th, 2007
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White Spots Resolved
hi! i am back just to add new things bout my previous post. I underwent C&S(Culture and Sensitivity) and ruled out moderate growth of streptococcus. I didn't take any medicine after that Co-amoxiclav tablet and it just went away. I know this microorganism has something to do about the body's resistance because I notice that when i am under stress, it tends to come back. so the baseline is, we should learn how to take care of our body. drink a lot of water, sleep at least 8 hours a night, take food supplement. right now i am taking alive meganutritionals from nature's way, utah.

i would like to impart on you that our body really doesn't need antibiotics to kill bad microorganism. our body cells have the capacity to heal itself. we just need to maintain the healthy DNA within our cells by taking anti oxidants.
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banditcreep
replied on April 26th, 2009
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Or
look up systemic candidiasis. Are there other life symptoms? Have you taken a lot of antibiotics?
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jessajessa
replied on July 19th, 2009
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My left tonsil is swollen..
My left tonsil swelled up in the last two days. I don't see any white spots from what I can tell. But my neck is swollen with a nice sized lump. It really only hurts when I swallow and twist my neck around to turn to the left. And maybe a little bit when I speak. I'm 20 years old and a bit scared. I have a serious boyfriend and he is the only one I've been active with for several months and really the only one that I've had unpretected sex with. I was just recently tested for HIV at the end of May. That was negative. Thankfully. I've never really had strep throat so I'm not so sure as to what those symptoms are. And as well as tonsilitis. I just find it strange that its only one tonsil. I do smoke, occassionally. But I haven't been smoking for very long. I'm hoping that isn't the cause of this. I'm just super worried. Will some one ease my worry?
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NIKNAK21
replied on July 24th, 2009
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If you figure out what it is please let me know...my story is just the same as yours..
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