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Mono or Lymphoma?

I'm 40  yrs old and very active (runner) and healthy. I've been sick w/a high fever, one sided sore throat, swollen face for over a week now.  The dr. initially prescribed antiobiotics, but they did not work so they suspected mono and took blood.  The dr. said the test was positive for mono and that also my liver enzymes were very high and platelet count very low (not life threateningly low, but low).  I was ok with that, but then did some reading and tied in some other symptoms I was having prior to the fever.  I've been having mild trouble swallowing for the last yr or so and if feels like I have something stuck in my throat.  I have had heartburn for the last couple of months.  Also, I run and my chest has felt tight (mildly) while running and I've developed a cough when I run  mainly because I feel like something is stuck in my throat and I'm not getting enough air.  I just discounted those symptoms because they were mild enough and planned on bringing them up at my next yearly physical. However now,  I've never ever felt this sick before in my life.  I just have no energy whatsoever and the fever will not subside.  
I intend to call my dr tomorrow w/questions, but in the meantime I am rather freaked out.  My brother passed away from leukemia 15yrs ago, so I am concerned for myself.

Is it possible to test positive for mono if in fact I have lymphoma?  
What is the likelihood that I never contracted mono before.  I come from a large family (7 kids) and 2 of my brothers had mono when I was growing up.

I'm just really concerned this is something more than mono - am I way off base?

Thank you!
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Avatar universal
I am so happy you answered me so I can get some feedback. My doctor glanced at my throat but I don't think he would see any growth this way if there indeed is one. There is just so much linking of EBV to lymphoma that its not helping me calm down. There is even a site out there that says a positive mono test can be an indicator of lymphoma!! Since this positive test is unusual because it is my second time, this info drove me insane. But after reading your response, I feel better to know that having mono more than once isn't such a shocker. Hopefully I hold on to this feeling and stop my crazy internet searches.  
Helpful - 0
1081992 tn?1389903637
COMMUNITY LEADER
hi, I think that what your doc says is right: you have a flareup of the Epstein Barr virus that causes mono. This can result in your throat symptoms and also the enlarged nodes as your body fights the flareup. EB virus is known to be very persistent. You might have it forever, it's not really a big deal or that unusual. That doesn't mean you have a suppressed immune system - it just means the virus is very, very difficult to get rid of. It sort of hides out, then re-emerges at times to cause cold-like symptoms.

If your doc looked into your throat, he would have spotted anything there. A laryngoscope could go down your throat and spot anything even deeper - but there's not likely anything there. It's also most likely not lymphoma anywhere.

No reason to be scared :)
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Avatar universal
I know this post is kind of old but I have similar concerns that are really stressing me out! I always go crazy over my health but recently I can't really just relate my sypmtoms to stress and anxiety. I am 23 years old, female. 5'4 105 lbs. I think I am in relatively good health. I rarely get fevers or colds. Although back in November I had a sinus infection treated with antibiotics that is gone.

THE BIG QUESTION: I began to read up on lymph nodes because I had cankers in my mouth which I thought were unusal. They have since gone away. Anyways I realized a few of my nodes on the right side of my neck are more palpable than the left, ONLY BECAUSE I CHECKED FOR THEM other wise who knows if i would have noticed anything different. Needless to say, I am freaked out. There is a node below my jaw where my neck meets. Then there are a couple of weird feelings on that same side further down that Im assuming are nodes. If i press them they move slightly to the other side if my finger but not as if i can move them all around. They don't feel hard per se but they are not tender as in play doh tender. They don't hurt unless I really push. They feel small, I don't know how people mesure their nodes in exact meausrements but the one below my jaw near my neck is very small, pea sized, the others feel like they are long and skinny almost like a nerve but I don't know. Anyways panic sets in. My thoughts are filled with chemotherapy and how I willl deal with it. How I will have to delay my life, wedding, career. It's awful. I went to the doctor all he did was rush me out of there, didn't seem concerned but ordered a blood test. CAME BACK POSITIVE FOR MONO BUT I ALREADY HAD IT WHEN I WAS 15!!. I am so confused I told him I already had it and he saiid: Yep you can have flare ups and reoccurences. He said my throat was a little red. MY MAIN SYMPTOM IS A TIGHT FEELING IN THE THROAT. I CAN BREATHE FINE, MY THROAT DOESNT HURT, NO FEVER, NO WEIGHT LOSS, NO SWEATS. JUST THIS FEELING OF CONSTANT SWALLOWING TO CLEAR THROAT, NOT DIFFICULTY SWALLOWING. I STILL EAT A LOT. MY LYMPH NODES don't feel THAT big, so as to create this feeling. Do I have a tumour in my throat perhaps??? IT'S BEEN A WEEK SINCE THIS FEELING OCCURED WHILE I WAS ON VACATION RELAXED SO ITS NOT STRESS(I put the lymph node scare behind me while I was on vacation) until the day I felt this tightness before we left to come home.

IS MY BODY IMMUNO SUPPRESSED? (I have tested neg for HIV) IS THAT WHY I HAVE MONO...AGAIN!!??

I AM SO SCARED, I WANT TO COMPLETE SCHOOL WORK AND CAN'T. I CAN'T HELP BUT WONDER IF SOMETHING MORE SERIOUS IS BEING OVER LOOKED. EVEN THOUGH OTHER BLOOD LEVELS, RBC, WBC AND PLATELETS CAME BACK FINE! i REMEMBER WBC WAS 6 so within normal range. ARE THESE SYMPTOMS CONSISTENT WITH LYMPHOMA? HOW BIG WOULD A NODE HAVE TO BE TO MAKE YOU ACTUALLY FEEL A CONGESTION IN YOUR THROAT? (my nose is clear so i know its not sinus). I FEEL NO LUMPS besides the random things I mentioned previously that are still really small.

I KNOW THIS IS LONG AND CRAZY SOUNDING BUT I DON'T KNOW IF I SHOULD KEEP CALLING DOCTORS TO GO FOR MORE TESTS. AM I WASTING MY TIME?

A huge thank you to anyone actually taking the time to read this.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi,

I'm concerned about your elevated liver enzymes.  Did your doctor perform Hepatitis B and C tests?  I had undiagnosed Hepatitis C for 25 with similar symptoms.  Hep C is epidemic and many people are misdiagnosed or don't have symptoms.  

Kittyface
Helpful - 0
988735 tn?1249174656
Hi. Been down both roads with Non Hodgkin's lymphoma and Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia. Anyway, the Mono sounds like MONO and I think you should rest and give it time. Mono will make you feel exactly the way you are feeling. It can be very debilitating for awhile. I think you underestimate. Thing like lymphoma CML don't pop up suddenly like that but generally linger. You will have a low grade fever (around 100 but not higher) and NON TENDER lymph nodes with no other explanation.  I really think you are tired and need rest then reassess when you feel more up to it. Ask lot's of questions. Ask if there is any possiblity of false positive MONO (some of the rapids I think just have false positives).  I was also a nurse for awhile until I got sick. I really think you should not worry yet and just take care of yourself and feel better.  It is possible to have Mono and something like CML at the same time since CML suppresses your immune system but it doesn't sound like it to me. The cough and lumpy feeling sounds very much like a GERD situation though but ask about your risk for heart disease too.  Believe me if you had CML or lymphoma it's not likely you would have been up running at all. Good luck. Feel better
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Avatar universal
My initial question is how long have you been feeling this way overall? I definatly agree with the doctors finding of mono. I had mono three years ago and had very similar symptoms including the elevated liver counts. As for the throat issue- mono can cause very painful sore throats but if this has been going on for some time, and you haven't had your tonsils out, you may want to follow up with an ENT Specialist.

I understand the fear you are feeling. My dad passed away from leukemia at the age of 43 so when I had mono, I was afraid that it was leukemia. To the best of my knowledge, with lymphoma, the gland swelling is usually painless. So if your glands are tender and swollen, chances are it's because of the mono infection. You should also know that leukemia, for the most part is not genetic-there are some forms of lymphoma and leukemia where a person has to have the Philidelphia Chromosone.

I would keep following up with your doctor. Share your concerns with them. There is no such thing as a wrong question when it comes to your health. Try not to stress out because that will make the mono worse and delay a recovery. Wishing you all the best. God Bless!
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