Nasal tissue swelling, sinus inflammation, swollen inflamed lymph node.

[cardigon]

15 months ago I developed a swollen lymph node on the left side of my neck. My throat also has a "full" feeling on the left side and it feels like something is in there when I swallow. My lymph node became inflamed, the inflamation spread to my left ear, left nostril, above/below/behind my left eye. I have headaches on the left side and what feels like a finger tip pressing down hard on certain spots on top of my scalp, at the same time the pain feels connected as it radiates from my nasal to my node to my head to my ear, etc. When looking up my left nostril in the mirror, I can see bulbuss swollen tissue on the inside of the inner wall of the nostril. It is also red and inflamed. The right side is fine. I can also note swelling in the gland just below my left ear. The pain radiates down just below my left nostril into a tiny section of gum above one tooth. Saw an ENT, he used a camera to go down my throat,noted inflamation in the nostril but no growth or any such thing in my throat. He ordered a CT scan from the chin up and it came out negative for blockage, etc. (I've had plenty of sinus infections,and this is nothing like a sinus infection.) Saw allergist, he ordered a CT scan below the chin and that came up as the lymph node being within normal size (even though I can feel it and so could the doctors.) Allergy tests came back negative. Dentist gave full mouth X-Ray and nothing abnormal. I do not have a soar throat or mucas discharge of any kind. To this day the node has not increased in size but the symptoms have never subsided either. M/27/married non smoker non drugs

[peech75]

A related discussion, response was started.

[phulgin28]

Someone posted this post in 2005 If I was to ask question about the problem I have which I do I would write the same was this person wrote same story same symptoms been at doctors 3 times none of them helped now read the post plz let me know if your problem was resolved and how thx in advance here is the post...

by cardigon, Nov 14, 2005 12:00AM  15 months ago I developed a swollen lymph node on the left side of my neck. My throat also has a "full" feeling on the left side and it feels like something is in there when I swallow. My lymph node became inflamed, the inflamation spread to my left ear, left nostril, above/below/behind my left eye. I have headaches on the left side and what feels like a finger tip pressing down hard on certain spots on top of my scalp, at the same time the pain feels connected as it radiates from my nasal to my node to my head to my ear, etc. When looking up my left nostril in the mirror, I can see bulbuss swollen tissue on the inside of the inner wall of the nostril. It is also red and inflamed. The right side is fine. I can also note swelling in the gland just below my left ear. The pain radiates down just below my left nostril into a tiny section of gum above one tooth. Saw an ENT, he used a camera to go down my throat,noted inflamation in the nostril but no growth or any such thing in my throat. He ordered a CT scan from the chin up and it came out negative for blockage, etc. (I've had plenty of sinus infections,and this is nothing like a sinus infection.) Saw allergist, he ordered a CT scan below the chin and that came up as the lymph node being within normal size (even though I can feel it and so could the doctors.) Allergy tests came back negative. Dentist gave full mouth X-Ray and nothing abnormal. I do not have a soar throat or mucas discharge of any kind. To this day the node has not increased in size but the symptoms have never subsided either. M/27/married non smoker non drugs      

[tstorrie]

I just started out with the exact symptoms you described, it's beed about 3 weeks now prednisone has relieved alot of the symptoms, but you can't stay on the medication.....still waiting too see the outcome

[scvm]

Since my last comment, I've had some serious problems.  Last Friday at work, I felt like the sides of my face by my cheekbones were being squeezed.  The pressure in my eyes started to feel like someone was hanging me upside down.  Then I felt feverished and flushed, but had no temperature.  The facial pain was absolutely exruciating.  I had no other nasal symptoms except some post nasal drip.  NO stuffy nose.  NO sore throat.  I did start having neck pain which I still have today.  I work at a doctor's office so I went by her, and my blood pressure was 172/108.  It stayed that high for the next hour.  I was given a shot to make me pee and bring the pressure down.   A couple hours later, the pressure came down to 140/100.  I was sent to a neurologist later. His exam didn't tell him much.  I had a brain mri and mra yesterday.  The results will be back tomorrow.  I had no success with a steroid shot they gave me for pain or anything else I have tried, such as tylenol, aleve, etc.  I tried caffeine/no caffeine.  Nothing makes a difference.  I feel better today, but still pretty rotten.  I'm not too dizzy but I still  pain and pressure. It comes and goes, mild to moderate to stronger. It's very sporatic with no pattern to it.  Anyone else have any similar symptoms?  I have no blurred vision and I don't wear glasses or contacts.  I just get extreme eye pressure and it feels terrible.

[scvm]

Two years ago I came down with a tonsil/sinus infection.  Prior to that, I'd had some issues with post nasal drip and dizziness over the years.  Flonase worked wonders for that.  When I came down with this infection, the flonase did nothing for me.  I never 'overused' flonase, and in fact, I would take breaks from it, so it doesn't seem like I should've been resistant to it.  Since this infection, I have never been the same.  I've had dizziness, headaches, constant post nasal drip, tried several different nasal sprays and antihistamines with no relief.  I've seen general doctors, an ent for these problems.  Now I'm starting to get extreme facial pain, clogged ears, and wicked eye pressure.  Sometimes the symptoms are all together, sometimes just certain ones pop up.  I was told I probably have migraines.  I tried immitrex twice with some relief.  A third time made my throat feel swollen and I vomitted immediately.  I have times where I can't look down with my eyes or else I am dizzy and nauseated.  I have incredible pain sometimes in the left side of my face, including to of my eyeball.  I was told I may have trigeminal neuralgia. I've had two ct scans, a sinus x ray and an eye xray.  The first ct scan and sinus xray showed mild deviation of septum, a retention cyst in the right side, and minimal mucuosal thickening.  The second ct scan said my septum is midline and no evidence of the cyst.  I am ready to pull my hair out.  I am seeing an opthalmologist next week for the eyes.  However, I get periods (sometimes up to 3 weeks) where I feel almost normal, with the only symptom being some post nasal drip. Then it all starts up again.  When the symptoms start, I can't go in buildings with recirculated air or else my ears plug up, i get dizzy and nauseated and the post nasal drip increases.  I have been seeing an allergist who tested me and I had big allergies to mold, ragweed, tree grass, cats, dogs,
etc.  I am getting weekly allergy shots now for almost 3 months.  They might have something to do with some symtoms.  But, the massive facial pressure and pain and the eye pressure don't make sense according to my ct scans, which suggested 'no evidence of sinusitis'.  So, I have rhinitis and that's it?  There are days I can't work, and most of the time I drag myself out of bed, but cried half of the day because of pain and nausea.  My quality of life has gone downhill.  I am 36 yr old, female, non smoker, no pets.  I don't know what has happened to me.  Aleve used to work wonders for pain and now it doesn't.  Nothing works.  And, I can't take anything really strong that would make me drowsy.  I have to work.  I can't afford not to.  My nose doesn't get stuffy and I can breathe just fine.  Saline washes help sometimes, but the mucus (if i can get it out) in the post nasal drip and watery and clear, but it's always there, which drives me crazy.  So is it allergies causing this great pain, eye pressure, dizziness,etc?  I feel worse than I look so people think I'm crazy because I don't look 'sick' or sound sick because my nose doesn't get stuffy.  Anyone have any similar symptoms or advice?  I also don't have a cough.  I do get sinus infections about every 2 months.  I feel hopeless because I've tried everything and nothing works and between the good periods, the bad periods get worse and I keep getting new symptoms.  I don't know what has happened to me.  I also have hypertension, but it's under control with diovan 80 hct.

[cardigon]

Thank you for your time and comments Doctor. To be more clear, the CT report came back with a measurement of 6 mm I believe, and they said this isn't an abnormal size therefore no cause for alarm. As far as the size goes this may be the case, but to the touch it feels bigger. If it were bacterial, fungal, etc. wouldn't I be in much worse shape after 15 months? That's why the doctors insist on not proceeding with cultures.