swollen lymph, sore throat & more

[opus88]

Hi, Gang!

I'm sitting here today with a somewhat sore throat - not the usual rawness, but more like a swelling or thickness coupled with dryness. Also, the lymph nodes in my neck are swollen, I have a headache (3rd time in 5 or 6 days), my eyes are slightly burning, my sinuses are painful, and when I get up to walk, my muscles feel like I worked out yesterday (even though I didn't yesterday or any other day in the past 3 years!).

On top of all that, I have bruises on my arm; the only thing I can figure out on that one is that I have been leaning my arm on a desk to do a lot of proofreading lately, even though I've never gotten bruised from doing it before. (OK, I'm sure that's not related to the other stuff, but since I'm already whining . . . )

I would suspect a flu-like something-or-other, but I have no fever or that overall malaise that typically comes with the flu.

I believe all of this can potentially be linked to CFS, but after almost 2 weeks of worsening fatigue, I've rebounded the past couple of days to a somewhat healthier energy level. It seems that all of this other junk I'm experiencing today would have hit with the fatigue instead of popping up after it improved.

Just wondering if anybody had any ideas . . .

[Merrill]

Sounds like you're fighting an honest-to-goodness bug of some kind (virus) ... If I had those symptoms, I'd probably start popping ibuprofen (2 every 4-6 hours, staying on it until I felt better) and trying to get some extra rest. Not much you can do at this point other than WAIT and try to alleviate the worst symptoms with OTC meds ... lozenges, claritin, aspirin/ibuprofen, and lots of gatorade & chicken soup (preferably with matzoh balls! ) Hope you feel better soon!

merrill

[ethansmom]

Opus-

You are describing to a perfect "T" the symptoms that have become most prominent with my illness, especially now that I am pregnant and not taking my meds. I go through cycles of this where I have all the same symptoms you describe, but no fever or anything and I am not sick. It usually lasts a few days and then passes, and will happene again anywhere from a few days toa a few weeks later. But it's definitely an immune system response to something, I just have yet to figure out what. I am being evaluated by an autoimmune specialist next week and I can't wait to see what he has to say. I am thinking it is CFIDS.

This past week, since I found out I was pregnant, I haven't been able to take Motrin or Pro-Amatine which usually get me through these times rather painlessly. I have been truly sick and it's awful. My muscles feel like they are all pulled at once,and yet I haven't done anything that would cause that. I ache down to the core, and I'm exhausted. And my throat is scratchy too..same stuff!

I hope yours is just a passing virus...but if it occurs on a cyclic basis, I would definitely recommend having it checked out.

[MomtoGiuliana]

Achiness and muscle pains, feeling hot or cold, flushing, and of course fatigue are also POTS symtoms.

Obviously a sore throat and swollen glands are not. If it doesn't go away after a few days or keeps returning, probably needs a doctor's attention!

Take care you guys! Hope you are both feeling much better very soon.

Katherine

[friday]

Do you have any allergies? I don't know about the muscle pain but the rest sounds just like me the past few weeks. Especially the part about the throat not really being sore so much as the glands being swollen or even painful. I have an allergy to mold. The doc says it's probably worse lately because of the dampness causing mold in the fall leaves . I don't know where you live but I thought maybe this was a possibility.

Friday

[JLB]

The glands and sore throat - all those symptoms, really - can be because of the impact of hormones on the immune system. I can't count how many times I've had a cyclical "flu" thing going on, with those exact symptoms. Back years ago, when I was still trying to figure out what was wrong with me, I read (in a lupus reference book, I think) that one of the first questions a competent MD will ask on the topic of autoimmunity is whether or not a female patient gets 'the flu" once a month.

It's odd, how you can feel like you've got a terrible virus, and then it just goes away...

[ramakentesh]

Ive had swollen lymph nodes in my throat that ache since the beginning of my pots - thats when my eyes dried out, filled with vitreous flaoters, i got palps, felt sooo weak, constany tachycardia on staind, dizzy and out of it, tremors, etc.

it improved with time.

[Gena]

Hi there. Sorry you're feeling lousy. I go through similar symptoms probably once a month. I know you're probably already eating the right things (since you're into metabolic typing diet), however, you may want to try taking some extra vitamins like A, C, E and colloidal silver works wonders in helping the body fight off viruses.

It's especially helpful to take this frequently this time of year when the colds and flu are going around. Hope you feel better soon.

[opus88]

Big thanks to all of you! I'm feeling about the same today - got worse for a while yesterday evening, but rallied a bit later. The throat is probably the most bothersome, since it affects my desire to talk or eat.

Many things mentioned here are good possibilities. It has been a number of years since I've actually had a cold or the flu - my immunity seems to be quite strong against those things. Without a fever, it makes me believe it's something other than that. But it would certainly be possible to have some kind of virus. (Gosh, I hope not!)

I've been off of all supplements since late July, so I'm sure my body is asking for a boost again, maybe the Vitamin C in particular.

Probably all buildings in my area (and maybe the outdoor debris piles, too) are hiding mold somewhere since the hurricane, so that would make a strong case for an allergy possibility. Has anybody ever worked with NAET? I had looked into it a couple of years ago, but I just spoke with someone who got incredible benefit from it. If only money and time were on my side right now . . .

Hormones could be a culprit - although I don't have the "cycle flu" each month, it could be that the stress of late is creating some extra imbalances there.

I have some colloidal silver spray somewhere (had forgotten about it) so I'll try to find which box it might have been packed into - does that work after the fact, or only as a preventative? It's been a long time since I learned about that.

You have all brought up many good possibilities to consider - I soooo appreciate your input! So here is one more really bizarre occurrence to toss out to you. I've never talked about it with anyone because it seems so silly, but my belly button is seeping! I have this cute little "innie" that folds in on itself (not like a scooped out hole), but the skin inside is red, irritated and weepy, and even a tiny bit crusty. I tried to gently wipe it out today and the tissue came back tinged with pink. It is a bit tender to the touch, too. I don't believe this is related to the throat and other problems mentioned in this post (I've had this belly button thing 3 or 4 times in the past), but it did all happen since this weekend. I'm thinking that probably a couple of days with an antibiotic ointment will take care of it. I'm just curious as to whether anyone has experienced something like this.

[Merrill]

I've never had that! But putting antibiotic ointment on it sounds like the right thing to do... and I'd even say to call your doctor if it doesn't stop in 2-3 days! Why do these goofy things happen all at once?

Hope you feel better soon! (When I have a virus, I always feel much worse early in the day and better in the evenings. Don't know what that's about either!)

take care,

m

[blackwolf]

Dear Opus88,

One quick question, Does your bell button smell?

If it does you might just have a yeast infection. I get them once in a while, though usually under my breasts or the folds of skin along my belly/upper groin area. I would suggest either a cream or powder that contains 2% Miconazole Nitrate antifungal, like Desenex or Micotin (generics are great to). I use a powder on a regular basis and rarely have trouble.

For best results, wash and apply 2-3 times a day the first couple of days.

Blackwolf

PS sorry I missed this one.

[Guest tearose]

oh opus88, you sound awful! That smelly belly button is when I really lost my composure! You poor dear. I just wish for you: a relaxing warm lavender bath, a coating of soothing antibiotic, fresh air and some chicken soup! Please take care, get better soon, tearose

[opus88]

Thanks, gang. What a stupid problem to be having! And yes, unfortunately, it does smell. Leave it to me to have something weird going on. At least the throat, etc., stuff seems to be better, although it's far from gone.

Blackwolf,

I hadn't thought about the yeast infection angle, but now that you mention it, it does make sense. I used a generic triple antibiotic salve and it seems to be better, but I think I might have some athlete's foot stuff - maybe that would have that other ingredient in it. (Does that mean I have athlete's navel? Where has it been that I haven't - I'm sure not very athletic anymore! ) Thanks for the suggestion!

[Nicole's Mom]

I'm glad your throat is getting better. Perhaps you may have indeed been exposed to mold with all that "de-construction" and open walls, etc. It makes sense. Mold related issues can include sore throats and swollen glands, etc. from all that I've read. Mold can make people have all kinds of symptoms.

Maybe you should be on that Vit. C at the very least as it sounds like your resistance was down a bit - to have had those symptoms and the belly-button thing. By the way- about the belly button thing- nothing is ever weird in our neck of the woods unfortunately with all the bizarre thing Nicole has experienced.

By the way Nicole always has swollen glands everywhere and occasionally she has a sore throat.

Hope you continue to improve.

Best Wishes,

Beverly

[opus88]

Beverly,

I typically do have swollen glands. Even as a child, every doctor visit prompted the comment about my swollen glands - you'd think that after a while this would have prompted some attention! As I got older and realized I was severly allergic to smoke, I blamed it on growing up with a smoker. But I have learned that swollen glands and a sore throat are also very typical of dysautonomia and chronic fatigue. Gee, how fun! Normally I don't think about it too much, but this time is more severe than usual. Not only can I touch my neck and easily find obvious swelling, but I am aware of a thickening of the inside of my throat without even trying to notice it. It seems to be worsening again this afternoon.

If we go to our house this weekend, I'll search for my Vitamin C crystals. Maybe that will help a bit.

Were you able to get the Metabolic Typing book? How is Nicole doing?

[Nicole's Mom]

Hi opus88,

About chronic swollen glands- and growing up with a smoker- and then learning how allergic you are to smoke and now dealing with possible mold and suddenly your glands are more pronounced I wonder if you have ever had your IgE levels checked. It's the allergy/ histamine barometer which maybe has already been discussed in this forum before I came along.

Nicole's IgE levels are always really high which finally a doctor wants to look into as soon as she is well enough to get all these tubes of blood drawn that he has ordered. Histamine, I learned causes dilation of the blood vessels- and I wonder if this sometimes plays a part in Nicole's dysautonomia. Yet I also read that the IgE levels can be high without histamine circulating if the body is in disarray (like it would be with dysautonomia) and therefore everything is thrown off.

By the way- about mold- an allergist years ago told me to stay away from moldy things and one of them was cigarette smoke because the tobacco burning puts out mold like the way burning leaves or burning old wood can. Incidentally my father smoked lots (unfiltered Camels) and I kept on getting and getting bronchitis (which I later learned can be caused by second hand smoke) and when my father stopped smoking the bouts of bronchitis came to an immediate halt. I know this might not answer the question as to why you had chronic swollen glands as a child but I thought I'd just mention it.

Anyways - its just some food for thought-about allergies- and swollen glands -although the dysautonomia flare ups could indeed be primary culprit. It's always a guessing game isn't it- the appearance of symptoms and then the way they wax and wane? This is what I have learned over the years from things that happen to Nicole.

Nicole also uses the Vit. C crystals (like powder- mix with water?) when certain circumstances call for it. But she does take C in a multi daily.

Thank you so much for asking about Nicole - she is coming along in smidges. Yesterday she said she was able to sit up a bit in the afternoon for the first time, albeit just for a couple of minutes. At night she can sit up a bit more but she cannot sit up - to get to her computer. Also she said that she feels like she is accumulating a bit more fluid by mid-day instead having to wait for night-time. She has a long ways to go and still experiences little mini-set backs especially from overestimating what she can do ( which are tiny things) and she is particularly learning that she should not bend over or bend down as that will set her back - she is really fragile still. I told her that is on the list of things to avoid.

I ordered the book at the store and upon browsing through the index I could not find the words "cell salts". So I contacted my nephew who is just beginning a practice as a naturopath and he is looking into them. In the meanwhile he recommended something called natrum arsenicosum- a table salt which I need to look into and order from somewhere if we decide to use it- Whole Foods doesn't carry that either. My nephew said he'd ask a couple of his colleages about your cell salts.

Take good care. I hope your throat symptoms begin to improve soon.

Beverly

[opus88]

Beverly,

Many thanks for the info and insights!

Back when I was doing heavier research (and my memory & ability to learn was better than it is now), I remember finding something about a specific allergy test called something like IgG4 (?). It was supposed to be a better, quicker and more exact allergy testing via a blood draw instead of doing the numerous skin tests. I had really wanted to pursue it at the time, but ended up going in a different direction. I wonder if this IgE level is measured in that IgG test, which could then possibly indicate why the level is high.

I didn't realize trouble with both smoke and mold could be closely related. This NAET therapy is starting to sound more appealing, and there is a practitioner about 45 minutes from me. I don't know her fees, but I need to at least contact her for more info. I spoke with someone last week who went to this person for only a few treatments, and she said the results were incredible for her fatigue and brain fog.

I did find my Vitamin C crystals and started taking them yesterday. I have 4 unexplained bruises which could be nothing, but bruising can be a sign of a need for Vitamin C, as can fatigue (Vit. C feeds the adrenals). So I'm hoping . . .

Glad Nicole had a little improvement. I know how frustrating it can be when just walking to the couch will create a multi-day setback. I hope she didn't wear herself out! Maybe this will be the beginning of an upswing now. Let's hope!

Good luck on the cell salts. Sounds like your nephew could become a very important contact for you and Nicole! Keep me posted . . .