Resolved question:
Hello. About 2 months ago, after a cross country business move, I began feeling very ill. I was very fatigued and was unable to eat for a good 2 weeks. After several weeks of ER visits and cameras down my throat, I was found to be positive for mono through a mono spot test at a local urgent care. A few days later, a more conclusive test was done at my temp doctor's office showing that I had a past EBV infection and NOT a current one. It has now been two months. I currently have drenching night sweats, itching all over my body and trouble sleeping for about a month now. To make things worse, two weeks ago I began feeling pain in my right armpit, Upon lifting my arm, I could see that one armpit is more swollen then the other. Since I'm now moving back home, I will not see my normal doctor until the 27th. Is this something I should be worried about in terms of it being a more serious illness such as lymphoma? Also, I have not lost any weight however, I have had a small dry cough for the full 2 months. I also had a chest and abdomen CT done at the ER which came back clear and several check x-rays throughout the first month which also came back clear.
Submitted:
4 Days
Category:
Oncologist
Hello,
Thank you for your query at DoctorSpring.com
Do you feel some kind of enlarged nodes in your armpit ??? It would be better to seek immediate medical attention in your case.
Generally EBV infection can cause lymphoma but after a long latent period. Usual infections are self limiting. They are tackled by body's immunity cells.
The initial symptom of lymphoma is node enlargement which may or may not be associated with fever, drenching night sweats and significant weight loss. But all these symptoms need not be present all the time.
I would suggest you to do a complete blood test with renal and liver parameters study. An imaging may help in the current situation. If feasible , I would suggest for a nodal biopsy and get it reported. If needed, you can request the pathologist to give you the complete specimen with the stained slides for a second opinion when you travel home. This may fasten the process of diagnosis at your home country.
I would strongly advise against using a steroid until you get the biopsy.
I hope this addresses your concern . please revert back in case of any queries. Can you attach the latest CT scan reports for perusal.
Feel free to discuss further,
Kind regards.