Hi SunshineEm. Welcome to the forum.

I'm not a doctor and to the best of my knowledge no one else is here. 

Doctors have a massive tool box of tests backed up by years of training. The trouble is that there are few tests that can definitively say you've got such and such a disease. But rather the tests say that some level of a particular protein or hormone is higher or lower than normal, or there's a mass in this point in the body, or this nervous reaction isn't what we'd expect from a normal person. Indeed, any of these tests can return negative or normal results. Individually, one test result usually tells the doctor nothing; it's only when results from multiple tests are combined together that the doctor can hazard a diagnosis. 

So when faced with a patient whose diagnosis isn't obvious, the doctor reaches into the toolbag, and pulls out a whole set of tests. Which particular tests are dictated by guidelines and the doctor's own experience of which tests to run with the patient in front of her. And so you suddenly find yourself having multiple blood tests, and maybe imaging such as ultrasound, MRI or CT. Or maybe you're thrust on a scary two week urgent pathway.  

Now, often the first thought in your head is OMG, the doctor thinks I've got cancer! I'm going to be dead in a year's time!! If you then look up the tests on Google and find that they're used in cancer diagnostics then your anxiety level really ramps up a notch or two. That's only human, but the reality is that the doctor is simply running a series of obvious tests (obvious, if you're a doctor) and when the results come in, maybe there'll be enough information to figure what's wrong with you. Until then, you have an undiagnosed disease.

All the tests you've had so far seem reasonable for a patient presenting with your symptoms, but no one will know what it is until the results are in, but overwhelmingly the odds are that your body is fighting some infection. 

Please keep us updated with your results. Good luck. 

Thank you for your reply, I really appreciate it.

Its funny because what you said about googling the tests and seeing they're used in cancer diagnostics and then anxiety ramping up... its exactly what i've been doing this week (haha). Not to mention googling my supravicular lymph node being enlarged and seeing a multitude of studies suggesting it "always" suggests malignancy - its silly really why we do this to ourselves! Only our doctors can find out, not google.

I will keep you updated. Thank you.

I've done it myself, and ended up frightening myself silly. 

I suggest you put Google back in its box for now. We're always here if you want (or need) to talk again. 

Sorry I don't have any answers for you but I am going through the same thing.

I only have one hard swollen node above my collar bone that I have found anyway. I have been for an ultrasound and ct scan so hopefuly will get some kind of results tomorrow. 

I have also Googled and found nothing good so expecting the worst.

Hope you get some good news. 

All this worrying is awful 

Hi SunshineEm, 

i am going through a similar thing! I’m 20 and soon to be going into my final year of uni so I deffo don’t need this stress!! I have had a swollen, painless lymph node under my neck for 3 weeks now, without any illness. Yesterday the lower part of my neck near my collar bone is feeling swollen and fat, and hurts a bit. I’m still waiting for an appointment with the ENT. 

Did you ever find out what yours was?? 

Thank you xx

Hi Ells2098,

Sorry to hear this. I am still going through testing, so no unfortunately, but it looks like aggressive lymphomas are ruled out. My cough is still present, and I started to also get pain and actual swelling above my left collarbone within consuming a few sips of alcohol in april/may, so I convinced myself it was hodgkins. I was told by the drs in wales (I was at uni there) 'no evidence of lymphoma' at the end of June. I had swollen lymph nodes in my neck, above collarbone and under my armpit but with the use of ultrasound they didn't think they appeared suspicious. The largest one is 3cm x 1.4cm. 

The alcohol pain continued, and one in my neck appeared to grow, so I went for a 2nd opinion back here at home. I have had a pet scan, which showed some uptake in my right cervical and collarbone nodes, but no where else, so I am having a biopsy to rule out a low grade lymphoma (aggressive/hodgkins would have shown higher uptake or 'lit up' more on my scan). My uptake was scored at around 3.5, which could be a false positive caused by inflammation, which honestly is the most likely cause.

Anyone else here who may read this and have experience of brown fat, is it easy for the radiologist's to read through? I had uptake in axilla and mediastinum which was deemed consistant with brown fat, but it has been playing on my mind a little that it may have 'hidden' something.

My advice to you, ells2098, is DO NOT google. It drives you insane. Easier said than done, I know, but the chances it is not lymphoma is much greater than the chances it is. Google is a dangerous place. I was absolutely convinced I had hodgkins because of my alcohol reaction yet the lymph nodes on the side that hurts and swells (so much that a lump is visible) didn't even light up on my scan. It is my assumption that perhaps I have contracted a virus which is almost 'mimicking' lymphoma, as this can happen too. 3 weeks is not an awfully long time to have a swollen node, sometimes we contract viruses and infections which are not detectable because our immune system is working well and fighting them off. I understand you will be anxious, and you should absolutely push for the right tests, but don't make my mistake and convince yourself of something before there is clear evidence as all it will do is raise your stress levels - making you feel ill and possibly experience other symptoms. 

Hope it all goes well with ENT Xxxx

Also a quick thought, have you been tested for glandular fever? You probably have, but I had it just over 2 years ago and I didn't feel ill at all at first! It took quite a few weeks to come on but I looked 'puffy' with swollen glands and tonsils, didn't go to the dr because I didn't really think much of it until suddenly it almost erupted into action with my one tonsil ridiculously huge and I felt very ill then! 

Hi SunshineEm, 

Thank you so much for getting back to me so quick! I am so sorry to hear you haven't got a difinitive diagnosis yet, but thats positive that it is not an agressive lymphoma. I really hope that you don't have hodgkins or any form of lymphoma, and I hope they give you a simple and easily treatable answer! 

Thank you so much for your advice, I must admit I have been on google way to much and is has driven me mad, I have been soooo worried! Today it feels like someone is strangling the left side of my neck, and it feels like something is stuck in my throat, it is awful. I rang the doctors and it turns out they never sent off my referal to the ENT so that stressed me out even more so I have got to wait even longer. 

In regard to your glandular fever idea, that is something I hadn't thought of. I got tested for glandular fever last year after a horrendous case of tonsiltis but it came back negative, I may possibly have it now, as it is said to take 4-8 weeks for symptoms to show? I will mention that and get a blood test done (my worst nightmare lol). Just hoping it is nothing sinister. 

Thank you so so much for getting back to me. I wish you the best of luck with your biposy. If you can please keep me updated and I will too. xxxx