Anyone know what this is???

I feel like my tongue is completely swollen, swallowing is a total nightmare, I’ve got this rash spreading across my chest, I can barely even open my mouth, my jaw is aching, and I’m just feeling incredibly weak and exhausted... I went to see a doctor who put me on some Augmentin, but honestly, it hasn't done a damn thing for me. They initially suspected an allergy, but then the lab work at the local clinic came back totally normal... Now, even talking is a struggle because everything feels so inflamed and puffy. I did deal with pneumonia about two years ago, and now the doctors are just scratching their heads, so I'm heading in for a throat swab and a neurology appointment next. If there are any actual doctors out there who might have a clue what this could be, please, let me know... thanks

Mono?

Laura Jackson56 said:mono?

But wouldn't that show up on some basic lab work, you know? I don't know, I've still got a few more tests lined up so we'll see what the doctors actually find, though I'm really hoping it isn't something scary like cancer... Besides, I don't even have a fever, just those specific symptoms I mentioned earlier... and the occasional muscle spasms..

You don't just spot mono through basic blood work; they usually run liver function tests too, and sometimes they’ll even send you in for throat swabs, though I’m guessing they didn't bother doing that with you.

Michelle Price66 said:Mononucleosis doesn't just show up in basic blood work; they usually run liver function tests too, and sometimes they'll even send you in for throat swabs, though I'm guessing they skipped that part with you.

Nah, now I actually have to go deal with all that... I've still got a few more tests to get through, and they told me I need to get my thyroid checked out as well, which sounds just lovely.

If you want to actually get a handle on your thyroid, you really need to go in for an ultrasound and get your fT3 and fT4 levels checked. Seriously, don't just settle for a TSH test. TSH is just a pituitary hormone that tells your thyroid what to do, and honestly, doctors here in the States love to play it safe by just checking that one number and calling it a day. It’s so dismissive. A TSH test basically only tells you if your pituitary gland is doing its job; it doesn't give you the full picture of what's actually happening with your thyroid unless you get those other specific markers checked. My advice? Go ahead and ask for a referral for both the ultrasound and a deep-dive blood panel. If you're tired of waiting around—because let's be real, the wait times at most public hospitals or even large clinics can be absolutely brutal—just pay out of pocket at a private lab to get it done quickly.

Good luck! 🙂

P.S. Regardless of whether you actually have mono or not, I’d highly recommend starting some B vitamins. You can find affordable options like Centrum at any drugstore, and they honestly make a world of difference. I started taking them when I was dealing with mono and constant mouth inflammation, and even after I recovered, I kept going. The inflammation cleared right up, my fatigue leveled out significantly, and I even noticed my appetite coming back to normal!

😉

Michelle Price66 said:If you’re actually looking into your thyroid, don't just let some doctor tell you that checking your TSH is enough—because honestly, they'll just give you that breezy, "you're fine" shrug while only testing the pituitary hormone that regulates everything else, which tells you absolutely nothing about what's actually happening with the gland itself. You really need to push for an ultrasound and get your fT3 and fT4 levels checked too, though if you don't want to wait forever in some endless hospital queue just to get a basic reading, you might have to shell out for a private clinic to get things moving.

Good luck! 🙂

P.S. Regardless of whether you've actually got mono or not, I’d swear by taking some B vitamins; grab some affordable ones at CVS, because they genuinely helped me when I was dealing with mono and those constant mouth sores, and even after I recovered, I kept taking them, and honestly, the inflammation vanished, my fatigue leveled out, and I actually started having an appetite again!

😉

Thanks everyone, I'll give it a shot and see...

Mononucleosis is confirmed through blood work showing significantly elevated monocyte and leukocyte counts. A Monospot test will typically return positive, and you'll likely see severe swelling in the lymph nodes of the neck. Fever is common and can persist for up to two weeks, often accompanied by an enlarged liver and spleen. Because this virus attacks the immune system and can lead to anemia, strict rest and heavy vitamin supplementation are highly recommended.