After the Easter break I was still very worried about the lump on my neck. On the Tuesday I booked an appointment with the doctor on Friday as I had to go early on the Wednesday on my VC class visiting marathon. First to Kerikeri in North Auckland where the class had done very little work at all, Then I flew via Auckland to Christchurch. By the time I arrived I was feeling very unwell, but with the help of some pain killers had a reasonable nights sleep. Next morning on a plane to Hokitika, then a car journey to Greymouth.By the time I got back to the airport I was so sleepy, but managed to nap all the way back to Gisborne.
So first thing on Friday I had the doctors appointment and he sent me up to A and E. Of course things move very slowly there, and I was sent home just before lunch to pack a bag and return at 2 for the ultrasound which they expected would confirm the diagnosis of a blocked salivary gland which they would then drain and put me on intravenous antibiotics and keep me in overnight.
Once in the ultrasound there was much cooing - "oooh that's interesting, I'm just going to get the radiologist to look at this" He said "oooh that's interesting, I just going to send these images up to the Ear Nose and Throat Specialist"
The upshot was that it was not one enlarged gland but a whole "bunch of grapes" of lymph nodes that were enlarged. Subsequent Google searches say there are 300 lymph nodes in your neck, and I reackon I am close to having 150 of them inflammed.
It is very hard to turn my neck, or lift my head off the pillow. Since it is viral I was sent home to rest but with anti-inflammatories and painkillers until the swelling subsides. The ENT specialist will then have a look to see if there is anything nasty being masked by the swelling.
Will try and do my classes that have internal exams this week, but my head is very fuzzy, so will just take it one lesson at a time.
