Hey all,

I'm minorly freaking myself out here. Through all my UC and related crap, one thing I've never really been is a hypochondriac--I don't have time to be one. I've had legit illnesses all along. *LOL* Anyway, you may have seen some of my other posts. I had norovirus 3 weeks ago, and since then I've been having some mild and transient pouchitis symptoms. I already know I have subclinical pouchitis but I haven't had a full-blown case in almost a year and I take no meds other than probiotics. Anyway, I noticed a few days ago that I have a few lymph nodes in the groin area that seem to be enlarged and that is freaking me out to some degree. They are not really painful, but I can definitely feel them, on both sides. I have no idea how long they've been like this, but having the norovirus and now possibly mild pouchitis makes me wonder if it isn't somehow connected. I don't have enlarged nodes anywhere else that I can tell. I am seeing my doctor on Thursday anyway so I will absolutely mention this while I'm there, but I am wondering--has anyone ever experienced enlarged lymph nodes with pouchitis? Honestly, I'm getting tired of having things wrong with me. Enough is enough. *LOL*

Thanks!
Sarah

You can get enlarged lymph nodes with pouchitis, but norovirus can cause them too. Basically, it is them doing their job of filtering out bacteria and viruses. There are lots of lymph nodes in your body that are not near the skin surface and they can be enlarged without your knowledge.

Jan

Hi Sara,
Are you maybe getting something systemic???Your whole body is maybe worn down and not fighting things the way that it should...
You can try some natural things to help you to fight back...what we call oligoelements...trace minerals..first up is copper/gold/silver..usually in a liquid form...you need to take it daily or twice daily to help your immune system to fight back and give you the upper hand...Don't know in what form you can get it in the U.S.
There is also grapefruit seed oil very easily found in healthfood stores or natural places like that...you need to be on it long term to kick up your immune system...
There are a few other things that you can do but have you had your white count checked lately? Is something else maybe festering elsewhere and you lymps and pouch are masking it?? How is your energy level?
Let me know
Sharon

Thanks for the replies! I am a little rundown, but I attribute that mostly to work and having the virus a few weeks ago. But since I'm going to the doctor anyway I will ask her to check my blood counts. I have low iron which I get checked a couple of times a year anyway and I'm almost due for that, so we may as well check everything while we're at it.

Jan, how long does it take for lymph nodes to go down after an illness? The norovirus was over 3 weeks ago now--should that be enough time for them to shrink back to normal size or will it take longer? Thanks!

I would think that three weeks would be adequate for the nodes to shrink to normal size, but if you also developed pouchitis, I suppose that could delay it. It may even need a few more weeks. I just am not sure about it. Anyway, good idea to get a CBC to make sure you don't have a chronic infection going on.

Sometimes getting a swift moving virus only sets you up to get something else while your resistance is low. If you are like me, by the time you go see the doctor, the swelling will go down, making you feel a bit silly. But, sometimes it is just better to get evaluated rather than waiting to see if it is going to get worse.

Jan

Thanks! I agree. Sometimes I do feel a bit silly going to the doctor, but it's always better to know then wait something out and than to find out you've waited too long, especially when you've been through as much as we have. I'm nearly due for bloodwork anyway so it won't be a complete waste of time, even if the swelling does go down by then, which hopefully it will.

Have a great day!

Update: My doctor thought everything seemed fine and the nodes felt benign to her. She also mentioned that after an illness or infection, it can take up to 6 weeks for the lymph nodes to go back down to normal size. Obviously, if they get larger or if the swelling does not go down, then further tests may be warranted, but for the time being, there is no real concern.

Definitely something to file under "good to know for future reference."

I had lumps in my groin and assumed that I had lymphoma, I had worked out my chemotherapy regimen, chosen my wig, bought some ginger biscuits in anticipation of the sickness.
When my appointment came to see my surgeon I sat weeping and dribbling like a lunatic explaining the situation to him and he calmly said that it was quite common with pouch patient especially as I had recently had some silicone injections in my rear.
I went straight home burnt the wig.
Good luck

Torie, that's priceless! Thanks for the chuckle.

Torie, thanks for sharing! It's good to know that enlarged groin lymph nodes are not uncommon with the pouch. I will definitely keep that in mind before I freak out again. *LOL*