A nice little lump popped up just behind my right ear about 2 months ago. The lump turned out to be an enlarged lymph node. I kinda forgot about it until a nurse pointed it out the other night while I was radiographing her dog's leg (HBC - fractured tibia). I mentioned it to the boy, who got mad I hadn't had it checked out yet.

Fast forward to Wednesday when I go visit my PCP. He examines it and suggests removing it, the next day (thursday). I also have a few other swollen lymph nodes in my neck he wants to maybe remove at the same time. *Gulp* I have blood drawn for routine blood work + mono test + rickettsial panel (like Lyme Dz, etc due to my occupation).

When I show up on Thursday, he does a local anesthsia (lidocaine) block to numb the right side of my neck from my collar bone to my scalp, including my ear and leaves while it becomes numb. His nurse comes in to set up and scrub for the lymph nodes excision. He comes back with news - no LN excision today.

Evidently the extreme exhaustion I've been feeling for the past few weeks has absolutely nothing to do with the 60 hours + I work each week.

Diagnosis: Infectious Mononucleosis

I have freaking mono.. At least I now know its not Lymphoma (crossed my mind a few times), and have a reason for being so tired all the time, besides not being able to handle my work load/job.