penicillin and lymph node swelling

[evagisele]

I read that penicillin can case lymph nodes to swell. I'm on my third round of penicillin (just finished it) since late October for a few tooth abscesses. I'm freaking out because I have swelling in my neck (dentist said from tooth) and, after prodding around this morning, I noticed there's some swelling around my groin. The neck swelling isn't tender anymore (happened a week ago) but the groin is a little tender. I'm wondering, too, if I could have pulled something in my upper leg region from all the walking I did the last two days. I also felt like I was getting a cold yesterday. Anybody else have problems with penicillin??? I have an appt. with my GP next week. Thanks everyone!

[kconnors]

Hello,

First, check this out with your medical doctor . . . some people are allergic to penicillin but only your doctor can tell you for sure . . . re: swelling your neck and lymph nodes . . . I guess I don't find this unusual . . .when I had an abscessed tooth the same thing happened . . .my dentist explained that the infection kicked in a reaction from the lymph node to fight the infection . . . in addition, I also developed a sore throat because of the drainage of the infection . . . .as for your groin . . .well, yeah, I guess if you were doing a lot of walking, you could have stretched a muscle . . . in any case, I would not freak out since the swelling in the neck isn't tender (by the way, I have discovered if I poke an area of my body enough, I can usually get it to become tender so stop poking :) and check both of these out with your GP . . .by the way, I would also alert your doctor to the fact that you are taking penicillin and ask if you might have an allergy . . . but if you have had a third round of penicillin without reactions, then you aren't allergic to penicillin. . . .

Check in with us and let us know how all turned out for you . . . I have had tooth abscesses and they are quite painful, but the good news is that dentists can make them go away ..  ..take care, kc

[evagisele]

Thanks, kc! I know people who've taken antibotics who've had small side effects, like diarrhea or headaches, nothing too crazy. I've also heard that some people have delayed reactions to certain drugs. I noticed that after I finished the second round, I had a little bout of diarrhea for a day or two. I'm wondering if some of the swelling might be related to  the penicillin. These things wouldn't bother most people, but it someone with health anxiety....wow :)

If anyone else has anything to say about anxiety and antibotics, I'd love to hear.

[kconnors]

Hiya,

The diarrhea during or after antibiotics is not unusual. Antibiotics tend to kill all bacteria including the good stuff in the gut. . . .for that reason, my doctor, when I have to take antibiotics, reminds me to eat probiotic yogurt to help maintain / re-establish the good bacteria in the gastro intestinal tract . . . my understanding is that if you have an allergic reaction to penicillin, it is pretty immediate . . . now, again, I am not a professional, but I do think the lymph issue is more your body fighting off the infection than anything else but, check it out with your doctor . . .even if the symptom has gone away, ask your doctor so you will know for the next time and rather than letting anxiety peak in you, you will have a confirmed answer from a medical practitioner . . .

I can't say that I have an anxiety with antibiotics but I certainly try to avoid antibiotics when I can more for medical reasons. Your body can build up a tolerance to antibiotics if one takes them when they are not necessary. Antibiotics work only on bacterial based infections and not on viruses. My doctor will not prescribe antibiotics unless he is sure that it is a bacterial infection; otherwise, viruses just run their course.

In any case, evagisele, make your list of concerns to ask your doctor including your health anxiety and let us know how everything works out . . . I share your anxiousness with going to the doctor because I so dislike going to the doctor or the dentist and I have a nice doctor and a nice dentist but it is just the situation . . . keep in touch, take care, kc

[evagisele]

Thanks again kc for the reassurance. I went back to work today and that helped calm my anxiety. Too much time on my hands is horrible for anxiety! I'm really working on eating right and exercising to get my nerves under control.