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Unsure of Cause

I am a 21 year old male, I smoke about 40 a week and drink between 15-25 units in one go about 6 times a month (for the past 3 years). I do not drink at any time other than on a night out. So effectively I drink about 120 units per month.

I have lumps in my armpit which go across to around my nipples. I also have lumps behind my lower leg and on the side of my thigh which are occasionally slightly painful.

After a heavy night out, I feel dizzy and almost as if I am going to collapse, and often if I have drunk too much the night is a black out, as in I have no memory of what has happened to me. This has only started happening in the last 4 months. These symptoms arent just after a night out, but are worst at this time. I am also finding I find it increasingly difficult to concentrate and I often get my words muddled up.

Since my last sexual health test in March 2010, I have had one risky exposure where a condom broke (in may 2010). I have been to my GP who said that the lumps in my chest were due to me putting on weight. However I was sceptical as in the previous year I had only put on 8 pounds and now weigh jst over 11 stone.

Basically my concern is are my symptoms alcohol, smoking, sexual or related to something else?

Quite worried so any advice or feedback would be very greatly received!
4 Responses
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351246 tn?1379682132
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi
Welcome to the MedHelp forum!
A lump in armpit can be a swollen lymphnode, in response to fungal infection or sweat dermatitis or infection of hair follicles. It can also be an enlarged lymphnode due to malignancy of breast (rare in males but not impossible). At times it is a cyst too and this can get infected. Lipoma is also a possibility. Consult your PCP for an evaluation. A CT scan can be confirmatory or a fine needle biopsy. Treatment can vary from wait and watch to anti-inflammatory along with antibiotics to excision of the lump. Check for diabetes too as high sugar often results in repeated infection and boils.
Other than that since you smoke and drink, it can be a peripheral artery disease too. The lumps behind your calf can be due to peripheral artery disease or due to deep vein thrombosis. Do discuss this with your doctor and get yourself examined.
Hope this helps. Take care!
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Avatar universal
Thanks very much for this, I will go and get checked out again. Takes a week or two to get an appointment so thought I would come here for some advice first!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
When you drink heavily, you put a lot of stress on your lymph nodes, which can make them easily felt I've found out since the doctors have found enlarged lymph nodes in me as well. It seems you drink pretty heavily, and the extra stress on your body can cause many problems. It seems to me (although I'm no doctor) the best thing to do would be to abstain from drinking for a few weeks and see if the lumps go away or at least get smaller. It also would be interesting to see if your mind becomes sharper as well. Prolonged use of excessive alcohol can take a toll on your body, and the way you react to it may change over time, so you may just be experiencing a little burnout. Give your body some R&R and see if you start to feel better! If not, definitely go see a doctor, enlarged lymph nodes could be lymphoma, which needs to be caught early.
Helpful - 0
1477040 tn?1288637885
Definately after a heavy night of drinking I am sure that would cause the dizziness due to lack of water and dehydration. I would definately see if your primary care physician could order some labwork to possibly determine an auto immune disorder or vitamin defficiency.  Also it might give you some insight on the lumps you are finding behind your legs and in your armpits ect. which could possibly be swollen lymph nodes which would be all ther more reason to get things checked out. Hope this helps you
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