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swollen lymph nodes etc
I am 26 and noticed about a yr ago that i have 2 swollen lymph nodes close to each other in the upper left hand side of my neck. I went to the doctor a few months ago and she told me it was nothing to worry about as they are moveable and very small. More recently been experience pronounced neck pains and stiffness along with dizziness, throat and chest discomfort. This is giving me much concern. I should also add that i am very stressed and borderline hypertensive.
What should be my next step?
This discussion is related to Swollen Lymph Nodes in Neck.
What should be my next step?
This discussion is related to Swollen Lymph Nodes in Neck.
Oh, also I should mention I am a 41 yr old female, and Yes - a smoker. I know, bad bad bad.
Hello,
In July of this year, I noticed some lumps under my arms and in my breasts. I had been having some headaches for about 6 weeks prior to this, along with tiredness and nausea off and on. About a month later, with a severe headache, I noticed a lump in the back of my neck (right side) and originally thought it to a tense muscle and cause of my headache. About a week later, I noticed the lump was still there and that there was actually a smaller lump on the left side of the back of neck (both by the base of the skull). They both are deep inside and can only be felt when I lay my head to one side or the other. Then started noticing new nodes coming up in my front left side neck, and 2 in my anterior mid-line neck. All are non-mobile, hard, non-tender and increasing in size.
Went to GYN who ordered a mammo and ultrasound. Mammo showed nothing (said breast too fiberous) and ultrasound only showed 2 small cysts in the left breast. The radiologist said it was not necessary to ultrasound my underarms since that is all they found. *note - the ultrasound tech did not go over all the lumps in breast either, only 2 spots.* GYN then stated I needed to see a family Dr. for the rest of the nodes including the ones under my arms.
Went to a Family Dr. end of Sept. and she said don't think it is anything to worry about but ran some blood test. Went back in Oct. Blood tests showed low b12, enlarged red blood cells (103.3), along with elevated MCHC (too much hemoglobin), and slightly elevated WBC (11.5), neg. for mono. On this 2nd visit to her she declared that all the lumps were not lumps, but instead all my bones and put me on flexril everyday for 90 days for my headaches!!! Sooo, I find another Dr. She states that they ARE in deed nodes, but not sure about the 2 midline lumps. Ordered a thyroid ultrasound (completed and won't get results til I go back to her) and another mammo even though I just had one in Sept. She stated that this time they ARE gonna scan under my arms. She re-ordered it after she felt the nodes and actually held on to one with one hand and moved my arm around with the other hand - they are fixed to my underlying tissue. There are 4 total that we can feel under the Right arm and only one under the left arm. During my thyroid ultrasound - the tech asked me straight out if the Dr had mentioned anything to me that these could possibly be lymph nodes, but would not elaborate beyond that.
Along with all this, I have had some occasions of night sweats, to the point of my hair soaking wet and nightshirt somewhat damp. I awake most mornings with headaches and some nausea. Once in a while the nausea and headaches will re-occur during the day. I seem to be better in the evenings most of the time. I have extreme tiredness, shortness of breath has developed over last few months and getting worse as it goes, and pain in the right side of my back in the shoulder (scapula) region and skin itching on sides of face and neck at times.
I am really worried about all this, even Boyfriend noted that a few months back you kinda had to really feel for the lumps under my arms and now they are easliy felt because they have grown that much in a few months time. I was put on antibiotic also for possible bronchitis. It improved my cough while I was on it, now that it has ended my cough is back and the nodes are actually bigger. I go for the new mammo on the 21st. Then I can call to set up my next Dr. appointment.
Is there anything specific I should question the Dr about when I return? In my opinion, I believe she should be actually ordering a CT or MRI, maybe even both. Am I right about that? She also stated she did not want to send me to a specialist just yet because normally they want to biopsy this and biopsy that and "We don't want that just yet." Is this the right thinking? Because I don't think so. Not with all the signs and symptoms I am having.
Sorry for the long post, any help is appreciated!
In July of this year, I noticed some lumps under my arms and in my breasts. I had been having some headaches for about 6 weeks prior to this, along with tiredness and nausea off and on. About a month later, with a severe headache, I noticed a lump in the back of my neck (right side) and originally thought it to a tense muscle and cause of my headache. About a week later, I noticed the lump was still there and that there was actually a smaller lump on the left side of the back of neck (both by the base of the skull). They both are deep inside and can only be felt when I lay my head to one side or the other. Then started noticing new nodes coming up in my front left side neck, and 2 in my anterior mid-line neck. All are non-mobile, hard, non-tender and increasing in size.
Went to GYN who ordered a mammo and ultrasound. Mammo showed nothing (said breast too fiberous) and ultrasound only showed 2 small cysts in the left breast. The radiologist said it was not necessary to ultrasound my underarms since that is all they found. *note - the ultrasound tech did not go over all the lumps in breast either, only 2 spots.* GYN then stated I needed to see a family Dr. for the rest of the nodes including the ones under my arms.
Went to a Family Dr. end of Sept. and she said don't think it is anything to worry about but ran some blood test. Went back in Oct. Blood tests showed low b12, enlarged red blood cells (103.3), along with elevated MCHC (too much hemoglobin), and slightly elevated WBC (11.5), neg. for mono. On this 2nd visit to her she declared that all the lumps were not lumps, but instead all my bones and put me on flexril everyday for 90 days for my headaches!!! Sooo, I find another Dr. She states that they ARE in deed nodes, but not sure about the 2 midline lumps. Ordered a thyroid ultrasound (completed and won't get results til I go back to her) and another mammo even though I just had one in Sept. She stated that this time they ARE gonna scan under my arms. She re-ordered it after she felt the nodes and actually held on to one with one hand and moved my arm around with the other hand - they are fixed to my underlying tissue. There are 4 total that we can feel under the Right arm and only one under the left arm. During my thyroid ultrasound - the tech asked me straight out if the Dr had mentioned anything to me that these could possibly be lymph nodes, but would not elaborate beyond that.
Along with all this, I have had some occasions of night sweats, to the point of my hair soaking wet and nightshirt somewhat damp. I awake most mornings with headaches and some nausea. Once in a while the nausea and headaches will re-occur during the day. I seem to be better in the evenings most of the time. I have extreme tiredness, shortness of breath has developed over last few months and getting worse as it goes, and pain in the right side of my back in the shoulder (scapula) region and skin itching on sides of face and neck at times.
I am really worried about all this, even Boyfriend noted that a few months back you kinda had to really feel for the lumps under my arms and now they are easliy felt because they have grown that much in a few months time. I was put on antibiotic also for possible bronchitis. It improved my cough while I was on it, now that it has ended my cough is back and the nodes are actually bigger. I go for the new mammo on the 21st. Then I can call to set up my next Dr. appointment.
Is there anything specific I should question the Dr about when I return? In my opinion, I believe she should be actually ordering a CT or MRI, maybe even both. Am I right about that? She also stated she did not want to send me to a specialist just yet because normally they want to biopsy this and biopsy that and "We don't want that just yet." Is this the right thinking? Because I don't think so. Not with all the signs and symptoms I am having.
Sorry for the long post, any help is appreciated!
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