Generalized lymphadenopathy, NO diagnosis....HELP

[Teezie]

Hi....My name is Teresa and i'm a 34 yr young mum from the UK who is desperate for some advice on what may be wrong with me. My journey began way back in June 2007 when i found a small, hard, pea size lump behind my right ear. My dentist advised me to consult my GP which i did in august. She gave me an examination and informed me that i also had some swelling in the right side of my groin and after a few weeks of her ruling out the norm, i was referred to haematology. Because i'd lost weight and was getting increasingly tired, they decided to admit me on the 6th nov,  for tests which included a CT scan and inguinal node biopsy. CT scan showed normal and biopsy of node showed reactive. Since then i have developed enlarged nodes in both sides of neck, under both armpits, both sides of groin, behind knees and what feels like small rubbery lumps between my ribs on my chest wall. I went to haem last week who questioned my eating habbits because i had lost more weight and i basically felt like an anorexic lunatic!!!!! He wouldn't even listen 2 my other symptoms which are......increasing frequency of night sweats, burning itching mainly on my arms, extreme fatigue tho i am now mildly anemic, pins and needles in the left hand and foot also eye twitch on that side, hair loss and a pinprick blood rash that is developing on my legs and abdomen, which appears to be under the skin. He did mention that my left inguinal nodes are quite large ( x3 about the size of 1/2 my little finger ) and that maybe i should have another biopsy done. Thing is, i learned that these nodes are very poor for obtaining a diagnosis and am worried that these nodes will only show reactive again, however all my other nodes seem to grow to about 1cm and then stop but thats when a new one appears. Also where i had my last biopsy done, the node there is rock hard, is this normal after 4 months???? Things just don't feel right, as a person you know your own body and something is wrong but i feel i'm having 2 fight for answers.

[Dennis MD]

Hi.
How are you feeling now?
The chest pain you experienced can be caused by a variety of conditions.  If you push or touch the chest area and experience pain, the pain could be musculoskeletal in nature.  Perhaps you strained your muscle the previous day.  But then again, that should still be investigated further as this could be related to your previous complaints.
Please do post your updates.

[Teezie]

Thankyou for your support Dennis. Got up with another concern this morning. I felt really ill yesterday and today i have an ache under my rib cage(right side). If i push there it hurts and i get an uncomfortable feeling in my chest.  I am back with the haematologist next wednesday so should hopefully get a date for the biopsy of the nodes. It is hard to relax, considering the size of the nodes and other symptoms i am having ,i know it's not particularly good. However, i will try to stay positive.

[Dennis MD]

Hi.
You noted an enlargement of the lymph nodes both in your neck and groin areas.  An incision biopsy of the lymph node will give you a more definite diagnosis.  By this, adequate tissue will be taken for histopathological evaluation.  It would be best to go back to your doctor and push for a biopsy.
Relax and stay positive.

[Teezie]

"OH MY GOD!!!!!!" My daughter said last night as she caught me getting out of the bath.
"What?", i replied.
"Those lumps in your groin are huge".
"I know", i replied
But i didn't realise just how big untill i measured them today. 3 nodes all aprox 1" in size. I have gone very cold and shaky inside, this doesn't look promising does it?

[Teezie]

Hello again Dennis, thanks 4 replying. When i got my cmv / ebv results, the haem said that it showed low titres which indicated that i'd had previous contact and that it wasn't active, i was 17 when i contracted glandular fever.

[Dennis MD]

Hi.
There is a possibility of fibrosis or scarring in the lymph node where you had your first biopsy.  This can cause the change in the consistency of that involved lymph node.  
The persistent infection, as evidenced by positive titers of CMV and EBV, may have caused the enlargement of the lymph nodes in the neck and groin.