Lump under arm....any help appreciated

[Attorney]

I've recently discovered a swollen lymph node under my arm.  I am not one who regularly does exams on myself, so it really was just an accident that I even noticed.  For the past year I have experienced weight loss (about 20 pounds), fatigue, excessive sleepiness and generally not feelin well.  I have been to the doctor many time because I seem to always catch one cold after another.  About two months ago I was experiencing nausea and vomiting after eating.  After an abdominal ultrasound and abdominal CT scan, the doctor removed my gall bladder.  Since then, my appetitite has returned to normal and I have been eating better.  However, it was then that I discovered the lymph node under my arm.  After seeing the doctor, he said that it was probably nothing.  However, I have lost more weight and he did have to put me on a beta blocker due to my very high heart rate.  Also, he checked my thyroid, but although my TSH was 0.25, the free T3 and T4 were normal.  

Now, I am left with no answers and nothing wrong.  Although I do not want there to be something wrong, I am very upset that I have no answers.  Is this all stress??? Is this just depression??? Do I just have to live like this??  I have a 3 year old and want to be a good mother.  Please help.  Any advice deeply appreciated.

[garagegirl]

I too have an enlarged lymph node in my armpit and am in a situation similar to yours.  Last year I had a torn rotator cuff and underwent an mri to diagnose the extent of the damage in that area.  When the report came back the ortho described "an abnormal bone marrow" reading and I was sent for bloodwork.  My bloodwork came back and my white count was high.  After being sent to a hemo/oncology doc and more bloodwork he advised me to go ahead with my rotator cuff surgery.  After that was done, my white counts are still a little high.  In October I found a lump in my breast and a swollen lymph node.  I went through all of the thyrod testing, mammograms, ultrasounds, and mri's for my breast, all came back clear.  Now my breast doc and the blood doc have decided to remove the lymph node to check for tumor cells.  

Like you, it has been a year of frustration for me.  I continue to feel uneasy that there is something wrong but I cannot seem to get to the bottom of it.  I am trying to be proactive about my care and urge you to do the same.  As much as I dont want anything to be wrong, my consciencous says to keep digging.  Please keep us posted on what your doctors can put their finger on.  

Well wishes.................

[Attorney]

Thank you very much for your insight and advice.  The most amusing thing about your thoughts is that I actually have been thought to have either a very mild case of bi-polar or treatment resistant depression.  I have tried many anti-depressants in the past, but all of them would work for 1-2 months and then stop.  It was then that my doctor recommended treating me for bi-polar (prescribing a very mild dose of Lithium) for what he called "treatment resistant depression".  I, along with my family, have never felt that I had this disorder, but I didn't know what else to do.

I think that I will have to take your advice and seek the opinion of another doctor just to make sure.  Thanks again for taking the time to help.  It does make a difference when someone cares to listen.

[Jennifer375]

I dont know enough about the thyroid and how it functions to offer much help here Attorney, but okay the weight loss could be due the infection you had with your gall, particularly if its slowed/stopped since then. Stress DOES play a roll in health as everyone knows by now,,, but just the fact that you mention stress makes me wonder again about the thyroid function. I just read on the depression board about a gal who went through a whole psych work up only to discover she wasnt bi-polar as the doctor had diagnosed her,, but had a thyroid function issue.

It might be in your best interest to see anouther doctors help out, different from the first you saw if you feel he is missing something. The immune system is a tricky thing and if one thing is just a little off it can throw the whole system into chaos.

Id try not to worry to much yet unless your in pain or uncomfortable somehow physically/mentally, but I would definatly pursue it and ask for a refferal to a specialist if your doctor is not moving as quickly to figure it out than you feel comfortable with.

Heck,, my cousin was finally diagnosed with Lupus after being told it was in her head for almost 8 years.......... but she didnt pursue it unless it was flaring up.. .so something to consider.

*Wishing you health and peace tonight*

[Jennifer375]

I dont know enough about the thyroid and how it functions to offer much help here Attorney, but okay the weight loss could be due the infection you had with your gall, particularly if its slowed/stopped since then. Stress DOES play a roll in health as everyone knows by now,,, but just the fact that you mention stress makes me wonder again about the thyroid function. I just read on the depression board about a gal who went through a whole psych work up only to discover she wasnt bi-polar as the doctor had diagnosed her,, but had a thyroid function issue.

It might be in your best interest to see anouther doctors help out, different from the first you saw if you feel he is missing something. The immune system is a tricky thing and if one thing is just a little off it can throw the whole system into chaos.

Id try not to worry to much yet unless your in pain or uncomfortable somehow physically/mentally, but I would definatly pursue it and ask for a refferal to a specialist if your doctor is not moving as quickly to figure it out than you feel comfortable with.

Heck,, my cousin was finally diagnosed with Lupus after being told it was in her head for almost 8 years.......... but she didnt pursue it unless it was flaring up.. .so something to consider.

*Wishing you health and peace tonight*

[Attorney]

Also, as for any other blood work....prior to my surgery there did seem to be something to indicate an infection in my body.  The doctors only said that it was likely that my gall bladder was infected.  However, there has been no follow up blood work other than thyroid test.

Thanks again for any help.