This is a long story but I really need to vent.
In October 2020 my sister noticed some lumps on my neck so I went to the GP for some advice. There is a family history of luekemia so I was quite concerned, and the GP told me that we would do some blood tests and scans to put my mind at ease. These tests showed that my lymph nodes were swollen, but were in normal range so no treatment was needed and I probably had a minor infection. Months later these lumps were still there and my health was beginning to get worse. I was tired all the time, my body ached all over and I was having a difficult time sleeping. I put it down to stress, and went to the GP again for help.
They decided to run more tests in early 2021 and 3 months on from my first scan these were repeated. There were no changes in size but the nodes were still swollen so they decided to keep monitoring them. The nurse who did the scan was not particularly caring or understanding of my worry, so I really felt like I was wasting their time.
I went back to the GP a week later for some more blood tests, and ended up having to have this repeated 4 times as my samples kept on being lost. I never got a result back from any of these tests which was put down to covid delays. At this point I had lost faith in getting an answer and tried to get on as normal. In the meantime my tiredness was affecting my work and I ended up having to resign and get a new job that would not put so much strain on my body.
Fast forward to December 2021, the lumps were still there and getting bigger. I had cold sweats all throughout the day and felt exhausted even at a job at a desk. I decided that I needed to start sorting this out again, to be met with extremely long waits to speak to a doctor. When I finally got through I explained my symptoms again and my GP explained that the reason why this was never followed up was because the hospital had never sent my scan results so they assumed that I never turned up. They referred me for another ultrasound on 16.12.2021 and even after chasing I still have not got an appointment.
On NYE I unfortunately found a new lump in my breast and feel like the world is falling apart around me. My symptoms are getting worse and are constantly dismissed by everyone I talk to. I'm waiting for an appointment to go to a breast clinic but I'm not holding out any hope for that happening soon. The lumps have also spread further up and down my neck and I seem to be losing weight and energy quite rapidly. It's been well over a year since this whole ordeal started and I'll be relieved with any diagnosis I'm given at this point. I don't know what to do moving forward and I really don't know what is wrong with me.
If anyone has any advice I would really appreciate it, I feel very alone at the moment and I'm struggling to get through this.
Charlie
