Hi,

I have a fear of going to the doctors (6 years ago I went for irregular periods and possible concussion due to a sporting incident but the doctor told me i was wasting his time) but I recently have plucked up the courage to be seen by different doctors about an itch over my torso, shoulders and arms that I've had from mid August. No rash or anything. For context, I am a 28 yr old female.

First time that I called the doctors (end of September: 8 weeks ago), the female doctor gave creams and took bloods but they came back normal. Two weeks later, I developed a cough that isn't there all the time but happens for around 3-4 episodes a day (each lasting 20 minutes of so) and is rather annoying - there isn't anything particular that seems to set it off but quite often when I have the cough, I can feel a rumbling/ in my chest when I inhale. I also noticed a pea-sized lump on my left side of neck that I don't recall being there previously.

Last week, I went and got private bloods and the only thing that came back is a high IgE (200). Has anyone else had IgE tested?

Then, I woke up two nights ago at 3.30am while scratching my chest and arm in my sleep and it took a while to get back to sleep as the itch continued and the cough decided to make an appearance. I also had a random night sweat three Saturdays ago - I don't know how quickly night sweats become nightly if there is something wrong? Anyway, I called my GP and got a new doctor who called me in and made me do a pregnancy test (I have irregular periods but I told him I wasn't pregnant though he was quite adamant to still do the test as itching can be a sign of pregnancy (?) - I wasn't pregnant). He gave me antihistamines as he listened to my chest and it sounded clear (I didn't have a cough at this time of the day) so he sent me off and said to call in 4 weeks if it doesn't get better.

I didn't tell him about the private bloods (high IgE) or the pea-sized lump (and another smaller one) on the left side of my neck as I didn't want the doctors to think I am a hypochondriac as it is only a pea size and moves (and it hasn't got any bigger over the past 3 week, and bloods are normal) - I've read pea sized means normal but it isn't on the right side (?). Also, has anyone had normal bloods initially with itching but that have changed over a few months? I've got a package for private bloods so get them tested.again in 6 months.

I am thinking of paying to go for a private ultrasound of the neck (I also have hypothyroidism/hashimotos so I suppose it could be a good monitoring tool for the thyroid as well). Has anyone had a private ultrasound to do the same? I don't think the lump would annoy me except I've never had an itch like it - it isn't all the time and usually in the evening but it's soooo annoying alongside the random cough. I just feel like something is off but don't want to look like a hypochondriac girl.

Anyone else's experiences on anything similar would really help!

Thanks,

JC59