Help! Swollen lymph nodes advice needed

Hello. I have been a visitor to these pages a lot of the past 2 months but i thought I needed to post. 

almost 2 years ago I started to get anxiety symptoms, very generalised , just feeling ‘off’ these could present very mildly or escalate to panic attacks. dizziness etc. 

I quit drinking for 3 months as I thought this may help.. it didn’t. Although my anxiety is very generalised I think health anxiety has caused me to spiral into this, I have been scared of the doctor my whole life and had a through minor health issues such as asthma and chronic ideopathic urcataria, which are now both non symptomatic . 

In January I found two swollen lymph nodes in my neck, one lower down on the left quite small (less than a cm) and one on the right ( about 1.5cm longer and thinner) even though I was petrified I patiently waited 2-3 weeks then visited my new local GP. Told her I was very anxious (was mid panic attack when I was seen) and she had a feel. She said she could feel nothing. So I tried very hard to show her where the slightly bigger lump was. She eventually found it and said it was a muscle, I disagreed, she then said maybe a small swollen lymph node and she was not concerned at all 

may anxiety calmed and I went about my life for a few weeks until now.. they still havnt gone down. It’s been 7 weeks in total now nearly 8 I’m not sure if they have grown as sometimes I feel like they have but then the next day they feel back to how they were. 

My anxiety is ridiculous especially at work and I am in a constant loop of fight and flight. I had to leave today. I am convinced I have lymphoma. I’m scared for my children and my family. If I feel any slight itch I believe it’s an additional symptom. My neck has now been aching for about a week and I am not sure it’s from touching them so much or not.. I had one night that I woke up with a night sweat but again, this could have been panic. 

I am now absolutely petrified to go back to the doctor. 

please be kind :( 

Parents
  • I would absolutely recommend going back to the doctors. As Sharza suggested, see another doctor, no harm in a second opinion.

    Healthy anxiety can reek havoc on your physical and mental health.

    Best to trust your gut if you feel that something is not right. Best wishes

  • Hello KitKat17. I do hope Nicki takes note of your message. Although it must be difficult if Nicki is petrified of doctors. It takes courage.

  • The core needle in the groin sounds excruciating but, hopefully, it's just my reaction!

    Another person, Kelgirl, is also on this thread and concurs with us that Nicki ought to go and see the doctor. 

    I hope Nicki reads all our posts and takes the bull by the horn and makes an appointment to see the doctor.

    Like you, I've had many tests and finally have a diagnosis and the anxiety has vanished. It's the waiting and not knowing that creates the anxiety.

  • Thanks, and I’m going too I just am so bad at managing my emotions, I don’t want to speak to any one about it and it’s quite isolating. 

    my GP said there is a 3.5 week wait for an appointment :( 

  • Absolutely! 
    Each time I go for something I find myself flip flopping between it’s cancer or no it’s not.

    For me the not knowing for sure either way whilst a natural response, it certainly heightens anxiety levels.

    What is your diagnosis if you don’t mind me asking? and your symptoms?

    Best wishes 

  • So pleased that you will see your doctor. Waiting is difficult to bear and feelings of anxiety make you feel like you're losing your mind.

    Is there no one that you can speak with about this? 

    This forum is helpful in getting your feelings expressed and responded too. It makes you feel less alone as other people are going through similar experiences.

  • As previously mentioned I just don’t want to worry them.. and that sounds crazy but I’ve hidden most of my anxiety since it came on I find it quite easy to mask. 

    i think once I have spoke to my GP I will speak to them but there’s always that health anxiety voice in my head that is saying it’s just another something I have made up in my head now I’m over thinking it 

  • Are you sure you want to know?!

    Well here's my symptoms:

    Palpitations, shortness of breath on exertion, fatigue, feeling worn out. It's taken over two years to identify that I've NOT got a heart problem, as suspected. Actually I've got early stage (thank God) lung cancer which is treatable by surgery (the appointment with the surgeon is next week as it happens). Talk about an anxiety trip! Anyway, I'm feeling quite calm now that I know what's wrong and that something can be done about it.

    So, there we go. My key recommendation after going through all this to get to this point is that if you feel something is wrong PERSUE it. My diagnosis happened partly because of chance findings but much to do with being persistent with my GP to refer me for tests and to see specialists.

  • I bet you have a sense of relief knowing it’s early stages and that you persevered to get to this point. Wishing you all the best with with treatment/surgery.

    How could you tell the difference between shortness of breath that naturally comes from exertion and what you’re experiencing? I mean we all get a bit puffed out if we exercise. Also I find it hard to decide if I’m feeling fatigue or not because my lifestyle is very tiring! 

  • Good luck with the appointment and I am so glad the prognosis was somewhat positive. I think my main concern is that I’m just thinking cancer is a death sentence and when actually I said earlier doing to the doctor/ being diagnosed was.. again I suppose  my health anxiety leads me to believe that I will 100% be confirmed as stage 4 and it will result in me dying which may not be the case at all.. 

  • It doesn't sound crazy at all to me.

    You are being kind and thoughtful not wishing to worry anyone at the moment, until you've seen your GP. It's just so hard to bear it without anyone to support you. That, and seeing your GP, takes courage.

    Hope everything turns out well for you.

Reply Children
  • Thankyou! Last question is you had symptoms for two years but it was only low grade does that mean it was just a slow growing cancer or? 

  • No idea!

    I'm not sure that my symptoms actually reflect my diagnosis of lung cancer. I didn't mention earlier that there also seems to be a problem with my thyroid (less serious) which is also being investigated - so that could explain my symptoms? 

    Infact, my lung cancer is at an early stage (and slow growing, I believe) and early stage lung cancer  is usually symptom free.

    That's the problem with lung cancer - symptoms don't typically show themselves until it's at a later, and more difficult to treat, stage. Mine was found by chance via a CT angiogram (which was looking for blocked arteries).

  • Thankyou! . Both of you for your help. I feel a lot better than I have done all day even though I am still dreading this process I feel that I can rest easier tonight. 

  • That's wonderful. I've enjoyed communicating with you and everyone else here on this thread.

    I'm so happy that you are starting to feel better than you have all day and pray that you sleep well. And wake up in the morning refreshed and at ease, ready to face tomorrow.

  • I do I took the bull by the horns and am currently waiting in a&e. Absolute nervous wreck but I’m here .

    prey for me! 

    and that’s for spurring me on 

  • Wow!

    Prayed for you yesterday and for you now. You're so brave going to A and E and I hope you don't have to wait too long.

    Let us know how it goes and remember I'm thinking of you x 

  • It wasn’t a long wait luckily. 

    was seen by a consultant she had a feel said the smaller lymph node was in range and about 7mm and the larger one was just under a cm which is what it was written down to be in January, so.. she isn’t concerned .. she said check my stomach and spleen and groin and said there was nothing present there that she was worried about either. She actually said she thinks my chances of having lymphoma are 1 in a million currently. 


    she said my anxiety is the thing I need to be working on and luckily I already have a cbt session for Friday booked. 

    soooo.. I suppose a little more relief but. No decimates, she said she had requested a blood test froM my local GP also for further reassurance 

    thanks for being so kind 

  • Phew! I'm so happy for you and I bet you can now get on with your life and put this behind you.

    Hope the CBT helps with the health anxiety. 

    Best wishes x

  • Well done for being so brave! What a relief for you. So pleased you had such a positive outcome.

    I called to chase up my referral today and they’ve given me my appointment for my tests this Saturday. Really nervous but hoping I come away with some relief. 

    it’s definitely nice chatting to people on here that are in similar situations and who you can let all your worries out to if you don’t want to worry your family and friends by having a negative outlook. Xx

  • Good luck kel. I hope everything goes well and please keep us updated