Hi everyone  

I hope everyone is keeping as well as can be and feeling positive. I'm still waiting for my GP appt on the 30th of April to discuss the results of my Ultrasound on my swollen nodes. I have began to suffer some unpleasant gastric issues which are now causing me no end of concern. I have never suffered with indigestion but now I have it daily. It started in Feb and has been getting progressively worse to a point its every single day. I have little appetite and am extremely nauseated constantly. I also have pain in the lower right of my back over the last few days. I got an urgent appt and was given omeprazole and metoclopramide which were helping but I have had to stop taking them to have an endoscopy on 26th. Does anyone else have experience of the swollen nodes and gastric issues? I have had some new bowel problems too but these could be explained by the new medications. Also if anyone has had an endoscopy how long did you wait for results? I have 4 kids and am struggling feeling constantly sick and exhausted. 

Thinking of everyone awaiting tests and results x 

Hi Lilabelle,

I suffer from IBS, so bowel issues are part of daily life for me, unfortunately. It does seem worse recently though (coinciding with my other symptoms). I’m also on Omeprazole as my throat showed signs of silent reflux during a recent nasoendoscopy (I have a hiatus hernia which was discovered in 2012 via an endoscopy, not the nasal type).

The endoscopy in 2012 wasn’t painful and I got my results there and then because they spotted the hernia in the top of my stomach (I’d been suffering with regular heart burn at the time).

I hope there’s a simple explanation for your indigestion and your mind is put to rest soon.

Dave

Hi Dave, 

Thanks for taking the time to respond to me. I did consider IBS, but it seems so odd that my symptoms have had such strong and sudden onset. I am hoping for a hernia or something of the like for my gastric issues. As well as nausea and indigestion I also have occasional feeling like food is sticking in my chest of all places on the right hand side, not often but it can be quite distressing. I am hopeful it's just a result of reflux or something. I still have multiple swollen glands but no recent infection. The wait is torture, not least because the symptoms in the meantime are unpleasant.and affecting daily life.

I'm terrified at the thought of an endoscopy, I have a gag reflex that goes off at anything. Hopefully I will be OK. 

Thanks again.

Hi,

Regarding the endoscopy, once the tube is past your tonsils, it really is plain sailing from then on (I remember it well as it was one week before my wedding!). Just keep telling yourself that you’re going to do whatever it takes because you’re going get yourself sorted out for you and your family. That’s what I do whenever I face these invasive procedures (in my 48 years I’ve so far endured a sigmoidoscopy, two colonoscopies, an endoscopy and a nasoendoscopy - all in the hope of finding out what’s going on). Note: You are given an anaesthetic which works well. I have twin 4 year old girls so I’m well aware of the worry these symptoms cause. My nodes in my neck and armpits have been playing up since mid-Feb, I’m still fatigued and sweating a bit at night and I’m still none the wiser despite an ultrasound, two lots of blood tests and a chest X-ray. But I see a Dermatologist next Friday and the ENT specialist again next Monday - and I just keep telling myself they will crack the mystery, and I’ll do what I have to once I know the score. Sounds like you’re doing your utmost to get answers rather than bury your head in the sand, that’s very sensible and I’m sure it’ll pay off. Give yourself a pat on the back for being proactive as a few don’t listen to their bodies.

Dave

Hi littleoldme,

Sorry to hear you are in a similar situation to me, I too have been experiencing gastric issues as well as swollen lymph node in my neck. I had a nasal scope as I’ve been spitting blood and they found a bleeding ulcer at the back of my nose which was suspicious so I had a neck mri but nothing of concern was found. Since the mri the lymph node has appeared so I’m concerned now that this wouldn’t have been picked up and as I’ve had a neck mri once already I doubt they’ll do one again. (Although I do have a head mri coming up, do you think that picks up node under the ear?) Anyway this all started one night when I woke up with water in my mouth, I felt nauseous all weekend, had a strange taste in my mouth and lumps and bumps in my stomach. I had an abdominal ct and all fine, I had endoscopy and they found thrush in my throat and an abnormal blood vessel in my stomach which they cauterised. I’ve been on omeprazole for months but I’m still not right. I also have chest pain and shoulder pain which I’ve had since last October, it comes and goes throughout the day, which at first I thought was related to my stomach but now I just don’t know. The endoscopy itself was fine, a bit unpleasant when they were finding the equipment to cauterise but overall it was fine (my gag reflex is awful too) I had my results straight away, they gave me the report. I think if they find something they tell you. Good luck, hope you get to the bottom of things xxx

Thanks Dave, I had a brain MRI after an expected TIA back in January and I was terrified of that too but in the end like you say you do what you have to do when it comes down to it. I'm 35 but feel 65 lately! I have a 4 year old boy, you must have your hands very full with two at that age! I have 3 older girls too but they were never as much of a whirlwind as my boy haha, I need to be on top form to keep up with him.

Young Mum thanks for taking the time to respond. We do seem quite similar in our cases. I went to the GP with persistent neck pain on the right side and the Dr spotted my right collar bone lymph node was very large. He gave me a week of antibiotics and I'm sure it shrunk a bit but it's still large by any standards. I also have other large mobile glands in my neck. The US consultant said he saw nothing of concern in my subclavicular swelling but that if it didn't go down CT would be the next step. My gp called and said to see him on the 30th to discuss, so I'm assuming that's to decide whether a CT is necessary or just to leave it be. I found the omeprazole and metoclopramide did make a big difference to me but I can't take it until after my endoscopy now as they said it can affect the results. I also don't like to just blindly medicate without knowing the cause because I would rather cure than mask symptoms, or at the very least know what I am dealing with. I'm afraid I've only had a brain MRI so I couldn't say whether yours will show the nodes at your ear  I'm sure someone elsw can advise though.  Like you I've had some chest pain also. I think it doesn't help that I've become very sensitive to every little niggle and quite anxious about my health in general. Probably making it worse!

Fingers crossed for you both for your journeys, here's hoping for good news for us all x 

Hi,

Your family want you healthy, both physically and mentally. So if the US gives you peace of mind then it’s worth every penny.

I’ve had similar symptoms to you and I also had a chest X-ray done via the NHS which just needed a GP referral then it was a case of popping to the hospital as and when convenient (not a set date and time). Both the US and X-ray were reassuring although my throat symptoms, fatigue and night sweats are admittedly still dragging on.

Dave

Hi Scotland, 

I'd go for the scan if I were you. I was referred through my GP and got an appointment within 2 weeks, it seems to be a bit of a lottery depending where you live how quickly you are seen. I think the problem you will have is that you can't possibly know if it's needed until you've been! I'm sure no one in your family will be upset with the good news that there was nothing to worry about and if there was something at least you could start to deal with it. Please do go along, I think if you don't you will become more anxious. 

Very best of luck and do let us know how it goes x 

Hi [@DaveW1970]‍  [@Littleoldme]‍ 

Thank you for your replies. I know you are both right, I think I just needed someone to tell me that! I know if I didn’t go and the swelling persisted I would be kicking myself. To be honest I think I’m just scared, I’ve been putting it to the back of my mind and now that it’s tomorrow I think I’m just having a little panic. 

Sorry to hear your symptoms are persisting despite the tests. I think that’s almost more frustrating as you just want an answer and a plan to move forward with treating the symptoms. 

I hope they get to the bottom of both of your symptoms. Sending positive thoughts your way. 

Thank you again for replying, I appreciate the reassurance from you both. 

Xxx