Hi.Ive not been well for 4mts cough bad throat etc had  heart scan chest scan had chest infection. That went then had pleurisy that went still poorly sent for lung cancer scan that came back clear but noticed a lump in my neck.1cm had that checked was told thyroid was enlarged  still poorly went hospital for a scan and biopsy but biospy not needed.4 lumps there now instead of one and the lumps on my collar bone are associated to problems with breast ..So waiting for boob scan now so there saying its not thyroid causing the problem .x

Hi there 

I have been reading posts for ages like this so thought I would tell my story so far. I developed a small pea size node behind my right ear in Dec I was sent for an urgent referral to ENT as I was feeling very lethargic too. I had a camera up my nose and into my throat and all was ok and was told as the node was tiny he suspected nothing. I have raised esr and crp markers in my blood and have done for several years which I have now been referred to rheumatology for as they suspect an auto immune condition with me. Since lockdown I noticed a bigger node in my neck on the left side. I haven't had any known infections or virus'. It's moveable soft to touch but it's bigger but some days feels smaller than others. I'd say it was 2cm maybe smaller on other days. I rang the doctor and have been referred for an urgent ultrasound. This was done on the 1st April but due to lockdown haven't been seen as of yet. Since then I have another three tiny nodes develop at the side of the bigger one. I have had a achey throat off and on since Xmas but not have developed a chesty cough however my daughter's has had one so I do suspect it's just that. I am just concerned it's something sinister although I have come to thinking that no amount of worrying will change or help my situation. I do have health anxiety too and rely heavily on Dr Google to self diagnose myself which is my downfall. All I want is the relevant tests to out rule cancer but it's very difficult at this time. I just don't understand why some days it's bigger than others but don't think it's grown much in the time I've detected it. I have a multitude of aches and pains all over my body but again due to sensitivity points I'm questioning if I have fibro or an auto immune condition. I have also has a raises rheumatoid factor result too. My worries have affected my day to day life and have found myself pushing my loved one away which isn't good. I am 37 a mother to three one being autistic so I'm very much needed and I just want to know what wrong with me so I can either get treated or move on without being in this awful limbo I am in. 

Sorry for the long post like I say I have read these posts for a long time so thought I'd share my story 

Thanks 

Thanks for your reply Lisa. Yes I had bloods done and all thankfully came back normal.There has been Hodgkins Lymphnoma in my family, so when the node first came up, I was much more wary off it then I otherwise would have been. Like yours it seems to change slightly in size, but generally in or around 1cm. 

Its just the fear of the unknown isn't it. Google will basically tell us the worst, but then coming on here it's so much more reassuring. I've been itching all morning as I've been so anxious again but now that I've relaxed a bit this afternoon the itch has stopped.

I hope all works out positively for you :happy:

And you mate. Have you tried an anti instamine see if he takes the edge off. I just hate how my chest Is feeling today feel like I'm swollen when I swallow. I just hope I have an infection how old are you did you say x 

I'm 29. Yes, I usually take one in the morning and it calms  it down. Yes hopefully it is just an infection, it took nearly the full 10 day course of anitibiotics for my ear and throat to stop hurting but I've been feeling so much better since. (It just would have been nice if the lymph node had've went away too lol) 

Hopefully it will all be ok for us both life is worrying isn't it let me know how you get on 

I'll definitely keep in touch, and please do the same :)

So I spoke to the doctor this afternoon, I'd mentioned that I was concerned about the length of time the lymph node had been there. She was so lovely and reassured me that a throat infection had showed up in my bloods and I had been treated with the antibiotics and sometimes lymph nodes can stay up long after the infection is gone. She asked me questions if I'd had night sweats, fevers etc which I haven't. 

I had mentioned the itch, and she also felt it was more psychological as I've had a history of it coming up over periods of stress. I've just to keep an eye for any changes or if any other symptoms come up.

So for now, I'm gonna move on and stop worrying about it, as it's really been something that has taken over my life the past few months. 

Really pleased to hear this, I hope your antibiotics clear your throat infection and you can now enjoy life. No more worrying I'm so pleased for you . Take care x

Thank-you Scones, and thank-you for all your help and support and I wish you all the best xx

Thank you, I was glad to help, take care x

Hi again 

Well today I managed to ring ENT and they have called me back to offer me an appt for this Thursday. When I spoke to my GP today he told me I had to list wait but I decided to call the secretary direct and she told me what I had to do and within two hours the hospital rang back offering me an appointment. I'm glad but scared. Sick of having a sore throat but not sore to swollow just aches and my neck is so sore. Have six nodes that I can feel although five are small pea size ones but one is a lot bigger. X 

Hi again 

Well today I managed to ring ENT and they have called me back to offer me an appt for this Thursday. When I spoke to my GP today he told me I had to list wait but I decided to call the secretary direct and she told me what I had to do and within two hours the hospital rang back offering me an appointment. I'm glad but scared. Sick of having a sore throat but not sore to swollow just aches and my neck is so sore. Have six nodes that I can feel although five are small pea size ones but one is a lot bigger. X 

Wish you all the best for your appointment, hope it's good news x

Thank you. I doubt they will do alot at the appointment will they?? How are you doing x 

Hi, I'm doing ok apart from a bit of a sore throat just now but have not been out in 8 weeks so not too worried. When I had my first appointment with ENT, he took down any medical history and then felt the lump, they don't say very much but then he put the tiny tube with the camera up my nose to look closer at my throat. As I have auto immune problems he did say it was more common to get lymphoma with my history. He then send me for a biopsy / ultrasound, he didn't do it but I only had to wait about a week to get this. After the biopsy I had to wait about 3 weeks for results. I was going on holiday that week and I called to see if results were in. His secretary said she would call him. A day before I was going on holiday, he called me over the phone to say I had lymphoma and he would refer me to see a haematologist. It's such a long wait, looking back it's so hard but you do get through it. One day at a time. Will keep my fingers crossed for you, you are on the next step and again hopefully it will be ok. X

I had an appt back in December for a lympnode behind my ear and had the camera then but everything looked healthy he said.  How big was your node sorry to make you repeat yourself. I just want answers that's all I feel I can deal with it but I just hate the not knowing :(

Hi, mine was large, you could clearly see it without even touching it, they told me at the ultrasound that they thought it was glandular and not to worry, but they were wrong even saying that. The second time after my treatment, my haematologist found a tiny pea size one on the same side again. After biopsy, she told me it was the same type of lymphoma, it was in my submandibular gland. It's still there, hence on watch and wait as they won't do treatment when it is that size. X-ray also showed its started at side of lungs again, but they regard it as grade 2 and this doesn't qualify for more treatment at the moment. It's worrying but I'm glad they are montintoring it, although because of this covid, my apppointment was cancelled so it's going to be 9/10 months before I get checked again, I'm being more careful checking. I didn't know I had one under my arm, so be vigilant and check there as well. Check your groin as well. These are the areas that lymphoma shows. I had to have ct scans which showed it was at side of lungs and side of each of my kidneys.. every hospital is different but I have every faith in my consultant. I also had a bone marrow biopsy the first time. They have to get loads of info before they make a decision on treatment. I also had a biopsy under my arm, all these tests took around three months before my treatment to make sure exactly the stage, type and if it was aggressive or indolent. Fortunately mine is indolent atm. Feel free to ask questions, I read everything. I could about it and it made sense when they start talking about it at your appointment. It gives you the heads up what they are talking about. My husband thinks I'm mad as he doesn't want to know anything and leave it to doctors. Xx

No I like to be informed,what confuses me is how some people don't get offered a biopsy when ultrasound isn't fail proof is it. My lumps are very soft and moveable but there has got to be a reason for them to keep appearing surely. I just keep hoping it perhaps fibro as I have many other symptoms and all the sensitive points in my body but again that appt has been cancelled. Fibro can make lympnodes swell but it's rare. We will see anyway what tomorrow brings won't we. Thanks for your help I appreciate it x 

Hi, I've heard of a lot of people when they get to ultrasound stage that they don't do it, I guess they could tell if it's an active lympnode or not, but after I had mine and what they said I would have been worried if they didn't do it. Mine showed a very black solid lump on the ultrasound, maybe if it doesn't do that they know, I'm not sure, I was quite lucky in that a consultant was teaching a doctor how to do the biopsy, he examined every gland in my face and explained everything to her, I think thats what made me believe it was glandular, but hey it wasn't. For your own piece of mind, hopefully they will give you hope.  Please let me know how you get on.

I will do thank you for taking the time out of your day to reply to me. Have a lovely day ️

Hi again so I went Thursday.the consultant said in his although enlarged my nodes are nothing sinister and in his words lots of people walk around with nodes gnus size but I'm am sensitive to them so they appear worse. He agreed to do an ultrasound and a chest xray. Made me feel like it was all in my head but he also knew i wouldn't just leave it as I don't feel all these nodes coming up is normal and if nothing sinister I'll accept it could be something autoimmune perhaps but I need to know. Hope your throat is better

Regards 

Hi, I'm pleased that he is continuing to do these tests. If they do just the ultrasound everything should be ok. If they are in any doubt they will do the biopsy. I think with lymphoma the chest X-ray is a matter of course to see if any lymph nodes are enlarged in chest area as mine was.  I hope you don't have long to wait for your ultrasound, again fingers crossed for you xx you are now one step ahead xx