Swollen lymph nodes, pains.. HELP!

Hello,

 

I’m in a bit of a pickle and I’m not sure where else I can turn at the minute.

For starters I struggle really badly with health anxiety, to the extent where I won’t believe anything the doctors tell me and am constantly worried they’ve missed something. I’m only 18 years old so I’m worrying my life away.

Long story short, I’ve been having chest pain for a while now, I can’t actually remember how long it’s been. It’s more on the left side, sometimes right, and it’s sometimes dull, sometimes very sharp and electric shock like, lasting between a second, and then longer at other times, and it comes and goes at random times. I’ve had an ECG and bloods taken and doctors said it’s not cardiac. I had a chest x-ray yesterday, and am currently waiting for the results. 

I also have had a very annoying dull aching in my left arm since around March. I’ve been told it’s golfers elbow, and that my joints are hypermobile. It comes and goes again at random times, and it can range from being in my elbow, to being down my wrist and thumb/fingers and up the inner side of my upper arm. I also recently developed extreme sharp lower back pains which left me screaming in agony.

Without already being a hypochondriac, these past 2 weeks I’ve completely lost my appetite (which is very uncommon for me, as even when going through anxious and stressful periods I’ve never lost my appetite) and have felt very nauseous. To make matters even worse, I’ve found two swollen, rubbery lymph nodes in my groin, and one larger rubbery node under my jaw on the left side. My doctor has checked the two in my groin, and said it feels like they could be veins, and the one in my neck is probably due to an illness or infection and that they “don’t feel like lyphoma”. I haven’t had an illness or infection that I know of.  I’ve also lost 4lbs in 5 weeks without trying to lose weight, so I’m not sure if that’s significant or not. I feel groggy and tired most days and have bouts of panic which do leave me abit breathless, but have always put this down to general anxiety.

Now, I’m not sure if all of this is linked or not, but I’ve been googling (naughty, I know) and some people have said arm pain and chest pain were some of their symptoms. I’m no longer sure what pain is what, and I’m confused as to what I can do. If there’s any advice from anyone I’d love to hear it.. Feeling very fed up :( 

  • Hi Cantstopworrying. 

    It does sound as if you've gotten yourself into a bit of a pickle! It's positive that all your test results have come back clear to date so try to keep this point at the forefront of your mind. 

    You mention that you've just had an x-ray so I'm presuming that you'll be going back to see your GP to discuss the results of that. Have you chatted to your GP about your health anxiety and what possible sources of support may be available to help you manage things better. From what you've described in your post it sounds like many of your physical issues may improve if you were able to better cope with your anxieties. 

    Before yout appointment you might find it userful to have a look at the NHS Moodzone website as well as this website about health anxiety

    I hope that this helps. 

    Jenn
    Cancer Chat moderator

  • Hello Jenn,

     

    Thank you very much for your lovely reply. I’ve been to see my usual doctor and he’s said my swollen lymph nodes don’t feel cancerous, and he thinks I’m brewing with a viral infection. I was very open with him about my anxieties and he’s reassured me that if I have any worries that I can go back and see him whenever I need to without worrying that he’ll think I’m a raving hypochondriac. A lot of my other symptoms he seems to think are down to extreme stress, so I’m going to try and take some time to slow down and stop worrying!!!

     

    As for my x-ray results, I’m trying to remain positive until I get them back. I’ve spoken to my therapist, and she thinks it’ll be long term tension on my muscles, and maybe costochondritis. I’m thinking that most of this has gotten worse recently as my grandma has been diagnosed with breast cancer that has now spread to her lymph nodes, and a health scare in the family usually sets me off on a bit of a worrying streak.  

     

    Thank you very much for the links too! I’ll definitely check them out. Anything is helpful right now.. I’m very grateful!

     

    Thanks again! 

  • hi it appears i have the same symptoms as you apart from the pain in the left arm but i've been getting the chest pains along with sometimes but not as much as my chest stomach pains in certain places same type of pain as the chest pain i also have lymph nodes i got all blood tests cancerous tumours skin cancer bone cancer etc and all negative i was offered a chest x ray but stupidly denied it i wish i now took that offer but i have anxiety and really bad health anxiety and i just can't speak out every time i try to speak i get teary and want to cry and i can't help it pls let me know your results. thanks