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“Palpable orbital mass”

maria_here
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In September my left eyelid starting drooping and blurring my vision but by gently rubbing it, I could sort out the issue. I would often wake up with my 'lazy eyelid' but could make it go away. By November I realised that when I was rubbing it I could feel a hard little bump behind it so I went to the optician. They said they could also feel it so made a hospital referral. 
I received my appointment for March 2020; then promptly received another pushing it back to April. Last week I got another letter moving it to July. 
 

I was under the impression that they must believe it to be some kind of inconvenient cyst as it clearly wasn't deemed urgent, however as it's now much bigger, I rang the consultant's secretary. She rang back and got me in 2 days later (good result!)

 

It turned out that it had been coded incorrectly as a follow up appointment (I had once had mole removed from under the same eye) and saw their department. The doctor examined me and then got the senior consultant who also grabbed another doctor. The three of them all felt the lump and the consultant appeared to be in a bit of a flap. So she's said I have a "palpable firm orbital mass" and she can "palpate 11mm". She said it's coming from the socket and needs an urgent CT scan. So they sent me for blood tests to check my kidneys (ahead of the scan's dye) and told me I will soon receive an appointment for the "urgent scan". 
 

As the week has gone on I'm kicking myself for not asking when this will be and am slightly anxious. However my sight is still fine and no double vision (she has briefed me about going straight to eye casualty if this happens- it hasn't in months so hopefully it won't). 
 

I can't see this being anything bad as I've not had any bad symptoms. Has anyone else had experience of a mass in their orbit? 
 

At the end of July (2019) I had a very large benign tumour removed from around my trachea which had started on my thyroid. It completely crushed my trachea to 3mm so for that one, there was no waiting. I had the CT scan the same day I went to the hospital (but then again I could barely breathe). It was found to be hyperplasia. So I think that recent experience has me thinking that this must be the same. I did ask the consultant if this could just be another hyperplastic growth and she said in her experience she thinks it's unrelated, but I'm hoping that it's a simple explanation. 
 

My other concern is once the scan is done how will they get it out? I really hope they can get to it without needing to cut my skull. 
 

So sorry for the long ramble. Just can't find much online so my thoughts are tumbling out here. Thanks everyone. Maria 

  • Offline in reply to maria_here

    Just to update- I have got my scans through. Saturday 21st. 
    It says CT head and CT orbits with contrast. 
    I know this is probably quite rare so I'm not expecting to get any replies. 

  • Offline in reply to maria_here

    Maria,  I know that you must be worrying, but if they had any immediate concerns you would be on the urgent pathway and would be seen within two weeks. xx

     

  • Offline in reply to Christmas2018

    Thanks, I've had the 2WW letter stating 'suspected cancer' the last time. As the optician booked it this time, the senior consultant made it known to the doctor at the hospital that i was booked incorrectly. She said I should have been seen in November, so I think that the optician is at fault here (or whoever interpreted the referral and put it incorrectly as follow up- I've never had something grow behind my eye before!)

    She said she was ordering an 'urgent CT scan'. It will be 3 weeks though from seeing them. Is that urgent? Do you think I'm not on the cancer pathway? That would be great if I wasn't but they certainly made it seem like they were concerned. 
     

    Thanks for replying

  • Offline in reply to maria_here

    Hi Maria,  when you are on the Pathway it is a precaution because it could possibly be cancer, only that. I can understand that you do not expect many replies because your symptoms are rare.  I am going through a similar set of rare symptoms.  For a few months now, the right hand side of my nose has been blocked and recently, I have had blood stained mucous and bleeding on that one side.  Turned to Dr Google and I have made myself a nervous wreck, my symptoms all suggest cancer!  I saw my GP last week and yesterday I saw a Consultant in  ENT, who did a biopsy. When I asked what he could see he mentioned 'granuloma'.  I now have to wait for the biopsy results and a scan but he said that I will definately have to have surgery to remove it.  I think that your scans would have come through much sooner if it was that urgent xx 

  • Offline in reply to Christmas2018

    That's reassuring thank you. 
    I hope they get to the bottom of it for you quickly. Let me know how you get on. X

  • Offline in reply to maria_here

    Just to update, I had my CT scan (head and sockets) in March and heard nothing. My GP tried chasing it. I had a phone call on Thursday telling me to come in for an MRI with contrast tomorrow (Sunday). So we will see...

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