I'm freaked out. please read. thanks. - Lymphomas Message Board

sotweed · 03-09-2006, 01:56 PM

Hi. This is my first time to post on a public message board of ant sort. I am very private about health stuff and typically very calm about things. BUT, I am really freaked out and I would deeply appreciated any feedback or opinions from someone who has knowledge or experience with this sort of thing. I think I'm wasting a whole lot of mental energy on something that hopfully is nothing.

About 4 months ago I felt a lump on my throat about 1 centemeter , firm, rubbery (not rock hard) and easily moveable. It didn't hurt or feel at all tender. I've of course had swollen lymph nodes before, but never when I wasn't been sick and none that had this sort of consistancy. Anyway, I pretty much forgot about it for a few months.

Recently, it has gotten a little larger. It is still non-tender and feels like a rubbery marble. I also noticed, a couple of weeks ago, several lymph nodes in my groin with the same texture. A couple are about a centemeter big and rubbery and a few are very small and hard, like b.b. gun pellets. All of them move around easily and feel like they are in a chain. I have never in my life felt lymph nodes in my groin area... it's possible that I've just never noticed them. I asked a friend if she has lumps in her groin and she reassured my that it was normal, that a lot of people have them. I just think I would have noticed them at somepoint in my life prior to recently. (I am 29 years old)

Anyway, this week I went to my doctor for my annual physical and mentioned the lump in my neck. My dr. felt it and said it was a lymph node and that he didn't like the way it felt. He said I should go to an ear, nose and throat dr. to have it looked at. I didn't mention my groin lumps to him because I forgot. (at this point I wasn't in a panick like I am now)

Every since the appointment I have been totally freaked out and panicked. I know it is irrational and a complete waste of energy. I have an ENT appointment in 5 days.

Sorry for this being so longwinded!! I didn't intend to write a novel here... guess I just need to vent. phewww. exhale.

thanks.

ps: I am not a hypochondriac, i swear.

Debbiefix · 03-09-2006, 02:14 PM

I've been there. I've done that. I understand. My best suggestion is to call that doctor back, the original one you saw and tell him you have lymph nodes in the groin area too that can be felt. Maybe you can bypass the ENT appointment.

sotweed · 03-09-2006, 02:24 PM

Thanks for the quick reply. That's a really good idea.

sotweed · 03-13-2006, 09:50 PM

Just an update... I went to the ENT today. He felt the lymph nodes in my neck and groin (both sides) and found some other ones that I hadn't noticed behind my ears. He put me on antibiotics, to rule out infection, and I had blood drawn to test for cat scratch fever and toxoplasmosis (I have 2 cats) as well as some other things. I'm having a CT scan next Monday and will have a biopsy if my nodes don't shrink with the antibiotics.

I am very nervous. I guess I'm lucky that this dr. seems to know what he's looking at, since it sound like some people on this board have very lazy drs.

NP360 · 03-16-2006, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sotweed

Just an update... I went to the ENT today. He felt the lymph nodes in my neck and groin (both sides) and found some other ones that I hadn't noticed behind my ears. He put me on antibiotics, to rule out infection, and I had blood drawn to test for cat scratch fever and toxoplasmosis (I have 2 cats) as well as some other things. I'm having a CT scan next Monday and will have a biopsy if my nodes don't shrink with the antibiotics.

I am very nervous. I guess I'm lucky that this dr. seems to know what he's looking at, since it sound like some people on this board have very lazy drs.

I'm glad to hear you've got the wheels in motion. I've just been through something very much like you, except my case involes a lump on my upper lip and a swollen lymph node. I to was sent to a ENT Dr and he did a great job with me. Stay calm and don't stress out. wait for the result of all your test. No sence in getting all worked up over it.