Should I mention this to my doctor?

elizabeth80

I know ya'll are probably tired of these types of posts.. but I honestly did not know where else to go. I am a 22 year old female and I am having all sorts of symptoms that I am really concerned about, but I am worried about going into my doctors office and coming off as some kind of hypochondriac. I've had all kinds of medical issues growing up. I have a cyst in the back of my brain (benign) so I have all sorts of weird pains. However, I have been noticing new things and putting some old symptoms together that might possibly suggest lymphoma or something else. About 4 and a half years ago I had Mono for about 4 months.. It was a really severe case. Things pretty much started from there. I've had swollen lymph nodes since that time. They have varied in size.. most of which have been in my neck area and in my armpit. I suffer from all over bone pain.. Mostly in my knee and elbow.. It has gotten to the point where I have to make sure no part of my body is bent while I sleep or I will wake up in excruciating pain.

I have terrible night sweats at night.. not every night.. but pretty frequently. I cannot drink alcohol.. I get extreme pain in my neck just about immediately. AND I am exhausted! I cannot get enough sleep.. I take 2 naps every day and even that is not enough. (I'm a Stay at home mom) My doctor gives me B-12 injections for my fatigue and that doesn't help.

My blood work has been pretty normal.. except my SED rate was 60. She put me on Mobic for my bone pain to see if it helps and it has somewhat but I still wake up in pain a lot. I don't have any weight loss

I am wondering if I should ask for any kinds of tests.. I haven't mentioned my night sweats, or alcohol related pain to her. I also haven't pointed out the lymph node thing to her in a while.. I just hate how doctors treat me sometimes.. but she's new.. so maybe she won't.. I just wanted to see ya'lls thoughts and wondered if ya'll thought it would be smart to.

Thank you for reading my long story. I really appreciate it

Elizabeth

brainman

Hi Elizabeth. I am very sorry about your health concerns. We do get a lot of posts like yours but we are more than happy to try to help. The same can be said about most doctors. You have real symptoms and a history of real diseases. A cyst of the brain can cause as many symptoms as a tumor in the same location... it is all about the abnormal pressure put on the brain by something that should not be there. Furthermore, there is no reason that anyone should not receive appropriate therapy for pain control. So forget about being thought of as a hypochondriac and go see your doctor.

Your symptoms are many... to many for anyone of use to even try to suggest what it might or might not be. Certainly, it might be lymphoma. But it could also be an infection or something else. Your medical team needs to rule those out before worrying about lymphoma. Just continue to bush for a diagnosis. I know a member of this community who went for years going to her doctors saying something was wrong. Finally someone listened to her long enough to find a rare but benign abnormality in her brain. Some times it just takes persistence.

You are in me thoughts and prayers.
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Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendroglioma grade 3, same location.
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=2405My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=2528
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
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ChemoMan

Hi Elizabeth

Sorry to hear of all your health concerns. Don't feel bad about posting here, it is what the board was created for.
You are right in being concerned about the possibility of Lymphoma. The fact that you had a severe case of mono recently is also of concern. Be aware that frequently doctors will watch and wait for a period of time before they do anything else and you should not be concerned if your doctor recommends that. Mono will cause swollen glands and it can take some time before they settle down again. Swollen glands are very common but Lymphoma is not.

Please don't get too worried about this. Both HL and NHL are very successfully treated these days, So even if you do get a positive diagnosis it is not all doom and gloom by a long way. definitely keep at your doctor while your symptoms persist, you do need to push this.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed, Elizabeth, here's wishing all goes well for you. Please get back to us if you need some support in the future Smile

Cheers
_________________
Age 52
Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma
Stage 2a
Finished six cycles of R chop 21 26th May 2008
Officially in remission 9th July 2008
Remission confirmed 1st October 2008
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