Found "lumps" in my neck :(

Thank you!!

 Lisey,
I just have to say how much I admire you!  You are so knowledgeable about all things YOU!  Are you in the medical field or have you taught yourself?  
I read your posts and see your advise and think how lucky I am to have found this forum with you and all the vets here.
Please know that I think about you and all the recent challenges you're experiencing, and My heart hurts for you.  But I also believe (deeply) that you are going to be just fine, as you are a fighter and will do what needs to be done to get this taken care of. 
I pray that you get the answers and treatment you need to fight all that comes your way.  You are a truly valuable asset to all of us here.

 

That was an exceptionally kind and touching post, thank you very much :)

I finished all of my coursework ("ABD") in a research-practioner Ph.D. program in clinical psychology.  I practiced therapy 4 yrs as a student & ultimately decided not to become a psychologist, it was just too emotionally difficult for me.  But, it did teach me how to conduct, read, and analyze research.  Not that I'm a "pro" at it, but I've got a solid foundation.

After that, I briefly considered becoming a nurse & going into behavioral health, but then I had my appendicitis/ bowel obstruction surgery (with no health insurance) last August & it was just no longer financially feasible to pursue schooling.  During the spring of last year, I had taken anatomy & physiology, as well as chemistry.  Not that advanced of knowledge, certainly, but some base.

I think overal, that my extensive experience reading research articles has taught me to understand complex scientific language - it has a certain flow or structure across disciplines.  The 3 graduate statistics courses taught me about analyzing the validity and reliability of studies.  Beyond that, it's just a matter of learning whatever medical terminology I need to as I read up on stuff.  That's how I've learned the info that I've posted.

 Well It's all very impressive!  I look at medical jargon and just STARE thinking "what in the world did I just read?" :)  I feel blessed to have you as a resource,  THANK YOU!  

Lisey,
I have nothing to add except healing thoughts. I know you'll get to the bottom of this.

Thank you, Gail!

 I would encourage you to continue looking into what is going on, but don't get freaked out.  You may have something else entirely.  Years ago, I also found lumps in my neck, and was running a higher temp at night like you.  I freaked!  I was thoroughly checked out.  I still have the lumps, and still run a higher temp at night.  Apparently, some nodes can enlarge and stay that way from a prior illness.  And, the higher temp at night, seems to be "my normal".  So, that is all to say, you might not have any of those things going on.   More info is required.  

Thanks :)  I certainly don't hope to have it!  We will see what a biopsy reveals.

Hi Lisey! 

Feel free to PM me if you would like to take this discussion off the thread, but I was treated for Hodgkin's Lymphoma from 2006 - 2007. I had stage 2B cancer with tumors in my supraclavicular and mediastinal nodes. I was treated with ABVD chemo and mantle field radiation. I am 100% cancer free today and Hodgkin's is one of the most treatable forms of cancer.

Like you, I'm very tech and medically savvy. I work in the healthcare system as a physician recruiter and have a Master of Health Administration degree. I get medical jargon and can read journals to educate myself.

I diagnosed myself based upon Googling the symptoms I was having and even went into work a few months before my formal diagnosis and told close coworkers that I was pretty sure I had Hodgkin's. I was able to check off more and more symptoms - severe fatigue, puritus (itching), night sweats/fevers, hardened supraclavicular nodes (I actually named mine - Ned and Norris, the Naughty Nodes), and finally pain after alcohol consumption. BTW, pain after ingestion of alcohol - even small amounts - is a classic Hodgkin's symptom and I was certain that's what I had after developing that symptom. 

Nine doctors dismissed me. I went through diagnoses of cat scratch disease, pulled intracostal muscles, anxiety, and a newly developed "allergy" to alcohol, before finally deciding to go to the ED due to radiating arm pain. They CT'd me and admitted me that night. When the ED physcian came in to tell me that I had cancer, I was relieved and said, "Finally! Now I can get on with treating this!"

As far as I know, they do not typically do FNAs for supraclavicular nodes. It will be an open biopsy. They are looking for ReedSternberg cells, which are the indicator for Hodgkins and they are very diffuse. They will need a sample larger than an FNA can provide.

Please advocate for yourself and do not take a "watch and see" approach. If all else fails, head on down to your local ED and get CT'd.

Good luck and please keep me updated. I'm here for you, if you're scared or curious about what's going on... *hugs*

Bethany
Atlanta, GA

Hi Bethany!

First off, I'm glad that you're here to tell me all of this!!!  I got a good laugh out of the "Naughty Nodes" :)  One thing I forgot to include in my original post is that they are hard, or firm, not squishy like a swollen node from an infection would be.

The hematologist ordered a CT of my abdomen & pelvis b/c I had a really sore spot where my liver would be if it was enlarged & protruding from under my last rib on the right side.  He also ordered a chest xray.  I would hope then with the lumps, he would also order a biopsy.  I found the WHO's treatment recommendation for practice guidelines in diagnosing different lymphomas . . . which, basically, is on "my side" in that I should get biopsied.  You know I'm going to print that sucker off for my visit on Friday!!

I almost never drink so I'm not sure how alcohol would affect me.  I had read about that also, but 2 ounces of alcohol in a mixed drink gets me tipsy now, which is what I had the last time I drank so I don't think that's enough to really do much in terms of my system processing it.

If I (or anyone) can clearly feel the lumps in my neck, would it actually help to get a CT of it in terms of convincing a surgeon to do a biopsy?  When I had my iron infusion yesterday, the RN who stuck me asked to feel them & she immediately found them.

Would the chest xray I got detect tumors or do you need a CT or PT for that?  I'm thinking in case there's one behind my breastbone/ mediastinal.  Thanks!!!