Hi, im am an 18 year old female.
For a long time, its hard to say, but
probably a few years, i have had swollen
glands. They get bigger and smaller now
and again but they are never 'normal'
size, there constantly quite a bit larger
than should be.
I went to my doctor about this and he
dismissed it as a cold virus and wouldnt
listen to me that it has been going on for
a few years.
When younger, about 9 or 10 i suffered
from glandular fever for about a year and
a half. Im not sure if it has anything to
do with.
My glands are always very hard, never
sore. When i tild my head back they
normally show and makes my under chin look
larger than it is.
I was wondering if anyone knows any reason
for this. I am planning on going back to
the doctors and where i dont want to go in
there demanding i know they answer i would
like some help to get across to them some
things they could think about.
Thank you
|
lintek
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 03 Aug 2006 Posts: 50 Location: New York
Posted: 10-02-07 06:46am
brown eyes,
sorry this is so late, but definetly find
a dr who will listen to your worries.
get it checked out and dont' just take one
doctor's advice. if you have to go to many
dr's before you feel comfortable, do so.
it's your body and you know it best.
sometimes our gut feelings can be
correct.
there are over 30 different sub types of
lymphoma's and some of them are hard to
diagnose. general practioners are not
trained in this area and often miss the
possiblity of being a lymphoma.
there are some that grow large on days and
then go down. I've read it with my own
eyes on a lymphoma forum. drs think that
because it goes up and down that it's just
a benign condition when in reality it can
be a true lymphoma. they call that
process, "wax and wane".
some times it takes many months, even
years for some people who were
mis-diagnosed because their drs didn't
thing the patients had a lymphoma.
meanwhile they're walking around with this
thing thinking everything was ok because
they're dr said it was ok and not to worry
about it.
only a biopsy of the lymph node can
determine whether there's malignant cells
in it or not. not just by feeling it and
not just by taking a cat scan or MRI'S
either.
there are also alot of cases where the
lymph nodes can be swollen from a benign
condition. there's alot of illnesses that
can inflame the glands.
cat scratch fever, ebstein bar virus, a
bad tooth, a reaction to allergies, etc.
that's what they would call a reactive
node.
I also want to mention to you, which was
told to me by a hemotolgist, is that an
overly thin persons lymphnodes can be felt
easier too.
Mine measured the size of a dime at the
time and is now a quarter and it too waxes
and wanes. I'm deciding whether to find a
dr to have it biopsied once and for all so
I know without a doubt that it's not
malignant.
otherwise all you'll do is worry worry
worry and I'll bet you any money you're
always touching it to see if it's still
there or to check if it's grown any?
I know I do.
Mine is sitting on the caroitd artery
which only a skilled surgeon will even
attempt to take it out. most general
surgeons won't touch it. that's what one
told me. he said he wouldn't touch it with
a ten foot pole. I go to a special breast
dr. who happens to be a general surgeon,
so when I was there for my yearly exam, I
had him take a look at the swollen lymph
node and that's when he told me that.
they say if it's there for over a year and
hasn't grown any, then there's nothing to
worry about. I totally disagree with that
statement.
get it checked out.
then you'll know for sure and there won't
be any more guessing game which can cause
more stress in a persons life.
I hope you're still around to read this
reply.
IF you are, please let me know how you
made out and if you went for a follow up.
