manda95
18-03-16, 19:21
Hi again,
Sorry for the 2nd post about this. I just really need some support and insight...
20 year old female. 5'2, 144 lbs, I seem to be pretty healthy.
I got the results back from my ultrasound today, and my swollen, painless lymph node measures about 1.8cm x 1.6cm x 1.1 cm (I don't have the report, but I'm pretty sure this is what the doctor told me). It's on the left side of my neck, feels pretty firm and it seems moveable but I can't really tell anymore. I've been trying not to touch it.
The radiologist who did my ultrasound recommended a CT head/neck scan for further testing because I guess they couldn't really tell what was up. I'm an absolute mess out about this and have been in tears all morning stressing out. I am terrified I have some form of lymphoma because I've read about people having lymphoma for awhile without knowing, or showing any other symptoms. In high school, I knew a girl who actually passed away from lymphoma at 14 or 15, and it is all I'm thinking about. I am so scared and don't really know how to think rationally about this. When she said I should have the scan, I just started crying. I asked my doctor if, in her professional opinion, she was concerned, and she said "not until the CT scan". What does this mean? Generally the overall vibe was that she didn't seem THAT concerned because I kept asking questions but I couldn't help but think she was acting a little strange because she knows my anxiety is up the wall and perhaps she didn't want to worry me that much. What's the point of having an ultrasound if they can't tell whats wrong and are just going to refer a CT scan, unless something really IS wrong?
I tested positive for strep without showing any normal symptoms (no fever, no sore throat) on Monday and am now on my 4th day of antibiotics. Usually I would attribute the swollen lymph node to this but because it doesn't hurt at all is concerning. My doctor took some blood for blood tests and gave me a referral for the CT head/neck scan but it's probably going to be a little wait before I can get the scan. Why would my doctor, knowing I tested for strep, have me do a CT scan and take blood if she wasn't concerned? I haven't even finished my antibiotics, don't doctors usually wait until then to see how my body took to them? I understand it's "just in case", and of course I want to be on the safe side, but I don't think most people get a blood test and a referral for a very expensive scan every time they have a swollen lymph node from strep. I'm even convinced that I didn't actually even have strep. I am so scared, guys. I can't function. It's so hard to focus "on the bright side" because it doesn't feel like there is one.
What is your interpretation of this? Is this a normal way to go about this sort of thing? What should I expect for a CT scan?
Sorry for the 2nd post about this. I just really need some support and insight...
20 year old female. 5'2, 144 lbs, I seem to be pretty healthy.
I got the results back from my ultrasound today, and my swollen, painless lymph node measures about 1.8cm x 1.6cm x 1.1 cm (I don't have the report, but I'm pretty sure this is what the doctor told me). It's on the left side of my neck, feels pretty firm and it seems moveable but I can't really tell anymore. I've been trying not to touch it.
The radiologist who did my ultrasound recommended a CT head/neck scan for further testing because I guess they couldn't really tell what was up. I'm an absolute mess out about this and have been in tears all morning stressing out. I am terrified I have some form of lymphoma because I've read about people having lymphoma for awhile without knowing, or showing any other symptoms. In high school, I knew a girl who actually passed away from lymphoma at 14 or 15, and it is all I'm thinking about. I am so scared and don't really know how to think rationally about this. When she said I should have the scan, I just started crying. I asked my doctor if, in her professional opinion, she was concerned, and she said "not until the CT scan". What does this mean? Generally the overall vibe was that she didn't seem THAT concerned because I kept asking questions but I couldn't help but think she was acting a little strange because she knows my anxiety is up the wall and perhaps she didn't want to worry me that much. What's the point of having an ultrasound if they can't tell whats wrong and are just going to refer a CT scan, unless something really IS wrong?
I tested positive for strep without showing any normal symptoms (no fever, no sore throat) on Monday and am now on my 4th day of antibiotics. Usually I would attribute the swollen lymph node to this but because it doesn't hurt at all is concerning. My doctor took some blood for blood tests and gave me a referral for the CT head/neck scan but it's probably going to be a little wait before I can get the scan. Why would my doctor, knowing I tested for strep, have me do a CT scan and take blood if she wasn't concerned? I haven't even finished my antibiotics, don't doctors usually wait until then to see how my body took to them? I understand it's "just in case", and of course I want to be on the safe side, but I don't think most people get a blood test and a referral for a very expensive scan every time they have a swollen lymph node from strep. I'm even convinced that I didn't actually even have strep. I am so scared, guys. I can't function. It's so hard to focus "on the bright side" because it doesn't feel like there is one.
What is your interpretation of this? Is this a normal way to go about this sort of thing? What should I expect for a CT scan?