View Full Version : Would you schedule a doctor's appointment right before a trip?
I'm conflicted as to what to do. I posted on here yesterday about 3 nodes near my groin that appear to be just over 1 cm in size and I don't know how long they've been like that. I've also been waking up slightly sweaty in the mornings and I'm not sure if I should wear lighter pajamas or if this is cancer. I am very worried that it's lymphoma :weep:
I am going on a trip to Rome this weekend for the first time and I was super excited about it. Now these worries are consuming my life.
I have an appointment for tomorrow before I leave for my trip with my primary care doctor...I made this appointment so that I would put my mind at ease before my trip. He would be able to give me some sort of idea if they look suspicious or if things are fine.
HOWEVER...as an HA sufferer I tend to have a million questions about things and I will with my nodes as well. So a lot of times after so many questions, the outcome ends up being the doctor asking me what I want to do, do I want a scan of some sort? But if he suggests a scan tomorrow because of my questions or because he thinks it's necessary, depending on how the doctor says it, it might send me into a HA spiral right before my trip since I would be worrying about WHY he wants me to get a scan.
So...I really don't know what to do. In one case I'd be worried that my nodes might have cancer, in the other, I would worry why he would want me to get a scan. Any thoughts/advice welcome :weep:
I had a node scare late last year. My doctor offered an ultrasound and blood test to put my mind to rest and I got it done on the day. Go anyway, make sure you get your questions answered before your trip which sounds AMAZING. If they ask for tests, see if they can do it that day. Ultrasound technicians can usually tell whether a node is okay and blood test results are analysed day of, so if something were wrong, you'd find out
I had a node scare late last year. My doctor offered an ultrasound and blood test to put my mind to rest and I got it done on the day. Go anyway, make sure you get your questions answered before your trip which sounds AMAZING. If they ask for tests, see if they can do it that day. Ultrasound technicians can usually tell whether a node is okay and blood test results are analysed day of, so if something were wrong, you'd find out
Thank you for your response :) Unfortunately I probably won't get the blood test the same day...it seems to take at least a couple days :weep:
Also I thought blood tests didn't show anything with lymphoma?
So nothing I posted on your other thread about this made any sense or quelled your fear at all? Well that'll teach me eh? :shrug:
Go enjoy your trip.
Positive thoughts
So nothing I posted on your other thread about this made any sense or quelled your fear at all? Well that'll teach me eh? :shrug:
Go enjoy your trip.
Positive thoughts
It actually did, and I slept well last night...then this morning when I woke up kind of sweaty even though I didn't have a ton of blankets and started worrying about lymphoma again :weep:
It actually did, and I slept well last night...then this morning when I woke up kind of sweaty even though I didn't have a ton of blankets and started worrying about lymphoma again :weep:
I've always sweated when I sleep. I still do, but when I got sick, it turned into drenching, soak the bed, change the sheets, head to toe sweats. "Kind of sweaty" is not that :lac:
Enjoy your trip... pics or it didn't happen!
Positive thoughts
I've always sweated when I sleep. I still do, but when I got sick, it turned into drenching, soak the bed, change the sheets, head to toe sweats. "Kind of sweaty" is not that :lac:
Enjoy your trip... pics or it didn't happen!
Positive thoughts
Okay I will be sure to hop on here and post a few pics :)
So then a damp bed and damp back doesn't qualify as "drenched"...correct?
So then a damp bed and damp back doesn't qualify as "drenched"...correct?
Does it?
Positive thoughts
Does it?
Positive thoughts
I don't understand...lol. I don't think it qualifies as drenched, but honestly I have no baseline to compare it to since I haven't always been a "sweaty" person at night. :shrug:
I don't understand...lol. I don't think it qualifies as drenched, but honestly I have no baseline to compare it to since I haven't always been a "sweaty" person at night. :shrug:
C'mon CG... Seriously? :huh: Look up the definition of the words damp and drenched for goodness sakes!
Otherwise, just go to the doctor if you really need to. I'll alert the "Told ya so gang" :D
Positive thoughts
C'mon CG... Seriously? :huh: Look up the definition of the words damp and drenched for goodness sakes!
Otherwise, just go to the doctor if you really need to. I'll alert the "Told ya so gang" :D
Positive thoughts
Thanks Fishmanpa. I'll keep this updated and try to remember to post some pics from Rome!
C'mon CG... Seriously? :huh: Look up the definition of the words damp and drenched for goodness sakes!
Otherwise, just go to the doctor if you really need to. I'll alert the "Told ya so gang" :D
Positive thoughts
UPDATE: So I originally had an appointment really early tomorrow morning but I was able to get an appointment for this evening. He felt the node under my chin and the nodes by my groin. He said they were moveable, which is good and that they were small.
He told me he wanted to take blood to check for an infection, even though I told him that my blood work that tested for infection and the basic blood count stuff was done a month ago and was perfect. I asked him what happens if there's not an infection? And he just said then we might do a CT scan and refer you to a specialist.
Then he did an ultrasound and measured them and two of them were 1 cm and the other node was 0.5 cm. So that is within the normal size range. Even though I thought they were all over 1 cm, they definitely are 1 cm or smaller.
He said that they are smooth and don't look "invasive" in other words they don't look cancerous. And when I asked him if he thinks it's cancer, he shook his head and said no. So he said that's all good news.
I asked him if he thought it was anything serious? And he said no. He told me that if he thought it was something serious/cancer he would have ordered an MRI for me right away. And then he told me to "sleep well" and that he would take care of the rest.
He also told me that he understands, that he had surgery on his spine and had an MRI done for that and there were a bunch of large neck lymph nodes. He said he panicked and had all sorts of tests done to make sure it was nothing serious.
After the ultrasound he said that we'll see about the blood tests results and then depending on what the results are we will go from there. He said "If there is something to find, I will find it. If there's nothing to find, then I won't find it." And then he mentioned that if the blood work is fine and a CT scan doesn't find anything then he can't offer me an explanation, it might just be that those lymph nodes are bigger and there's nothing to worry about.
SO....I'm glad that he's so understanding and everything and that he seems to not be too worried. BUT...if he is telling the truth that he doesn't think it's cancer, why would he mention the possibility of a CT scan? Wouldn't that only be something you do if you're worried that it's cancer?
To put your mind at ease?
To put your mind at ease?
You're saying he would say something about a CT scan to put my mind at ease? Is that what you think he meant?
Yeah, if my last doctor's appointment had gone as well as yours, I would be over the moon. Just enjoy that he gave you all but a clean bill of health and don't worry about it.
Obsessing over a medical professional's wording of explanation is just a ticket back onto the anxiety train. He didn't order the CT scan once with the mention of cancer. Without being a doctor, I cannot pretend to know what he might be looking for, but there could be a 100 things.
My son had swollen glands that size and larger all over for years, and it was never anything. I learned about them this morning actually, a technical term called shotty glands. It is a benign condition where the glands enlarge for whatever reason and don't shrink again.
Yes, doctors do. The fact he's not concerned, and is addressing your fears by doing said tests, means he's doing his job. My doctor routinely says "you've nothing to worry about, but we will do a test if it puts your mind at ease". They've always came back negative or nothing found
UPDATE: So I originally had an appointment really early tomorrow morning but I was able to get an appointment for this evening. He felt the node under my chin and the nodes by my groin. He said they were moveable, which is good and that they were small.
He told me he wanted to take blood to check for an infection, even though I told him that my blood work that tested for infection and the basic blood count stuff was done a month ago and was perfect. I asked him what happens if there's not an infection? And he just said then we might do a CT scan and refer you to a specialist.
Then he did an ultrasound and measured them and two of them were 1 cm and the other node was 0.5 cm. So that is within the normal size range. Even though I thought they were all over 1 cm, they definitely are 1 cm or smaller.
He said that they are smooth and don't look "invasive" in other words they don't look cancerous. And when I asked him if he thinks it's cancer, he shook his head and said no. So he said that's all good news.
I asked him if he thought it was anything serious? And he said no. He told me that if he thought it was something serious/cancer he would have ordered an MRI for me right away. And then he told me to "sleep well" and that he would take care of the rest.
https://media.giphy.com/media/3ohzdLsbTLgJ7r4gIE/giphy.gif
Brought to you by your friendly neighborhood "Told ya so gang" ;)
Positive thoughts
Yeah, if my last doctor's appointment had gone as well as yours, I would be over the moon. Just enjoy that he gave you all but a clean bill of health and don't worry about it.
Obsessing over a medical professional's wording of explanation is just a ticket back onto the anxiety train. He didn't order the CT scan once with the mention of cancer. Without being a doctor, I cannot pretend to know what he might be looking for, but there could be a 100 things.
My son had swollen glands that size and larger all over for years, and it was never anything. I learned about them this morning actually, a technical term called shotty glands. It is a benign condition where the glands enlarge for whatever reason and don't shrink again.
I am trying to not worry about it.
---------- Post added at 21:18 ---------- Previous post was at 21:04 ----------
Yes, doctors do. The fact he's not concerned, and is addressing your fears by doing said tests, means he's doing his job. My doctor routinely says "you've nothing to worry about, but we will do a test if it puts your mind at ease". They've always came back negative or nothing found
Okay, yes you're right. Since he mentioned that I looked nervous and upset more than once during my appointment, I am just worried that he's lying that he doesn't think it's serious.
Your doctor sounds awesome and all you can do is suggest he's a liar...
That all sounds super-reassuring to me.
I am just worried that he's lying that he doesn't think it's serious.
So your worried a medical professional that takes an oath to treat patients would open himself up to a malpractice suit by lying? :lac: :doh:
Please just enjoy your trip :D
Positive thoughts
I understand why some of you might be frustrated with me with how I’ve reacted to what my doctor said. Two things: I guess I am still worried about why I am sweaty in the mornings often. Like most days. I talked to my husband about this and he said maybe you’re using too many blankets etc. I do like to go to bed feeling toasty warm, but I don’t feel too hot or anything but then I wake up sweaty. I did find that a few times that I didn’t use as many blankets I didn’t sweat. But then there are times like last night when I wore a tank top and short pants instead of a full pajama set and I only used a sheet and a light blanket (it’s winter!) and I woke up sweaty a couple hours later and used the sheet and blanket to only cover half of me instead of all of me and then this morning my sheets were damp!
I have unfortunately (awhile ago) read stories of people who have lymphoma who were waking up slightly sweaty in the mornings and then this turned into being drenched. OR they never had the drenching sweats, it was always a slightly sweaty feeling. So I’m like great maybe that’s me. This has been happening most days for the past YEAR, maybe year and a half.
The other thing I am having trouble with is after every other doctors appointment I’ve been to where they said nothing’s wrong with me, I’ve felt immense relief and have been able to quell my fears about whatever it is: breast cancer, brain tumor, etc. BUT for whatever reason I can’t with this one! It makes me feel like there’s a “reason” for me still being worried about it, like I really do have lymphoma.
My weight has been odd too. I lost 12 lbs (about 5.5 kg) since September. I have been in an anxiety spiral this whole time which made me lose my appetite for part of that time and I was walking more, so that might explain some of the weight loss, but I was working out before and didn’t lose weight nearly as easily! Later my appetite came back and I ate more and ate a lot of junk and ended up gaining some weight but not as much as I feel I normally would! Only about 6 lbs/2.7 kg! I am still walking more than I was but I haven’t done a HIIT workout in months! I would think I’d lose more doing HIIT but the Weight came off much slower! And I’ve now lost 3 lbs/1.3 kg over the past few days when yesterday I didn’t eat that much but the day before I ate 1600 calories...none of it makes sense, my body seems to be losing weight with hardly any effort anymore and it’s scaring the hell out of me that it’s because of cancer! :weep::weep:
unsure_about_this
11-01-18, 14:16
Yes I been to GP before I been away when I been worried about my testicles.
Yes I been to GP before I been away when I been worried about my testicles.
What?
---------- Post added at 17:52 ---------- Previous post was at 15:32 ----------
[/COLOR]Could anyone read my post above and give me some insight...? Please :weep:
Could anyone read my post above and give me some insight...? Please :weep:
I did previously but the hunger is great with your dragon :weep:
Good luck... Hope you feel better soon.
Positive thoughts
MyNameIsTerry
11-01-18, 17:12
Yes, doctors do. The fact he's not concerned, and is addressing your fears by doing said tests, means he's doing his job. My doctor routinely says "you've nothing to worry about, but we will do a test if it puts your mind at ease". They've always came back negative or nothing found
Sadly the false economy of GP's in feeding reassurance seeking behaviour. But I agree with what you are saying about the OP's doctor.
OP - as another poster said, this is the anxiety. It will raise questions and for some it can include even paranoid thoughts about people choosing to spike tests, switch tests, lie, etc. Let's remember we are talking about a subconscious process built to protect us from danger therefore it's job is to cycle through every options from the doctor missing something to whether he is an evil nutcase.
Some don't seem to have thoughts that go this far but others do. But try to examine it dispassionately. Do you trust this doctor? What would be the motive? What is the probability?
And don't get sucked into a cycle of berating yourself for thinking it either. We think all sorts of bizarre things all the time, don't entertain them. Recognise it like the process is just running through a load of options which the conscious mind can choose to dismiss as nonsense. If you engage negatively with it, it sucks you in.
---------- Post added at 17:12 ---------- Previous post was at 17:04 ----------
What? :roflmao:
---------- Post added at 17:52 ---------- Previous post was at 15:32 ----------
Could anyone read my post above and give me some insight...? Please :weep:
I think he was answering the original part of the thread. His testicle worries have been a major source of anxiety for him for a while.
happybunny13
11-01-18, 17:25
Ur night sweats might be due to your high anxiety. If you feel anxious when you go to sleep you will have anxious dreams and may make you sweat more. For your health anxiety I suggest cbt its helped me
Sent from my F3111 using Tapatalk
Sadly the false economy of GP's in feeding reassurance seeking behaviour. But I agree with what you are saying about the OP's doctor.
OP - as another poster said, this is the anxiety. It will raise questions and for some it can include even paranoid thoughts about people choosing to spike tests, switch tests, lie, etc. Let's remember we are talking about a subconscious process built to protect us from danger therefore it's job is to cycle through every options from the doctor missing something to whether he is an evil nutcase.
Some don't seem to have thoughts that go this far but others do. But try to examine it dispassionately. Do you trust this doctor? What would be the motive? What is the probability?
And don't get sucked into a cycle of berating yourself for thinking it either. We think all sorts of bizarre things all the time, don't entertain them. Recognise it like the process is just running through a load of options which the conscious mind can choose to dismiss as nonsense. If you engage negatively with it, it sucks you in.
---------- Post added at 17:12 ---------- Previous post was at 17:04 ----------
I think he was answering the original part of the thread. His testicle worries have been a major source of anxiety for him for a while.
You are absolutely correct. I will try to believe that it’s jus my anxiety. I am guessing that my anxiety is causing the weight fluctuations and sweating as well.
Also oops about that post, I didn’t understand at first. Now I feel like a jerk ☹️
---------- Post added at 18:51 ---------- Previous post was at 18:49 ----------
Ur night sweats might be due to your high anxiety. If you feel anxious when you go to sleep you will have anxious dreams and may make you sweat more. For your health anxiety I suggest cbt its helped me
Sent from my F3111 using Tapatalk
Thank you for your response. I am actually seeing a therapist who is doing CBT but he is mostly focusing on the abuse I suffered as a child, which he thinks is the root of why I have such a huge anxiety/HA problem. But the HA is what’s really bothering me right now so I have to challenge the thoughts I guess? He just wants to focus on my childhood and how I feel about myself...
happybunny13
11-01-18, 17:56
I thought psychotherapists focus on your past and what may be the route cause of your anxiety and cbt focuses on your thought pattern and how to change these thoughts. That was my understanding of two? If you feel it isant helping in the way you wish maybe suggest helping your health anxiety?
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I think he is doing a combo of both then because he is telling me to reframe my thoughts too
---------- Post added at 19:01 ---------- Previous post was at 18:59 ----------
Yes I been to GP before I been away when I been worried about my testicles.
Thank you for your response. I read it wrong and thought you might have posted on the wrong thread. I ended up going to my doctor before my trip anyway and I think it helped some with my anxiety.:)
MyNameIsTerry
12-01-18, 05:37
You are absolutely correct. I will try to believe that it’s jus my anxiety. I am guessing that my anxiety is causing the weight fluctuations and sweating as well.
Also oops about that post, I didn’t understand at first. Now I feel like a jerk ☹️
Don't worry, he's a good guy so I'm sure he will understand. Just wanted to let you know as you won't have seen his past posts, just in case.
Sorry to hear you suffered abuse as a child. Whilst dealing with correcting your thinking that sounds like it will be a very important factor as that's bound to be a big source of self esteem/confidence issues that will feed an anxiety disorder. A dual strategy sounds a good approach.
CBT is used for many things that we don't often realise. It's spawned newer versions more geared towards disorders that form in earlier years so having a therapist trained in multiple modalities, and other forms of psychotherapy, is good news as they can do some tailoring for you.
Okay guys I’m back from Rome! I had kind of a terrible time since I’ve been spending my time worried sick that I have cancer. I didn’t wake up sweaty at any point but the room was colder than I’m used to and I tried less blankets and lighter pajamas. So basically I went to bed feeling colder than I normally am comfortable with, which is toasty warm.
I’ve been monitoring my lymph nodes and I don’t think they’ve grown but who’s to say, maybe they have? I’ve had dull pain in my groin area but I’m not sure if it’s lymph node related or gas...I seem to be getting a LOT of gas lately...don’t know why. I’m also getting random dull armpit pain...? i’m worried that this is lymph node pain in my armpit! But I haven’t been able to feel any lymph nodes in my armpit yet....
Then I woke up from a nap today at home and only my legs were slightly sweaty but I had warmer leggings on and just a t shirt on the upper half of me. That caused me to freak out a bit though because it’s not that warm in my room.
I have a constant tight throat and feel like there’s a gas bubble or something stuck in my throat...it’s very uncomfortable. I am not sure why it is but I think it’s becausd I’m worried about all this.
Also I keep worrying about what my doctor said to me. He said: “if there is something to find, we will find it. If there isn’t, then we won’t.” And then he said something along the lines of “I’ll be here for all of it” like the tests and stuff). I didn’t think much of this until I read someone blog about lymphoma where their doctor was like “i’ll Be here for you no matter what!” But hadn’t told him that he thought he might have lymphoma. So I’m like GREAT—sounds like what MY doctor said, so maybe he didn’t want to worry me without a confirmed diagnosis! He wouldn’t say he’s wondering if lymphoma is a possibility when it’s only a possibility at this point because he doesn’t want to worry me for possibly no reason! That’s what doctors and nurses are trained to do—to downplay things unless something is CONFIRMED!
Also, having trouble finding accurate information on the net—several places say 1 cm or smaller is normal for a lymph node and for the groin it’s 1.5 cm or smaller. Mine are 1 cm or smaller. My husband keeps telling me that if I had lymphoma then at the very least my lymph nodes would be swollen/enlarged like every internet site says...BUT I don’t know if they are swollen or not! Husband says you read that it was 1 cm and 1.5 cm for the groin, so yours are normal. My doctor didn’t say whether they were swollen/enlarged or not. And OKAY WHY did my doctor ask me if I’ve had any infections recently? If they weren’t swollen/enlarged then he wouldn’t ask that...because lymph nodes enlarge when you have an infection! So they must not be a normal size then! I DON’T KNOW but I am extremely worried and scared :weep:
Also since fishmanpa said pics or didn’t happen...
Also since fishmanpa said pics or didn’t happen...
NICE! :D
Positive thoughts
Oh my god I’m so nervous. I went to the dermatologist today since I had the melanoma fear and I was all clear. HOWEVER I asked her about this skin-colored round bump above my pubic area that has been there for like 2 years. I thought she would know and say a cyst or something but no, she has no idea, just like my internal medicine doctor had no idea. She said maybe a small lymph node? OF COURSE SHE WOULD SAY THAT :scared15: now I’m like if that’s a lymph node that’s not in an area that I’m supposed to be able to feel and it’s further fueling my panic and fear about lymphoma. I’m going to ask my internal medicine doctor today to ultrasound it but honestly guys I’m extremely scared because I have read lymphoma can grow slowly and also sometimes it’s not that the lymph nodes grow, more just “pop up”. And I don’t know how long I’ve been able to feel my groin lymph nodes. So I just don’t know!
Oh and apparently shortness of breath is a symptom as well and I’ve been feeling that way on and off for a few months now! I don’t know if that is because of ANXIETY or LYMPHOMA but I don’t like this at all 😭 I’m so scared 😭😭😭
UPDATE: Okay so I went back to the doctor for blood test results. He said that the small bump above my pubic area is a lymph node, but he can't see it on the ultrasound. He said that's a good thing...? :shrug: He went over the blood test results with me and there were a few values that were outside the normal range. The erythrocyte count was slightly above (5.11, so outside the range by 0.01) and there was another value that was outside the range by 0.01 but I can't remember what. A couple months ago my erythrocyte range was within the normal range so I don't know why it's not anymore. He didn't seem concerned because the values were barely out of range. However, my lymphocyte count was low I guess, but once again he wasn't concerned because it wasn't by much (although it seemed like a lot to me), the result was 22, but the range is apparently 24-40. I am pretty concerned about this, although he said that he wasn't concerned because of the rest of the values and that it's not that far out of range, but I think it is :unsure: I'm also confused because when I googled the lymphocyte range, a website said that it was 20-40, so then my result would be within the normal range...? Right? :unsure:
He told me that up to now, everything looks fine, and then he said he would refer me for a CT scan, and I asked if this was necessary, and he said "No, but I can see that when you get home you won't listen to what I said and will keep thinking about it so I'm referring you to ease your mind". I told him I was worried about lymphoma and I asked him if he thinks it's that and he just said "No". And after asking him a ton of questions and asking him again if it's cancer (he again said "no"), he tells me: "If it was cancer or something was really wrong, I would tell you. That's my job. So far nothing has come up."
In regards to my weight loss fears, I asked if he thinks it's my anxiety, and he said yes. He also said that people with cancer don't gain any of that weight back (I only gained a few pounds back but I'm happy if this is true).
He told me that I have to stop poking around because my body won't be perfect everywhere and I will just find something else and worry. He said I can't keep doing this because I will go crazy.
So...I am feeling a little better but also a little worried still because of the CT scan and also because of the blood test results that are slightly out of normal range. Thoughts??
Confused why you need our thoughts. Sounds like you have a great doctor who's explained things well, is thorough, and isn't concerned. You don't need our permission to be reassured by all that.
Confused why you need our thoughts. Sounds like you have a great doctor who's explained things well, is thorough, and isn't concerned. You don't need our permission to be reassured by all that.
Because I am worried about the out of range blood test results...especially the lymphocytes, 2 seems like a lot to be out of range:unsure:
Confused why you need our thoughts. Sounds like you have a great doctor who's explained things well, is thorough, and isn't concerned. You don't need our permission to be reassured by all that.
Exactly! To even have a niggle of doubt is frankly and with respect, absurd!
You got fantastic news! FANTASTIC NEWS! Now go look into help with your anxiety :)
Positive thoughts
Because I am worried about the out of range blood test results...especially the lymphocytes, 2 seems like a lot to be out of range:unsure:
This isn't a forum about poring over the minute details of test results, it's about anxiety and that's the advice you'll get.
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