Once again I’ve found myself back here with a new issue that Doctor Google has really scared me with. I’m hoping I might get better advice on here.
Firstly, I’ve just realised I never updated after my last post regarding my repeat full blood count. Well thankfully, that came back normal.
However, nearly 3 weeks ago I discovered a really large swollen lymph node in my left groin area. It seemed to appear overnight but it was like a grape and stuck out a fair bit under my skin. I noticed a small inflamed patch close by where my skin felt a bit sore and assumed it must be related and the area was initially tender to touch. Anyway, me being me, I was off to the doctor two days later to get it checked out. She said it was definitely a swollen lymph node and she didn’t seem overly concerned but said she couldn’t see any sign of infection despite the small inflamed patch. She told me she would see me again in 6 weeks to review things.
Now everything I can find online suggests if it’s nothing to worry about it will have disappeared in 1 or 2 weeks. It has reduced significantly in size since I first noticed it, probably by just over half, but it will be 3 weeks on Saturday and it still hasn’t disappeared. It is now pea sized in comparison to the grape size it began as. Do swollen lymph nodes take longer than 2 weeks to go down in some cases or should I contact my GP again after the weekend if it hasn’t disappeared?
Sorry as I know that I am waffling on but waiting for 6 weeks before seeing the GP again has worried me if it’s anything that should really be looked at again sooner.
As always, I thank you all for taking the time to read this and any replies or advice you may have. I do have severe health anxiety which with all the many issues I seem to have had over the last couple of years just keeps getting worse.
Hi @EmilyF40
Google isn’t representative of everyone just some studies of some people
Our bodies are unique to us and respond in its own way to recovery be that 1-2 weeks 3-4 5-6 7-8 etc
Your lymph nodes are unique to you.
I would say if your worried bring your GP appointment forward
You say it’s gone from grape size to pea size that’s sounds positive
Hi @EmilyF40 thanks for updating us.
As you say you have severe health anxiety, and perhaps even though it appears your swollen lymph node is diminishing in size, and you have a doctors appointment in 3 weeks, is your health anxiety going to get worse if you do not get an appointment sooner.
Does your doctor know about your health anxiety and can they help you with it?
Be ever so kind to yourself @EmilyF40, waiting and not knowing is absolutely horrible
Please do let us know how you get on xx
Thank you @Erica and @2DB. I think sometimes I get myself so worked up in my head that I need to get it all out somewhere before I explode and this group seems like a really safe and non-judgemental place to do it.
I’m going away for a couple of nights this weekend so I’m going to try and forget about it. If it hasn’t reduced in size any more by the middle of next week I will contact my GP.
I really hope it’s a good sign that’s it’s decreased in size despite still being there.
I think they are aware of my health anxiety. I rarely seem to get a break from having something health related to worry about. I wish I could be one of those people who takes everything in their stride without worrying. My husband is like that. He would have given the swollen lymph node several weeks to see if it went down before going to the doctors. I am the complete opposite. I discovered my lump Saturday night and was at my GP surgery Monday morning.
Anyway, thank you for being kind enough to respond. This really is a lovely group.
@EmilyF40 i see you and I hear you
Anxiety in any form is debilitating.
Have you accessed any counselling?
I’m a single mum and very used to dealing with everything myself and being “strong”
I ended up asking for help as I couldn’t get myself back from having a diagnosis and through treatment.
It’s the best 18 months I invested into myself.
I also dealt with historical issues from childhood and blaming myself for circumstances beyond my control.
I can now see I have always had anxiety masked up in smiling like nothing was happening to me
Stress from anxiety isn’t good for our immune system either so try if you can to do something like mindfullness
You can check out Breathworks on YouTube
It’s not a quick fix I’m have been doing it for 4 years and I still have wobbly days.
Try and do little things like a nice warm shower with your favourite gel
A nice cup of coffee
A warm fluffy blanket
Great response @2DB and I can now see that I have also always had anxiety masked up in my default smiling mask like nothing was happening to me. I was brought up not to show emotions, it was seen as a sign of weakness. Thanks so much, yes be really kind to yourself too and please do keep posting
Hi Emily hope your doing well, I think we’re in the same situation . I noticed my urine is foamy especially in them morning, I tested negative protein in urine 4time but the anxiety and anxious is always there everytime myurine foamy
Hi @Rey so glad that you have found us.
Sorry to ask the questions below but it would be great to hear more about you.
I am wondering if you been diagnosed with a blood cancer?
Your anxiety really comes through from your posts, what has your medical person who ordered the urine tests said?
I look forward to hearing more about you.
If you would like any assistance with your anxiety your GP might be an idea.
The Blood Cancer UK support line is there for you on 0808 2080 888.
Really look after and be very kind to yourself and please do let us know how you get on.
Hi @Rey I completely understand how you are feeling. I have just decided to leave things with regard to my urine unless it suddenly changes or gets worse. I’ve had several clear urine analysis’s. I recently had a CT scan on my lower abdomen and chest (for something else not related to my urine but it was clear all over which reassured me a bit more). I’ve also had another load of blood tests including calcium again and all is fine so I’m now thinking it’s just something to monitor. Will be around 2 years now since I first started to notice the bubbles. My urine has more bubbles in the morning usually but I know that it’s more concentrated then. I also have friends who say they have frothy/bubbly urine sometimes and none of them seem to be concerned. I made myself so stressed and miserable over it for a long time so now I have decided to just monitor it and maybe ask for another urine analysis to see if anything has changed in a few months time. Have you had any blood work checked or any other symptoms? X
Hi Emily , I dont have any symptoms at all only the bubbles in my urine, when the doctor said my urine is normal I felt good but everytime I saw the urine bubbles the anxiety and anxious all day that keeps my self unhappy, not motivated
The doctor only test my renal and liver function test 4 ago and he don’t mentioned anything bad he said it’s normal and nothing to worry about , in my result egfr 81. Creatinine is 1.18 which is borderline Something, liver is normal but globulin and total.protien is little bit high
Hi @Rey my eGFR has fluctuated between 79 and 90 for over 10 years and my creatinine is always just above the limit. I made myself so miserable over it all that it began to consume me. I’ve had lots of tests and bloods done in the last couple of years and nothing has flagged any cause for concern x
Hi @EmilyF40 and @Rey I will copy your posts to the Blood Cancer nurses for their thoughts for you both. @EmilyF40 I was really struck by what great personal insight you have into your personal stress and what was making you miserable and even more so that you have done something about it.
Yes, be ever so kind to yourselves both of you and please do let us know how you are both getting on.
emotional stress and fear make us sick, just be positive eat well balance more in vegetable and fruits and avoid unhealthy foods. God Bless you and your family @emilyF40