Should I push for referral?

Worried you might have a blood cancer?
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Morning

I have been unwell for nearly 2 years now. Began with dizziness and bruising. Gp referred me to haemotology but was refused. I’ve been refused twice and my gp has also done multiple requests for advice to haemotology.

Symptoms have got progressively worse. In November 2024 I was diagnosed with hashimotos thyroid disease and thought OK that’s it sorted. But I’m still not well and last week I saw a gp who unbeknownst to me, specialises in haemotology and blood science and he wasn’t happy with my symptoms and ordered various bloods and a chest xray.

To try and cut a long story short, my symptoms/results are as follows :

Over 4 stone weight loss (approx 13 stone to 8.5 stone) hashimotos should cause weight gain so that has caused confusion with Dr’s.

Double vision in both eyes

Bruising

Excessive bleeding eg even the tiniest spot will bleed

Night sweats

Headaches

Swollen ankles

Skin rashes

Fatigue

Nodules in right thyroid lobe

Enlarged lymph node right groin

Recurrent cough

Keep losing my voice

Recurrent temperature above 38

High platelets (517)

Slightly raised red blood cells (5.2 - 5.7)

Recurrent infections

Slightly low mch and mcv

Borderline high haemotacrit

High crp

On my latest bloods it says

Differential confirmed on blood film

Platelet count confirmed on film

Not sure if that is rele vant x

Sorry I realise that’s a lot of info, I’ve got a telephone appointment on Monday morning with gp regarding latest bloods as platelets are higher, but has anyone got any advice? Should I be pushing for any further testing? Could this all just be thyroid? My symptoms don’t seem to correlate with hashimotos but appreciate everyone is different. When this first started my gp was concerned about blood cancers, hence the referral to haemotology. And now the gp last week has concerns about blood.

I had a private jak2 test last year and that was negative so that’s one thing ruled out.

Any advice would be appreciated x

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Hi @Caitlinbee welcome to our forum.
I can really understand how anxious you feel, it is that waiting and not knowing for me.
You say you have a telephone appointment on Monday morning.
This will give you the opportunity now to write down all your fears, questions and practicalities.
You also have a lot of information ready in your post above.
My trick is to be pleasantly assertive and ask for responses that you understand.
I think that it is so difficult with very generic symptoms to make a diagnosis and all tests are to rule conditions in or out and we are all very unique, complex beings.
You can always ask for a second opinion or a referral.
In the mean time really look after and be kind to yourself and please do let us know how you get on.

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Dear @Caitlinbee,

Welcome to our forum.

I am sorry to hear that you have been unwell for these past couple of years. It sounds like you’re having a difficult time - thank you for sharing a little bit about your situation with us.

Given you have posted here, I suspect that you are worried about blood cancer and in view of all the symptoms you are experiencing, I would suggest discussing these concerns with your GP on Monday. I have enclosed a useful link here from our website on the signs and symptoms of Blood Cancer. It includes information on the questions to ask your doctor when you are worried and further tests that might be needed Blood Cancer Signs and Symptoms It is important to remember that most people who have symptoms described on this page won’t have blood cancer. But it’s important to find out what’s causing them.

It is good that you are finally going to speak with a doctor who has experience in haematology. He will be able to interpret your bloods for you. I would also suggest a face to face appointment with him so he can assess you and your symptoms properly if this has previously not happened.
Whilst you have had blood tests including the JAK2, have you had any other investigations such as a CT scan or an ultra sound guided biopsy of your enlarged lymph gland? This is something I would discuss with the GP on Monday. In regards to the infections, temperatures and high crp you have been experiencing. Have other bloods tests been performed such as virology and LDH? this might be worth discussing with the GP. Also, do you mind me asking if you have had any recent travel abroad in the past couple of years?

If it would help to talk this through in more detail @Caitlinbee, our specialist nursing support service line is open on 08082080 888 until 4pm today or from 10 am until 1pm tomorrow.

Please let us know how you get on.
Take care
Fiona

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Thank you for your reply.
No other bloods.
Had thyroid ultrasound which said “The thyroid is hypoechoic, diffusely heterogeneous echotexture with
hypoechoic micronodules (1-7 mm) with surrounding echogenic septation. The
capsule appears thinned, partially visible. Color Doppler shows marked diffuse
hypervascularity.”
No travel abroad, haven’t been well enough to do much to be honest. Will try and think of what I want to ask the Dr on Monday. I saw him last week and he was concerned with my presentation hence the further tests (first time jd met him)

Thank you

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Apologies I did have ldh checked that was raised

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