Hi, I’m a 31 year old male, generally fit and well albeit slightly over weight but have been dieting and exercising for the last 3 months, lost nearly 2 stone. I became a father nearly 11 months ago so I’ve been trying to improve my lifestyle so I can keep up with my little man and be around for as long as possible. I do not smoke and I rarely drink.
Anyway, recently (for about 3/4 months) I have not been feeling myself physically, mostly thought it was due to the new diet and exercise so wasn’t worried. But, I ended up having back to back colds and coughs, sore throats, achy bones and just generally feeling unwell, almost consistently, I again downplayed this to the fact the my son was now at nursery so I must be picking up all of the bugs from there. Then, around 2 weeks ago, I was at work and I had a lot of lower pain and pain in my chest that made it very difficult to breathe, I also had a temp of 42 degrees. I called 111 and I ultimately ended up in hospital, after blood tests were done it showed that I was a lung and kidney infection, I was sent away with some very strong antibiotics, advised to rest and take pain killers. Since this, I have not gotten fully better, I went for blood tests after being on the antibiotics as advised by the doctor. I have since had the results and it’s showing that I have a low white cell count amongst some other bits and bobs that were showing up red but the Dr didn’t really go through them. He is sending me for further blood tests in 2 weeks that have a lot of sample requests on there, ones that are common with blood cancer testing. I have, potentially ill minded, been looking at symptoms of blood cancer and I essentially hit all of the nails on the head. I am always tired and never refreshed after sleep or rest. My recent bruises stay around for a long time. I have regular pain in my lower abdomen, I feel generally unwell and I currently have a nasty flu like cold and cough. I also have little to no appetite, which is vastly unlike me. I sweat profusely at night time and it’s almost like I have just poured water where I have been sleeping. Can anybody please shed any light on similar experiences or next steps? Am I likely to be going down the blood cancer pathway soon? I am absolutely petrified of what this could all mean.
Sorry for the length of the post and many thanks in advance for any support or questions answered that I may receive.
Welcome to this supportive forum. I am sorry to learn that you have been feeling unwell for some time.
You have done all the right things in seeking appropriate medical attention. There are many symptoms that could be linked to blood cancers but they could also be linked to many other factors also. I know it must be hard but I think you will have to await the results of the blood tests. Once you have received those you can then ask questions to your GP.
It sounds like you lead an active and healthy lifestyle (despite not feeling yourself recently). Try to keep that up, get all the tests done and then see what your GP has to say.
Thanks so much for your kind response. I am trying to lead an active lifestyle, I do have a very active job of the uniformed variety.
I guess it’s just a wait and see attitude for now, I think I just was slightly overcome as I ended up down the rabbit hole of symptoms and similar stories etc.
Again, thanks for your lovely words and I will keep the thread as up to date as I can, as and when I receive them.
Hi @Rich I am glad that you have found our supportive forum and that you are not feeling your usual self.
We are not able to give answers to medical questions, that needs to be your Dr who knows you and your whole medical history.
As @SarahMum says so well unfortunately blood cancers and many other conditions share very generic symptoms.
It sounds as if you are having a lot of tests and all tests are to rule conditions in or out.
You are human so you are going to worry about the unknown and the waiting will seem never ending.
However it does give you the opportunity to write down your fears, questions and practicalities
Please do let us know how you get on and enjoy your son.
Look after yourselves and please do keep posting
It is understandable when you are worried about symptoms. I remember when my daughter was diagnosed her consultant told us to not go off and ‘Google’ as we would end up very worried and confused.
As lovely @Erica has said, it is positive that lots of tests are being run to rule things out. The waiting is so difficult but I can imagine your little son must keep you busy as well as your job.
Hey @Rich,
How are you doing today? I can see you’ve had some really brilliant and wise support already. We really appreciate how hard the waiting can be. You must feel very in limbo and of course worried. As others have also mentioned, the fact that tests have been arranged is really reassuring as your doctors will be able to get to the bottom of this for you soon.
When you are back at your GP in 2 weeks time you might want to ask about next steps. Our webpage which talks about signs & symptoms also has some practical questions you can perhaps raise with your GP: If you go to get checked out, here are some questions you might want to ask your doctor:
I’m worried about blood cancer – is that something you can rule out?
Do I need a blood test?
Do I need a lymph node biopsy?
Do I need any scans?
Do you need to take a urine sample?
As my symptoms might be blood cancer, can I be referred for tests on the two-week suspected cancer pathway?
In the meantime Rich, keep yourself busy where possible which I would imagine is quite easy with a little one on your hands and do call us at any point for support.
Sorry I’ve not updated for a while. I had my blood tests on Wednesday, the Dr then called me the next morning asking me to come for an appointment. I couldn’t come in on the Thursday as I had my son with me. So I have been to the doctors this morning, it seems to be something wrong with my liver rather than blood itself at the moment. There was all sorts of stuff showing up on my blood tests that were about my liver etc.
I’m currently sat in hospital after being sent up here by the Dr waiting for ultrasound/scans etc.
So more than likely not blood cancer but could still be anything. Hope you’re well
Thanks for the update @Rich I expect that the not knowing definitely is still playing on your mind, it would me.
However it seems that you are still having tests to rule things in or out.
I am also having an ultrasound tomorrow, but on other organs, yes, on a Saturday.
There certainly is a lot of waiting around, although things are happening, isn’t there.
Please do keep posting and really look after yourself
Thanks for getting back to us with an update. I am sorry to learn you are still having lots of tests but it is good they are being thorough to determine what’s going on in your body.
We are doing okay thank you. My daughter has finished her online exams that she missed last year due to her diagnosis. Early this morning she flew out to Cyprus with a friend to enjoy a week in the sunshine
Take things easy and do let us know how you get on.
Hi @SarahMum and @2DBthanks so much for your good wishes.
You know what it is like I went for more tests on my heart and get told that I have a leaking cyst on my kidney and a hiatus hernia as well, hence the ultrasound !!!
Just going to drink 2 pts of water and off I go, and not to the loo, you have to laugh, but best not too…
