Dr.'s not doing anything .. I'm getting worse

For over 6 months I have been in to see my doctor complaining how tired I was all the time and how I just didn't feel like myself. He ran cbc said all came back normal and to come back if things did not improve. Every time I went to see him the same thing. I did have an elevated while blood count on one of my visits but the doc said it was probably just the common cold. Well in the past 2 months things had gotten progressively worse. I went to see him and informed him of extreme weightloss, fatigue, heachaches,  and night sweats, almost like I had the flu or mono (which I had mono when I was in college a few years ago). He ran the same old blood work, but this time he noticed my a lymph node in my neck was larger than it was supposed to be. He ran so many tests the lab technician had to laugh and get out her book of codes and since they were rarely run. The results showed my lymph node count was high. But my TB test was normal, it was not mono, all the random tests he ran even for cat-scratch disease was negative. So the doc referred me to my ENT, hoping for a biopsy concerned it may be lymphoma due to my symptoms and how long I have been sick.

My ENT was a complete JERK! He is overloaded with patients and felt I shouldn't be in his office for a swollen lymph node (at this time I had had it for over a month). He ran more blood work testing for lyme disease and did an IGG syrum test to rule out a virus. All looked normal. Not lyme disease no sign of an infection or virus.

On my next visit to my physician, I explained how the ENT felt it wasn't his problem and did not even suggest a biopsy and when I mentiond it to him he seemed like I was nuts. The physician told me to keep my next appt and to tell him I was referred to him as the paperwork said for a lymph node biopsy.

So at my next visit my ENT completely treated me like I was nothing but trash! He started attacking me on why I was there, that this was not an ENT problem, that I probably just had a common cold. I was frustrated. At 22-years-old, I brought my mother for support, she told the doctor that we were referred to him like the physician had mentioned to him for a reason that her daughter is not healthy, that she sleeps all day can barely function at a normal level of life and is getting worse. The ENT refelt my lymph nodes and said "well yes, the right side here is much larger than it should be." I burst into tears two months since the docs discovered this node and still no answers?! He recommended a biopsy, but since there are only 2 surgery centers in Erie, Pa. he said it could take a month to get into surger, let alone another week to even get the surgery scheduled!

If anyone knows how this feels and has any ideas how to speed things up or improve my care please let me know. My physician is almost convinced it is lymphoma, he just needs to biopsy to officially diagnos it. This has been progressing for over 6 months. I don't think I can do another month of waiting let alone another day of feeling as worn out as I do. My body is completely exhausted. I just need to know if this is a normal doctor response to this or if maybe I should think of switching my care? Also any ideas how to get my biopsy sooner? Another month until they can even get in there to look at this node is rediculous after it being swollen for over 2 months!

I'm frustrated and losing hope here. My physician keeps telling me to hang in here that he will have answers for me soon enough, but is a month and a half really as soon as I should have them?

I am going through the exact same thing! I just had xrays and a crap load of blood taken yesterday.  I went to the er a couple weeks ago due to the same symptoms. Large lumps around my neck and armpit. losing weight, no appetite, havent eaten in 3 days. They told me to find a pcp. Went in and I told the doc that the hosp. couldnt rule out lymphoma. He laughed and said he highly doubted thats waht it was. After feeling the lumps he ordered the blood tests and xrays. Have u had any eye probs, leaking fluid from your hair line or any soreness in your armpitt? I keep posting questions but noone answers.

Hope you get results soon. I wont even know what the xrays say for another two weeks. Im stil in the waiting stage.

On 8/27/2009 pezzie1921 wrote:

I am going through the exact same thing! I just had xrays and a crap load of blood taken yesterday.  I went to the er a couple weeks ago due to the same symptoms. Large lumps around my neck and armpit. losing weight, no appetite, havent eaten in 3 days. They told me to find a pcp. Went in and I told the doc that the hosp. couldnt rule out lymphoma. He laughed and said he highly doubted thats waht it was. After feeling the lumps he ordered the blood tests and xrays. Have u had any eye probs, leaking fluid from your hair line or any soreness in your armpitt? I keep posting questions but noone answers.

Hope you get results soon. I wont even know what the xrays say for another two weeks. Im stil in the waiting stage.

I would recommend you spend your own money and see a 2nd opinion.  Pls ask for CT-scan ./ biopsy to determine where the cancer at.  I made the mistake for my mom as the doctors delayed 6-8 months and it was too late.  It spreaded to my mom's rib and spine.  She lasted only 9 months after they refused to treat her more.

 Check www.lungcancerclaims.com for more details to determine your symptoms and possible treatments.

BEst wishes,

V

I'm in almost the same position...

Like you, Im 'young' for cancer (21) and I feel the dr's arent taking my concerns seriously.

This may not help, but maybe youll feel like you arent alone in this.  heres my story:

Hi everyone;

I haven't offically been diagnosed with lymphoma ..yet. However, the oncologist I'm seeing gave me her personal opinion, that yes it's most likely lymphoma.
I'm having some issues with the choices my dr's are making, and have some serious questions that (after 6 months) have still not been answered.
As hindsight is 20/20 I suppose this all started about a year ago. I found a somewhat large bump (it STILL hasnt been looked at, but I can say its definitely over 1cm) behind my left ear. It resides about where your sunglasses would rest behind your ear. Upon seeing my GP she told me it was most likely a reactive node and not to be concerned.
Through the winter of 08' I was deathly ill, when I went to the clinic they told me it was tonsilitis, and not to really worry about antibiotics because your body can fight it off on its own. So that was that. After a few weeks I was back to normal but did notice that I was sleeping A LOT (sometimes up to 16-20 hrs straight). I toughed it out, and started to feel better.
In April of 09, after a great workout, I noticed a lump under my left arm. It was quite large, but not painful. I went to my GP again, and she sent me for an ultrasound. Upon ultrasound they found 6 swollen lymph nodes in my left armpit, the largest measuring 2cm. I was sent for a complete blood toxicology screening, everything came back fine, BUT i tested positive for the EBV virus. I concluded that I in fact had mono for the winter. However, because it had been 'gone' for 5 months, I shouldnt be experiencing the swollen lymph nodes still.
I was sent to an oncologist (who frustrates me beyond belief) who sent me for multiple tests, I've since had 4 ultrasounds and 6 blood tests, the results they found were that the lymph nodes in my left arm were 'shrinking' (really they're just waxing/waning, because they've come back in full force now), and my wbc and rbc have all been fine. I also had an aspirate biopsy done on my left arm, I'm not sure of the exact result, but I was told that it didn't show cancer.
HOWEVER, the last biopsy showed that now my right arm is being affected - with one swollen lymph node. Both breasts were clear.
Because of these 'okay' tests, I was told to wait a month, and make an appointment, have another ultrasound, and then possibly a complete axillary node dissection (as she mentioned that most of the time an aspirate isnt enough to diagnose lymphoma).
I've waited the month, and am about to go in for my next appointment. In the past month, things have gotten way worse. I can feel the 6 nodes in my left arm, and at LEAST 3 in my right arm, plus the one behind my left ear. I'm now in severe pain at points, I can only describe it to be a stabbing crippling pain, shooting through my arm and breast. Months ago, the pain only lasted for 2-3 seconds - it's now lasting 7-10 seconds and is much more intense, not to mention it's through both sides now. I have minimal pain in the lymph node behind my ear.
Because I have had so many positive tests, the dr's are brushing me off, however I have a really bad feeling about this. I know I know my body better than anyone, and I know that something isn't right.

Im not sure where Im going to go next.. maybe a 2nd opinion?  This is the toughest battle I've ever fought and I havent even been 'diagnosed' yet.

Good Luck!

And if you'd like - add me to msn -

, at least then you'll have someone your age to talk to!