Your Back Pain Cause And Cure Guide

My symptoms:

3 swollen lymph nodes:
-The largest, 2-3 inches long located on/near the carotid artery on the right side of my neck. It has been active for maybe 2 years, possibly growing. It has never reduced in size since I’ve noticed it.

-Second largest, 1-2 inches long located just above my collar bone, also on the right side.

-Third noticeable node is on the left side, middle of my neck. It is about the size of a pea, but of course more bean shaped(long).

Misc symptoms:
-Petechiae located on various parts of my body. All are quite small and have existed for more than a year. They have never gone away in this time. Definitely not a rash.

-Shortness of breath randomly throughout the day with no real trigger. Occasionally exercise will induce it, but other times heavy exertion will NOT trigger it. Has been going off and on for maybe half a year, went "dormant" for a few months(while I was exercising and in better overall health).

-Urinary issues, namely I seem to have particles in my urine. The frequency of my need to go has increased as well.

That’s basically it, a slew of issues… I saw my doctor about all of this a few months back, as well as abdominal pain I was experiencing at the time. He felt my neck and said all my "glands" felt swollen to him. At the time I needed a bunch of dental work done, and he thought it may be related to that. He ordered blood testing, a urinary analysis, an EKG and eventually an abdominal CT scan.

The blood work showed my potassium to be low, but nothing else was unusual. He thought it was strange, and re-ordered the same testing. This time around it was completely normal.

The urinary analysis was normal, according to my doctor. He said there were "normal levels" of blood in my urine… Seemed strange to me, is there actually a NORMAL level of blood in urine?

The EKG was completely normal, and the CT scan as well showed no lymph node activity or abdominal abnormalities, though something was mentioned about a harmless condition with my kidneys… Unfortunately I do not remember the name, no concern from my doctor…

After all this I finally went to my dentist after way too long and had everything fixed. I was to see my doctor after this was taken care of, but never went due to my extreme anxiety. It’s been almost a year since then and there has been no change to the size of the nodes in my neck.

So now that you know way more than you actually need to… I’d like to ask a few questions to anyone who may have experience.

Has anyone had similar symptoms? If so, was there a conclusion? To any medical experts that may be wandering through, do these symptoms sound like cancer to you?

I plan to make an appointment with the same doctor for next week, I need a good plan as to what to ask for… This whole situation has really consumed me, I’m convinced I have cancer basically but have yet to go in… I want an answer once and for all… Should I insist on having a biopsy done on the largest node? How likely is my doctor to order such an invasive procedure? If he orders a needle biopsy, what is the procedure like, and will it be enough to say for sure that I do not have cancer?

Should I ask to have complete blood work? Another urinary analysis, maybe a 24 hour collection? A CT scan for my neck? Do they do CT scans on your neck…?

It’s all very overwhelming, I think that’s the reason I haven’t gone back in… I NEED to do so though, but I’d like to be prepared. So please, if anyone has ANY advice at all I’d appreciate it… Thank you.

I was thinking of Hodgkins Lymphoma. I’m sure you read about it and know better. What I understand everything is negative but we also need a lymph node biopsy which will confirm the diagnosis of Hodgkins Lymphoma. (I do understand that your are affraid to go for the test). Your abdominal CT was normal so Non- Hodgkins lymphoma is less likely. (More serious than Hodgkin’s Disease). Complete blood work or urine analysis will not reach us to a definite diagnosis. Best thing will be a lymph node biopsy. Cut your fear and do it and everything could turn out very benign disorder and relieve all your anxiety. (Even if not benign which I doubt, is treatable today).
Biopsy of the node is not an invasive procedure as you think and YES there is CT of the neck but biopsy in your case is much more informative and diagnostic.
P.S. You are reminding me of my experience with a lymph node on my neck back home when I was scared to death to do an HIV test. I lived with the fear and anxiety for 5 years till I came to US and was forced to take the HIV test for the green card and it was negative.
You will be fine, trust me.