I dont know whats wrong.

[rachelgrad2009]

Im not for sure if I should post this here or somewhere else...Well Im 17 and my lymph nodes on my right side of my neck have been swollen for almost a year...since feb 7 2008. I went to the doctor on the 14th of feb 2008 and this was my hematology report:
WBC 7.5    
RBC 4.84  
HGB 13.7  
HCT 41.3  
MCV 85  
MCH 28  
MCHC 33.2  
RDW CV 12.9  
PLT CT 316  
MPV 10
NEUT 45  
LYMPH 46  
MONO 8  
EOSIN 1  
BASO 0  
Absolute Neutro 3340

I know that was a long time ago but Im scheduled to go to the doctor here this week and hopefully they will do a CBC. I dont know whats going on. My mom tells me not to worry but Id rather worry and there be nothing wrong then not worry and something be wrong. You know? Im just scared. I dont know what it could all indicate. Im a RMA and RPBT in training and know whats high and whats not. This past week I had my HGB done and it was 14.1. I just dont know. If someone could please give me some answers or insight or anything it would be great. Thanks

[Dnmh]

Glad I could help! My theroy is that it's better to be safe then sorry.

[rachelgrad2009]

Its not swollen a lot any more like it use to be. I guess I was just so worried about it before it just scared me...Thanks for all your help. :)

[Dnmh]

Painful is most often a good thing with lymph nodes. Cancerous lymph nodes don't hurt until the cancer is advanced. You can try taking Tylenol or Advil for pain, as well as trying an ice pack. Try not to touch it, because that will keep it enlarged and painful.

[rachelgrad2009]

Well I went to a new dr today and she said "Oh, yeah its just your tonsels because you have a skinny neck and you can feel them." I was like ok whatever. I guess she doesnt understand that it hurts!!!

[rachelgrad2009]

Sorry I havent been on in forever... Ive been sick a lot here lately... My skin always itches all the time but its always dry and I dont mean like ashy, if you rubbed your arm against mine you would definately pull away because it feels like sandpaper and it itches... I tried going to the dr yesterday but when I got there they told me I couldnt be there by myself because I was under age so Im not going back there... Its probley just my sinuses. It hurts sometimes like someone is stabbing me and this last week it has gotten bigger (prolly cuz im sick) and its hard. I had my friend look at it cuz she had Hodgkins a few years ago and she said I should have it checked out just in case... Im trying 2 get in the dr but we are in the process of changing dr's and then I need a referral to a specialist and that will probley be a while... Im guessing its just sinuses. The dr talked about before having either a biopsy or having it completely removed but we never heard anything more...well, if anyone has anything 2 help me with, please write back!!

[ott70]

I agree that a lymphoma is probably going to start exhibiting some other symptoms: weight loss, night sweats, lots of itching. I think that's the reason I've never been overly stressed about the couple of nodes I have swollen in my neck area -- they have been there a long time. I have one that acts up when I'm not feeeling quite right where it maybe gets just a little bit bigger, even a little bit firm. But then after awhile, it reduces slightly and gets softer. Definitely not a typical lymphoma symptom.

I think it's common for all of us to dislike swelling in our body. Tumor is probably the first thing we all think of. There's so much crud out there though that causes swellings other than cancer.

Since it's on one side of your neck, is your sinus passageway on that side more clogged than the other? Maybe you have a drainage issue from your sinuses that affects the nodes on that side of the neck. How about metallic fillings in your mouth?

Second and third opinions are always good if you are real concerned.

[Dnmh]

Do you have any other symptoms? If it were a lymphoma, after almost a year you should have had other symptoms.
Also keep in mind, like ott 70 said, lymph nodes can take an awful long time to reduce in size, and there are some instances where they never go back to "normal".
If you're still concerned, a second opinion isn't out of the question.

[rachelgrad2009]

I went to the dr last week and he said it was probley from allergies. Seemed like he could care less cuz everyone around here has the "junk" right now (guess just the cold) and he was like take this nasal spray and your inhalers. It just seemed like he didnt care but whatever. I hope its just my allergies.

[ott70]

Keep after it but don't stress out about it. Something else to keep in mind is the more you play around with your lymph nodes, the less likely they are to reduce. By palpating your nodes, they may actually stay enlarged (I have trouble keeping my hands off them too). Some days you might think it feels hard or some days it feels bigger, but then other days you may think it's gotten better. Generally, a bad node is going to do a lot of growing (not always the case, but typically). And there is other junk out there that can cause lymph node enlargement (bacteria, viruses, mycoplasmas, mold, etc).

Thanks for the thoughts and I'll pass along my prayers to you also.

[rachelgrad2009]

Thanks for the reply. its grown a little since its first been there and it is kinda hard not 2 bad though. Im sorry to hear bout your condition...I just hope its nothing 2 bad...keeping you all in my prayers

[ott70]

Lymph nodes can take a long time to reduce back down in size. Sometimes lymph nodes swell and then stay large without any malignant reasons. I know that I have a couple in my neck that have been larger than normal for awhile and have been ruled out as being malignant (PET scan). Obviously, if a node keeps growing or gets rock hard then you absolutely need to get it checked out.

[rachelgrad2009]

That lab work was from almost a year ago. Im going to the dr tomorrow afternoon to see what they can do. They said before they wanted to remove my lymph node and check it out. But who knows what they want to do now. I guess we will find out something tomorrow. Thanks for your comment back. I really havent had any symptoms except fatigue and migranes. When they said I had Mono I had no symptoms at all, just that my lymph nodes were swollen. Its just weird to me that they have been swollen this long and I have no answers. I will keep you updated.

[PlateletGal]

In my opinion, your lab values look pretty good. It sounds like you could have an infection and I would double check that your physician checked your EBV titers. Also, are you having any symptoms ?

[rachelgrad2009]

It ***** you have Leukemia. Im sorry. Im just going to my primary doctor now. They reffered me a long time ago, like in august or so, to an EENT and he wasnt there that day so I had to see the PA and he said he didnt know but he thought it was from TMJ. So then I went to another spec. he said he didnt know why either but I did have a fractured jaw and dislocated cartilage. I was tested for MONO like in august or something and I went to a Dr. in a nearby town and he said I was positive for mono thats why they were swollen and put me on antibiotics for a while. That obviously didnt help... I went to my regular Dr. after I got off the antibiotics and he said I wasnt positive for Mono. I was soooo confused. I dont know. Im going sometime this week to the doctor so hopefully we can find out something. I will keep you updated. Thanks for your reply. Im praying for you.

[suzzie61]

The worst thing you can do is diagnose yourself.  Your numbers look pretty good to me.
I have Leukemia, and my numbers are extremely low right now due to my medication.
Are you seeing a specialist or just a primary doctor.  If you are still having swollen glands, it could be something simple too.  Were you tested for MONO or Epstine Barr Virus.  Young people tend to get these things from being on the go all the time.  They do not get the proper rest, or they get it from someone else.
If you are not satisfied with the doctors answers on your next appointment, then see someone else.