Hyperthyroidism or Lymphoma?

[SammmmanthaJ]

So please bare in mind that my insurance will not become active until March 1st, so this is all very preemptive for me.  I have every plan to go to the doctor's once my insurance is effective, but until then, I'm sort of just curious.

I'm a 20 year old female, and generally healthy.  I had mono about 3 years ago, but that has both come and gone, and I have been fine since then.  In the past few months, I've noticed that my lymph node on the right side of my neck has enlarged to like...epic proportions.  My left side is normal - i can feel it, and it is about the size of a pea, nothing out of the ordinary.  However, the lymph node on the right is probably approaching 4 centimeres in width.  It isn't visible, it does not seem to be growing 'out,' just ... getting wider.  It is hard, but not cemented.  It will move when pushed, but does not hurt at all.  

That, along with the incessant itching of my legs - to the point where I draw blood, do it in my sleep, and have caused more scratches and sores than a 20 year old female EVER wants to see on her legs - makes me wonder if perhaps it is something serious.  However, these things also seem to be symptoms of hyperthyroidism.  I also have somewhat shaky hands for the past few months.  I am not taking any medicine and have no other diagnosed illnesses.

Clearly, they are both fairly serious conditions, but hyperthyroidism seems to be the lesser of two evils.  Any thoughts?  I'm wanting to go with Occam's Razor, and believe that i am just being an extreme hypochondriac, making something out of nothing, and that it's probably just an infection.  However, i have not been 'sick' (no flu symptoms or common cold or anything) in the past few months, and the swollen node does not hurt at all.  It's just there.  Being large.  

Thoughts?  Guesses?  Misdiagnoses?  

I will say that I'm pretty sure everyone will tell me to "go to the doctor ASAP" but i'm NOT going to go to the doctor without insurance with the off chance that I am diagnosed with something, will then have a pre-existing condition, and have to deal with that mess.  Just saying :)

But thanks ahead of time!

[CHIN_C]

You should not let your lack of medical insurance delay medical care. If possible, consider free clinics in your area.

[mtort]

My Fiance had the same problem. Swollen Lymph node in her neck, itchy, shaky, and always warm. After going to the doctor they diagnosed her with graves disease (hyperthyroidism). She has been taking medication for it for the past two years. The swollen lymph nodes never went away. Bringing it up to her endocrinologist, her doctor said, "oh I forgot about that" and told her to see her primary doctor. So she got and ultrasound on it and was referred to an Ear, Nose, Throat Dr. Now the ENT wants to biopsy one of the lymph nodes to test for lymphoma. Hopefully it turns out to be nothing, but I recommend that when you do go to the doctor, make sure they do a thorough analysis. If two years went by and it turns out that she has lymphoma then I'm going to be extremely upset. If there is one thing I've learned about going to the doctor, it's do your research and ask as many questions as possible. You will find that the doctor does a more thorough check up when you do that.

Good luck!

[El_Catherine]

@mtort what ended up happening? Was your wife diagnosed with lymphoma? I’m 24 and experiencing the same symptoms. Doctors are checking me for hyperthyroidism  but I also want them to check my swollen lymphnode to rule out lymphoma. Thanks!

[Dnmh]

I just went through the exact same thing! Turns out it was my submandibular gland (salivary), and it's not swollen or enlarged, just lower on my neck than the other. Have the itchy legs that wake me too! My doc ordered CT scans of head, neck and chest and everything checks out just fine. I was convinced it was lymphoma.
Have you tried eating something sour, like a pickle? Does it hurt a little when you do? That could indicate a blocked salivary gland.
Also keep in mind, the lymph nodes are filters, so you could have been in contact with a virus, and your body is filtering and fighting and you're not sick from it.

I would suggest that if it gets worse, such as more swollen AND fixed/cemented, you may not want to wait. Depending on where you get your insurance would determine if it's covered under the pre-exisiting clause. If you are getting group insurance through a large company - they generally don't follow that. They have a large "pool" of employees that pay into it which keeps costs down. (My hubby use to sell health insurance). Check into your policy, it should state their "pre-existing" clause.

Good luck to you!