Hi, my name is Victoria and I have no-one to talk to about this. I've finally registered to be able to come on here because it's gotten to the point where my anxiety is spiraling out of control. I've been reading for many years. My sister had NHL in 2018 and is doing well, in fact much better than me. This forum helped me (and her) with information - such a knowledgeable and caring bunch truly. OK so I suffer with health anxiety. I lost my Mum to complications after bowel cancer surgery when I was 20 and since then have suffered with this sometimes debilitating affliction.
Without wanting to worry my sister and without a Mum to talk to, I'm so so scared and feel alone. I'm 48 years old and going through peri-menopause. Health has always been good, contrary to what my mind tells me. I have hot flashes (not sweating) at various times throughout the day or when I panic (Is that classed as a night sweat during the day?)
For the last two weeks, I've had itching all over my body at random spots. Tips of ears, knee, toe, elbow, arm...it's like I'm following one random itch around my body. Less so when I'm not thinking about it and more so when I spend 3 hours at 3am watching TT videos after searching 'lymphoma itch'. Needless to say I am a wreck. I've taken a Zyrtec every day until my drs appt at 12pm tomorrow. It's been a long eleven days waiting for this appointment. LONG. Trying to concentrate on work and always creeping back to my phone, desperate for one website that will say 'lymphoma itch is nothing like that'. Instead I find the itch can be in one or two spots, or all over. Ok great!
I know you are all going through your own challenges but please can anyone shed any light on the 'itch'. Mine is like a bug bite, or when you have dust on you. One itch and it's gone, sometimes to another spot. No blood, no lumps, no rash and no other symptoms.
I did take half a serepax today and the itching has slowed or not as noticeable. Placebo? perhaps.
Please any advice would be greatly received... I don't want to worry my sister and I could do with a friend or two.
Thank you, ever so much.
Did your GP say if your Heamatology appointment was a 2 week referral or a regular referral as there can be a significant difference in time getting an appointment if it’s a regular appointment.
Do call the Macmillan Support Line open 8am-8pm (timings may differ across services) 7 days a week on 0808 808 00 00….. as our team are there to provide emotional support or just a listening ear ((hugs))
Good morning, my neck used to itch a lot when I was having a stressful time at work (teaching) and this was way before I was diagnosed with Lymphoma…… we all have to control the stress triggers so it’s important to identify them……
I still find myself trawling through google/reddit looking for reassurance.
……. and in this small statement you have you have identified a stress trigger.
It’s good that a second GP has checked things over for you..,.,, I hope that you have put in for the Heam appointment.
It’s interesting that the GP used the word Allergies. A number of years ago a very good friend was having various skin issues and this resulted in fatigue….. and obviously was a stressful time.
Now she has no problems as she worked with her GP and discovered that she had some food triggers that made her skin as it was and she also noted that gluten was a trigger although she is not officially gluten intolerant.
Worthing keeping a very detailed diary of all the food you eat and what you drink and recording any effects it has on your body and wellbeing.
Our helpline is there for these specific reasons and you are as much in need as any other person so make a cup of tea, pick up the phone and have a chat…..
As for Google…….. you ‘may’ find a few hits that ‘could’ make some sense…… but you will unfortunately find 1000s that will confuse you and end up being another stress trigger.
I talk to a lot of people every day and one of the regular questions is….. “I have a lump in my neck and Google says I must have Lymphoma”……. But there are many many reasons for having a lump in the neck but our default reaction is often to catastrophise…… to the point I did a quick ‘lump in my neck’ Google search and I followed the top hits…… by the time I had followed about 4 hits up came an advert for an undertaker!!!!!!……. That is how unhelpful random Google searches are…,,,, my advice….. when you feel the Google search urge coming on pick up a good book and get lost in it.
((Hugs))
Hi V AnxiouslyAlone …… but have you made the Heamatology appotnent 
This is what the NHS is there for….. when it comes to Lymphoma a high percentage of GPs don’t actually know Lymphoma well……. Over my years volunteering on here I have talked with many people just like yourself who struggled to get a clear diagnosis and one of the stumbling blocks were their GP…….
Set up a Heamatology appointment and let the Haematologist make up their mind as to what is going on…. if it’s not Lymphoma then good… don’t feel embarrassed in any way.
…….. but the big BUT is…….. if you have Lymphoma and you don’t make this appointment where does this leave you?…… better a Heamatologist check you over and say it’s not Lymphoma but you need to still get answers in another way…… than them say why did you not come to us sooner ((hugs))
