I noticed a strange swelling right under my jaw bone about 6 months ago - it was tender to touch and I thought might be related to some swelling around my wisdom tooth on that side. I was also worried about asymmetrical tonsils so was seen by an ENT specialist. He said my neck felt very normal but to be sure sent me for an ultrasound. That was also considered normal, however, I am not convinced that they really covered the area tucked under my jawbone that is swollen.
Around the same time I lost half a stone in 6 weeks, which could have been down to worry and stress, both affecting me a lot with everything that is going on in the world.
In the past couple of months I have noticed some more worrying symptoms. I have a lump on the back of my neck on the left hand side which I have been told is a swollen lymph node. It was painful for a week or so about 8 weeks ago but isn't now. I have a VERY itchy scalp all of the time and am starting to get itchiness across my chest and upper back. I have neck and upper back pain similar to that of a trapped nerve or muscular pain which might be unrelated.
The swelling under my jaw bone is still there and I have another swollen lymph node on that side further forward that is painless.
I am pretty tired, but that could be because I have two young children!
I saw my dentist today and he looked worried, like he wasn't telling me something he had seen on my x-ray. He is referring me to the hospital, he said either to have my wisdom tooth removed or to investigate other causes for the tooth pain.
It's fair to say I am incredibly worried. I am an anxious person anyway and this is driving me crazy. I am lucky to be able to access private healthcare so most of the time appointments are speedier but my next one isn't until Monday. She doesn't even know about some of these symptoms as I have just recently been piecing them altogether. She was investigating the weight loss and I had an ultrasound of my abdomen which came back normal.
I am so desperate for answers and the no knowing is proving to be really difficult. If anyone has any stories to share that relate to similar symptoms (whether diagnosed or as yet undiagnosed) I would love to understand a bit more from the experiences of this community.
Hi Jenty and welcome to our little corner of the Community but sorry to see you joining us.
My diagnosis back in 1999 was based on me only having a small inexplainable rash on my back..... but your story is not that unusual and for some to does lead to one of the 60 types of Lymphoma.... but at the same time many find out it was not cancer but another medical issue.
At this moment you have to continue to work with your medical professions to find answers, unfortunately this may take a lot longer than you would like but they will find the truth for you.
I am keeping very well Jenty. Anything to do with a possible Lymphoma can be king and drawn out. You see in my profile that it took 9 months for my great GP to work through the stuff he could look at then once I was referred to my Dermatologist it too a further year, a few CTs and 6 biopsies to prove what he was 99% sure I had.
Take a breath and control that whirlwind between your ears. Trust me..... the more stressed you get the more ill you will feel.
As has been said, keep a daily medical/feelings/symptoms diary taking note of how stressed you feel (1-10) when you notice something as you may well relate directly to stress ((hugs))
Hi again Jenty, you may not be thinking this but this actually sounds a positive move forward, 31st Dec is only 2 weeks away and at this time of year and during COVID times is a very quick appointment - be encouraged.
They won’t rush straight in with a CT as they don’t want inflict people with radiation if it’s not needed.
They will do the Ultrasound and a second pair of eyes will have a look and from there they will make plans for the next step.
It is unfortunately normal as to the time this can take and for me it was 21 months before I got a clear diagnosis..... but that was a long time ago and during these years I have seen both my girls graduate, get married and 4 granddaughters born..... 
So do have a great Christmas as in reality you can stress as much as you want between now and the appointment and it will make no difference as there is some way to go before you get answers.
Focus on having a great time with the kids and park the what if’s?
if this is a type of blood cancer, these are on the whole very treatable and I can testify to this over my 21 years living with my type of Lymphoma.
((Hugs))
I do have to agree with your husband to some measure that until you are told this is cancers, it’s not.
But that does not stop you looking for answers and these most definitely will not be found on Google.
Yes, we will have a great Christmas as Christmas is not cancelled, nothing can cancel Christmas.
We will see our youngest daughter, husband and one of our four granddaughters over the holidays.
We see them a lot as we help her out with there little businesses and also do some informal child care to allow them to get on with work..... so this is our bubble and this has been in place right through COVID times.
We won’t see our oldest daughter, husband and other 3 granddaughters as they live way down in Surrey so it’s not worth the risk for the short time but we will zoom in during opening of gifts, lunch, bedtime stories......
Getting back to Google..... After all my many years of treatment and being in remission for over 4 years I still have a slightly reactive but movable lump on my neck.
Now I know it’s not a problem due to it being all checked out but I fidget with it all the time and this results in my wife throwing a slipper at me saying “don’t fidget with the lump” The more I fidget with it the more inflamed it gets and I just makes it sore. In the early days it also made me stress about a relapse.
Following a discussion on the Community a few years back with another person, just like yourself who was looking for answers.
This person had the exact same lump as me and Google was their proof it was Lymphoma...... so I did a quick Google search taking the top hits and within 3 kicks I was told I had aggressive Lymphoma and 6 months to live....... the 4th click took me to an advert for an undertakers funeral plan........ that is how dangerous random Google searches can be.
Yes some good info available but be very very carful.
Incidentally that person did not have lymphoma but a stress reactive lymph node.
Have a great Christmas.
