Help: On and off anemia and other symptoms, CT ordered
Hi my name is Alex and I am a 25 year old female since late July I’ve had night sweats and fatigue, weight loss, and loss of appetite and slightly enlarged lymph nodes. Starting in October my right clavicle started swelling and my hair started thinning. The picture attached is what it currently looks like, it significantly worsens pretty much everyday. Blood work has been normal expect on and off anemia. Had a CT in October that should a enlarged supraclavicular lymph node measuring 1.4 cm. I’m being seen by a hematologist which is who ordered the CT.
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Thank you so much! Due to the fatigue and low energy I don’t do a lot but I like watching Netflix, watching hockey, cooking/baking.
CT’s are scheduled for January 13
I wish you all good news with those CTs and some answers to get you back to feeling normal again! I’m going to check back in with you a few days afterwards to see how you’re doing. 😉 Like I said before, you just joined a big family and I’m that elderly auntie that sticks her nose in everywhere. LOL. I’ve been binging on a few Netflix series and Hulu myself and I don’t even have an excuse of being fatigued! If you like cooking and baking have you watched the Great British Baking show? Every time there’s a new season I’m hooked again….
I just my other labs back and surprisingly my ANA came back positive. None of my symptoms really match autoimmune but I read that some cancers can cause it to be positive or it could be a false positive. Calling the Drs tomorrow to see what next steps are.
Good morning, Alex, The next steps might be a biopsy of the lymph node to examine the composition to check for cancer cells. A bone marrow biopsy/exam (BMBX) may also be ordered. That gets right to the heart of the blood manufacturing site in the marrow. It’s not as uncomfortable as it sounds and if you do need one, request anesthesia…it helps. The BMB will give your doctors a clear picture of the cells. Some changes to blood cells can be detected in marrow samples before they can be seen in blood samples.
I’m sure you’re feeling really anxious with all these tests and results so I want to encourage you stay positive and optimistic. 🙃 Do you have family or friends around to help you work through all of these emotions?
Have your CT results been returned yet?
CT is scheduled for Friday afternoon. The ANA titer also came back as 1:320 and the pattern was nuclear dense fine speckled. I called the DR this morning and I’m just waiting for them to call back. I do have friends and family but I haven’t really told them anything besides my friend because I don’t have enough info what to tell them what is going on
Had the CT today and the results showed a 1 cm nodule on the right lobe of my thyroid. Didn’t mention anything about the collar bone swelling which is strange because it’s still there and getting worse. Haven’t heard from my dr about the results and what she’s planning on doing next.
Hi, @amm97. Another piece of your medical mystery might be unfolding. From research, over 95% of thyroid nodules are not cancerous and don’t create any issues. However, some nodules can stir up a little trouble with either an under production of thyroid hormones, called Hypothyroism, or an over production of additional thyroxine and create symtoms of hyperthyroidism.
They include a number of the same symptoms you’ve been experiencing such as: Unexplained weight loss
Increased sweating
Tremor
Nervousness
Rapid or irregular heartbeat
According to the Mayo Clinic website:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/thyroid-nodules/symptoms-causes/syc-20355262
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Two other credible sources to let you know this type of nodule is pretty common.
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/13121-thyroid-nodule
Another reassuring article from John Hopkins: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/thyroid-nodules-when-to-worry
This article is also really interesting. Hyperthyroidism can also cause swollen lymph nodes which, again, may explain some of your sympotms. This article really has a long laundry lists of side effects.
https://thelymphnodes.com/related-health-issues/hyperthyroidism/#:~:text=Hyperthyroidism%20is%20a%20condition%20where%20the%20thyroid%20releases,this%20thyroid%20disorder%20can%20include%20swollen%20lymph%20nodes.
Give your doctor time to evaluate the information you received on your portal today. She may just be onto something after seeing the CT results. This gives her another piece of the puzzle. ☺️
My TSH and T4/T3 levels have normal as well.