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Enlarged Lymph Nodes - New Here!

Posted , 6 users are following.

pghdesigner
pghdesigner

Hi. I'm 34 years old.. female. Yes, a smoker and officially trying to quit! I was in the ER last Saturday for a slight chest pain and pain in my neck. All of which were brushed off after the EKG came back perfectly fine and that was a relief. Then the chest xray came back and they saw something that looked a little like pneumonia and enlarged lymph nodes. They did a chest CT also. I literally have no symptoms at all. No sickness, no shortness of breath, no fever, no pain.. no nothing.That small chest pain was possibly a fluke considering I've been under a lot of stress lately. So I went and saw my PCP for a follow-up and he says the chest CT came back showing enlarged lymph nodes in the chest. No pneumonia at all. No one is giving me an idea of what it could be. My calcium and magnesium (?) were a little low. So they're testing that again and also doing bloodwork to see if I have sarcoidosis. I'm freaking out! All I'm thinking is cancer cancer cancer and I'm so scared. I just don't know why they'd be enlarged.

Can it be something simple? Or am I doomed to hear bad news?

I'm being referred to a pulmonary specialist. What do you think the next step will be in diagnosing me?

0 likes, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • vivian89329
    vivian89329 pghdesigner

    Posted

    Hi

    I am so sorry. We are in the same boat. Went in for a flu to rule out pneumonia 2 X rays later showing

    Interstitial fibrosis. I had a CT scan Friday. I am freaking out too. In your case. From what I understand sarcoidosis is not cancer. It is similar to fibrosis. I hope we are both O K.

    Feel free to chat. As I need someone to talk to as well.

    Thanks

    Vivian

  • jim76268
    jim76268 pghdesigner

    Posted

    Swollen lymph nodes in people under 40 I've read indicate cancer in only 0.4% of the cases. But typically they can be swollen for a lot of reasons that arent serious. I dont think this is the same as lung cancer which would have shown up on the CT as a nodule/mass, which you dont seem to indicate they found. And also if just the chest lymph nodes are swollen it means the others in your neck are not which probably is also a good sign.  

    I would just continue to consult your doctor and do some of your own research but dont get too anxious! I know from experience that it can actually make the stress related pains worse. 

  • mary53515
    mary53515 pghdesigner

    Posted

    I always thought swollen nodes in just one area mean you are fighting an infection

    & have more whit bllod cells there causing the swelling

  • pghdesigner
    pghdesigner

    Posted

    UPDATE

    So they tested my ACE levels and they came back slightly elevated. I guess it's safe to say I have some sort of lung disease. I'm not sure which one I'd rather be diagnosed with. They all seem bad. Sarcoidosis, lymphoma, lung cancer to name a few.

    Next step is seeing a pulmonary guy. And maybe I'll get a biopsy of a lymph node and/or lungs?

    I'm still secretly hoping for pneumonia.. even though that's very, very doubtful!

    Vivian-- It sucks! Sorry to hear you're going through this crap too. If you're anything like me.. I feel your pain. I'm constantly worrying or researching stuff. But it's a waiting game and I'm not a patient person when it comes to this crap! Feel free to message me.. or find me on facebook.

    Jim-- Thanks for your reply. It honestly eased my mind. I'm just hoping my ACE levels are slightly elevated for a simple, treatable reason! Only time will tell.. and I'm not a fan of not knowing. I'm thinking the diagnosis will end up being sarcoidosis but I'm still being optimistic.

    Mary-- I'm hoping it's just a simple infection but it could definitely be an autoimmune issue where my body just starts thinking anything is an infection. sad

  • meghan_62713
    meghan_62713 pghdesigner

    Posted

    Hi pghdesigner,

    I am 37 and going through the exact same thing... and waiting for a biopsy this week.... you never posted what this turned out to be ?? I know it was a year ago, but if you see this what was it?

    • florin75005
      florin75005 meghan_62713

      Posted

      Hi Meghan

      I have the exact same issues/symptoms

      Did you ever got to the bottom of yours?

      I going crazy here....

    • meghan_62713
      meghan_62713 florin75005

      Posted

      Hi Florin,

      I messaged you privately more in depth, but wanted to post on here I was ultimately diagnosed with sarcoidosis after my lung biopsy for anyone else reading this. 

    • popfloorrin
      popfloorrin meghan_62713

      Posted

      Hi Meghan,

      Thank you for the ino. It is good to know it turned out to be "just that". Did not get your private message. Could you please resend as it would be really nice to know about this.

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