extremely itchy, "lump" in my throat: possible sym

kathmom · New User Joined: 09 Jul 2005 Posts: 2 Location: Washington

I just found this forum, searching for symptom comparisons with real patients. I'm 46, have just in the last week begun having frequent itching (no rash) which can be pretty severe at times, mostly on the sides and back of my neck, although other spots as well. I also have begun feeling an irritation/swelling in my throat which prompts me to try to swallow and sometimes begin coughing. Don't seem to have a fever, but I have had more episodes of "hot flashes" recently (I am post-menopausal, so thought this was just part of the transition). It's difficult to tell, but I may have nodal swelling on one side of my neck. I don't want to be paranoid but don't want to be blase about this, either. Do quite a few lymphoma patients present with just these symptoms, and how long should I wait before going to the doctor with this scenario? It seems like the itchy skin is a warning signal from what I've been reading, as the dr. would probably say wait and see if the lymph nodes go down in size if that were all that was going on. I would appreciate any comments! Kathy Confused

wjsmith82 · Regular Joined: 26 May 2005 Posts: 13

Get it checked out.

It is not blase or paranoid to take care of yourself.

As for symptoms of lymphoma, everybody is different. For me, I never had any symptoms. I discovered a lump in my throat during a judo practice that grew quickly.

For you, itchy skin may be nerves or dry skin. Let the Dr figure it out.

Best wishes.

Bill

kathmom · New User Joined: 09 Jul 2005 Posts: 2 Location: Washington

Thanks for your reply. I did go to my HMO (twice, actually, so I could talk further with my regular doc), and they gave me Zyrtec and prednisone for 10 days. I didn't really care for the delay if something is going on, but my brother-in-law, a pharmacist, said it would be best to go thru this regimen and see what happens afterwards. I still feel a couple of swollen nodes on my neck, have some temperature fluctuations and itching as the meds wear off in the nighttime, but at this point I am jumping thru their hoops, then will go back and ask for something else like a chest xray or CT, if I'm still feeling crummy.
Glad you noticed the lump--is it Hodgkin's or NHL? Hope all is going well for you.
Kathy

wjsmith82 · Regular Joined: 26 May 2005 Posts: 13

Glad to hear you and your doctor have a plan in place.

Mine was NHL Diffuse large b-cell; stage IIa. Chemo is going well. A complete response was noted by CT after 2nd. round.

I hope all goes well for you Kathy.

Bill

serifis · New User Joined: 07 Aug 2005 Posts: 1

hello, i'm a new user too. i have found out hodgkins stage 2 a few months ago and i'm on chemo treatment. i had the same symptoms with you. i had itching at the back of my neck and on the rest of my body(especially legs and lower at the backbone) that sometimes was getting annoying. i also had some cough as if something was pressing my chest and made me hard to breath sometimes. then a few monthw later i found out a node on one side of my neck but i didnt pay attention until some more smaller nodes appeared on the other side while the first one had grown enough(like a walnut). i hope your case will turn out to be something silly at the end but you should have a chest scan quickly to check it out. whatever it is it is better you get to know it as soon as possible. best wishes Helen

p.s. excuse me for any language mistakes, i am not from an english speaking country.

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