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Freaked Out, Better Now

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Freaked Out, Better Now

  • Post
    • August 7, 2011 at 1:50 am
    nicoli
    Participant

      I am NED as of March, when I had my last surgery.

      This past week and a half I've had bronchitis and lots of coughing. Then came the neck pains. Fairly painful shooting pains in my glands behind my left ear and jawline.  The right side of my neck had the lymph nodes removed in 2010 and I have had no problems with the left side of my neck. Until now. This was NOT muscle, NOT bone, what else could it be but glands? 

      I am NED as of March, when I had my last surgery.

      This past week and a half I've had bronchitis and lots of coughing. Then came the neck pains. Fairly painful shooting pains in my glands behind my left ear and jawline.  The right side of my neck had the lymph nodes removed in 2010 and I have had no problems with the left side of my neck. Until now. This was NOT muscle, NOT bone, what else could it be but glands? 

      So I said, I will not freak, I will not freak. It could be related to the coughing. (Note: I have had bronchitis at least 15 times in my life and NEVER had any kind of neck pain). Not every ache and pain is the cancer returning. But I was freaked.

      Told myself to wait until Monday and if the pains were still coming I would call the onc for an appointment.

      WAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. The pain is gone as of yesterday afternoon, as is most of the cough!!!!!!!!!!

      My next PET is end of this month. I can do this thing.

      Nicki, Stage 3b

    Viewing 11 reply threads
    • Replies
        • August 7, 2011 at 2:12 am
        kristine
        Participant

          You WILL do this!!!  🙂

          • August 7, 2011 at 2:12 am
          kristine
          Participant

            You WILL do this!!!  🙂

            • August 7, 2011 at 4:59 am
            dian in spokane
            Participant

              well.. the lymph nodes can swell from many things, and they do have a job to do in the immune system. With your right side nodes gone, it makes sense to me that the left side ones would have to do twice the work.

              Since you are feeling better, maybe those nodes won't light up when you go for your PET.

               

              I have my nodes light up my PET to the point where the radiologist actually called it as probably a spread of my melanoma, when all it really was was a virus.

               

              I will cancel a PET nowadays if I've had a cold or the flu!

               

              I'm glad you are feeling better, that, I believe, would NOT be the case if this was melanoma.

               

              good luck, get rid of that bronchitis!

               

              dian

              • August 7, 2011 at 4:59 am
              dian in spokane
              Participant

                well.. the lymph nodes can swell from many things, and they do have a job to do in the immune system. With your right side nodes gone, it makes sense to me that the left side ones would have to do twice the work.

                Since you are feeling better, maybe those nodes won't light up when you go for your PET.

                 

                I have my nodes light up my PET to the point where the radiologist actually called it as probably a spread of my melanoma, when all it really was was a virus.

                 

                I will cancel a PET nowadays if I've had a cold or the flu!

                 

                I'm glad you are feeling better, that, I believe, would NOT be the case if this was melanoma.

                 

                good luck, get rid of that bronchitis!

                 

                dian

                  • August 9, 2011 at 1:09 am
                  nicoli
                  Participant

                    thanks so much for the encouragement. You answered some of my questions.

                    Nicki

                    • August 9, 2011 at 1:09 am
                    nicoli
                    Participant

                      thanks so much for the encouragement. You answered some of my questions.

                      Nicki

                    • August 7, 2011 at 5:45 am
                    ChrisTheWilsonZoo
                    Participant

                      I know exactly what you mean!  Since finishing interferon, it seems like everytime I get an upper respiratory infection, the lymph nodes in my upper body begin to ache.  And the worse the URI gets, the more they hurt!  I really thought I was going crazy at first.  Now I just accept that when the discomfort progresses to a certain point, I need to go to the doctor because my URI is moving to my lungs & becoming bronchitis.  A built in health barometer!

                      • August 7, 2011 at 5:45 am
                      ChrisTheWilsonZoo
                      Participant

                        I know exactly what you mean!  Since finishing interferon, it seems like everytime I get an upper respiratory infection, the lymph nodes in my upper body begin to ache.  And the worse the URI gets, the more they hurt!  I really thought I was going crazy at first.  Now I just accept that when the discomfort progresses to a certain point, I need to go to the doctor because my URI is moving to my lungs & becoming bronchitis.  A built in health barometer!

                        • August 7, 2011 at 10:41 am
                        Nicky
                        Participant

                          I am so hearing you!!!!.  I am also Stage 3b for approximately 11 years.  This disease can absolutely play with your head sometimes.  The slightest cough, you think that melanoma has spread to your lungs.  The slightest headache and you think its spread to your brain and everytime you feel abit of swelling in your lymph nodes basin, you think that its spread to your lymph nodes and 99% of the time, it just turns out just to be a bit of bronchitus, a headache caused by the usual winter flues and the same goes with the lymph nodes, just them doing their daily job of getting rid of all those nasty viruses and bacteria.  Sometimes you feel like your in a rock and a hard place.  You don't want to be spending half your life sitting in you GP's office with every little niggle but sometimes you do know your body,  if you are seriously worried or the symptoms don't go away after a period of time then a doctors visit should definately be on the cards, even for peace of mind. 

                          • August 7, 2011 at 10:41 am
                          Nicky
                          Participant

                            I am so hearing you!!!!.  I am also Stage 3b for approximately 11 years.  This disease can absolutely play with your head sometimes.  The slightest cough, you think that melanoma has spread to your lungs.  The slightest headache and you think its spread to your brain and everytime you feel abit of swelling in your lymph nodes basin, you think that its spread to your lymph nodes and 99% of the time, it just turns out just to be a bit of bronchitus, a headache caused by the usual winter flues and the same goes with the lymph nodes, just them doing their daily job of getting rid of all those nasty viruses and bacteria.  Sometimes you feel like your in a rock and a hard place.  You don't want to be spending half your life sitting in you GP's office with every little niggle but sometimes you do know your body,  if you are seriously worried or the symptoms don't go away after a period of time then a doctors visit should definately be on the cards, even for peace of mind. 

                            • August 7, 2011 at 1:57 pm
                            triciad
                            Participant

                              Nicki,

                              I am happy to hear that you are feeling better.  It's reassuring to hear that everyone reacts pretty much the same to minor aches regarding melanoma.  I thought it was just me that jumps to that "dark spot." 

                              Having said that, make sure that your GP is at the top of his game.  When I went to the local "urgent care" facility because I noticed a bump close to my original site, the doctor told me it was just a sign of aging…it wouldn't be melanoma because melanoma starts at the bone.

                              As I sit here recovering from surgery to remove MELANOMA, I wonder if I should give the good doc a call to let her know it WAS melanoma, and had I followed her advice…well, let's not go there! 

                              Feel better!!!!

                              Tricia

                              • August 7, 2011 at 1:57 pm
                              triciad
                              Participant

                                Nicki,

                                I am happy to hear that you are feeling better.  It's reassuring to hear that everyone reacts pretty much the same to minor aches regarding melanoma.  I thought it was just me that jumps to that "dark spot." 

                                Having said that, make sure that your GP is at the top of his game.  When I went to the local "urgent care" facility because I noticed a bump close to my original site, the doctor told me it was just a sign of aging…it wouldn't be melanoma because melanoma starts at the bone.

                                As I sit here recovering from surgery to remove MELANOMA, I wonder if I should give the good doc a call to let her know it WAS melanoma, and had I followed her advice…well, let's not go there! 

                                Feel better!!!!

                                Tricia

                                • August 8, 2011 at 10:59 pm
                                DeniseK
                                Participant

                                  WOW!!  This is such a trip Nicki!!  The past couple of weeks I've had bronchitis too( I think) it's really the only explaination for coughing like crazy but no fever.  It's been brutal!  Anyway I've had almost the same exact pains in my neck!!  I have all my nodes in my neck but it was only hurting on one side.  It's the same side as where I had surgery on my chest.  One night the pain was so bad I almost went to the ER.  I think I posted about this.  Of course I was freaking too!  I go to the doctor tomorrow and hoping I can get an antibiotic for the cough, it just keeps hanging around driving me nuts!!  Don't know how old you are but being 45 with 3 kids (older) my bladder can't take the harsh coughing!!  It'd be nice to not pee my pants for a day!!  LMAO!!  I know TMI!!  I just thought this was weird that we had the same thing going on!!  Going to definately bring this up tomorrow when I see the oncologist for the first time!!  I'll let you know what he says.

                                  Denise

                                  • August 8, 2011 at 10:59 pm
                                  DeniseK
                                  Participant

                                    WOW!!  This is such a trip Nicki!!  The past couple of weeks I've had bronchitis too( I think) it's really the only explaination for coughing like crazy but no fever.  It's been brutal!  Anyway I've had almost the same exact pains in my neck!!  I have all my nodes in my neck but it was only hurting on one side.  It's the same side as where I had surgery on my chest.  One night the pain was so bad I almost went to the ER.  I think I posted about this.  Of course I was freaking too!  I go to the doctor tomorrow and hoping I can get an antibiotic for the cough, it just keeps hanging around driving me nuts!!  Don't know how old you are but being 45 with 3 kids (older) my bladder can't take the harsh coughing!!  It'd be nice to not pee my pants for a day!!  LMAO!!  I know TMI!!  I just thought this was weird that we had the same thing going on!!  Going to definately bring this up tomorrow when I see the oncologist for the first time!!  I'll let you know what he says.

                                    Denise

                                      • August 9, 2011 at 1:19 am
                                      nicoli
                                      Participant

                                        Denise, that is soooooooooooo funny. One of the things about bronchitis I never tell anyone. I'm 56 so probably pee lots more than you. Sometimes I just sit on the toilet when I know a long coughing spell is coming. Hope no one is offended, heck, melanoma is offensive enough, who cares about potty.

                                        I don't think they will give you anything if it's bronchitis. Nobody gives me anything. But always go to the doctor, even if you get it every year and know what it is, always a chance it may be pneumonia or something.

                                        Just got a laptop, gave up our desktop. I hate this little thing.

                                        Nicki, Stage 3b

                                        • August 9, 2011 at 2:17 am
                                        DeniseK
                                        Participant

                                          It's good to know I'm not alone!  I too sit on the potty waiting for the coughing to stop!! cheeky

                                          I wonder what the heck the neck pain is??!!  Some people said it was surgery pains because of where my pain was but I don't think it had anything to do with it.  Maybe a muscle spasm from the harsh coughing??!! 

                                          Denise

                                          • August 9, 2011 at 12:36 pm
                                          nicoli
                                          Participant

                                            could easily be the hard coughing causing neck pain, stiff neck symptoms. Mine were sharp shooting pains in the gland area. But I do have stiffness everytime I get bronchitis..

                                            My doctors suggest rest, rest, rest and TONS of water (has to be room temp, not cold)

                                            • August 9, 2011 at 12:36 pm
                                            nicoli
                                            Participant

                                              could easily be the hard coughing causing neck pain, stiff neck symptoms. Mine were sharp shooting pains in the gland area. But I do have stiffness everytime I get bronchitis..

                                              My doctors suggest rest, rest, rest and TONS of water (has to be room temp, not cold)

                                              • August 11, 2011 at 11:22 pm
                                              DeniseK
                                              Participant

                                                I talked to the doctor about the neck and shoulder pain I was having and he said he doubts it's related to melanoma.  He said if the pain persisted that we could do an MRI but I may have to see my GP for that. 

                                                Denise

                                                • August 11, 2011 at 11:22 pm
                                                DeniseK
                                                Participant

                                                  I talked to the doctor about the neck and shoulder pain I was having and he said he doubts it's related to melanoma.  He said if the pain persisted that we could do an MRI but I may have to see my GP for that. 

                                                  Denise

                                                  • August 12, 2011 at 1:56 am
                                                  JerryfromFauq
                                                  Participant

                                                    Matter of curosity, What type Dr is it that refers you to your GP?  My Oncologist refers me on to what ever he feels necessary.+

                                                    • August 12, 2011 at 1:56 am
                                                    JerryfromFauq
                                                    Participant

                                                      Matter of curosity, What type Dr is it that refers you to your GP?  My Oncologist refers me on to what ever he feels necessary.+

                                                      • August 9, 2011 at 2:17 am
                                                      DeniseK
                                                      Participant

                                                        It's good to know I'm not alone!  I too sit on the potty waiting for the coughing to stop!! cheeky

                                                        I wonder what the heck the neck pain is??!!  Some people said it was surgery pains because of where my pain was but I don't think it had anything to do with it.  Maybe a muscle spasm from the harsh coughing??!! 

                                                        Denise

                                                        • August 9, 2011 at 1:19 am
                                                        nicoli
                                                        Participant

                                                          Denise, that is soooooooooooo funny. One of the things about bronchitis I never tell anyone. I'm 56 so probably pee lots more than you. Sometimes I just sit on the toilet when I know a long coughing spell is coming. Hope no one is offended, heck, melanoma is offensive enough, who cares about potty.

                                                          I don't think they will give you anything if it's bronchitis. Nobody gives me anything. But always go to the doctor, even if you get it every year and know what it is, always a chance it may be pneumonia or something.

                                                          Just got a laptop, gave up our desktop. I hate this little thing.

                                                          Nicki, Stage 3b

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