Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Oh, it’s just a lump

Back in May I noticed a small lump on my neck. A bit later it was a bit bigger. A bit later is was a bit painful. A bit later I went to the doctor. Half and hour later I was having a blood test at the hospital.

It was the first time I’d met Dr. Baldiv Benning of Biggleswade. (Well, he works at the Ivel Medical Centre). I like him. He recognised the potential causes and acted immediately, booking me in for an examination under the ‘two week’ rule.

I chose Lister Hospital in Stevenage rather than Bedford Hospital. It’s easier to get to and parking is better. People think Lister isn't good, but so far, all except two people have been brilliant. I’ll tell you who the others are if they don’t ‘welcome feedback’.

The results of the blood test showed nothing alarming when I visited the doctor on 7th June.

Happily my examination was booked for 10th June just before a great 9 days in Spain. That didn't stop me worrying and researching and staring into space and frowning at the floor. 

The examination revealed I had a lump. On my neck. That needed examination. A camera down my nose (careful, I get nosebleeds!) revealed a slightly swollen tonsil but nothing out of the ordinary – I hadn't swallowed a fly.

So next stop was an Ultrasound guided FNA on 25th June, again, happily just after a great 9 days in Spain. He confirmed that the lump was in the level 2 lymph nodes. Now I've not found any literature that names them nodes that way. He stuck a needle in it and took a sample or three.

After a couple more days of worry and one of pain, I decided it was time to get fit. So, the target is a triathlon before Christmas.


4th July – summoned early to the hospital for results

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