Posts by Kenneth Walker27

Hey everyone.
I’m trying to figure out how long a referral for blood work actually stays valid. Since they switched over to the electronic referral system, I’ve been wondering if there's a specific expiration date or if...
I heard a rumor somewhere that these blood work referrals basically last forever :/ .. I could use some clarity here! thanks!

silvergardener472 said:For as long as I can remember, there’s been this constant sensation of something draining down my throat. It isn't a typical sinus issue—I don't deal with the usual headaches or runny nose. Instead, this mucus causes terrible, constant bad breath, and I'm at my wit's end. Is it actually possible for an adult (I'm 20) to have issues with their adenoids that cause this kind of drainage? It feels like fluid is pooling right behind the soft palate before I swallow it. I went to see an ENT today, but he was incredibly dismissive. He glanced over everything with zero urgency, noted a deviated septum, claimed my sinuses seem fine, and then just vaguely mentioned some sort of "chronic inflammation." He prescribed some mouthwash and a ten-day course of Septolete. Honestly, his explanation doesn't sit right with me. Can adults really suffer from adenoid issues like kids do? Please, I need some insight.

Don't let this consume you. Doctors rarely suggest tonsil surgery unless things are truly dire, especially for someone in their twenties. In my view, it’s likely nothing catastrophic; think of those tonsils as your body's frontline defense for your lower respiratory system.😉

It’s entirely possible. A deviation can swell your face up so badly you end up looking like a cartoon elephant.
But we'll just have to wait for the lab results. If you don't mind, let me know what the doctors find once they get back to you.🙂

GOOD LUCK!

Angela Wright said:It takes time to get back to baseline. For some people, certain nodes can stay permanently enlarged after a major bout of inflammation.
You should ask for an ASO titer test to check your strep levels (assuming strep throat was what triggered the tonsillitis in the first place). It’s entirely possible you've still got a lingering infection acting up under the surface without showing any other major symptoms.

If I were you, I'd push for a KKS, a UK, and an ultrasound with color Doppler. Honestly, though, I have my doubts the doctor will actually order all of them. There's a good chance I'll just get a KKS or a round of antibiotics and be sent on my way.
The swelling isn't localized; I've got nodes popping up all over. I think I even felt one in the groin area.
Heading to the doctor tomorrow. Thanks!😉

Carol Booth82 said:Thanks, this is easily the most constructive post I've read here so far. One more question for you: I’m thinking about booking a private checkup at a place like Mayo Clinic. Is that a smart move? Money isn't really an issue—I'll always find the funds when it comes to my health 🙂. I'll ask her directly, though I suspect they might hold back on some details; they have a massive roster of elderly patients, so they probably cut corners on us younger folks. Thanks again.

Ah. Exactly. Going private is usually the play because, as the saying goes, "you get what you pay for." They'll run whatever tests you demand and cater to your every whim.
Keep in mind, I’m obviously not a doctor. Tell her everything. If she doesn't suggest any follow-up testing, push her on it. If you don't walk away with a real plan, then the private clinic was a total waste of money.
GOOD LUCK!

How long is the typical wait for a CT scan or an MRI?

silverskipper27 said:Hello there.

I’m struggling to make sense of my grandfather's medical records, so I figured I’d post them here—maybe someone can translate all this jargon into plain English for me.

So, here is what it says:

Patient was evaluated due to suspicion of an expansive process in the right lobe of the liver. He also complained of pain in his arm and right leg, along with polyarthralgia (I assume they missed a letter there).
His appetite has dropped, and he's lost weight, though I'm not sure how much. He experiences occasional incontinence regarding bowel and bladder movements. About 30 years ago, the patient had surgery for a meningioma in Chicago. He has a long history of arterial hypertension. He takes Valium 2.5 mg and Xanax 5 mg, along with Ranix and Ibuprofen. He was examined in the emergency department at the Neurology Department at Bjelovar Hospital.

Post-op status: meningioma of the right lateral parietal region. Tumor ablation/Simpson II/ bilateral parietal osteoplastic recraniotomy performed on 7/3/2012 by the Neurosurgery Department at Mayo Clinic.

Uncontrolled arterial hypertension.
History of large lipoma on the right shoulder and chronic syndrome involving a lesion of the right peroneal nerve.

The patient was seen in the emergency surgical clinic at Bjelovar Hospital due to abdominal colic.
For about ten days, the patient reported pain in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen.
An abdominal ultrasound was performed, showing a swollen, round, heterogeneous lesion measuring 79mm, which appears mostly hypoechoic.

Peripoortal and near the celiac trunk, enlarged lymph nodes are visible, the largest being 39mm near the aorta in the retroperitoneal area.

From the clinical status:
He is immobile and uses a wheelchair, wearing an orthopedic brace on his right leg for the peroneal lesion.
He appears pale but is breathing normally; tongue color is normal.
Cardiopulmonary assessment shows BP 140/90 and a pulse of 90.
Abdomen is soft, with tenderness felt upon palpation in the epigastrium and most severely under the right rib cage. The liver is enlarged by 2cm. Spleen is not palpable. No edema present.

Dr. Infiltration of the right hepatic lobe.
Due to his immobility, the patient has been scheduled for admission to the Internal Medicine Department at Bjelovar Hospital on 10/24/2012 at 8:00 AM, with a referral for inpatient treatment to conduct a clinical workup for suspected malignancy.

-I’ve transcribed everything exactly as it is, typos and all, but I suspect it makes a lot more sense to you than it does to me.

Thanks to anyone who takes a moment to read through this.

Maybe hold off until Dr. Miller responds; I can't quite remember if he's a Gastroenterologist or a GI specialist right now.😁
GOOD LUCK!

Carol Booth82 said:For the past month, I’ve been feeling absolutely exhausted. My eyes are swollen, there's heavy puffiness and dark circles under them, and I feel this constant pressure. I’m also running a low-grade fever—somewhere between 98.6 and 99.5 degrees—and my neck feels swollen. Even my skin looks... well, gray. It’s honestly miserable, and I’m at a loss. Interestingly, I used to deal with frequent bladder infections, but those stopped right when these awful symptoms kicked in. This is making it impossible to function. Despite eating a clean diet and getting 8 to 10 hours of sleep, the fatigue is crushing. Help, what could this be? No one in my family has major health issues, aside from my mother having Hashimoto’s. Just to note, I’ve already been tested for diabetes and I’m clear. Please, if anyone has any ideas or has dealt with something similar, let me know.😕

It sounds like you've already ruled out diabetes. Have you ever had issues with your kidneys, liver, or pancreas? Any abdominal pain? (It doesn't have to be constant)
Could upper back pain be related to the kidneys? ...
From my experience, doctors will likely just hand you a lab slip and send you on your way. About 90% of them seem largely indifferent to these things, so don't wait for them to lead the charge... You should ask for a CBC, a full abdominal ultrasound, a hormone panel, and of course, a urinalysis and urine culture.🙂 ...

Look, I wasn't even bracing for the absolute worst-case scenario, but this whole thing is just dragging on way longer than it should. I was discharged from the hospital two months ago, feeling like I was finally in the clear. Then, about two weeks back, these lumps started showing up, and they aren't budging. But hey, we'll just have to wait and see 😁

Look, no offense intended, but when you see a 22-year-old living under your roof pass away from Lymphoma, you don't just shrug it off. You start feeling every lump and bump on your own body. I don't get why people react so defensively to that. At the end of the day, I was just looking for some perspective. I actually just felt another one near my collarbone. I was hospitalized a couple of months ago dealing with tonsillitis, so I'll be heading to the doctor tomorrow. Is there any way to spot degenerative changes in the lymph nodes through a blood test? Never mind. I’ll update everyone once I have the results. 😁

Hello, everyone.
I’ve been scouring this Forum looking for information on this topic, but I haven't found much depth anywhere. It’s strange, really, considering they rank this as the second most common cancer in people.
I know there are plenty of people out there battling this, and I’m hoping to read more about your experiences. I want to hear advice from those currently fighting Lymphoma—or what some people still call swollen lymph nodes—as well as those who have come out the other side.
The reality is that this disease is incredibly aggressive. Unfortunately, it often doesn't get caught until it's already reached an advanced stage. 🙂

(A 17-year-old)
One more thing. Could someone tell me if it's normal to feel lymph nodes on the back of the neck? About 6 or 7 inches above the shoulder blade, I've felt some lumps.
I also have swollen lymph nodes under my jawline, and sometimes both sides of my neck swell up too.
I'm hesitant to see a doctor because, frankly, I'm terrified of what they might tell me. That's why I'm looking for your stories regarding the diagnosis process.
I keep telling myself everything will be fine, but the truth is, they've been swollen for about two weeks now. :/
Should I just pull myself together and go see a doctor? 😕 😢