I think I have lymphoma

[Anon998877]

For several months I have suffered with itching, especially my scalp at night.
Then a lot of people started saying I had lost weight, which I had on the scales but not drastic. My daughter is now 14 months so I put it down to bring more active and breastfeeding. I also had to cut dairy out of my diet for her allergies.
Then a few weeks ago I started to feel helplessly exhausted, so so tired. I put it down to my period.
My period came and went and the exhaustion persisted.
I then started with a petechiae rash, only small but there.
I saw the doctor yesterday and had blood tests, she said she’s expecting my ferritin to be low, as it was already lower side of normal before my periods returned.
Then last night, I had drenching night sweats.
I am absolutely petrified. I put my loungewear on this morning and the pants are falling down, I am so so so tired beyond words.
what is happening to me? I’m absolutely terrified.
should I ask my GP to refer me somewhere???

It’s good that you’ve had blood tests taken. It sounds like you’ll be tested for anaemia and vitamin deficiencies and they’ll no doubt include a full blood count which will show if there’s anything wrong with your white blood cells and platelets, which will let the GP know if further tests are needed.

Try not to worry though, I know it’s not easy but it sounds like you have a lot on your plate and breast feeding can place a huge demand on the body and use up reserves.

Thank you so much for replying.
My main worry is- I’ve seen alot online (I know, dr google!) that a lot of the time lymphoma blood tests are normal.
Ive never had night sweats before, if it’s a coincidence then it’s the worst timing ever! I filled out a form this morning to let the GP I saw know about the night sweats. I am praying it’s nothing :(

I would try not to worry. All of the things you describe including the rash are symptoms of anaemia. What's that saying if you hear hoof beats think horse not zebra. Your ferritin was already on the lower side, the probability is that it's anaemia and not anything serious. I hope you get your results soon to put your mind at rest.

They suspect my son has this, we are waiting on an emergency ultrasound on his lymph nodes.

His lymph nodes have hardened and won't move, and haven't gone down in over 5 months. He's also tired, night sweats, light headed and suffering from extreme headaches.

I’m really sorry to hear that.
I don’t have any swollen lymph nodes- I think. How old is your son?

I’m hoping it’s that. My ferritin level was 20, doctor said normal range is from 15 to in the hundreds. So even though it was normal it was low normal. I’ve since had 5 very heavy periods. They were my first periods postpartum.
it’s the night sweats though that are worrying me, I feel like my bones are actually hurting this morning. I did have a slight sore throat last night so thought I was coming down with something but it’s gone this morning. X

@Anon998877 he's 13. If you don't have swollen lymph nodes then it's very likely it's not that.

I’ve had a pain in my chest which I put down to breastfeeding, doctor said it can be nodes in the chest- I’m thinking I will next be having a chest X-ray to be honest, I’ll see what my bloods say. I’m just so worried, looking at my 2 children and feel sick and beside myself

Anxiety could cause the night sweats. It’s also been warmer over night than it has been lately.

I am very anxious. I was up until 1 worrying. I fell asleep and my daughter woke up for a feed and that’s when I noticed I was dripping in sweat. I went back to sleep after she fed, it didn’t happen again. Just another thing to worry about!

When I was iron deficient and had an infusion, the clinic said they like ferritin to be 150. 20 is ever so low.

It is much more probable that you have anaemia than cancer.

Best wishes to your son @ChristmasGrinch24

Are you still breastfeeding? I used to have night sweats until I stopped feeding.

I don't know much about lymphoma but just wanted to say that if you were up late worrying and then had disturbed sleep after that, the sweats last night could easily have been caused by anxiety and fitful sleep.

OP it sounds too like a hormonal imbalance. When my daughter was young, I had to cover the bed with towels due to night sweats! I am fine now. She is 14.

I think you’re coming down with something and it’s likely to be making every thing seem worse as it’s all at once.

The anxiety could be a big contributing factor along with cutting dairy.

Night sweats can be hormonal so given you are breast feeding I really wouldn’t panic about that symptom. You’ve done right to get checked out but lymphoma is a massive leap.There are only about 1000 women under 50 diagnosed with lymphoma every year in U.K. compare that with about estimates of 10% of pre menopausal women having anemia in U.K.

Op, sorry you are dealing with this. The blood tests will help the GP decide if further tests are needed. Ensure that if they do decide you are anaemic, you can schedule further blood tests in a months time to see if treatment is working,

Also, bear in mind, that if it is Lymphoma, many of those types of cancer have good outcomes - I am 6 years past diagnosis and completely clear.

Yes I am, almost 15 months into feeding 💗

Hi OP are you okay?