Lump In Throat / Neck

[kvalidir]

Hi ideally Sqad or anyone else. Can anyone tell me what they think about this. My boyfriend is 49, (male obviously), in good health, very fit and active, some slight arthritis in his hands and lots of allergies, but otherwise in good health. Moderate drinker, heavy smoker 30 years +, some significant drug taking in teens and early 20's but not since. He has a large lump in his throat / neck on his right hand side directly between his trachea and his jaw bone, slightly smaller than a billiard ball, but very deep into the tissue. It's firm but palpable and does seem to change size and prominence slightly but is large enough to be slightly noticeable on photographs if you look for it most of the time. Doesn't hurt or bother him or affect eating or swallowing.He has a persistent cough and back ache, but he is currently working in very physical conditions so the backache isn't really surprising. He's due a full medical in October but is it something I should nag him into getting looked at before that do you think please? Any thoughts gratefully received. Thanks x

[Sqad]

Past history of facial trauma.....unrelated.
Long history of sinus problems .....unrelated.
As a rank outsider.....10,000:1.......Sjogrens Syndrome.(Google it.)

[kvalidir]

Thanks Sqad, Dr Google will be my friend all evening :) xxx

[jourdain2]

Well worth the 'screaming row', eh? That is good news for him and for the relationship. Glad things are happening - it can be so hard to get men to take things seriously. Well done! :)

[jno]

good luck but remember that nagging can be counterproductive if the naggee just doesn't want to know :-(

[murraymints]

at least he has gone now and he'll be able to deal with it once a diagnosis is made..a big step forward..everything crossed x

[kvalidir]

Thanks all. Well he didn't want to know, he hates Drs, they freak him right out, it's all he can do to have a medical. I never nag normally, as you say it's counter productive usually and just makes the nagger look like a nutcase, but I did on this occasion because he needed to go and I was worried to death, and hey presto after a good row and a sulk and a think about why I'd nagged him he did, so actually I'm really happy that he didn't just chuck me out and ignore it lol.

[jourdain2]

Kval - he must love you. :)

[kvalidir]

Awwww, I do hope so :) x

[237SJ]

My sister had a lump like that - it was a cyst on her thyroid. Her thyroid levels were normal but a lump developed which was the size of a golf ball. She had an operation to remove it.

[kvalidir]

Thanks you SJ, I'm really hoping it's something like that, it's about golf ball sized, so fingers crossed it's something easily remediable. x

[kvalidir]

Hi Sqad, results of some blood tests through, he's positive for 2 anti bodies they expect to see for Sjorgens Syndrome and has some inflammatory markers as well and his white cell count is low. They are doing a biopsy on his lip and he's having further eye tests, plus apparently this is also the issue with his arthritis in his hands and wrists he thinks they said. From what I was reading this is quite unusual in men, I know you said it was A 10,000/1 shot. He's quite confused and worried about it but reading about it it seems manageable for the most part? Thanks xx

[Sqad]

Kvali....thanks for the feedback........it certainly looks like Sjogrens and the lip biopsy will confirm it.
Sometimes "long shots" do come up....;-)

[kvalidir]

Thank you Sqadli :) Should we be worried about the low white blood cell count, he's rubbish and understanding what they are saying to him?

[Sqad]

At the moment, the low white cell count is no big deal, but we need to know which of the white cells are involved.
Keep me informed after the lip biopsy.

[gness]

Kval.....***! I know nothing about this but hope everything turns out well for you both.....x

[Mamyalynne]

Best wishes from me too, once you both know more you can learn how to manage this.x

[Peter Pedant]

I am truly astounded that Sqad got this on clinical grounds alone - see post 19 and 20
wow well done doctor!

US of A - the disadvantage is cost - how much has this cost?

[kvalidir]

Thank you Sqad so much x I'll keep you informed about the lip biopsy and anything else they decide and I'll tell him bot to worry about the white cell count at the moment.
Thank you all so much for your kind thoughts Mamy and Gness, and God knows Peter, I've got health insurance woes once I move out there as well :/

[bednobs]

There is a poster on here who has sjorgen's syndrome - hope they see this