How long can you have lymphoma without symptoms becoming too severe to not have gone for treatment?

[ConstantWorrying 8]

I'm starting to wonder if the asymmetric areas of my abdomen/the slight horizontal bulge I recently discovered in the hypogastric region might be from lymphoma, as that would explain how I can still have normal bowel movements but still have a mass present (I would assume a swollen lymph node or more that pushes things out).

I have had so many symptoms over the years that I have long wondered if I had some kind of indolent form of lymphoma or leukemia. On and off night sweats. On and off petechiae (just a few of them at a time; individual ones in different locations...not a rash). I have had plenty of "shotty" lymph nodes all over my body over the years.

I remember around 10-12 years ago, I would get extremely itchy every time I took a shower. That eventually went away. 

I also get spontaneous hypertrophic scars (elevated, pink) on my shoulders/upper back/chest, and have been getting them since around 2003 or so. I have never been able to find anything online about this, but I have seen mentions that lymphoma and leukemia can cause skin tumors.

Whenever I lie down flat on my back in bed, I feel like it's somewhat of a struggle to breathe fully. It seems more noticeable when I have anxiety, though, of course. I have also thought this might be from a hiatal hernia, since I had twice woken up with acid in my mouth last year (incidents about 6 months apart). And for several weeks, I had a feeling of something pressing on my neck, which I thought was GERD-related...it eventually went away and hasn't really returned...as least not in a way where it lasted. During the several weeks where I had it, it would go away after I slept, and then return as soon as I got up. 

In 2018, I remember feeling way more bloated than I should have after I ate a meal, prompting me to suspect it was ascites...which was also what started me palpating my abdomen and eventually finding asymmetry. 

In 2018, I also noticed spontaneous brown spots appearing on my face literally overnight, as well as spontaneous indented scars. I also have a ton of sebaceous hyperplasia on my face. I wondered if this stuff was all paraneoplastic signs. 

I have on and off periods where I see a sparkling floater/shooting star drifting across my line of vision at random intervals of once or twice per day (went for an eye exam and nothing found except normal aging). In either 2018 or last year, I had a 3 week period of hyperacusis in one of my ears. 

When I bend over, I feel an unnatural amount of pressure in my head/sound gets muffled...seems like blood doesn't fully pump to my head. I feel like I could pass out/die if I stay in that position. 

I have a visible pulse in my abdomen.

Every once in a while I wake up with dizziness.

I have gone through periods over the last 14 years or so where I'll feel like I'm sinking (like in an elevator) while I'm standing...this seems to happen mostly when I'm on an upper floor somewhere, but I have also had it in the shower.

I also have a slight cough/mucus in my throat that seems to go away if I breathe through my nose (I don't think it's Covid-19). I don't have it when I wake up. 

My body is just a complete mess. I have had a million bizarre symptoms most of my adult life. 

[Holls 1477]

I can relate to every symptom you mention... I really think that normal.body functions but we just don't talk about them...I just assume they are normal and ignore it. I think we all focus on one or more body sensations and then worry can attach to it when it doesn't need to. I also have a visible pulse in my belly as well as my kids.. I just looked at them lol. I really can check off everything you mentioned. Hugs hun. 

Do you have regular yearly visits to a Dr? Do you have yearly blood work done? 

[MARC 327]

My friend had Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma a few years ago and his symptoms progressed very quickly. He had a lump in his neck and was extremely fatigued. His blood work was abnormal. He went through chemo and radiation and is fine now. He also smoked which did not help. My daughters friend had Hodgkin's Lymphoma at age 19. He lost 60 pounds in six months and finally went to the doctor and it was stage 4. He went through chemo and radiation and is fine.  He is 31 now. The symptoms you are having are nothing like the two people I knew had, like the floaters (which I have had for a long time), the pulse in the abdomen, etc. 

[ConstantWorrying 8]

On 7/11/2020 at 11:22 AM, MARC said:

My friend had Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma a few years ago and his symptoms progressed very quickly. He had a lump in his neck and was extremely fatigued. His blood work was abnormal. He went through chemo and radiation and is fine now. He also smoked which did not help. My daughters friend had Hodgkin's Lymphoma at age 19. He lost 60 pounds in six months and finally went to the doctor and it was stage 4. He went through chemo and radiation and is fine.  He is 31 now. The symptoms you are having are nothing like the two people I knew had, like the floaters (which I have had for a long time), the pulse in the abdomen, etc. 

Your friend had the acute form, I'm guessing. I'm wondering about exactly how long the chronic form can take to progress. 

[MARC 327]

Blood work would still be abnormal.