ME patient with continuous ear, chest infections, diarrhoea, night sweats, weakness. Should i see a haematologist?
Patient: Hi there I had been diagnosed with ME when I was 22(now 38), although I have been used to swollen glands/glandular fevers and tiredness throughout my life, recently this has become different and more intense. I am getting severe drenching night sweats at least twice a week, feeling very weak, and have swollen glands in my right side of the neck. My blood test results came back negative for TB,Malaria and the doctor has assured me that if i had Leukaemia it would have shown up. I have a family history of cancer with more than 15 cases in my direct family. My doctor wants me to see a Haematologist, but we waiting for 3 weeks to let the current antibiotics I am taking work out. Is this normal - to wait? I am getting concerned because I am not getting better. I have been struggling for the last 4 months with continues ear infections, chest infections, diarrhoea, extreme dizziness and swollen glands. Doctor: Hi and thanks for the query,I do buy the idea of your doctor for you to wait till the antibiotics go through. This shall give an opportunity for a keen follow up and detection of some subtle signs that might not have been detected from the very onset. It is however important to get the opinion of the hematologist and infectiologist. In depth evaluation to exclude properly leukemia or other tumoral process is compelling. Kind regards