Around Chinese new year, i found a lump in my neck. I went to see a doc, had 2 blood tests but he couldn't find anything. I went on antibiotics and anti- inflammatory capsules. After that it hadn't changed, so I had an ultra sound, it didn't show up anything. So the doctor said it will probably go away by itself. He said come back in 3 months if it hasn't, or if it gets bigger. So I thought that was it.
But on Saturday I found another lump, so I went back on Monday to be tested for TB. The chest xray was clear, and later on I'll get the results of the skin test. I've been told that even if the skin test is negative, I could still have TB.
The next thing to do would be to have a biopsy. I'll need to work out where to have it. Someone I know had a biopsy here in Phnom Penh at a big hospital, but they didn't really get proper results, they ended up having to go to Thailand to find out that they had TB.
(Both lumps are less than 1cm).
So far I've spent almost equal to 4 months rent. I feel a bit silly spending so much at the doctors when I don't even feel sick. It feels like a waste of money. And when I tell my Khmer friends I'm going to the doctor about a lump in my neck, they say, no, no need in Cambodia, its just normal.
But I have been talking to some Australians and they reckon I should keep investigating.