Very worried - swollen lymph gland in neck

Hi,

Apologies for the long post.

For the past few months or so i keep getting  swollen and tender glands on the right side of my neck, just below my jaw. It is quite painful in that area if i move my head to the right. The tenderness usually lasts about a week or two and then seems to go away however my gland still remains abit enlarged. The soreness goes away but then reappears every few weeks  and this has been going on for a few months now so im very worried that something isn't right. I saw my Gp when it first happened and was told i was probably fighting off an infection somewhere (even though i had no obvious signs or symptoms of an infection) and not to worry. Today i visited the same GP who again told me that i probably have an infection somewhere. He checked me over and saw no signs of ear, throat infection and no high temperature. I generally feel fine, however I am feeling very fatigued but i am 19 weeks pregnant so this could be why. He looked through previous blood work i had done as part of my pregnancy and noticed that in one of them that my white blood count was slightly high. Two weeks ago i had a blood test carried out to look for infection as i was experiencing abdominal pain. I was told that everything was fine and that what i was experiencing was growing pains as a result of my pregnancy. I asked my GP why they said everything was fine if my white blood count was high. He informed me that it was only raised a trivial amount so they would have said it was normal. He therefore ordered me to have another blood test to see if anything has changed, and also wants to check my thyroid. I had this today and will get results back next week. This has my very worried and he even mentioned the word cancer, although he said he isnt concerned i have this. Ive since been looking online (which i know i shouldn't) and am now worried i could have cancer, leukaemia, lymphoma etc. My grandad died from leukaemia and i am petrified. I don't think the swollen gland has anything to do with my pregnancy as i was experiencing symptoms before i got pregnant. Im just so worried that something is wrong as there appears to be no reason why the gland is swollen, and my white blood count was slightly raised. Does anyone know if i should be concerned?

Thank you

Parents
  • Hi just read your post I know how you are feeling I am going through the same worry my doc sent me for an ultrasound scan of my kneck I was told two of my lymph nodes were swollen that’s all they told me I hav to go back to hospital on Wednesday for my results I am so scared incase it’s bad news you must b going out of your mind with worry especially cause you r pregnant just try and think positive I know it’s hard if it was me I would ask for a scan of your neck just to put your mind at ease it’s not good the docs letting u worry so much with being pregnant hope all goes well for u x

  • Hi,

    Thanks for your reply. I hope everything goes ok at your appointment and your results show that everything is fine. Can I ask what symptoms you had prior to being referred for the scan and did you have a full blood count carried out? I have been experiencing soreness and was told that it is probably because im fighting an infection somewhere. However there are no obvious signs of an infection so this has me worried. I should get results next week and I know i will be a nervous wreck all weekend. It's taken me a while to get pregnant and now that I am i have this to deal with. Im just praying it isn't anything sinister. Trying to remain calm for the sake of my pregnancy but its easier said than done x

Reply
  • Hi,

    Thanks for your reply. I hope everything goes ok at your appointment and your results show that everything is fine. Can I ask what symptoms you had prior to being referred for the scan and did you have a full blood count carried out? I have been experiencing soreness and was told that it is probably because im fighting an infection somewhere. However there are no obvious signs of an infection so this has me worried. I should get results next week and I know i will be a nervous wreck all weekend. It's taken me a while to get pregnant and now that I am i have this to deal with. Im just praying it isn't anything sinister. Trying to remain calm for the sake of my pregnancy but its easier said than done x

Children