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 there,

    ***apologies in advance about long post***

    Was reading your post and wondering how you got on? I have had a similar problem for the past year with my throat/neck. I have been in and out of hospital over the past 5 years for many different illnesses and just feel I have absolutely no luck. Regarding my neck, my voice began to go hoarse around a year ago to which I barely noticed until everyone I came across asked if I had a cold it was then I realised how bad my voice bad become through no reason I could see other than maybe the severe acid reflux/vomiting/heartburn was scarring my throat - something I've been seeing gastroenterology about for the past 2 years with numerous tests with no helpful outcome. Due to this I avoided the hospital until my hearing also began to worsen, after a visit to the ENT 6 weeks ago they identified a lump on my vocal cords (I am due a further examination next week under general anesthetic). Through the past year I have also had swelling in the throat on both sides coming out in a large lump and with a stabbing pain. The pain would come and go but the lumps remained for a while, this happens multiple times a day. I have been really scared for a while as I have a grandparent on each side who have died of throat cancer and I don't have the best health at the best of times. I'm sorry for the long winded post I just don't feel like I can talk to anyone about this don't like putting it on my partner and family as they are constantly worried. Any advice would be so so helpful. 
     

    Thanks

  • Hi,

     

    Any update? How did your scan or examination under GA go? Results? I hope all came out fine

     

    Thanks 

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