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Don’t know what to think following GP appoinment

Countrylovinggirl
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I had a GP appointment this afternoon for a hard pea sized painless lump in the back of my neck, there are actually two lumps there, maybe an inch from each other. While I was putting my hair up before my appointment I noticed my right side of my lower neck is slightly swollen and can also feel a lump there, although not as hard as the ones at the back. 
 

The Doctor says the lumps at the back of the neck are lymph nodes and due to folliculitis. I do have a few spots there that have healed, they started about a week ago. The lump has been there for 4 weeks. He didn't check the lump at the side of my neck. He offered antibiotics which I declined, the spots are nearly gone, do not itch and do not bother me so I didn't want to take antibiotics, particular a long course which he said these would be. 
 

I'm not sure what I expected, but I thought the appointment would have been more thorough, particularly as I have a new swollen area in another part of my neck. The GP advised to wait 4-6 weeks as it will be likely to be sorted by then, but it feels so long. It's already been 4 weeks. I can also go back and get the antibiotics if I change my mind or symptoms get worse. 
 

it might be worth mentioning that I tested positive for covid last week, was off colour for a couple days but nothing major and I didnt have any new swellings (that I could feel anyway!)
 

Am I being unreasonable? It felt very quick and a bit 'in and out'. If anyone has had a similar experience or and advice I would love to hear from you, even if you think I am being unreasonable :happy: or if you have any other thoughts? 

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    Hello Countrylovinggirl, 

    You're definitely not being unreasonable. If you feel that the appointment was too rushed and that it didn't give you satisfactory answers, it is definitely worth considering getting a second opinion and you can find out more about this on this page. So try and see another GP if you can just to get peace of mind and have another opinion. 

    I hope that you will hear from other members of the forum who have been in a similar situation before and that they will come and share their experience with you 

    I hope that you will get some satisfactory answers soon. 

    Best wishes, 

    Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator

  • Offline in reply to Moderator Lucie

    Thank you Lucie, a couple days have passed since my original post above and I feel in a slightly better headspace today. I've decided I will give it a week or so and then reevaluate, to either see my usual GP and ask for antibiotics if there has been no change at all or to see if he will have another look at my lumps if they are worse or have not changed but the spots are completely gone. My initial response was not to take the antibiotics as I don't have any signs of infection but if it will put my mind at ease maybe I should. Although my nodes are swollen they are not tender and don't feel like they do when I am unwell, if that makes sense. 
     

    I do also get night sweats which I didn't get a chance to discuss at my appointment, so will ask my GP about those. I'm aware it could be my age but the last couple of months have been worse and I still have the fan on at night even though the hot weather has passed. 
     

    also thank you to CRUK and it's team, particularly those like yourself. Just knowing there is someone around that you can talk to is very comforting. 
     

    :happy:

     

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