Hi,
Background: I'm a 20yr old female in the UK, currently at uni. About 3.5 weeks ago I had a huge lump come up under my jaw on the right side, what felt like overnight. I had just had COVID (had been testing negative for a week at this point), so put it down to that. However after it hadn't gone down I went to the GP last week (it is a hard lump, non-moveable - I'm not used to getting swollen lymph nodes when ill and this is about 5x4cm so pretty noticeable). For the first week or two it was pretty painful, although now isn't painful at all. GP was worried as did not know what it could be and due to it not being moveable and being hard. She told me it was on my submandibular gland and referred me under 2-week pathway.
After some complications (they booked my appt for 3 weeks ahead of time so had to have it moved!) I finally had my appt on Tues 6 March. The consultant was pretty good although didn't seem too worried. He did a biopsy and felt around but said he really didn't know what it could be. Then had an ultrasound where the radiologist said that two of my lymph nodes have conjoined and pushed my submandibular gland out of the way. Although he then said "oh it's probably just reactive, just ring in about 3 weeks but I'm sure it's fine".
I have had a phone appt set up for the 20 March, and I know it can be a while for biopsy results, but I was wondering if it is normally this long? I'm a very anxious person and have various other health issues (in recovery from anorexia, coeliac and have osteopenia) and so really struggling with this wait. Especially as I am a student which can be lonely at times as spend a lot of time on my own = a lot of time to worry! I am struggling a lot to focus on any work as a result and so the wait is quite inconvenient for this, although I know its' not anyones' fault. Also as the initial worry was about a mass related to the submandibular gland, the consultant did not know that it was a lymph node - until the biopsy, so now I'm anxious they are checking for the wrong things. My services have a history of not being well linked up (e.g., the consultant didn't know an ultrasound had been booked for me etc), and I'm finding it really hard to not consult Google (I know this is silly!). It is very difficult to tell if I am experiencing other symptoms due to my other health conditions (night sweats are very common in anorexia recovery, and of course my weight is tightly monitored to ensure I am meeting my needs).
Has anyone got any advice / dealt with anything similar? Thanks!
