Help! Swollen lymph nodes advice needed

Hello. I have been a visitor to these pages a lot of the past 2 months but i thought I needed to post. 

almost 2 years ago I started to get anxiety symptoms, very generalised , just feeling ‘off’ these could present very mildly or escalate to panic attacks. dizziness etc. 

I quit drinking for 3 months as I thought this may help.. it didn’t. Although my anxiety is very generalised I think health anxiety has caused me to spiral into this, I have been scared of the doctor my whole life and had a through minor health issues such as asthma and chronic ideopathic urcataria, which are now both non symptomatic . 

In January I found two swollen lymph nodes in my neck, one lower down on the left quite small (less than a cm) and one on the right ( about 1.5cm longer and thinner) even though I was petrified I patiently waited 2-3 weeks then visited my new local GP. Told her I was very anxious (was mid panic attack when I was seen) and she had a feel. She said she could feel nothing. So I tried very hard to show her where the slightly bigger lump was. She eventually found it and said it was a muscle, I disagreed, she then said maybe a small swollen lymph node and she was not concerned at all 

may anxiety calmed and I went about my life for a few weeks until now.. they still havnt gone down. It’s been 7 weeks in total now nearly 8 I’m not sure if they have grown as sometimes I feel like they have but then the next day they feel back to how they were. 

My anxiety is ridiculous especially at work and I am in a constant loop of fight and flight. I had to leave today. I am convinced I have lymphoma. I’m scared for my children and my family. If I feel any slight itch I believe it’s an additional symptom. My neck has now been aching for about a week and I am not sure it’s from touching them so much or not.. I had one night that I woke up with a night sweat but again, this could have been panic. 

I am now absolutely petrified to go back to the doctor. 

please be kind :( 

  • Please go to your doctor, even if you are petrified.

    Is there a different doctor in your practice that you could see.

    You will make yourself ill with the worry.

    And you could ask to be referred to see an ENT specialist, perhaps?

    Wishing you the best.

  • I would absolutely recommend going back to the doctors. As Sharza suggested, see another doctor, no harm in a second opinion.

    Healthy anxiety can reek havoc on your physical and mental health.

    Best to trust your gut if you feel that something is not right. Best wishes

  • Hello KitKat17. I do hope Nicki takes note of your message. Although it must be difficult if Nicki is petrified of doctors. It takes courage.

  • You should definitely go to your doctor. If you have a gut feeling or anxiety about something you shouldn’t ignore it.

    I am in a similar boat with regards to lymph nodes. My left armpit seemed swollen for a couple of weeks, I thought it was muscle strain through exercise but it didn’t go away so I went to the doctors. My doctor was lovely and examined my armpit and breast and has given me an urgent breast cancer referral so I can have some tests done. 
    Not only am I petrified about this, but I’ve since felt two lumpy lymph nodes near my left collar bone and everything I read online about swollen lymph nodes in this particular area is bad news. 
    I keep having random moments where I break down in tears because I’m so scared of what the outcome will be. I’m only 36 with a 2 year old and 4 year old, I can’t bear the thought of not being around for them in the next few years. 

  • Hi there

    I really hope so too!

    I am currently going through tests and biopsies for Lymhoma. FNA results were suspicious of NHL and have had a core needle in the groin this morning. The waits for each result are challenging.

  • Sending positive energy your way.

    so good that your GP is on it and tests are in motion.

    Best wishes

  • Thank you, wishing you all the best too. You already sound so brave! It’s definitely challenging waiting, the unknown is so scary isn’t it. Stay positive xx

  • Thanks, my issue is I have had anxiety for so long now it’s hard to know what’s real and what’s not any more as my anxiety gives me so many strange sensations that I’m not sure what should even alarm me any more. 

    last time it took all of my courage to go and I was just palmsed off my the doctor really 

    and I am sorry to hear you are going through this I am 36 also, what were your initial symptoms ? 

  • The core needle in the groin sounds excruciating but, hopefully, it's just my reaction!

    Another person, Kelgirl, is also on this thread and concurs with us that Nicki ought to go and see the doctor. 

    I hope Nicki reads all our posts and takes the bull by the horn and makes an appointment to see the doctor.

    Like you, I've had many tests and finally have a diagnosis and the anxiety has vanished. It's the waiting and not knowing that creates the anxiety.

  • Oh I 100% want to, it just took me so much strength to go last time and be told oh it’s nothing it was such a relief but now I’m going to have to relive that and possibly prepare for bad news. 

    living with health anxiety for so many years it’s like my ultimate fear is now coming true