Hi all, 

4/5 month history of a swollen preauricular lymph node (next to my ear) which I ignored due to being a medic student stressed at University- no time. My colleague who is a medic palpated and gave a deferential of a cyst. 

Anywho, I saw the GP explained my symptoms (Had no influenza all year) he referred me for an ultrasound in the upcoming weeks. The GP stated it seems normal- either a lymph node or a cyst but the ultrasound is for diagnosis purpose. I'm *** bricks tbh because let's face it, it's not normal to have a swollen lymph node with no infection.

I hope this helps and I will update you with the results. 

Hi shez1234.  Welcome to the forum.

I'm most definitely not a medic. All I can do is report that there have been many instances here of people who have swollen nodes with no recollection of an infection, who have had them checked out some months later, only to find that they're all clear and there's noting to worry about. 

We're not always consciously aware of having an infection.I know from personal experience that lymph nodes swell up, even though we feel otherwise well. I also know from reading other people's experiences that nodes that do swell for quite legitimate reasons, sometimes never go back to normal size. They stay as a permanent but quite benign reminder of what has happened to them.

So, please try not to panic, and try to get on with your life and studies.

However, as a future medic, you should maybe let this episode be a teaching experience, and remember the worrying effect that simply ordering a test might have on a patient. 

I am so glad that I am not alone in worrying about enlarged lymph nodes.  3 months ago I found a lump on the right side of my breast.  I had a scan and they said it was just a lymph node not cancerous and your able to feel it due to being slim (I've not really lost weight so don't understand why I can feel it now and haven't discovered it before).  Since been to the Doctors twice more as felt another lump near it, having pain in groin and back and also frequent colds with chesty cough.  Each time they have said nothing to worry about and pain is due knots in back so need to go to chiropractor (which I'm doing tomorrow).  I too have two kids and can't stop thinking that this would be my last Christmas, I won't see my toddler do his first nativity, etc.  I know it's ridiculous but I can't stop worrying after searching on the internet.  I'm driving my partner mad but can't stop.  

Hi Kay83. Welcome to the forum.

Unfortunately, most of us don't a lot about how our own body works; what's normal and what's not. Many people are hyper-aware of the possibility of cancer, and much of the time any information you find on the web is less than reassuring.  It makes for a worrying time.

The fact is that lymph nodes are an important part of the immune system. They are constantly fighting off infections, and most of the time they do it so quietly that we're not aware of the great job they're doing. Then sometimes one or more put up a stronger fight than normal; they swell up and maybe become painful - sometimes very painful - before (usually) settling down again.  But settling down and returning to normal can take a long time; often weeks or months, and now and again a node remains permanently but harmlessly swollen. And in winter, it's not unusual for the body to be fighting off serial infections, one after another, with the same nodes apparently swollen and not going down.

All this activity is quite normal - indeed, without it we'd all succomb to the first infection that came along.  And it's quite possible that swollen nodes are your bodies way of fighting the coughs and colds that you mention. So please try not to panic. 

Hi,

ive had the exact same issues, enlarged lymph nodes in neck and groin. I’ve got no other symptoms like fever or chills or pain, however I’m constantly itchy. I’m a 20 year old male in my last year of university and I’ve got serious exams next week and this couldn’t have come at a worse time, I’ve had my bloods taken and am awaiting results. Like everyone else here I’ve googled every symptom and can’t sleep at night with worry, I’m sad and miserable all the time because of the worry and can’t study for my exams. 

Hi Jake,

I am so sorry that you are having these symptoms at such an important time in your life. Could it be due to the stress of your upcoming exams?

Instead of consulting Dr Google, continue with your revision. You will only suceed in scaring yoursel for no good reason on Google, as many of his sites are out of date or poorly researched.

I sincerely hope that your bloods don't show up anything untoward and that your symptoms settle down soon.

Please keep us updated and remember, that we are always here for you.

Best of luck with your exams!

Kind regards,

Jolamine

Hi Everyone, 

It is so good to read everyones posts and share experiences here, I had my first appointment with the ENT this week, who found several inflamed lymph nodes on the ride side of my neck via ultrasound, they didnt offer me any advice or any indication of what it could be, but have refered me for a biopsy, my mind is now in overdrive and i am convinced since they didnt just discharge me they have found something dangerous, has anyone got any experience of this turning out to be nothing after the biopsy? i am driving myself slowly mad! xx

Hi!

There's people here who have had their full tonsills removed and happened to be ok. So, I guess a looooot more have been in the same situation from node biopsy, since it is usually easier to do and is less invasive that a tonsillectomy. If it is a FNA you'll be totally fine the same day, while in a tonsillectomy... let's say you wouldn't be in your best shape for a couple of weeks. Your doctor might have got you through a biopsy just because it's easy to do and will tell you what's going on with more accuracy than just looking at them. So, try to stay calm, get those nodes checked and don't google too much.

Waiting time sucks, but at the end is what will put your mind at ease.

x

Hi Mcaf,

I am so sorry to hear of your worry about being referred for a biopsy. They didn't offer any indication, because they didn't know.

A biopsy is the only way to be sure that you do not have cancer, so it is the normal test used for people who have enlarged lymph nodes. This does not mean that there is anything sinister - there are many less worrying reasons for enlarged lymph nodes. A biopsy is used as much to rule cancer out as to confirm it.

We all tend to worry at this stage, because there are so many unknowns. The best thing to do is to keep yourself busy and distract yourself from the wait.

Have you any idea when your biopsy is due? I hope that it comes up soon.

Please keep us updated. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

I've had 2 small lumps in my neck for 20 years, since I had glandular fever and about 5 years later a couple in my groin so again that's been there 15 years! I've never had any investigation, just told by the doctor they were not sinister but still worried so much. I even remember at my graduation fiddling with my neck constantly rather than just enjoying it! To be honest even to this day i sometimes worry but let's face it, no change in 20 years so pretty sure it's nothing. Sometimes when i'm ill they can swell more but then go down again to just over 1cm, think this is just their normal size now. You've done the right thing by having it investigated but if all results are clear try to forget about them. I just think some of us are suseptable to enlarged glands that remain after some sort of infection and as long as they don't change and you have no other symptoms not to worry.