Lump above left collar bone

I'm  a 27yo female and about 3 weeks ago I found a lump above my left collarbone. It's about the size of a tic tac, it's movable And I think quite soft? Even though the more i touch it the harder it seems! I went to the doctors and she didn't seem too concerned as I've had no other symptoms. She said it's just a shotty gland that popped out because I've had a cough at the the beginning of the month. She told me to come back in 3 weeks. I went back after 2 with anxiety levels through the roof. I stupidly googled the symptoms and read all the horror stories about the swollen lymph nodes above collar bone always mean something bad... I think I could also feel another lump above and under the first one, my cough came back as well, however, it's not that bad (it wasn't the first time). She's examined my neck again and ordered a full blood test, but no scan or anything. Is the blood test enough to determine whether more tests are needed? Or shall I push a scan? Also, can touching a swollen gland make it swell more/make glands around it swollen as well?

Apart from a massive anxiety about this and a bit of a cough I'm feeling okay, keep going to the gym etc. I've had an odd ache there and then but I'm not sure how much of it is anxiety and how much can be a symptom. Did anybody out there had a similar situation? 

  • Hi Jesshainesx,

    I feel what you're saying here, sending love xx

    I also noticed a swollen gland in my neck (just below my jaw) 2 weeks after my AZ vaccine.
    I've had it around 8 weeks now, on the same side as the jab. (if you check your pamplet from when you were vaccinated, i believe it's mentioned as an uncommon side effect).
    My doc isn't concerned, and thinks it's just a 'reactive gland', but has referred me for a scan anyway to be sure. Yeah, also pooping myself about this xx
    Like you, i also get tingling, up the side of my face and down my neck (same side) - my doc says this is my anxiety and does not feel it's related to the gland.
    I also get aching and burning too.

    Sending best wishes, there seem to be a lot of us going through this.
    Stay strong xx
     

  • Thank you for responding so much! It means so much. I just feel so helpless and alone and this has calmed my nerves a bit and fingers crossed. I'm sure we will be fine I'm just causing myself to many issues with anxiety and stress it's horrible. I keep thinking but what if but no one seems concerned but me but I have my ultra sound on the 13th of September so then hopefully after I'll be able to calm down! I'm sending u the best of luck and love too! :) xox

  • No problem at all, i know how you feel.

    I have been suffering with extreme anxiety over this, a bit of a mess if i'm honest.
    However, i have realised, after much research, that the anxiety in itself can cause very real feeling symptoms (as we are super sensitive to every feeling in our body), which can be frightening and therefore the anxiety just increases & increases.
    Yesterday evening i took 2 paracetamol, to see if this would help my anxiety (stiff neck, pressure in my throat, burning and tingling etc). It did really help to calm me down by dampening down those feelings, and i got a fairly decent nights sleep.
    So wondered if this might be helpful to you too? (hopefully you're not allergic to paracetamol!) :)

    Hang in there, keep yourself occupied, i find if i concentrate on something else (like seeing friends, housework, garden etc) the anxiety symptoms seem to almost disappear.

    xxx

  • I had that tingling the first 2 weeks. I think my anxiety and stress has lead to me pooing less and needing to pee all the time and some pains in my tummy and a dull ache in my lower back. After a hot water bottle and seeing my boyfriend and sleeping good last night, it all seemed to settled. Just need to pee a bit sometimes more. I'm hoping it all goes. I noticed before that all these problems would go if I wasn't focusing and looking out for them. But I stayed at my boyfriends for a whole weekend for the first time since this all happened so when he's asleep I had more time to think about it so it occurred but hopefully it goes soon. It's stressful because no one seems concerned but me :( I'm hoping they are just from the vaccine. Although the peeing issues and that came from after my boyfriend came back from a festival and we finally had some alone time together lol but there no infection so I don't know what's caused it. Maybe a ruptured something? God knows. Anyway maybe it's just anxiety I just keep stressing

     

    thank you for replying and giving me advice, you really help to calm me down! Xx much appreciate :)

  • So pleased you are beginning to feel a little less anxious xx

    Peeing frequently is yet another symptom of anxiety, i've had that too! 
    It can also be responsible for constipation & diahorrea!
    Your tummy and back could just be time of the month type stuff perhaps.
    It's frightening the power it can have.

    xxx


     

  • Omg thank you it's so nice to hear that! I've been on my phone laughing and forgot about it. I'm drinking orange juice and stuff and eating some prunes hoping it helps with my bowels. I'm so bloated especially the upset stomach but maybe to do with digestion and stress. I also saw on tiktok a video of a girl with the exact same lump as me on her side of vaccine and she said she noticed it 2 weeks after getting it and so many people in the comments saying the same! I'm sure it's nothing. Mums convinced I'm making myself ill. Hopefully we are fine although I'm sure we are. I need to stop taking my thoughts so seriously. Thank you :) xxx

  • Hiya, 
    Just to say, my friend also had the Pfeizer vaccine and this gave her an upset tummy, apparently this is quite common.
    Might be worth mentioning to your doc if it doesn't settle down :)

    xxx

  • Hi there,

    Just thought i'd let you know i had my scan on Thursday, and the radiographer agrees with the doc in that it is a 'reactive' gland, most likely due to the vaccine (he's seen quite a few people with the same reaction!) and nothing nasty.
    He also said it's possible that the gland may never return to it's original size, that happens sometimes, but it's not a problem. I just need to keep an eye on it.

    Hope that helps :)

    xx

  • Omggggg yesss thank you! Lovely to hear and I'm happy for you :) I've calmed down loads and have mine on the 13th but I'm not expecting anything bad :) thank you sm x

  • Hi there,

    Can i ask how you got on with your scan?

    Hoping all is well for you 

    xx