Hi  I am not a doctor  

i don't know how I even stumbled across this site but saw your post and felt I had to respond ..

I too noticed a lump on my neck although a little further back from where you are describing . At first I thought it might have been a gland as I had had a sore throat and assumed it would go down but after a week it was still there and I did the worst thing possible and googled it . I convinced myself I had some kind lymphatic cancer and was petrified. Like you my anxiety was through the roof and I pictured everything , from telling my kids I was going to die , to my funeral !

i was scared stiff but still went to the doctors who were brilliant . I was given a thorough examination there for any other obvious symptoms and sent for full blood count and an ultrasound . The bloods were back clear within 2 days and the ultrasound the following week showed an enlarged gland that is just slow to return to normal . 

I have since had a follow up scan to confirm all ok 

you MUST go to the doctor. You cannot self diagnose . The anxiety is awful and the waiting is awful but the not knowing is worse . If god forbid you have something serious they can deal with it quickly and you will have a far greater chance of recovery .. it is more than likely that you have an enlarged gland or a cyst which may be infected causing your other symptoms 

please get it checked out asap and save yourself all the stress of not knowing .. I am sure you will have positive outcome . 

Hi there, 

thank you for your response, listening to your story has made me feel less anxious and I’m trying to keep positive instead of thinking the worst. 

I have booked an appointment with my GP for Monday and let’s hope they say it’s nothing serious. I did have my bloods done about a month ago (full blood count and liver function test) which came back normal but I know blood tests don’t necessarily pick up any cancers so I feel slightly reassured but not really. 

I am just hoping for the best and that it is nothing serious and it’s just me being a hypochondriac and having some elevated anxiety. I am quite stressed as my first year uni exams are just around the corner and I just hope this won’t interfere too much with my studies, 

thank you again for your response, i hope you are still doing well and are fit and healthy! I will keep you updated after my GP visit on Monday 

Hi Rani. 

Sorry to hear that you are going through all of this worry, I recently discovered a swelling on my neck (which I rhinkbive had for quite some time) and been referred for an ultrasound. The waiting is awful. How did your GP appt go? 

Ive found this forum very reassuring as many others find lumps and bumps in their neck and often I’ve read that it turns out to be nothing serious! 

Best wishes 

katie 

Hi Katie, 

thank you for your response, I did go to the GP and he felt my neck and told me I have no swollen lymph nodes and can’t feel anything of concern. I am almost positive that there is a distinct difference between my left side and right of the neck. I also asked him about my neck, ear, shoulder and arm pain which he dismissed and said I have sinusitis as my nose is constantly blocked and I’ve been snoring and said I have anxiety. He told me to see a chiropractor about my shoulder/arm pain and gave me prescription for some nasal spray. 

Just as I thought, that I wouldn’t necessarily be taken seriously. Not sure what to do now as I still suffer from my symptoms like pain and dizziness(unsteadiness). I might go private and have a scan. 

I’m still just as anxious and worried as I was before my GP appointment. 

Let me know how your scan/results go, i hope you are feeling better! 

Rani 

Hi Rani, 

Sorry to hear that you don’t feel any reassurance from your last appointment. It is frustrating when you know something isn’t right but feel like you aren’t being taken seriously! I was also told I have anxiety and was prescribed medication for this! Then when I went to another GP in the practice I was referred for an ultrasound. Are there any other GPs in your surgery that you can see?

i keep telling myself that if the doctors felt something more was going on they would take the right steps to investigate further, although I’m totally in the same boat with unexplained symptoms and no answers from doctors. It’s awful! I’ve been back at my GP today as my symptoms have worsened and I’ve been told to just wait it out. The on call GP told me to just wait for the non urgent referral as 9 times out of 10 it’s nothing serious.... I didn’t find that advice reassuring in the slightest lol. 

Have you looked into private? I have been looking today about private ultrasounds but I’ve read that many wont touch a thyroid ultrasound (which I was looking for). 

Hope your symptoms subside soon. 

Katie x

Hey Katie, 

thank you for your advice, I did go to see another GP and they have referred me for an ultrasound so now it’s just a waiting game. This GP also said how it sounds like a lot of anxiety and gave me a leaflet about counselling. She almost immediately asked if I was a medical student (I am a first year) and told me that many medical students when they learn about diseases they think they have similar symptoms and suffer from health anxiety at times.

I’m sorry to hear that you symptoms have worsened, I know sometimes it helps to share how you’re feeling so if you’re having any concerns about your symptoms then don’t be afraid to share! I’m here to listen and hopefully give some advice. 

I have looked into private and I’m not sure whether to go ahead as I am getting referred but I am also having other symptoms like unsteadiness and memory loss so I’m considering having an MRI. 

I just wanted to share that I’m experiencing these weird burning/tingling sensations on my arms and back and chest and it’s worrying me even more but the GP said that can happen when you have anxiety. I have looked st multiple anxiety websites and it’s crazy how many physical symptoms anxiety can cause! I’m still worried whether it may be a physical medical problem, I’m just going to have to wait till the ultrasound and whether my symptoms subside soon. 

I hope you are feeling better, please keep me updated 

Rani xx

Hi Rani, 

Sounds like you got somewhere with the new GP, and some reassurance, which is brilliant :). 

Youre exactly right - anxiety manifests in so many ways!! Often in physical ways that you’d never realise. I do think my anxiety is also playing a part! 

I have looked into private also. It’s just hard because I know irs probably nothing and my GP is not happy about me requesting a private referral! So feel like I’m making a huge fuss for nothing. 

Hope your wait isn’t too long for your ultrasound & please let us know how you get on. 

Katie xx

Hey Katie, 

Yes I am so glad I went to a different GP. I can now try not to focus on my neck problem until the ultrasound. 

Anxiety is just horrible! I’m sure many people with health concerns must be feeling some sort anxiety whilst going to the GP. I feel it is important to explore other medical conditions that could be causing the symptoms rather than simply putting the blame on anxiety. 

Although, my symptoms (besides the pain) can be explained by anxiety, I would like to rule out any other possibilities before saying it’s caused by anxiety. Also people with anxiety issues do suffer from real medical conditions too. 

I called up a few private hospitals and asked about the cost of private scans and they said it could cost between £500-£800! Which is quite expensive! I also tried to get a private referral from my GP and he said “give me the £500 instead of spending it on an unnecessary scan”! 

This whole ordeal is just so tiring and frustrating. I’m constantly being worn out by my painful symptoms and unsettling anxiety. I just want to feel normal again and not have a single worry about anything! 

I hope you are feeling better and your symptoms have subsided. 

Rani 

Hi Katie, 

I hope you’re doing okay and your ultrasound went well. I just wanted to give you an update on my situation since I finally had my ultrasound last Friday after waiting almost 4 weeks. The radiographer said everything looks normal and fine on the ultrasound but said there were a few swollen lymph nodes. She agreed there was a lump but it was just a gland and for me that is normal which definitely reassured me. 

I have an appointment with my GP in another week just to discuss my results further and some more blood work results and to see what we can do next about my other symptoms. Let me know how yours went 

Rani xx

Hi Rani, 

I’m so glad you got positive results from the US. At least now you can put your mind at rest and keep an eye on the lymph nodes to see if they go away or not! 

My US also went ok. I have a 3cm cyst on my thyroid which is benign. I also have a 1 cm cyst on the back of my thyroid which appears benign but they cannot tell for certain as it is so small. I’m being reviewed for another scan in 6 months. I’ve just received a letter through for an US via NHS (I went private) and I think I’m still going to go to that. The pain in my neck is worsening and I’m also getting lots of pain in my collar bone so I am hoping to be extra reassured by going to this appointment! 

How are your other symptoms? Easing up any? 

Katie xx