Swollen lymph nodes in various places

Hello. I’ve been reading through various posts on this wonderful site and have finally taken the plunge and started my own. I noticed that the lymph nodes either side of my neck and under my jaw were raised about 7 weeks ago - they could have been there longer, I just happened to be poking around at this time due to a bit of anxiety about something else. I checked my groin and there were also a few raised either side there too and one either side on my collar bone. Cue googling and… you guessed it, massive panic!!

A few weeks later I saw my GP who said they were probably down to a mild cold I’d had a couple of weeks before, ideally I should just forget about them, but if they were really worrying me to come back in 4 weeks if they were still raised. They are still raised, so I have an appointment to see her next week. I don’t really have any other symptoms but then I’ve read often people don’t - I’ve had frequent headaches the last couple of months, and my body feels a bit achy, but that’s not too unusual for me.

The nodes aren’t huge about 1cm in my neck, just over 1cm in my groin and less than 1cm by my collar bone. The two under my jaw are big, like walnuts, but possibly these are salivary glands? One in my neck has gotten a little bigger (about 1.5cm) but I think the others have all remained a similar size. I’ve noticed one in the front of my neck and one in the back, which maybe new, or maybe I just hadn’t noticed before.

I’ve not managed to find many people talking about this kind of widespread swelling and I’m worried that as the nodes are effected in so many areas that whatever this is could be quite advanced. I’ve looked into other things that can cause this such as lupus and glandular fever but I don’t seem to have the symptoms of those. Thank you to anyone who has bothered to read all of this rambling!! I’d really appreciate any thoughts or support.

  • Hi becky1984. Welcome to the forum.

    I am not a doctor.

    So far, it seems to me that you and your doctor have both done the right thing so far, and going back is the right thing.  But it's worth remembering that lymphoma is a pretty uncommon disease, raised lymph nodes are a very common symptom, and nodes can take a long time to settle down.

    I would expect that your doctor would ask for the nodes to be ultrasound scanned, from which a great deal of information can be derived. I know it's easy to say don't worry about it, but remember that the chance of this being anything too serious is low. 

  • Thank you for replying, I really appreciate it :) Yes, I know you're right.  Its hard not to think the worst but I will try not to worry!  Good to know what the next steps maybe and what to expect from my dr, thank you for that.

  • I followed your comments in the other thread Becky and was wondering if you ever got any answers. I have the same lumps as you and even the 4 week cough which is really odd. I'd really appreciate if you could take a little time to reply to me 

  • Hi Jamie,

    Sorry that you are having similar problems. Unfortunately I haven't really gotten any answers I'm afraid.  I did return to my dr when the nodes were still swollen, she ran another full set of bloods which came back clear. She said that with so many nodes swollen any lymphoma should show some abnormality in my blood, and as my blood came back fine she told me to forget about them.  Obviously I didn't and continued to stress!!  I went to see another GP about 4 weeks after and took a full hisotry, felt the nodes and again reasured me that she wasn't concerned. 

    I've tried to trust in their oppinion and forget about it a bit since then, I'd pushed as hard as I felt able to and my mental health was really suffering with the constant worry.  Its been about 8 months since I noticed the lumps now, and I'd say there's been no real change in them over that time (which I take to be a good thing, although obviously I'd love it if they just went away!) Health wise I'm feeling a lot better, still suffering with headaches which are being investigated, but the aches and pains, cough and other things that I was panicing over all went away eventually - I guess they were either caused by a prolongued virus (maybe I was run down due to feeling stressed) or I was just being hyper aware and noticing these things more than normal.

    I still worry about them now and then, but have come to the conclusion that they're probably normal for me, and may have been there for years before I even noticed them.  Have you seen your GP about them yet?  Althouogh I didn't find mine too helpful, they are all different, so that should definitely be your first port of call.  How long have you had the lumps?

  • Hi Becky,

     

    just reading your post and I seem to have the same although in my armpit not really my groin although I've always felt those ones and they are commonly 1.5 cm and normal. I have my collarbone looked at and my throat for several swollen but they didn't consider them swollen even though I can feel them. The one in my armpit was considered long but she said she was worried enough to biopsy it. I feel like there is nothing more I can do but in light of the coronavirus and the fact it's all on one side (although I can dig for tiny tiny ones on my right collarbone and armpit) I might give my doctor a call and ask since I have no infection, why is she not considering lymphoma!!

     

    very frustrating but you aren't alone x

  • I went through the motions with very similar symptoms last year, no real obvious swelling of the lymph nodes at that time but definite pain in the groin, armpits and neck, this all started after a bout of severe headaches that lasted for about 4weeks. The headaches eased but never fully went away, I had numerous blood tests, appointments with haematologists, neurologists, ultrasounds of my groin & armpits, chest x-rays and several visits with my GP. All tests game back clear and the specialists I saw had no reason to complete further tests. The whole things started in March and eventually eased in about December time which I thought was the end of it. 
     

    Unfortunately about 4 weeks ago the symptoms have returned again starting with headaches, I'm back under the care of my GP at present who again suspects this is the result of a potential sinus infection, I have the same pain in the lymph nodes again but this time with some swelling of the in the neck and groin just on my left side.

     

    I have a follow up appointment with a haematologist in a few weeks by chance,  as the symptoms sound very similar, if I get any answers from that appointment or any future tests I'll post again which may or may not give you something else to look at.

  • Ah I'm sorry to hear it's happening all over again! 
     

    that would be great to here other possible explanations ! Fingers crossed for you! Such a scary time to be having this horrible symptoms and worries! 
     

    Loom forward to hearing (hopefully good news) from you!!

     

    becky 

  • Hi Becky, 

    I find myself in a similar situation did you get any answers? X

  • Hiya Becky 

     So I've had this lump in my neck coming up for a year now I was told it is glandular fever back in December 2019.
     3 weeks ago I say to the doctor can I have another blood test as I am worried as it hasn't gone away . So a week ago she calls me and says nothing has shown up and that I should go on amoxicillin for a week to see if my swelling would go down . Yesterday my lymph node glands have started to swell and today I have found blood in my pee. What should I do? With coronavirus I am terrified to catch something should I call up the doctor? Also why am I so tired all the time thanks for reading xxxx

  • Passing blood is a "red flag" symptom that must always be reported to your GP.  You could well have a urinary infection which isn't responding to the amoxicillin, but you must not ignore it.  Even a single episode must be reported without delay.

     

    Phone your GP surgery Monday morning and tell them that you've passed blood and you need to speak to yout GP.

     

    You needn't feel too worried going to the doctor's surgery.  They will take all necessary precautions to keep you safe from Covid.  Both my wife and I have visited hospitals, dentists and GPs during the first and second lockdowns, and we're both still Covid free.