Thank you :) x

Hi all

i had my AZ jab on sunday on left arm and for a couple of days have felt a small pea sized lump or nodule above my left collarbone. Its a bit sore but I can't tell if thatts me prodding it! At first I thought it was a collarbone problem but then found this lump. Even though my research indicates it's probably an effect of the jab, am still concerned as I had thyroid cancer in 2012, so will give it a couple of weeks but then go and see the GP. Good luck to everyone else, will be interested in the outcome of your enquiries too. Thanks

Hello all. An update from me. So, I had my first jab end January and second jab beginning April. At the start of March I noticed an enlarged lymph node on the left side by my collar bone. I googled 'enlarged lymph node' and saw to wait a few weeks to see if it went down by itself (luckily I didn't Google the specific lymph node at the time as that is quite an alarming Google search). On the morning of second jab, I was on the NHS app to get my NHS number and remembered it had been a month since I noticed the enlarged lymph node so I did an online consultation form with my GP. The GP phoned the next day and invited me in the same day which alarmed me a little. The GP examined my neck/collar bone/pelvic area and asked me lots of questions and referred me for an ultrasound saying it is most likely an underlying infection as no other symptoms. The GP did not ask if I had had the covid vaccineI and I didn't known to mention it myself at that point. I am in my 30s so the GP may not have thought about the Covid vaccine as an issue I suppose, but I had it through my job. I don't know anyone my age who has had it yet apart from if for their employment. I have had cancer before so cancer was my main concern, especially as I was told if it ever came back, it would be in my lymph nodes. I came home from the GP appointment and did more googling, learning about the significance of it being the left supraclavicalur lymph node, so have spent 2 weeks being super worried. I also learnt on here about the possibility of it being linked to the covid vaccine and read some articles in medical journals about that. 

 I had my ultrasound today, of my neck/jaw/under my chin/near my ears - it was more thorough than I expected. The Dr showed me the screen and said the lymph node is enlarged but no signs of malignancy as the narrower measurement was less than 10mm, there were these white edge parts that are a sort of fat that wouldn't be there if it was cancer, and the "architecture" of the lymph node looked normal, with clearly defined edges. He said there was another enlarged one next to the one I had identified, I had not felt that one. I asked him if it might be enlarged due to the covid vaccine and he said this was possible and it shows the body has produced an immune response which is a good thing. He referred to another woman who had a large lymph node swelling in her neck, thought to be from the vaccine. I heard him dictate the letter to my GP whilst I was getting dressed and he said there were no signs of malignancy and the lymph node enlargement is "possibly linked to the covid vaccine". 

So hopefully the GP will be satisfied and life can go back to normal for me. 

I hope you are all getting on okay and have an equally positive outcome. 

What good news SR, thank you for sharing. I wonder if they will begin linking the vaccine to these node swellings soon. 
 

Well my doctor had me back in, bloods all show as normal which is good news. I'm being referred for an ultrasound next, I'm now 6 weeks since my second vaccine, and finding this lump. Hopefully the ultrasound also shows normal results. If this is to do with the vaccine I wonder just how long it will take for the node to reduce again!

I'm glad your bloodwork was normal. Good luck for the ultrasound. 

My node started to reduce in size a week ago, so that was 6/7 weeks after noticing it, and 10/11 weeks after the first dose. 

There are a few studies linking it with the covid vaccine, one I read looked at the AZ vaccine and found it in 11% of cases, more of women than men. I had the Pfizer vaccine and haven't found as much research on linking that to lymph node swelling. 

A friend showed me the Facebook status of her friend that talked about her recent experience of a swelling in her armpit, she had a history of breast cancer in her family so was very worried, but her tests showed no concerns and it was put down to the covid vaccine too. It is the best outcome we can hope for I think. 

Best of luck x

Hi SR24,

Really pleased  for you that your nodes have come back as normal, it must be such a relief to hear that!  Did the doctor say how long they can stay enlarged for?

I’m in a similar situation but mine are in my armpit and I’m (nervously) waiting for a scan, I’ve had cancer too, so I have all sorts going through my head.

Best Wishes 

Hello, 

No the Dr didn't say. I thought of that question after I left. Mine has definitely been longer than most on this thread (10ish weeks before it started to feel smaller). 

Yes such a relief. I had a few really difficult days when the GP referred me on and then lots of ups and downs since then. It's not easy to describe but I'm sure you understand what I mean. 

Do you have a date for your scan yet? X

An update from me:
I contacted, and had a phone call back from, my local GP surgery just over 4 weeks since the vaccine, 3 weeks since I saw the first GP as advised, and another GP saw me later that same day.
He said he is 90% sure that the lymph node is benign, because of the feel of it and because is so movable, but ... (I may be the first one with this symptom here), he is referring me for a fast track ultrasound on both collarbones, as there is a smaller swollen lymph node on the other side, too. That was on Monday and I haven't been given the ultrasound appointment so far. Not sure what to think about this, but the 90% comment is, at least, reassuring. I hope everyone else is making good progress and getting the all clear.

PS I had a blood test too. No result so far, which must be good news. I could phone the surgery later today to make sure it's fine. I'm glad that other people's blood tests have been OK.

Hi,

My scan is next week, I know what you mean about the difficult days, to be honest it's never left my mind since I discovered them. One of them feels really quite large but it's so hard to tell as it's quite deep in the armpit & I don't want to keep feeling it in case I make it bigger! 
 

I had the Covid jab just over 10 weeks ago but I've only just found the nodes so it's hard to know how long they've been there. I wish I'd have known about the lymph node side effect and I would've had a good check before I went!

Again so glad for you, at least you can put this behind you now, I know how scary it is. X