Diffuse Swelling in left armpit - COVID vaccine? worried!!

I am a 28 year old female and I noticed a bit of a swelling in my left armpit but only when my arm is raised above my head I can feel it. I noticed it when I was lying in bed and I had an itch near the area. The other side seems to have a similar structure but not swollen. It's not a lump more of a hardish swelling. I went to the Drs today and I saw a female Dr who said that she's seen a lot of women who have had their covid booster in the same arm that they have similar swelling to mine. She said to keep an eye on it for approx a month and go back in Jan if it hasn't gone down. She said she isn't worried, it's not a lump, not a lymph node, just a general soft tissue swelling. She also said that she didn't want to refer me for any unnecessary investigations at this point in time and only if it doesn't go down will she refer for possible ultrasound and maybe breast clinic. I have really bad health anxiety and I'm so worried about waiting to see if it will go down. It's been there 3 weeks now and hasn't gone down so I can't see it going down over the next month. I'm worried it will impact my Christmas because I will be worrying about it. I'm contemplating ringing the Drs again and getting booked in to tell them how worried I am about it. 

  • Hi there, I have exactly the same thing. I noticed mine back in September but have no idea how long I had it for. Exactly like you, like a swelling of the soft tissue and can only properly feet it when I raise my arm above my head. I didnt have any vaccine in September, the last covid jab I had was in June but as I said, it might be that this weird "lump" has been there for much longer. Anyway, I had an ultrasound of this lump in the breast clinic and was told that  its nothing, its just soft tissue. I been watching this thing since then and it has not changed, didn't get bigger or smaller. 

     

  • Hi, thank you for your reply, it's reassuring to read! Glad I'm not the only one...I've rang the drs back and asked to be seen again because I'm worrying about it and went to put my mind at ease. I'm booked in again for next week so maybe they will refer me for a scan then. How long did you have to wait for your scan? 

  • It was an urgent referral, 2 weeks wait. Hopefully they will do the same with you! 

  • Hopefully when I go back to the GPs next week they will listen to my worries and refer me for a scan. They mustn't think there is anything concerning if they haven't referred me already. They normally refer straight away for any breast concerns don't they. Thanks for your replies!

  • Hi, you have described exactly what I now have after my booster. A soft swelling under my left arm when I raise it. Also a little swollen below my collarbone too on the left side. I called the Dr who said they weren't worried at all but that if I was, to go back for a chest xray ( not because they are worried, they think it would put my mind at rest). The Dr said this is totally normal after a vaccine and told me to ignore it for now. Easier said than done but I will give it a go :)

  • Hello, I went back to the drs on Monday and he checked me all over...checked both my breasts and armpits and reassured me that he could not feel a lump or any swelling. He was very nice and I felt a lot better after going to see him! Glad yours is all ok too :)