Enlarged nodes on side of neck

[MumofKings]

Hi Mums, I've read a few similar posts regarding swollen nodes in the lo's necks but need some reassurance.
My DS has had a lump under his jawline since he was 2.5. Dr and paed looked at it and said it's just a swollen node. Last yr i noticed another one on the left side of this neck which was a little bigger than a pea with a few smaller ones around it. Paed suggested a biopsy to clear out anything serious. He had a biopsy in Apr last yr which was clear. Fast forward July this yr i noticed the smaller nodes on the side of his neck enlarged. There are a few down the left side which doesn't bug him but freak me out!! Again I've taken him to the DR who referred him to an ENT who barely examined him and suggested removing his adenoids and tonsils which I'm weary about as he is not 100% sure that is the cause he just wants to have them removed and see if that helps. I really do not want to put my DS through tests and surgery again. He hasn't been sick to explain the enlarged nodes. He is otherwise fine.
I'm sorry for the long story but I am so worried i can barely think straight. I have a 6 month old who i feel i am neglecting because I am stressing so much about this.

hello...anyone??? please

Hi. A hand hold from me. I hope someone who has knowledge in this comes along soon.

How old is your son?

My DD has had noticeable nodes since being a baby. I think sometimes they swell then don’t go down again. It’s more obvious in some people than others.

Ask for a blood test if you’re worried. That’s quite straightforward.

Not exactly the same fact pattern as you but here goes - DS had enlarged nodes up until about a year ago. They would change size often and sometimes he would have more than one. GP reluctant to refer but we insisted and got a private referral. Blood tests and ultrasound ruled out anything worrying and paed said they would probably disappear over time (which they have). Not uncommon for us to be unable to see a clear link between him being ill / having a cold and changes in the lumps.

We were told that it they shouldn’t normally be a concern unless they are particularly hard and can easily be manipulated or moved around his neck.

Hope you get some answers soon

Kids often have enlarged nodes and it's normal. If they were abnormal then they would be huge and getting bigger. Pea sized with a few round it is normal.
Kids are always fighting off infection so these lymph nodes are always working. ENT is right - if he has a tonsillectomy then it might help reduce them as the tonsil crypts are less likely to harbour infection. However it's 50:50 as there's loads of infection entries in the head and neck and he'll still be fighting those.
If he's had a biopsy and it's negative I wouldn't worry.
He can either have the op. Or be reviewed in a year or so.
Both are reasonable.

Thank you all for the response.
My DS is 5 yrs old. In my heart of hearts i know its nothing, but when i look at those lumps sticking out of his neck when he turns it makes me feel like a bad mum for doing nothing and just wishing them away.

@Madelinehatter and @fridaseyebrows was your kids on both or one side of their necks?

also to add the lumps are firm but very movable. I have a few lipomas in my arms, one as big as 2/3 cms, its also firm and movable. DS nodes feel alot like these.

DS had both sides but left side was much more noticeable.

He was about 5 when they started to disappear.

My DD gets a lumpy neck as well and you can really notice it when they turn their neck can't you? I think especially when you're obsessing over them.
Most of the time they're benign, and often if it was something more serious there would be other symptoms as well.
If he's had the biopsy done on them I really really wouldn't worry, that is basically the gold standard and it came back clear. He will probably keep developing them, it seems like he is just prone to it.
My husband was the same growing up and he was back and forth to doctors as well, he was absolutely fine!

Please don't stress

We went thro this last year horrible blood tests etc as 4 year old had lumps on neck ...nothing came of it at all ...lo still has lumps at times but got told nothing to worry about x

My daughter always had nodes up and was fine ! I have always had one on my neck and I am now in mid fifties 😊

On one side mainly but had the odd one on both sides occasionally

I'm actually tearing reading your responses. Thank you all sooo much i feel so much better.

Were your lo's nodes tender or did it not both them as well?
My DS is skinny and i battle to get him to eat sometimes (he's very picky) I started him on Pedisure and a multi vit, hope that helps him put on a few kgs.

We went thro this last year horrible blood tests etc as 4 year old had lumps on neck ...nothing came of it at all ...lo still has lumps at times but got told nothing to worry about x

Hi OP, I had similar with my youngest DC, most noticeable in the jaw area, but also a bit in the groin area. She’s 10 now and they’re still there.

I was always pretty sure that it happened in response to the MMR injection... maybe I’m wrong.

Anyway, she’s always been fit and healthy so I’ve never really worried about them. She’s skinny, like your DS, and I think this makes them more noticeable.

I'm actually tearing reading your responses... Aww, bless you. Being a mother is such a worrisome business!

@SidesteppinTheRona thank you for your response

Ohh my goodness, motherhood is stressful. I read a quote saying the day I became a mum was the day I knew what it felt like to have my heart beat outside my body, that is 200% correct.