Painful swollen lumps under arms

[QueenStevie]

Since last Saturday, I have extremely painful lumps under my armpits - both, but the left is far worse than the right. I saw the GP earlier in the week and he said they are swollen lymph nodes and he made a follow up appointment for two weeks to check on them. I'm just in so much discomfort - they are so tender all the time and sometimes burning. I am taking ibuprofen to take the edge off and I have a heated wheat bag on it now. I just wondered if anyone had experienced similar, what it turned out to be, how long it lasted and any ways to help with the pain.

That sounds like Hydradenitis Superativa, I have it and the only treatment is long term low dose antibiotics and a few other medications if it gets really bad. One thing I find helps, is Germolene cream as it contains a small amount of local anaesthetic!

Are you having any other symptoms like night sweats, weight loss, fever, fatigue, itching?

Did the doc do blood tests or anything else?

If they have only been swollen since Saturday, it may be just that your body is fighting an infection. If it gets worse and you haven't had further tests, don't wait the two weeks before contacting the doctor again and asking for more investigations.

No, he asked me all those questions but I haven't had any other symptoms. It just started so out of the blue. No other tests ordered - just a review in two weeks.

I was thinking infection.

I will try the germolene. I just need some respite from the discomfort. Thank you

Just an update - been back today and told it isn't my lymph nodes at all. It is an infection and I have been given two different antibiotics for the next 10 days to treat it. I might need to have them lanced to drain them. It might be the hydradentis super... but she said it would be unusual to get it suddenly in my forties but not impossible. Hopefully just a one off and won't recur but too soon to tell. Glad I went back and didn't wait another week.