To panic about this lump in my neck?

[sconebonjovi]

I've got a lump under my jaw, I think it's a raised gland. I have terrible health anxiety, so I'm panicking rather.

Should raised glands under your jaw be mobile? The lump is about the size of a small grape, it's smooth, and it's not super hard. Thing is, it doesn't really move, but the skin on top moves freely. Can anybody help reassure me until I can get to the dr tomorrow? I've got a bit of a cough and cold, so it could be raised because of that, but I've been having chest pains for a few months (that I had checked out and nothing came up) but I haven't had an X-ray or scan. Basically I'm convincing myself it's lymphoma in my chest. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

It could be a fatty cyst. I have one of these on my neck and have had for years and they just leave it. Also have had raised glands and it sounds similar. I would go and get it checked though.

Dd had a lump on her neck that was hard and didn't really move under the skin. The GP referred her on the Wednesday and on Sat am we got an appointment through for the following week for an ultrasound. It was on the NHS and I was a tad worried that we were being seen so quickly! The ultrasound showed it was a cyst. Shortly after pus started coming out of it. I now think the reason it was hard and wasn't moving under the skin was because it was infected. Hopefully yours will just be something straightforward too.

Thanks gegs. I've really worked myself up into a state!

That sounds exactly like the gland I get in my neck whenever I have a sniffle.
In my case it doesn't have to be a bad cold, the slightest sniffle or cough sets it off.
It's kidney bean sized, if I push it it sort of moves a little, but is clearly joined to my throat, however the skin moves freely over it.
It only comes up on one side of my neck, I guess the corresponding one on the other side isn't as reactive.
I have only noticed this in recent years, don't remember having it as a child

Curls sounds similar except mine is a little bigger than that, and I don't normally get raised glands at all as far as I've noticed!

it will be one of two things. A lymph node - which is enlarged due to infection or prodding (there are ln's under the jaw line) or a salivary gland blocked. They generally unblock themselves - sucking on lemons helps.

i empathise with the health anxiety. its a bastard

Thanks all. It is theoriginal, it's bloody hellish!

Hello! Realise this is an old discussion but I was wondering if you found out what the lump was? You described what I'm feeling perfectly, and have had the lump for two/three months now.. Not growing I think, but remains like a small/med grape size. Will get in touch with Dr I think, but thought I'd ask! Hope all's well xx @sconebonjovi

Me too. Going for ultra sound next month but beside myself with worry

You should always get checked just incase but in the meantime just wanted to chime in that I had something similar last year - still do in fact - and it's not sinister so don't panic (as I did ). It was a swollen lymph node but it remained swollen for months so I went to the doctor. She referred me to a haematologist and he said it probably became swollen when I was sick at some stage and didn't go back down, that it happens some times. Had an ultrasound, all fine.

Go get checked but try not to worry as it's most likely fine.

I get those sometimes when I'm run down - they are scary and a bit painful aren't they! They've always disappeared, in that odd way that you suddenly realise it's not there anymore and you're not dying after all. I presume they are lymph glands.

Thank you @Arnia! Great that's what it was for you and very much appreciate you sharing. Will go get it looked at.. for now, I will stop Googling and be able to get some much needed sleep :) And good luck @TwinkleToeMatilda, hoping all fine with you too.

Thanks guys. I had bloods done which come back fine but I got myself in a state so requested an ultra sound which will be next month (soonest they could do) mine isn’t under my jaw. Mine is actually quite far back on the side and low down in my neck. There’s two lumps next to one another and they are very moveable. I have such bad anxiety as I’m quite an itchy person and my grandad had lymphoma. I am only 25 if that makes any difference. I know no one can say much as they aren’t doctors but just wanted to share what is going on and when I have my results I’ll be sure to comment again so if anyone in the future goes through something similar. Good to know we aren’t alone. Hope everyone is ok x

mine isn’t under my jaw. Mine is actually quite far back on the side and low down in my neck.

That's the same spot mine was/is in too TwinkleToeMatilda I know it's difficult but try not to worry. You are young and it's most likely completely fine.

Echoing above words, but understand how hard it must be not to worry @TwinkleToeMatilda. Hope you get reassurance soon. A brief update from me, I've seen the GP and he's Not Worried about the enlarged lymph nodes (two, actually, but both on left quite high up left side under/near jaw). I will get bloods done and an ultrasound but just to rule anything out fully due to having had it for a few months already. Maybe also because of my age (40) and unintentional weight loss last year (have two young kids). Will update. Hope you all stay healthy and well!

Hi all. So update - had my ultrasound yesterday. She checked all over my neck, not just where my area of concern is. She told me I need to check back with GP in a week for results but she did say there was nothing there which was concerning and she is 99.9% sure it’s nothing to worry about as they are just my lymph nodes. I told her how much I’ve been worrying and asked why they are big and haven’t gone down. She said I actually have the same on the other side of my neck but the reason I’ve noticed the ones which I was concerned about was cause there are two next to one another. She also said that my lymph nodes are bigger to say what hers will be as you’re still building immunity to things till your early 30’s. She said that it’s a viscous circle as lymph nodes can be swollen for many reasons. Such as if you’re run down, stressed, been ill with a cough or cold etc. So right now I’m taking this as positive and will await my results. I have to say though this is just my experience. If you feel a lump then get it checked, and don’t take no for an answer. After my bloods came back clear they didn’t see any need to do any further testing which wasn’t enough for my anxiety so I pushed for an ultrasound. I will let you all know what my results say. Hope everyone is ok x

Hi Matilda, was your results okay?