Multiple swollen nodes found in a&e

[Sallymads]

Hey, I’m not sure if this is the right place to be honest, but I have started spiralling on Google after a trip to a&e yesterday. I apologise for the long winded post. I’m - 32yo F.
I found a lump at the hinge my jaw, right in front of my ear around 5 months ago, it was only tiny- size of a pea I’d say and to be honest I forgot about it until a few days ago when I started getting horrendous shooting pains and pressure up my face and head on the same side, it was relentless. I had a feel around and it’s massive (to me) around 3cm, very hard I thought it was my jaw bone and it doesn’t move at all. I booked in with my gp yesterday and they promptly sent me to a&e with a suspected jaw bone infection, as I had a fever too.
Got to a&e, had my bloods done which were all clear, as were my infection markers. The Dr wasn’t satisfied, so she sent me for an Xray of my jaw, which was also clear.

She suspected the solid lump is a preauricular lymph node. Upon further examination she found more lymph nodes, these were hard and rubbery, one behind my head, and 4 on the opposite side, one including another preauricular lymph node. I asked her what she thought it was and she just said she thinks it’s my lymph nodes. She wouldn’t say if she thought it was infection or not. She said she was going to refer me to ENT to take a better look.

I’ve been having awful fatigue and feeling ‘run down’ from being tired, I only work 2 days but they’re long hours and it takes me 2-3 days to get over it. Including naps on my days off, but I also have 3 kids 1 of which is SEN who keep me very busy. I’ve been getting shooty head pains, vertigo and pressure for a few months now, they’re really quick and sharp but over in a few seconds, so I put that down to recently needing new glasses for a squint & double vision and I’ve been experiencing what I can only describe as hot flushes that I’ve been joking about being early menopause! I have to strip down, but again they don’t last long either, then I quickly feel cold and shivery. I have also been itchy all over but again, didn’t think much of anything really as separate symptoms.
It’s only afterwards I started putting two and two together and to be honest, it doesn’t look great. Which I think she also knew, but didn’t want to say out loud. She just kept telling me not to worry and wait for my ENT appointment, but I also work in healthcare and I could just tell by her face she suspected something serious.
I guess I’m looking for reassurance perhaps? Maybe similar stories that have turned out to be completely nothing. Currently trying to stay positive. Thank you for reading x

So, last year I was in fact put on the 2 ww cancer pathway for this exact reason. I had fatigue (and a whole array of problems really) and went to the GP out of curiosity to check my lymph nodes as I had a few on my neck, near my ear, under the armpit and in my groin. As he checked he said he was concerned and this threw me into a panic when he told me about the referral. When I was checked over by the Oncologist, he said that they're infact not swollen and they're 'palpable'. He carried out a PET scan anyway which was clear but I definitely understand your concern. I have the same problems as you with body temp etc and I think mine is a nervous system dysregulation issue as they can not find anything else wrong with CAT scans, ultrasounds and many many blood tests. I am looking to be diagnosed with CFS/ME which aligns more looking at the bigger picture. For reassurance, please speak with your GP they'll probably do a referral it will be stressful but once you've had that check up it'll take a massive weight off your shoulders. Best of luck thinking of you x

Apologies I just saw you said you're waiting for an ENT appointment. Perhaps you could be asked to get referred onto the 2 ww to get it checked over throughly? When you have hot flashes, do you ever take your temp to see if there's a genuine fever there? I deleted my Google search bar during that time as it kept directing me to the most awful diagnosis maybe this is something you can do if it'll ease some anxiety? Another thing I was told is when we feel around, we can't correctly judge with our fingers the size of nodes, they always appear bigger especially when we don't know exactly what we are looking for. Also in my case, I kept feeling round I was just irritating them causing them to inflame as I kept pushing them around. I hope you get to the bottom of this soon x

Thank you that’s very reassuring to read. I’m very glad yours isn’t anything sinister🙏
the A&e doctor said she’ll refer me to ENT. Is it best I go back to my doctors for a referral? I’m not sure if what she did was standard or the 2 week wait. Is ENT what I need or would it be a different specialist? Thank you again x

Yes, it’s always a low grade fever though around 37.9, so not high. The A&e doctor agreed it was solid, quite large and immobile after examining me, I think she was surprised my xray was clear and it wasn’t bone! I’ll chase up with my Gp tomorrow and definitely delete my search history! It’s awful isn’t it, we always expect the worst! X

I think an ENT may be helpful but I think perhaps going back to your GP with the recent interactions with the a&e doctor and ask about the 2ww referral they'll probably do it there and then for you anyway. If it's cancer you're concerned about definitely ask for it to be checked out, that way you'll still have your ENT appointment upcoming and once you have seen the oncologist you can go from there. Honestly best of luck, it's horrible waiting and trying to keep occupied but you're doing the best thing. Wish I could help more x

That’s great thank you so much!! I’ll call my doctors first thing tomorrow and hopefully get referred. I gotta say the most annoying out of this is the hot flushes I’m experiencing, fed up of stripping off then getting dressed again ha! Thank you once again x

I used to get swollen lymph nodes when I was B12 deficient. That would fit with your other symptoms too, even the itching

Thank you, I had my bloods done a few months ago and those levels were good then x

@Sallymads Was B12 definitely included in the blood tests? It's not part of the full Blood Count, needs to be ordered separately. And it's always worth getting your actual result to check it yourself. Lots of people are told their result is normal or good when they're not, because the lab ranges are too low.

And just to add, if you're not vegan and have been supplementing B12 in any way (including when it's added to food/drinks), then your result will be skewed and not accurate

Keeping my fingers crossed for you that your symptoms are nothing serious x

Hi, yes my levels were really good for B12, I have the results on my app. I do eat quite a lot of seafood so that’s probably why.
Ahh I’m hoping it’s nothing bad, but I feel everything has sort of clicked with me that it could be. I’ll just wait and see anyway. My Gp has booked to see me Tuesday to refer to haematology so I’ll go from there. Thanks for your help x

Hi, have you had any update! Pretty much experiencing exactly the same x