Help a worrying mummy. Lymph Nodes, Baby's groin

[MumOfHals]

Hi All,
I am wondering if you can help me!

I suffer with health anxiety, and recently had a lymph node scare on myself. After blood tests and scans, I was very reassured. But then put my anxious energy into searching my DD for lymph nodes!!

I went looking for them and I found 2, 1 either side of her groin. Little firm wiggly peas.

She is otherwise a healthy, energetic 13 month old, eating everything, happy, not pale, not had reoccuring illnesses etc.

Is it possible that sometimes you can just 'feel' them and they be healthy nodes?!

I know some people can just feel theirs when you go looking??.

Any advice / experiences with lymph nodes would be highly appreciated.

Thank you xxx

BUMP!!!!

This is your health anxiety talking. Did you have any actual reason (i.e. symptoms) to go looking for your dd's lymph nodes?

A quick Google brought this up from a medical centre website:

Care Advice for Small Lymph Nodes

What You Should Know About Normal Nodes:
If you have found a pea-sized or bean-sized node, this is normal. Normal lymph nodes are smaller than ½ inch or 12 mm.
Don't look for lymph nodes, because you can always find some. They are easy to find in the neck and groin.

I also suffer with health anxiety and when my children were toddlers i also found lymph nodes on their necks around the base on their hairlines and around/under their ears. I freaked out, had them checked and all was fine. They still have them now. I also have them. It's totally normal. I think it's only something to worry about if they're hard and immobile and grow. Pea size is normal.

@lazylinguist

This is your health anxiety talking. Did you have any actual reason (i.e. symptoms) to go looking for your dd's lymph nodes?

A quick Google brought this up from a medical centre website:

Care Advice for Small Lymph Nodes

What You Should Know About Normal Nodes:
If you have found a pea-sized or bean-sized node, this is normal. Normal lymph nodes are smaller than ½ inch or 12 mm.
Don't look for lymph nodes, because you can always find some. They are easy to find in the neck and groin.

@lazylinguist thank you for replying. No I had no reason to check her for nodes.

• she’s a lovey colour ( not pale )

• she loves her food ( no loss of appetite )

• she doesn’t bruise easily

• she’s got a little beer belly ( not loosing weight )

• she’s not had any other sickness ( not got a weak immune system )

• she doesn’t always nap ( so not overly tired / no energy )

• she sleeps well at night ( no night sweats )

• she's very energetic

• she's not overly miserable or moany.

I only went looking for them because I had a fear of my own & my own anxiety drove me to look & now I am panicking.

I am currently going through CBT and medication for my anxiety as I am aware it is an ongoing issue.

I just want to know if anyone else has them & they can be just there, even when healthy xx

@Barnbop2

I also suffer with health anxiety and when my children were toddlers i also found lymph nodes on their necks around the base on their hairlines and around/under their ears. I freaked out, had them checked and all was fine. They still have them now. I also have them. It's totally normal. I think it's only something to worry about if they're hard and immobile and grow. Pea size is normal.

@Barnbop2

Thank you for your response, she has a few on her head that got checked by a paediatrician about 6 months ago.. the paediatrician wasn't concerned in the slightest.

I never even went looking for her groin nodes until 1.5 weeks ago... I don't know how long they've been able to be felt, otherwise I would have mentioned at the appointment 6 months ago if they was there.

My anxiety drove me to search. Xx

I just want to know if anyone else has them & they can be just there, even when healthy

Literally everyone has them. They are meant to be there!

The link I quoted specifically says that it is normal for them to be able to be felt. And that pea-size as you described is normal.

Yeah my son had and has really easily feel-able nodes- his particularly at the back of his head, since he was a baby.

I was obsessed with them, because I had postnatal anxiety, which started off as fears about my health (suddenly dying and leaving him alone), became anxiety about HIS health, and eventually horrific intrusive thoughts that saw me become very very very mentally unwell.

I would suggest -with kindness- that rather than an appt for baby, you make one for yourself and nip the anxiety in the bud.

DM me if you’d like to know more about my experience of PPA. Don’t like to say too much without asking if it’s of interest, as some can find it triggering.

Look after yourself

Just saw your update re medication and CBT.

If you can afford it I found psychotherapy helpful, changed my life really, but it’s a long road and not cheap.