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Children's health

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Original poster

Growing lump on 8year olds neck/jaw

21 replies

hannah345 · 11/08/2023 14:18

Hi everyone. I'm posting on here in the hope someone might have the slightest clue what is going on with my son.

For a month, my son would grab his neck, after a few mouthfuls of food, and tell me his neck hurt.
Multiple times, I checked his neck, inside his mouth, his teeth, and his temperature, but nothing was there. This would be a problem every single time he ate food... roll on a month, and he's still complaining, but this time, he's breaking down in tears, refusing to eat, saying he can't swallow...

So I checked his neck, inside his much, etc, and now I have noticed that when he complains... a lump appears on his neck. Which isn't his gland.

My sons said to me, he feels it getting bigger. it's tingling, hurts, and hurts to swallow." He's also said it's getting worse.

The lump goes down anywhere from 5 minutes to hours and hours, depending on how bad it is.

So I did take him to the doctor, and they said they have no clue, and now I'm waiting on an emergency pediatrics appointment for an ultrasound on his neck.

Has anyone got a clue on what this could be? Ovbs, I'll have awnsers eventually, but that's weeks/months away!!!

(Attached is a pic of flare-up)

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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Theyrethreetheyresixtheyreninetheyreeight · 11/08/2023 14:51

Bit of a wild one but I heard of a Dc who was complaining of things being sore when he tried to eat, had a lump, he was examined -declared all fine. Went eventually to the hospital & had an MRI, again all fine. Back again to hospital some time later he was given another MRI, one that went lower down or something, and it turned out that someone had cleaned a BBQ with one of those metal bristle barbecue cleaning brushes, one bristle had stuck to the grill and the subsequently stuck to the burger he was given. He had eaten it and it had lodged in his throat but it travelled around a bit and so the lump came and went. I think it was slightly under his ear in the end.

I hope you get the ultrasound asap, would he be able to drink paediatric nutritional shakes in the meantime to give him a bit of a boost?

Songbird74 · 11/08/2023 16:16

Could it be his thyroid? How worrying for you OP, I hope he’s ok. Have they requested bloods?

Anewuser · 11/08/2023 16:27

If he can’t eat and can’t swallow then I don’t see you have any choice but to take him to A & E. As you say, it could take months to get a paed scan and even then you’re likely to have to wait for the results.

Songbird74 · 11/08/2023 16:47

@Anewuser you’re right - they can check him over and give you a sooner answer. I wouldn’t wait, OP.

Original poster

hannah345 · 11/08/2023 18:43

All they have said to me is they will do a altrasound with in 6 weeks. They told me if it gets worse take him up a&e or back to the doctors.

Which I have done yesterday, they couldn't see the lump as it went down by the time I got there and was told to come back when the lump is visible 🤦🏽‍♀️

OP posts:

Busubaba · 11/08/2023 18:58

www.chp.edu/our-services/ent/services/neck-masses

Sexnotgender · 11/08/2023 19:01

Could it be a blocked salivary gland? DH had one recently and it was incredibly painful.

Mirrormirror2 · 11/08/2023 19:13

Sexnotgender · 11/08/2023 19:01

Could it be a blocked salivary gland? DH had one recently and it was incredibly painful.

Yes Id second this and say potentially a blocked submandibular salivary gland, especially as the symptoms start when he eats - ie when salivation increases.

Id take him to the dentist, describe the symptoms & ask for a referral to the maxillofacial department

Mirrormirror2 · 11/08/2023 19:14

Oh sorry I see on your update you have been referred for an US, if there is anything you should be referred on to maxfacs anyway from there, good luck!

Original poster

hannah345 · 11/08/2023 19:16

Thank you all for your responses! Means alot.
However, the symptoms of what you've said don't match up.

According to the NHS website the lumps suggested are constantly there, where as my sons pops up when eaten! Xx thanks tho cx

OP posts:

Mirrormirror2 · 11/08/2023 19:25

hannah345 · 11/08/2023 19:16

Thank you all for your responses! Means alot.
However, the symptoms of what you've said don't match up.

According to the NHS website the lumps suggested are constantly there, where as my sons pops up when eaten! Xx thanks tho cx

Blocked salivary glands swell when eating (saliva production increases but cant escape so saliva builds up causing a swelling) you get pain due to this & then the swelling decreases in size as the saliva eventually drains albeit slowly. Plus the submandibular salivary gland is located where the swelling is in your picture. So Id say theres a good chance its related. Take him to the dentist if you arent getting anywhere with GP.

Toastandmarmiteandtea · 11/08/2023 19:31

I‘be had a blocked salivary gland and had this exact thing happen. It swells when you eat and really hurts and then goes down. You need to be referred to ent. But mostly they pass by themselves. He needs to drink lots and they suggest sucking on lemons or sour sweets.

titchy · 11/08/2023 19:47

As others have said prob a blocked salivary gland. Same thing as a tonsil stone - bit of calcium. Sucking on a lemon or something very acidic should help break it down. Or wait for a scan and let an ENT specialist clear it!

ChocHotolate · 11/08/2023 20:01

Theyrethreetheyresixtheyreninetheyreeight · 11/08/2023 14:51

I hope you get the ultrasound asap, would he be able to drink paediatric nutritional shakes in the meantime to give him a bit of a boost?

This is an urban myth
Anything metal would have ripped through the body in an MRI

nocoolnamesleft · 11/08/2023 21:08

Sorry, I'm struggling to see properly on that picture. Is it right up close to his jawline? Might be a parotid duct obstruction? Happens when the parotid gland (which is a salivary gland) isn't draining very well, so when you eat and make lots of saliva it swells up more, then gradually goes down as the saliva slowly drains into the mouth. Ultrasound would be the right test to diagnose it.

Theyrethreetheyresixtheyreninetheyreeight · 11/08/2023 21:10

You’re right!
Maybe it was a CT or an ultrasound or something then. The DR talking in the video explained it all but it was ages ago that I saw it. I just remember her saying they scanned lower and my brain has misremembered mri. It was fascinating to listen to at the time but I have a memory like a sieve.
.

Original poster

hannah345 · 11/08/2023 21:28

Honestly... I'm truly grateful! That's the best response I've ever had! Makes so much sense!! So thank you, I was dreading the C word.
I know that it hasn't been checked by doctors, but it's helped massively!

My son is autistic, and he has a very bland, strict diet, so he won't even try lemon or sour stuff, but thank you for the suggestion, which means a lot xx

OP posts:

Busubaba · 16/08/2023 11:17

How is your son?

AJ09 · 16/08/2023 11:46

They'rethree it was a CT scan used and found after 7-10 days. Beachgem10 on tiktok has a story on this in her pinned posts

Original poster

hannah345 · 16/08/2023 14:49

@Busubaba he's still the same, have to just wait for ultrasound

OP posts:

Busubaba · 16/08/2023 14:59

I hope you get an appointment soon.

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