Teen lymph nodes

[Lolastars]

Needing some advice/reassurance anyone medical? I suffer from terrible health anxiety and desperately trying not to pass onto my 15yo teen. He was ill a few weeks ago with ear infection. Antibiotics cleared it up. I've noticed he has a lymph node in his neck. It's not noticeable to look at unless he really turns his neck but I can feel it. I'm panicking it could be serious. Can't get to gp as away for a week.. he feels fine in himself. Just looking for reassurance really x

My son as a teenager went through a stage where he had enlarged glands, from about 17 through to 21. He did go to GP and got a blood test where it’s shown everything was normal and he has since had annual blood tests taken which have shown his thyroid was slightly elevated occasionally, but nothing worrying. Nothing wrong in trying to see a GP to see if blood tests are needed.

New to Mumsnet, so hoping this is replying back to you....thank u so much for replying. I got myself into a bit of a state but bit more rational now and will book an app with GP for bloods I think when I get back thank u for replying

My son has a few of these, one of which has been there at least 6 years. He did have blood tests & an ultrasound last year and were told just normal lymph nodes. We were told they probably came up due to an infection and never went fully down, very common apparently. They also said we can only see them as they are close to the surface above the muscle and he's skinny! Like yours, they are only really visible when he turns he head and the muscles push them out. I still worry about them from time to time as I also have health anxiety too. If you search on here there are many posts on the topic with virtually all of them turning out to be nothing. However, get the GP to check for peace of mind but if he's had an infection recently that's likely the reason.

Morning, thank you so much for replying. I am much more reassured :-). He is particularly lean and I am the only one in the family to be bothered by them. I will get them checked out when I get home but feel a bit more calmer now I have reached out and not catastrophising as much. Thank you for sharing x

Hi @Lolastars - try not to worry. I’m very sure that the lymph node is a reaction to his recent illness. My DC have these all the time following a bout of illness - the infection has triggered the lymph node. My GP said it showed my DC have a good autoimmune response to infections. If it doesn’t go down within the next 2 weeks or he develops more (or that node gets bigger) I would go straight to the GP.

I had this as a teen after infections or a cold. Still get it now and then. It’s just one of those things.

Thank u all so much for replying - honestly once the health anxiety kicks in & dr google has been involved it's a nightmare but feel much more reassured. Will get it checked out as soon as back and hopefully it's just as u guys say xx

Try not to worry, OP. Enjoy your break and try not to keep checking it (I’m my own worst enemy with checking things on the DC!). My DD had a big one come up behind her ear on Christmas Day and she told me “the lump behind my ear hurts” - my heart was in my mouth! She had been poorly before Christmas and it did go down after a few weeks. If your DC is fine otherwise now, I would try to not worry xx

Thank you @Poppsidoppsi

My daughter has this too. She got herself into a right state at the beginning of this year convinced she had cancer and we were too and from the gp. Ultrasound confirmed all normal but she still panics when the gland comes up again.

@idril ah it's so stressful thank u for replying, I'm glad she is okay - GP wasn't worried but said he will do a blood test and to come back in a months time if not gone down. Can do no more than that not quick so panicked now :-)