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Original poster

Lump on the side of my neck - anyone expereinced anyhting like this....come and reassure me that it will go away without any medical prods and pokes.

80 replies

PositiveAttitude · 31/08/2010 22:43

Ok, so I have a lump just infront of/just under my left ear. Went to a brilliant walk in centre (NHS) on Monday and the DR spoke with ENT consultant straightaway. He said I would need to see the ENT guy within the next few days - phoned today and I see him Thursday morning, first thing.

Seems to be something to do with my parotid gland.

Walk in centre Dr gave me antibiotics, "just in case" but said he didnt think it was infected. Hmm

Question is: Does anyone have experience of anything like this? Lump itself is not painful. I have felt Slightly unwell and under the weather for about 4 weeks. about 10 days ago I thought i had slept awkwardly and ached all down my neck. This ache has remained and is sometimes worse than others. I have googled about blocked salivary glands and I am not convinced this is what mine is as it does not get bigger when I eat. Lump was first noticed 6 days ago and it has grown since then.

Anyone???

Thnaks

OP posts:
SayItWithWine · 18/09/2010 21:08

Please get in touch with the ENT consultants secretary to tell them you feel your symptoms are worsening and that mentally you cant wait till end of October. Most tumours are benign really but that is too long to wait. Have they talked about a biopsy? They should be by now. Good luck x

Original poster
PositiveAttitude · 18/09/2010 21:15

Thank you sayitwithwine, I was thinking of phoning, but get worried I will be thought of as a pain in the !!
When I saw consultant he said biopsy after MRI. so I suppose thats next!
I think I may give it a few days and phone later in the week, by then he may have the results and be able to tell me something.

OP posts:
MrsDinky · 18/09/2010 23:03

Hello, PA, been thinking about you. Please phone them, I supect you wouldn't hesitate if one of your DCs was the patient rather than you. Provided you are polite and positive they will not think you are a pain. You need to know for definite when your appointment will be and 26th October is far too long to have to wait. They may have just made an administrative error or something.

x

thelittlestkiwi · 18/09/2010 23:12

Definitely call. I think you should listen to what the Dr said re the appointment, not the administrator... Just say your Dr said the appointment couldn't wait till after the 22nd.

Good luck. Thinking of you.

Original poster
PositiveAttitude · 19/09/2010 09:12

You are right ! If this was one of the DC I would be banging on doors, phoning continually and would not rest until it was sorted and would not care what anyone thought of me.

I will call tomorrow!

OP posts:
elliepac · 19/09/2010 09:22

Hello my lovely. Fwiw, in my very humble opinion the end of October is way too long to wait. mrsd is correct when saying if it was one of the dc's there would be steam coming out of your ears and you would be up at the hospital first thing tomorrow morning. Ring them......promise? Thinking of you. Xx

Original poster
PositiveAttitude · 19/09/2010 09:33

I promise!!

Consultant did say he would phone me as well when he had the results and he would not hang around as soon as he knew what we are dealing with, so I am hoping to know more this week anyway. Not too sure I want to know, but then again at least I can move forward with whatever I need to.

Thanks for coming on here and holding my hand.

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 19/09/2010 10:19

I had one of these... A benign parotid tumour.
I had it removed, er, blimey, 15 years ago! The main facial nerve runs up through the same area, hence, I would guess, your numbness. I now have a bizarre numb/ ultra sensitive feeling along the top of the jawline on that side but that's all I've been left with bar a scar down the back of my ear that makes it look like I've had a face lift :o

HTH

elliepac · 19/09/2010 10:22

At least when you know what you are facing you can deal with it and move forward. No more hanging around waiting and worrying over possible eventualities which may be much worse than the truth. When my dsis's cancer of the womb was diagnosed it was horrible but she knew what her treatment would be and the outcome (positive, like you!). It may be something to worry about, it very well may not but at least you will know.

And look at me, posting outside my warm little comfort blanket Wink!

elliepac · 19/09/2010 10:24

And soupdragon's post sounds super positive!Smile

SoupDragon · 19/09/2010 11:36

It is positive :) I was referred to the Royal Marsden, a big local cancer hospital, and that scared me sh!tless. thankfully, the consultant there prodded it said "its not cancer" and then got his flurry of students to diagnose me. Thankfully 90% of my worrying was over and done with there and then, unlike the OP. There was still that little niggling worry until I went for the followup appointment after they'd done the biopsy but all was fine.

Flighttattendant · 19/09/2010 12:24

I imagine they will call you if the MRI results are anything to fret about.

They won't let you wait till the end of October. There are protocols about these things.

Hope it is nothing anyway x

Original poster
PositiveAttitude · 19/09/2010 16:02

Hi Soupdragon, Thanks for adding that. I am pretty sure that it is a parotid tumour, I hope its just like yours and whip it out and move on. Can I ask them to do a face lift while they are there?? Grin

CAn I ask you something? Did you feel unwell at the time too? I feel crap, dizzy, etc, no fever but gradually have got worse over the past month.

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 19/09/2010 17:49

No, i didn't, but I didn't have time to dwell on anything as I was told it was OK right at the start. I would imagine that i could have attributed all sorts of symptoms to the lump had I been left in limbo like you have. Which isn't to say i think you're being a hypochondriac :o

it's fairly crap of them to leave you hanging on Ike this, although I would Ike to think that if there was anything obvious they would have dragged you back in so quickly your feet wouldn't have touched the ground.

SoupDragon · 19/09/2010 17:50

Sadly the scar is the only thing that looks Ike I had a face lift. :(

although it was before children so I was fresh faced and youthful then anyway. [sigh]

Original poster
PositiveAttitude · 21/09/2010 17:25

Just flying by with a Grin.

Went to GP today who chased up the MRI results. Apparently my lump is, well, a lump!! Nothing sinister. YIPPEEEEE!! The stupid thing is now infected which is why I am feeling naff and its painful. Antibiotics and bingo I should be back to normal very soon Grin Grin Grin.
I see consultant on Tuesday to discuss what is
going to happen from here.

One happy bunny!!! Thank you all for the hand holding!

OP posts:
Littlefish · 21/09/2010 17:47

Oh PA - that's fantastic news! You must be feeling so relieved. Good luck on Tuesday.

Don't forget to take some acidophilous (sp) or have some live yoghurt if you're having lots of antibiotics.

SoupDragon · 21/09/2010 18:58

Hurrah! So you don't even get a face lift?

Flighttattendant · 21/09/2010 19:27

Oh wow - you've no idea how pleased I am about this!!

Thanks so much for letting us know Smile

Hope it's gone really soon.

lucjam · 21/09/2010 20:32

haven't posted before but have been following, am really pleased for you - yipeeeeeeeeeeeee

Original poster
PositiveAttitude · 21/09/2010 20:42

Ooohhhhhh Thank you all.

Wine on me tonight

Fancy joining me??

OP posts:
loopylou6 · 21/09/2010 22:02

Fantastic news :D

Rindercella · 21/09/2010 22:10

Brilliant news PA, am soooo happy for you. Grin

corblimeymadam · 24/09/2010 14:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

B52s · 24/09/2010 15:08

Lurking here too - you and DP must be so relieved. Well done you.