swollen lymphnodes and growing neck lumps.

[painintheneck]

hi folks. I have name changed for this post but have posted about it before.

I have had a lot of neck pain for the past year with swollen glands and lumps in my neck. The pain is not from the lumps but the tightness that comes from being able to move my head properly. sometimes these lumps are very very swollen but they are permanently visible on one side of my neck and never really go away.

I have been going to the doctor for this and whilst he was concerned at the number of lumps in my neck and the size of them, has been quite relaxed about it as he has kept saying he thinks I am just fighting an infection in my body somewhere. There is no obvious signs of infection but my white blood cells have been raised for 6 months?

4 weeks ago I went back as some of the lumps had got bigger and whilst they are not sore - my whole neck felt tight and swollen inside, harder to move and swallow. He examined my neck and for the first time my arm pits and found a lot of lumps there which I hadn't noticed before.

He was very concerned at this. I hadn't been too worried until this point but his reaction really put the wind up me. He took bloods etc and said he was getting an urgent referral for a neck scan. The appt for that has not came through as yet and it has slipped my mind.

I just got a call from the doctors to say I had to come in tomorrow to see him to discuss my blood tests. He isn't available to speak to over the phone about it but I have to go to the health centre first thing in the morning and wait until he can see me.

I know it is probably nothing but I am a bit panicked here.

Has anyone else had something similar

Internet strangers can't really help at this point, but all the best for tomorrow.

I am very surprised that your GP didn’t refer you and persisted in saying it was an infection for six months.

I don’t think any of us can say anything too useful, but I also wish you well for tomorrow.

Adding my good wishes for tomorrow.

Regardless of what the blood tests do or don't say, worrying about them all night isn't going to change them. Actively do things to take your mind off it - put a movie on, go for a long walk, download one of those mindfulness apps. And if you must google, try including "nomorepanic" in your search terms - it's a site for people with health anxiety.
I work in healthcare and we call people back for all sorts of reasons - the lab couldn't process a test and we need to repeat it, one of the results was inconclusive and we need to do further tests. It doesn't have to mean anything frightening.

Have you had any other symptoms?

Sweating/chills? Weight loss? Fatigue? Shortness of breath? Feeling full too easily? Bruising easily?

iVampire, I'm not sure it's helpful to be suggesting diagnostic questions for OP to worry about overnight.

I thought she’s worried anyhow.

And was asking for similar experiences. That’s why I asked about symptomology,

If the answers were ‘no’ then there might be considerably less to worry about. Though perhaps I should just apologise and bow out in favour of those who know better.

Sorry, painintheneck and I hope I’ve not made things harder,

Thanks folks. I was busy with the kids so just getting a chance to reply.

I have been exhausted recently but as our toddler hasnt been sleeping i put it down to that. I go swimming regularly and have been finding it tougher to do my usual amount of lengths. I have lost alot of weight in past year but planned so not linked to my neck i think. My periods suddenly stopped in september, no indicators as to why. Not pregnant nor menopausal but doctor said to just monitor it. I brought it up with new doctor 4 weeks ago who seemed surprised but thought it might have been linked to weight loss.

Anyhow , worrying tonight isnt going to change anything. I havent mentionned it to anyone. No point them worrying and i would rather just go on my own than have anyone texting to see what he says.

I just hope i dont have long to wait as i had to shift work stuff around. It might be a while as i have to wait until he has time or someone doesnt arrive for an apt.

I’ve had lumps on lymph nodes and X-rays, full blood counts, ultrasound etc. They’ve concluded I’m just lumpy there and they are permanently raised. I still keep a very close eye on them and if I think they change I go back and ask them to recheck. Sometimes my white blood cells are high and I’m fighting off an infection even if I don’t know it and that makes them worse. Good luck

Ta pink acacado. Hopefully i am just lumpy too!

Hope so. My mum is too and she had lumps in her armpits that caused her worry but ended up just lumpiness.

Hope it went OK.

Hope it went okay

Any update on this?? I have something very similar - haven't been GP yet. But worrying myself something chronic!