Does anybody know what this could be - lump?

[dejags]

Hi,

I noticed a red mark on my neck yesterday afternoon. I couldn't be 100% certain but I am fairly sure it wasn't there before - in the space of about half an hour it turned into a really hard lump about the size of a 5p coin.

It is tender to touch but there isn't much redness this morning... anybody got any ideas what it is?

not sure - it's much harder and bigger than any swollen glands I have ever had before... might be though...

Thanks for that LMo3...

I reckon it is just a gland as they come up as soon as your body tries to fight off any infection. I had a few lumps on the side of my neck a few years ago and the Dr said it was nothng to worry about. It take quite a while for them to go down and I didn't even feel ill at the time.
Personally I would get it checked out by a Dr just for peace of mind.

Think I have got to the bottom of it - the lump has become very inflamed and painful this morning... and I think it is... horror of horrors... a boil... yuck!!!

Never had one before - do you just leave them or do they need to be lanced?

Gross... gross..

you cna use hot water on cotton wool over the boil to encourage a head to form, it's up to you whether you pierce/squeze it but make sure your hands are very clean, an infected boil is not a nice thing...
tea tree oil, put that on it, natural antiseptic brilliant stuff

have been trying a hot compress every couple of hours but it seems to be getting more infected - the area of redness is increasing and there is no head... moving my neck is also becoming increasingly painful.

Just wondering if I should see a doc?

i would if i was you