Swelling in neck - GP won’t see me

[Ashmarie]

Hello. I’m hoping for some advice as I am really very worried. For the last three months I have been struggling with pain in my neck. It aches most of the time and at least once a day seems to spasm which causes other weird symptoms - my throat feels like it tightens (I can breathe, eat, drink so it feels tight but it isn’t restrictive), I get pain down my cheekbone and around my eyebrow on the left of my face. I’m most concerned however about the fact there seems to be a swelling on one side, just in front of the main muscle that runs down the side of your neck. I don’t think it is a lymph node, it just feels like general swelling and everything feels more prominent on the left side compared to the right. I can also feel my pulse very prominently. I have spoken to my GP four times, he is insistent it is soft tissue damage and he doesn’t need to see me, I just need to continue taking alternate ibuprofen and paracetamol. Time is going on and this seems to be getting worse and not better, and I’m very aware this is a long time to take painkillers daily. Does anyone have any experience with this or any ideas of what it might be? Could soft tissue damage feel like swelling? It’s maybe important to note I have severe health anxiety so I am aware my fear and reaction to this may be completely over exaggerated, I’m just very worried this is something more sinister and time is moving on. Thank you for any advice.

Hi, firstly health anxiety or not, if you can see and feel (as in with your hands) a lump then it is not imagination caused by health anxiety.

Is there another gp at the practice? If not can you change practice?

If it wasn't, and my GP ignored me four times, I would find somewhere else to go. I'd try very hard for that place not to be a+e, so would look for another walk in service.

Is any of that possible? for you

Thank you for your reply. At the moment you have to phone in the morning and a GP phoned you back throughout the day. I’ve been told by the receptionist you can’t choose which GP phones you back. I will look into other walk in services right now and see what is available. Like you say I don’t want to bother A&E as I’m sure (I hope!) it isn’t an emergency but I have to say it has crossed my mind. I would never want to put anyone at any unnecessary risk and really wouldn’t ask a GP to see me without good reason, I just can’t seem to think about anything else at the moment! I also can’t really find any information similar to the symptoms I’m experiencing by consulting Dr Google so I’m really puzzled as to what this might be!

Do you get raced heart rate, hot flushes ? Is the swelling in the middle?

You can say you need a second opinion so it can't be Dr X. Or ask for practice mgr and say you will take anyone else.

You can refuse a doctor even if you cant choose.

I really hope they see you.

If you use out of hours you can see a GP still but just not yours rather than A and E. just say your spasm has worsened or comes on more often at a weekend or in the evening.

@Isadora2007

If you use out of hours you can see a GP still but just not yours rather than A and E. just say your spasm has worsened or comes on more often at a weekend or in the evening.

Yes, good idea!

@Suzi7979

Do you get raced heart rate, hot flushes ? Is the swelling in the middle?

No racing heart rate or hot flushes. Occasional tight feeling in my chest but I’m 99% sure that is more related to anxiety and panic rather than the neck pain. The swelling is on the left side of my neck, about midway between my ear and chin, under my jaw bone. It doesn’t feel round like I believe a lymph node would, more like general swelling of the whole area causing it to feel tighter and more prominent than the right side of my neck.

Thank you everyone for your advice. I will phone my GP in the morning and be a bit more forceful in my request to see a different doctor, and fail in that see if I can be seen at an out of hours walk in. Thank you so very much.

Good luck!

Ask for a Gp referral for US neck and or ENT/ OMFS referral.
Might take some time atm.
Your symptoms are very vague and the US may be normal. But it could be muscular, or salivary. And it will definitely help to put your mind at rest.
No part of your history sounds particularly worrying so try not to catatrophise too much - worrying things change quickly.
Good luck love

I know this is an old post just wondering did you ever get to the bottom of this ? @Ashmarie