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Original poster

How long do you leave a random lump before going to the GP?

25 replies

mynameiscalypso · 12/12/2023 22:07

I am notoriously blase about my health despite having a number of chronic conditions and being on immunosuppressants. I try to avoid going to the GP if possible on the basis that most things resolve themselves of their own accord. While I do actually have a diagnosis of (other) anxiety, my psych sometimes jokes that I have the reverse of health anxiety.

But, this afternoon, I noticed a small, hard lump about the size of the pea on my jaw where my cheek meets my ear (I think this is where there's a salivary gland). I've never noticed it before and it's quite painful to the touch and the pain extends below the lump and around my ear. But I've also been poking it for ages so who can tell if that's made it sore.

Is this a GP appt tomorrow type thing? Or is this a 'wait a bit and see if it just goes away' type thing?

My DH, who verges towards the hypochondria, is not helpful.

OP posts:
MinervatheGreat · 12/12/2023 22:09

Blocked saliva gland?
See your GP. Why delay?

Original poster
mynameiscalypso · 12/12/2023 22:10

MinervatheGreat · 12/12/2023 22:09

Blocked saliva gland?
See your GP. Why delay?

I don't know really. It seems like something that might just go away if its own accord and I don't like wasting NHS time if I can help it!

OP posts:
Showmethesunny · 12/12/2023 22:12

Well wait and see then. How do randoms in the internet know? Why are you so proud of not caring about yourself.

Gingerkittykat · 12/12/2023 22:13

Do you have any symptoms like toothache, a sore ear or a general bug that would explain it? I get a lump like that when my wisdom teeth play up.

I would personally phone your GP and ask for advice tomorrow. At mine you fill out a triage form and they can decide whether or not you need to be seen.

ItsMyPartyParty · 12/12/2023 22:15

Just phone your GP tomorrow. It’s their job to have a triage system in place.

Original poster
mynameiscalypso · 12/12/2023 22:15

Showmethesunny · 12/12/2023 22:12

Well wait and see then. How do randoms in the internet know? Why are you so proud of not caring about yourself.

I'm not really. I'm asking what is the baseline for how worried people would be. I don't want to underact or indeed overact but I was hoping to get a sense of what a normal reaction would be.

OP posts:
Original poster
mynameiscalypso · 12/12/2023 22:16

Gingerkittykat · 12/12/2023 22:13

Do you have any symptoms like toothache, a sore ear or a general bug that would explain it? I get a lump like that when my wisdom teeth play up.

I would personally phone your GP and ask for advice tomorrow. At mine you fill out a triage form and they can decide whether or not you need to be seen.

I'm constantly low level ill as lots of people are but not particularly unwell I don't think. I do actually have a dentist appt next week and it could well be tooth related so that's the obvious place to ask, thank you!

OP posts:
Abergale · 12/12/2023 22:17

id assume it was a swollen gland and leave it a few days

Kitkat1523 · 12/12/2023 22:20

A week

RaininSummer · 12/12/2023 22:23

I wouldn't worry for a week or so as would assume a swollen gland.

Original poster
mynameiscalypso · 12/12/2023 22:26

Thanks very much for the range of views - it's reassuring to know that some people would call and some people would wait a week or so and see what happened. It's a useful benchmark. I imagine I'll wake up tomorrow and it will have disappeared in any event but I appreciate the input very much.

OP posts:
HareSong · 12/12/2023 22:27

When that happens to me, I assume it is a brewing throat or ear infection, or cold sore, and the lymph nodes are doing their job of fighting it off. If it is still there a week later, I'd probably phone the GP.

idontlikealdi · 12/12/2023 22:37

Why would you not seek help? I don't get this martyrdom

RaininSummer · 12/12/2023 22:55

It's so very difficult to actually speak with a doctor that I don't rush to do that and thankfully most things so far have gone of their own accord. I gave up a few months back when I tried to get an appointment for a UTI.

allhellcantstopusnow · 12/12/2023 22:58

I am also like you OP.

If it were me, I'd google all possibilities, then poke it several times a day to figure out if it was getting bigger/if the pain was increasing.

If it stayed the same size and pain level I'd give it probably two/three weeks, probably more if the pain is minimal. If it was getting bigger and more painful I'd probably do an e-consult a few days after I noticed the size increase.

I did walk around on a broken foot and finish a degree with pneumonia though so I'm not the best example of common sense 😂

Weirdly, if it's anyone else's health, I'm extremely pragmatic.

Cheeseplantalltheway · 12/12/2023 22:58

For a lump in that position I would wait for 2 weeks then see GP.

For something like a breast lump I wouldn't wait; I'd get an appointment asap.

Original poster
mynameiscalypso · 12/12/2023 23:03

allhellcantstopusnow · 12/12/2023 22:58

I am also like you OP.

If it were me, I'd google all possibilities, then poke it several times a day to figure out if it was getting bigger/if the pain was increasing.

If it stayed the same size and pain level I'd give it probably two/three weeks, probably more if the pain is minimal. If it was getting bigger and more painful I'd probably do an e-consult a few days after I noticed the size increase.

I did walk around on a broken foot and finish a degree with pneumonia though so I'm not the best example of common sense 😂

Weirdly, if it's anyone else's health, I'm extremely pragmatic.

This is pretty much spot on what I will do. And I also have had pneumonia which I ignored and went to work with as it was 'probably just a cold' until it wasn't!

OP posts:
Original poster
mynameiscalypso · 12/12/2023 23:04

Cheeseplantalltheway · 12/12/2023 22:58

For a lump in that position I would wait for 2 weeks then see GP.

For something like a breast lump I wouldn't wait; I'd get an appointment asap.

This is a useful guide, thank you!

OP posts:
theduchessofspork · 12/12/2023 23:13

Showmethesunny · 12/12/2023 22:12

Well wait and see then. How do randoms in the internet know? Why are you so proud of not caring about yourself.

Why are you so aggressive?

phone the GP and ask OP - always sensible to check.

2jacqi · 12/12/2023 23:16

@mynameiscalypso go down to the shops and buy yourself some sherbert lemons! if it hurts and gets bigger then it is a blocked salivary gland. they usually clear themselves without intervention.

bengalcat · 12/12/2023 23:21

2 weeks

Original poster
mynameiscalypso · 13/12/2023 07:25

@2jacqi That is medical advice I can get on board with! Thank you!

OP posts:
booksandchoc · 13/12/2023 07:37

Is it red or inflamed? Does it move around a bit when you touch it? Because of the pain I would leave a week. I absolutely don’t want to scare monger but I had a small lump in the same position, however no pain, wasn’t red or inflamed and didn’t move around, it turned out it be a cancerous lymph node. Leave a week to see if any changes but if not then definitely get to the GP.

morellamalessdrama · 13/12/2023 09:59

If it helps at all, I have a few swollen lymph nodes under my neck and one in my groin. Left it a few weeks to see if they went down. When they didn't, I went to the GP.

They ran some blood tests which all came back clear and I need to go again in January. If they are still there, then they will ultrasound them.
The GP didn't seem too concerned at all, as I don't have any other symptoms like night sweats or weight loss etc.

Pifful · 13/12/2023 13:54

I think that fits in with the two week rule.
I have a history of breast cancer so all new pains, lumps and bumps must be viewed with some suspicion. However in order to minimise the paranoia I operate a two week wait and see rule for most things.

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