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Original poster

NHS Direct? GP? Ignore? WTF is wrong with me?

34 replies

NotQuiteCockney · 20/12/2008 07:28

This is a weird one.

Thursday afternoon, I noticed I had a bump on my head, behind my left ear. It's not far from the base of my skull, but very much on one side. I do not remember bumping my head here, and it's a weird place to bump your head.

Thursday night, at bedtime, it hurt. Hard to lie down. So I don't think I had it on Wednesday.

Friday morning it was smaller, and hurt less, and I thought, ok, I must have bumped it.

Friday night it was big again, maybe bigger than Thursday night, and it really bloody hurt, even when I wasn't lying on it.

This morning it's smaller again, but still hurting. WTF?

It feels like bone, not like a boil or anything. DH had a look at it, through my hair, on Thursday, and said it didn't seem red or anything. It's a bit tender.

OP posts:
Poppycake · 20/12/2008 07:30

I'd phone up at least. Sounds a bit weird and should be checked. If I were you!

Original poster
NotQuiteCockney · 20/12/2008 07:48

I guess so ... gah. I don't have time for this! But it bloody well hurts.

I've googled a bit, and found nothing informative at all (not even the usual 'I had this, then my head fell off' alarming sites!). A few people with similar symptoms and no idea what happened.

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kateecass · 20/12/2008 07:56

It's a gland. Most prob. Are you run down. This is what happens to DH sometimes. Especially if he gets a spot near it. One for the GP if you're worried.

MrsSanta · 20/12/2008 07:59

Is there a hair in it, get dh to have a look.

kif · 20/12/2008 08:01

i have one - came up about 12 years ago and never went down . never ahd it checked - just assumed it was one of those crazy extra bits you grow sometimes.

kif · 20/12/2008 08:01

although mine is more like a pea under my skin on my skull

gagarin · 20/12/2008 08:04

Lymph node - enlarged because of some sort of infection? They feel like split peas under the skin?

There are some behind each ear and a semi-circular ring of them under the base of your hairline at the back of your head.

They can enlarge with any infection - it doesn't have to be near the lymph node.

This link shows them....

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mastoid_lymph_nodes

Original poster
NotQuiteCockney · 20/12/2008 08:25

It feels like a lump on my skull, not a swollen gland - well, not like swollen glands feel under/behind my ear. It could be one, according to that illustration, though.

Of course I'm not run down, who would be at this, the most marvelous time of the year.

Spoke to NHS Direct, they're concerned about fevers, and think I should go see my GP on Monday.

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honestfriend · 20/12/2008 10:02

I think it's some kind of spot under the skin- I've had loads of them over the years and they go within a week or so.

scrooged · 20/12/2008 10:04

It's a lymph node. You have loads of these everywhere, even around your skull. ds has one at the back of his head and gets enlarged when he's ill. If it's enlarged then you do need to pop to your GP for a check over.

Original poster
NotQuiteCockney · 20/12/2008 10:06

It doesn't move with the skin, like a spot. And it really feels like bone, not like a lymph node.

Well, I took a iboprofen, that seems to have helped, and I'll keep an eye on it this weekend. Gah.

OP posts:
scrooged · 20/12/2008 10:09

It is a lymph node, honest. Are you feeling run down?

Original poster
NotQuiteCockney · 20/12/2008 11:07

Of course not. I've had two events for DH's work (one at our house) this week, and saw my ILs twice. Oh, and a chesty cold.

Oh, and there's some sort of annual festivity thing coming up next week ...

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Original poster
NotQuiteCockney · 20/12/2008 11:09

Not to be silly, but if it's a lymph node, what do I need to do to fix it?

If it's still wrong on Monday, I'll go see the GP, obviously, but should I be trying to massage it down or something in the interim?

(And don't say 'rest', I have 67 billion sodding things to do and am just getting on the bicycle to go to a party with the DSes ...)

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scrooged · 20/12/2008 11:10

Could be an after effect from the chesty cold. Maybe you should get it checked by the GP anyway though.

LilRedWG · 20/12/2008 11:11

My glands on the back of my head regularly come up. Strangely, the one on the right is MIA at the moment. Maybe he'll wait until the 25th to appear.

Seriously, get it checked out at the doctor but I'm sure it's just a gland.

Original poster
NotQuiteCockney · 20/12/2008 17:16

It really bloody well hurts. Gah. Well, I took an iboprofen this morning, will take another, nowhere near maxdose yet.

If it's still getting bigger, it's doing so slowly, anyway ...

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OrmIrian · 20/12/2008 17:22

Don't wish to worry you but this happened to someone I heard about down the pub. It was an extra head! Grew enormous and the doctors had to chop it off eventually. No, honest!

Original poster
NotQuiteCockney · 20/12/2008 17:54

Thanks. :-P

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BreevandercampLGJ · 20/12/2008 18:05

There is one line in the OP that confuses me...

plantsitter · 20/12/2008 18:09

I get these. They hurt. You think you are dying. Then they go away. They happen when you're stressed and run down. Do go to the GP as I want to know what s/he says - I never have been (once it was actually where the arm of my sunglasses was too tight and went away when I stopped wearing them).

Original poster
NotQuiteCockney · 20/12/2008 18:09

Oh, :-P to you, too!

DH was muttering about shaving my head to be able to see it. It seems like karma.

I have actual hair now.

OP posts:
plantsitter · 20/12/2008 18:09

(obviously you should go for your own sake not just mine!)

Original poster
NotQuiteCockney · 20/12/2008 18:14

Sorry, the :-P was at Bree, not at you, plantsitter.

I will go, if it's still bugging me on Monday. I suspect it will be a 'ah, yes, these things happen' visit.

(God, thinking about my schedule next week, I'm not sure how going to the GP will fit in, but I'll find a way.)

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Original poster
NotQuiteCockney · 20/12/2008 18:16

I'm really relieved to hear that lots of other (still alive) people get these, maybe it's not a lymph node, but if I can convince myself it is, then it's significantly less scary!

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