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

[NotQuiteCockney]

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.

Love you too.

My mum had something very similar the other week.It started off quite small but after a week she was in alot of pain and the lump was a fair size.No other symptoms except for it being very painful.She wentt o the doctor who told her that there's a nasty ear infection/bug that's doing the rounds and that's what it was.A short course of anti biotics and it's gone as quickly as it came.

I'm another one who gets this- have done for years, and the doc said it is a lymph node, usually because of some other infection/ because it is busy fighting something that might not even be noticeable to you (as it is doing such a good job ) Try not to worry, but you could always see your GP just to be sure. hth

It seems to be staying the same, maybe shrinking a bit, not by much.

I've been taking it easy(ish) anyway - I really really don't have my normal energy, a walk wears me out. I can't afford to be really ill (again) now, so babying myself is the only option.

I probably won't make it to the doctors tomorrow, unless it gets bigger or something.

About the location - this is like an inch behind my ear, kind of at the back corner of my head, so to speak ... is that the right place?

How weird...

I just got my dh to have a look at a pea shaped lump on the back of my head,about a inch behind my ear-it's been there since yesterday.I did think it's a gland as I 've had this before,they are quite tender to touch and a little bit annoying really,but they do go down as quickly as they appeared

I have a small spot on my scalp-quite near to the gland,I'm presuming this has caused the gland to enlarge.

Had to post as I was sat here poking it(I know,you shouldn't poke) when I read your post

Ok, I went to the GP's today. I didn't really see the point, but I guess the reassurance is worth it. It is a lymph node. No treatment (shocker). Should clear up in 2-3 weeks, if it doesn't, I should go back. The fact it's tender is a good sign, apparently.

Not a spare head then?

Well ... maybe. I didn't ask.