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Worried about swollen lymph node in neck

Miranda1234
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Hi all

I was just after some advice as I’m freaking out lately. 

One morning I woke up and noticed I had a tender lump in my neck, I thought straightaway it was a gland of some kind and tried to just ignore it but after a couple of days I went to the GP. The GP said it was a lymph node and nothing was concerning about it for her and if it was still there in 6 weeks to go back. 

Its been about 4 weeks now and it’s still there, it feels fairly hard and seems to be fluctuating in size - some days it feels really small and others it feels bigger. It’s only one side of my neck and I’m not unwell in any other way or have an other symptoms. About 2-3 weeks after it came up I had quite a bad cold which has just cleared up.

im 26, female and otherwise fit and well but have always struggled with anxiety hence the post!! I won’t be fully satisfied until it’s gone but also I feel like I can’t wsit another 2 weeks to go back to the doctor incase it is something sinister. 

Im just silently panicking everyday and everyone I have to talk to just tell me to stop being silly and that it’s just a lymph node but I can’t settle. 

 

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    Lymph nodes can stay swollen or take ages to get smaller. Is it still tender? The doctor would have a good idea if it felt concerning or not by the size/feel of it. Its a good thing she isnt concerned so try not to worry or google. If you dont want to wait the 6 weeks I would go back now if you can, its been 4 weeks and its concerning you so it wouldnt be unreasonable to see her again and tell her your worries 

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    It's completely normal for lymph nodes to be swollen when you've been ill, that's their function, they react when you have an infection. It can take a good few weeks for them to go back down and sometimes they just stay slightly enlarged for no good reason:)  If you find hard painless lymph nodes in other places on your body then I would say you should go back,  but at the moment it doesn't sound like anything worrying is going on! It seems like it enlarged because of the bad cold you've had and that's just totally normal and how your body is supposed to work. 

  • Offline in reply to Smoore921

    Thank you for your reply, really appreciated. It’s not tender anymore. I am a massive worrier anyway and a huge hypercondriac so I’m just thinking the worst. 

    I think I will probably go back sooner to stop me going mad! 

  • Offline in reply to Kamila

    Thank you for your reply! 

    Ive heard a few times now that they can stay swollen or take a very long time to go down. 

    Thanks a lot, you’ve helped settle my mind a little :) I will still go back to doctors just to be sure if it doesn’t go.

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