weird problem, swollen lymph nodes

[spytechs_wife]

i have had swollen lymph nodes in my neck since a run of bad colds in feb. and march. never in my entire life have i noticed swollen nodes in my neck when i have been sick, so naturally i was a little alarmed. they are quite visible, more on the left than the right. they are pretty hard too.

i have been to the doctor twice to get it looked at. the first time i was tested negative for mono and strep. they told me to just wait it out and see if they go down. the second time, the doctor totally blew me off about it and i was to shy/embarassed to bring it up again. (i know, my bad there, should have pressed about it.) anyways, i was just in for a pap and i hadnt mentioned anything about them, but when my gyno felt my neck she asked right away if i was sick, and said they were very swollen. obviously lol, but i said i had been checked out but they didnt know what the deal was. she said i should go back to my doctor, but i feel like an ass because he kept blowing me off, and i dont even know what id say or ask for!

well, i recently talked to someone about it, and they mentioned that it may be due to overhydration. i drink between 5-7 liters of water and tea a day. usually, i notice the nodes more swollen at night then in the morning. i cant find anything on the internet about this, but i thought i would ask and see if anyone knows any reason they would be swollen for 5 months!

thanks, sorry this is so long! clare

[energi]

I used to get sick a lot in my 20's, and the nodes in my neck were often swollen like you described. I figured it was because my immune system was running low. I haven't been sick for quite a while and my neck is normal now...

I hope it goes away for you!

[may]

Very unprofessional of your doctor, even if he thought it was nothing to be worried about, he could have explained... Anyway, don't leave it just because it's not giving you any problems and the test results were negative. Hard, non painful swollen glands on both sides can mean systemic problems rather than local infections. Get it checked asap... if you're not comfortable bringing it up again with your dr, see someone else!

[spytechs_wife]

Originally Posted by may

Very unprofessional of your doctor, even if he thought it was nothing to be worried about, he could have explained... Anyway, don't leave it just because it's not giving you any problems and the test results were negative. Hard, non painful swollen glands on both sides can mean systemic problems rather than local infections. Get it checked asap... if you're not comfortable bringing it up again with your dr, see someone else!

thanks may-- you are right about the doc, i don't want to go back to him. what kind of systematic problems should i be worried about? i want to ask for them to test something specific at least, so i dont just get blown off again.

[deeyala]

Originally Posted by spytechs_wife

thanks may-- you are right about the doc, i don't want to go back to him. what kind of systematic problems should i be worried about? i want to ask for them to test something specific at least, so i dont just get blown off again.

OK, i have pretty much the same thing. and yes, a doctor blew me off,too.. only this doctor was my mum
so i'd say nothing is wrong with me- i highly doubt my mum would overlook it if it was anything serious

i had an abscess related to one of my teeth and the infection was so severe that it spread down my throat- so naturally all my lymph nodes got swollen for the time the infection persisted, but they never returned normal again.. the infection was on my left side and then spread to the right one later, and now the left side has all types of swollen lymph nodes...

what my mum said:
that sometimes, the lymph nodes swell so much to compensate for the immune shortage (related to any infection), that they can never shrink back to normal afterwards.. it's common and nothing to worry about as long as:
1)you knew when they started (ie infection related)
2)they are percectly rounded and you can hold them between your fingers
3)they are mobile over the underlying structures (try moving them with your thumb and index finger) and not all matted to the underlying tissues..
4)they don't progressively increase in size - fixed sized eversince the lst infection (they can grow bigger with a new one though)
5)you cant trace the lymph tracts connected to them on palpation - (they are like veins, only normally not palpable)


they systemic diseases you could worry about are TB, AIDS and some forms of lymphomas- all of which are VERY SERIOUS diseases and they don't give normal lab results- so chill out, there's nothing wrong with you

[WillDeadliftForFood]

Just a few sites pulled up on search.

The idea is, swollen lymph nodes can happen for a variety of reasons. Your doctor should be more concerned, as swollen lymph nodes usually represents an infection. Just because the doctor ran a few tests which came back negative does not mean your body isn't fighting off something. I suffered from a chronic infection for nearly 10 years before they found it. How did they finally realize my problem? Because one of my professors listed off the symptoms for a rather obscure disease, and every one fit me. Went to my doc, got the specific test; I was right . Now under treatment.

If you're not having any other symptoms, then it's more than likely nothing to worry over. This said, I still recommend wringing more info from your doc before you accept a verdict of "healthy".

Remember, a second opinion is always warranted. And if your doctor isn't willing to help you, find a new one.

Hope this helps

"Lymph nodes in the neck can be swollen for a variety of reasons. They can be swollen, go down, and re-swell later on, especially due to chronic viral or bacterial infections. This is a typical pattern, and represents your body fighting off these infections in the right fashion. Not necessarily anything to worry about if they resolve again.
However, if they stay persistently enlarged then yes you should get them biopsied to rule out anything bad like lymphoma or cancer. Chronic infections like with TB can give persistent swollen nodes too, if the infection never gets treated correctly." (Site below)

http://www.askphysicians.com/cgi-loc...10&interface=0

http://www.druginfonet.com/index.php...ymph_Nodes.htm

http://www.lymphoma-net.org/symptoms-and-diagnosis.cfm

http://www.thedoctorslounge.net/onco...opic-9212.html

Google search: persistant swelling lymph nodes neck

[spytechs_wife]

THANK YOU both for all the information!

Originally Posted by deeyala

sometimes, the lymph nodes swell so much to compensate for the immune shortage (related to any infection), that they can never shrink back to normal afterwards.. it's common and nothing to worry about

omg they might never go away? they are so gross, it looks like i have tumors on my neck seriously, they are hideous. im sure its nothing like cancer or anything else, i feel totally fine otherwise, its just these ugly lumps.


boooo!

well thanks for the info-- i am not worrying so much about a health issue now.

clare

[deeyala]

Originally Posted by spytechs_wife

THANK YOU both for all the information!



omg they might never go away? they are so gross, it looks like i have tumors on my neck seriously, they are hideous. im sure its nothing like cancer or anything else, i feel totally fine otherwise, its just these ugly lumps.


boooo!

well thanks for the info-- i am not worrying so much about a health issue now.

clare

mmm.. you make it sound as though they're HUGE...
mine are well seen, that if i point them out to you - but no one so far has approached me saying i have a swelling on my neck.. is this your case?

i mean it's easily seen, but not very noticeable- hope yours aren't the size of a tennis ball

[deeyala]

mine (they're two) are apparent when i extend my neck, but altogether disappear when it's bent on one side....


just make sure your are ball-like and mobile and firm

[barnetjs]

I am sure this is not the case and I hate to even mention it - but my co-worker had a big swolen lymp node - the dr was concerned did biopsy and he had throat cancer. They removed all of his lymph nodes on both side of his neck and did radiation and chemo - He has been in remission for 1 year. Get it checked out again if it is really bad and worrying you.

[deeyala]

Originally Posted by barnetjs

I am sure this is not the case and I hate to even mention it - but my co-worker had a big swolen lymp node - the dr was concerned did biopsy and he had throat cancer. They removed all of his lymph nodes on both side of his neck and did radiation and chemo - He has been in remission for 1 year. Get it checked out again if it is really bad and worrying you.

if the node is MOBILE- there's ZERO chances it's cancer

[deeyala]

ok clare- just to be sure you're ok, check these out

Swollen Glands and Other Lumps Under the Skin


Swollen glands (lymph nodes)

and if all your tests are normal- you have no other symptoms and it's not growing like mad and is not even tender, then you're OK.. don't let them worry you...

at your age, if it's a disease- it's likely to be a serious fatal disease...!
serious fatal diseases don't go unnoticed by 2 doctors

[ahms]

My lymph nodes came up when i was about 15. I was really worried!
They were in my neck, behind my ear, and in my groin.
They didnt stick out though.

Anyway now they got a fair bit smaller.
I had a blood test and stuff, and it came back fine.

I saw the doc again, years later, i was about 20 and he was like, ur results were ok, ur not ill, etc, just sometimes people have noticable nodes.


something sparked them off once, and thats gone (dunno what it was) but i can still feel them though they are a lot smaller.

If uve had a blood test etc and are not ill etc, u might just be one of those people whose nodes are noticable, they might of appeared for a reason but then they stay somewhat enlarged.

[deeyala]

Originally Posted by spytechs_wife

they are pretty hard too.

that's actually a good sign.. you'd worry if they were soft (contianing fluid or pus) or has ill-defined borders (in which case the disease -whatever that was-would be involving the whole area around it)
i am a senior dental student (just to give myself credibility ) and i know a thing or two about lymph nodes (since they drain teeth as well)


if you want to check with a new doctor, then this is OK- just don't go searching for another one if he brushes your concerns aside, because you're probably just fine

[spytechs_wife]

Originally Posted by deeyala

that's actually a good sign.. you'd worry if they were soft (contianing fluid or pus) or has ill-defined borders (in which case the disease -whatever that was-would be involving the whole area around it)
i am a senior dental student (just to give myself credibility ) and i know a thing or two about lymph nodes (since they drain teeth as well)


if you want to check with a new doctor, then this is OK- just don't go searching for another one if he brushes your concerns aside, because you're probably just fine

thanks D! you have been really comforting they arent that "huge" i guess, i am just really self conscious about how i look, especially at this point in my life (recovering from anorexia and putting on weight, etc) it is quite a noticable difference from what i looked like BEFORE they "appeared" though, that is why it really bugs me. it makes me look like i have a double chin kinda

well enough whining, i really appreciate all the info you gave me, and im not worried about them anymore, other than aesthetics!

best of luck in dental school! i really like dentists...i suppose since i only have like 1 cavity...but they are always so nice and funny! and i loved that bubblegum flouride stuff!

thanks again, everyone! clare

[spytechs_wife]

Originally Posted by barnetjs

I am sure this is not the case and I hate to even mention it - but my co-worker had a big swolen lymp node - the dr was concerned did biopsy and he had throat cancer. They removed all of his lymph nodes on both side of his neck and did radiation and chemo - He has been in remission for 1 year. Get it checked out again if it is really bad and worrying you.

thanks b- im not so worried about that, i have no other "symptoms" of anything like this. also, i fit all the criteria that makes it NOT cancer...so i think i am OK thank you!!

clare

[deeyala]

Originally Posted by spytechs_wife

well enough whining, i really appreciate all the info you gave me, and im not worried about them anymore, other than aesthetics!

yeah, we all pass through one of those aesthetic-phases ..
right now i really believe everyone can see the color of both my eyes don't match

i really like dentists...

you've just won a life-time of free dental procedures ar my clinic-to-be.....!
you're the very first person whom i've ever seen combining "i really like" with " dentists"

[sokwatson]

Hm, last year I had gotten swollen lymph nodes...pretty much out of the blue. My throat hurt one day...and as the days passed these little "knots" began getting harder and bigger... I wasn't too concerned...but after about 2 weeks it still had not gotten better, in fact, they were so swollen it started "spilling over" into my face (yea, that bad..) and talk about sore throat... aching ears..no fun! I knew a couple of people that were nurses so I'd ask them and of course.. they gave me the worst case possibilities (which scared me even more out of seeing a doctor!).... Eventually my fevers began getting very high..went to one of those emergency late night clinics... turned out I had a pretty nasty throat infection... Note to self: don't wait until it gets completely out of hand... hmm.

I hope you get it checked out! It's probably nothing that can't be cured by a couple days worth of antibiotics.