Advice on Health Issue

[Lilac]

I''ll just start this off by saying I might be overreacting, but I''m getting a little nervous and just need some reassurance.

I was sitting in my apartment today studying and when I was putting my hair back I noticed a bump on the back of my neck. It''s a small lump around the size of maybe a dime and it''s a little behind my ear by the left side of my neck (around where the hairline starts). It''s definitely not a pimple or a bite because it''s not superficial and not close to the surface of the skin - it''s under the skin. When I press on it, I feel a hard, rounded area under the skin. It''s not on the other side of my neck, and I don''t think it''s ever been there before (I get headaches often and massage my neck when it hurts and I would have noticed it if it had always been there).

The last few days/weeks my neck has been hurting a lot, I''ve been getting very overheated and waking up in the middle of the night very hot, and I just generally haven''t been feeling well. I figured it was just a seasonal thing and everyone''s been sick lately so I figured nothing was actually wrong. Now I''m a little nervous and don''t know what to do. I told my husband and he wants me to go to the doctor right away (I think he''s worrying a lot because we know 3 girls my age who have had cancer - Hodgkin''s lymphoma - in the last year or two, so I think he''s just extra worried after seeing them go through that). I thought I would wait a week or so to see if the lump goes away before starting to worry or going to the doctor, but he really wants me to go now and it''s making me worry more. I tried calling my doctor several times today and for some reason nobody is answering, so now I''ll wait until at least tomorrow.

Like I said, I know I''m probably overreacting by getting nervous or worried, but this hasn''t happened to me before so I think I just need some reassurance that it''s probably nothing at all.

Has this happened to anyone and it ended up being nothing at all? Should I wait a couple weeks before going to the doctor to see if it goes away on its own? Thanks for listening - it actually does help to just type it out (and kind of makes me realize I''m probably being silly about this whole thing).

 

[Kaleigh]

Could be a swollen gland. Have you been sick, or have a cut anywhere?

 

[Madam Bijoux]

It would be a good idea to have a doctor look at it. It''s always better to know exactly what it is. Good luck.

 

[Lilac]

Date: 11/19/2009 5:09:18 PM
Author: Kaleigh
Could be a swollen gland. Have you been sick, or have a cut anywhere?

No - haven''t been sick (other than the general tired feelings I''ve been experiencing - but that''s probably school, work, and seasonal-related). No cuts anywhere either.

 

[Mara]

I was thinking what Kaleigh said...a swollen gland or similar. Sometimes in areas where you have sweat glands you can have a stopped up gland and it forms as a bump under the skin--not feeling like close to the surface. I asked my Dr about this previously, it can take weeks to go away.

But if it is bothering you I would definitely make an appt with your general dr or at least call advice line or something to ask a nurse. Better safe than sorry.

 

[Circe]

It could be a gland, it could be a deposit of fatty adipose tissue (there''s a word for these, but I''m having tip-of-the-tongue syndrome: whatever they are, I have a few, and my doctors have always been v. reassuring about how, hey, it''s good to keep an eye on things but not to worry). It could be any number of things ... so go to a doctor to have it checked out, but don''t fret in the meantime. Whatever it is, you noticed it fairly early on, and you''re in good shape. Good luck getting an appointment pronto so you can lay your worries to rest!

 

[MichelleCarmen]

See a dr. but in the meantime don't poke at it with your finger(s). The more you do, the more likely it will stay swollen. It may be just from having a cold or something and even if your immune system is healing back up, the gland may appear swollen just from being touched.

 

[joflier]

I''d say it''s more than likely a swollen lymph node. Your fatigue and not feeling good could be your body fighting off a bug, and that''s causing the gland to enlarge. Maybe give yourself another couple days just to see if it goes away on its own, and if it doesn''t then get it checked out.

 

[qtiekiki]

It''s most likely a swollen nymph node. The first time I felt one was back when I was in HS, and I was freaked out. I even went to see a surgeon for it. You can fighting a virus even if you don''t have the symptoms. I would give it a few days before seeing a dr.

 

[princesss]

Lilac, I had that exact thing happen to me! Same spot and everything. I decided to go to a doctor if it was there 2 weeks later, and by then it had disappeared.

 

[Scorpioanne]

I had something like that years ago and it was caused by a sore on my scalp that somehow had gotten a bit of infection which made the gland swell so it wasn''t like I had a cold or something that made me sick. I would still get it checked out tho, better safe than sorry.
Good luck.

 

[kas baby]

I''m not sure about the area you''re referring to, but I know I''ve gotten hard little lumps on my scalp. Felt like there was a little round rock right under my skin. turns out they were ''calcified cysts'' at least that''s what the dermatologist said. I had two removed over the summer, but I must be really susceptible to them as I''ve found another that I know wasn''t there before

If it were me, I''d rather be safe than sorry. ''they'' always say early detection is key

 

[fleur-de-lis]

Lilac, I too had a swollen bump on my neck once a while ago. Turned out I was fighting a bug. The doc proscribed some antibiotics and it shrunk down pretty quickly after I began the treatment. If I were in your shoes, I''d go to the doctor sooner rather than later so you can begin whatever treatment that will speed your healing along.

Lilac, hope you feel better soon!

 

[iheartscience]

Date: 11/19/2009 5:18:52 PM
Author: Circe
It could be a gland, it could be a deposit of fatty adipose tissue (there''s a word for these, but I''m having tip-of-the-tongue syndrome: whatever they are, I have a few, and my doctors have always been v. reassuring about how, hey, it''s good to keep an eye on things but not to worry). It could be any number of things ... so go to a doctor to have it checked out, but don''t fret in the meantime. Whatever it is, you noticed it fairly early on, and you''re in good shape. Good luck getting an appointment pronto so you can lay your worries to rest!

Are you thinking of a lipoma, Circe? I think that''s what they''re called. My husband had one a while ago near his ribs and it''s all gone now.

Lilac, I would get it checked out ASAP. If it''s nothing, it''s better to know than to worry about it!

 

[zoebartlett]

Just to be on the safe side, I''d call your doctor and have it checked out.

 

[Kaleigh]

Of course go and see your Doc. You asked for some short term reassurance., I tried to do that. When I said swollen gland, I should have also mentioned a swollen nodule. I have one right now, it feels like a hard pea. I had it checked out, took antibiotics, it went down, still there, but not as hard, and it''s no longer painful.

I grew up with severe swollen glands. I responded to you to ease your mind, but will also say I should have said at the end go see your doc.

Which you had already said you were going to do.

Let us know what your Doc says. I hope you feel better soon Lilac!!

 

[AprilBaby]

Sounds like a lymph node from the location. Go get it checked. It''s probably harmless.

 

[Lilac]

DH came home and told me he really wants me to go to the doctor right away. Internet searches freaked him out

I try to stay away from those because they''re usually worst-case-scenario kinds of answers that just scare me.

Anyway, I really want to thank Kaleigh, Madam Bijoux, Mara, Circe, MC, joflier, qtiekiki, princesss, Scorpioanne, kas baby, fleur-de-lis, thing2of2, ZoeBartlett, and AprilBaby for the advice and reassurance. I really appreciate it - it makes me feel better to hear that it''s probably nothing and other people have experienced similar situations. Hopefully I can get an appointment sometime soon and I''ll let you all know what the doctor says...

 

[bebe]

Hmm, could be a Pilar cyst

 

[crown1]

you are doing the right thing to see the doctor. the fact that you have mentioned waking up overheated makes me suspect a sebaceous cyst. the oily sweaty condition caused by being hot might cause this.

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Seeing a doctor if something really concerns you isn't a bad idea! I know there's the idea that doctors are really busy people and you shouldn't take their time with "unimportant" things, but honestly, it's their job. They won't (or shouldn't) look down on you for coming in with what might just be a swollen node, they are the medically trained ones and not you, and it's their job to identify these things. I'm sure they would rather you be self aware and proactive about your health and come in for a check up, as opposed to not coming in and having it turn out to be something significant. 99.9% chance it's nothing, but .1% it's something since lymph nodes can sometimes be an early sign of more significant illnesses, and it's better to get it professionally checked than to ignore it and hope it goes away, especially if it's causing you worry!

If it makes you feel any better though, I'd also say it's mostly likely an inflamed node and that you might have a bit of an infection. They kind of feel like peas under your skin. Common things being common, it's probably nothing

Still, glad you're getting it checked out. If nothing else, if it turns out to be an enlarged lymph node, at least you'll know what they feel and look like, so in the future if you or someone you know gets it, you won't have to worry as much!

 

[Squirrly]

i''m glad you''re going to get an appointment soon, if not for your piece of mind, then for your hubby''s. after all, at some point you''ll probably want him to go get something checked out because you''re worried about him. dust that this is something that doesn''t need to be worried about!

 

[Londongirl1]

Date: 11/20/2009 2:25:21 AM
Author: Squirrly
i''m glad you''re going to get an appointment soon, if not for your piece of mind, then for your hubby''s. after all, at some point you''ll probably want him to go get something checked out because you''re worried about him. dust that this is something that doesn''t need to be worried about!

Ditto -

I''m waiting for an appointment to have a small lump removed too (can''t remember what it''s called) but my doctor told me that it''s harmless fatty tissue. He actually advised me just to leave it alone and not have surgey to remove it but it bothers me so I''m having it removed.

 

[arjunajane]

Date: 11/19/2009 7:29:54 PM
Author: kas baby
I''m not sure about the area you''re referring to, but I know I''ve gotten hard little lumps on my scalp. Felt like there was a little round rock right under my skin. turns out they were ''calcified cysts'' at least that''s what the dermatologist said. I had two removed over the summer, but I must be really susceptible to them as I''ve found another that I know wasn''t there before

If it were me, I''d rather be safe than sorry. ''they'' always say early detection is key

I actually discovered the same thing recently as what Kas has, and yours sounds very similar lilac.

My Fi was patting my hair and was like "when did you bump your head?"..I said I didn''t, than after feeling around realized I have one hard round lump (exactly, feels like something under the skin about the same size as yours), toward the back crown of my head.

Mine wasn''t *really* sore, but a bit tender. I went to my Dr and got told the same thing as Kas. Basically there''s nothing you can do for them except have them cut out.

I decided, seeing as I have v. thick hair and nobody but me knows its there, I''ll just leave it for now, it doesn''t bother me really.


btw, Kas instead of having yours cut, I suggest trying this - Magnoplasm (magnesium-sulphate glycerol paste).
It is a bit of an old wive''s remedy, but wow does it ever do the job!
It will draw *anything* to the surface within 24 hours.

The reason I found out..(a lil TMI warning here), is I had a very severe ingrown hair in a sensitive area. It was in very deep, swollen and sore and impossible to get at from the surface.
As is the usual reply with Dr''s, she said the only solution was to have it cut out.

Well, I decided to go to my chemist and ask what they had just in case.
When the pharmacist told me this was garunteed to work, I was admittedly very skeptical. The ingrown was so deep plus infected - but I thought I''ll give it a go rather than getting it cut.

You apply the paste with a dressing over the top, and leave it on ideally for 24 hours.
Well, the next day I removed the dressing - and the whole ingrown fiasco was just gone! No more swelling, redness, infection - it had all been drawn right to the surface, and I just simply "plucked" the offending hair out from the surface and went on my merry way.

I was thoroughly impressed, as you can tell - and it only costs about $12, not to mention no cutting, scars etc.

the only reason I haven''t had a go on my head yet is because I have to find a way to separate my crazy thick hair out for 24 hours so I can let it work!
But honestly, I reckon its worth a go on these cysts for sure.

Sorry everyone about the long tangent - I did think it could be helpful to others reading too.

Oh, and any ladies spending $40 or anything silly on "ingrown hair remedies", please go grab this from your pharmacy instead! I promise it will do the job so much more effectively, and at a fraction of the expense.

 

[Lilac]

Thank you so much for all your advice and reassurance. You are all so wonderful and really made me feel better and much more calm.

I went to the doctor this morning with DH (he was home from work for something unrelated, and he wanted to come with me to make sure I was ok) and the doctor said it''s probably a calcified cyst (or something like that). He said to monitor it and if it grows or starts to become painful I should come back just in case it got infected, but for now it''s nothing to worry about.

Thanks again for all the support!!

 

[joflier]

that''s good - glad it''s nothing!

 

[vc10um]

Great news, lilac!

I was going to chime in and say that''s what I thought it was as well...but you beat me to the doctors! I have one at the back of my head as well and I''ve had it for as long as I can remember. I figure if it doesn''t bother me, why bother it, and thus it has stayed there! I have pretty thick hair as well, and the only way to know it''s there is to actually run your fingers right over it.

 

[AprilBaby]

So happy to hear all is well!

 

[kenny]

Lilac I''m glad it''s nothing.

I think you deserve a diamond upgrade now.

 

[Lilac]

Date: 11/21/2009 3:40:52 PM
Author: kenny
Lilac I''m glad it''s nothing.

I think you deserve a diamond upgrade now.

Anniversary is coming up in February, and while I keep saying I don''t want or need anything, my husband seems pretty eager to buy something. So I guess we''ll see what ends up happening...