[littleyellowspider]

There's something going around my school and I've been sick the past few days. On friday I woke up with two lumps in the back of my neck. I went to the doctor and he told me they were swollen lymph nodes and that he wasn't concerned but I should come back on Monday if they hadn't gone down. well it's sunday and they are still there. No bigger or more painful, but still definitely there. I've never (that I've noticed) had swollen lymph nodes in the BACK of my neck, so it's quite worrisome for me. In fact I got so worked up about going back to the doctor and what it might be that I actually threw up. I'm 21 with no family history of cancer or anything but I still can't help feeling really scared!

[anna342]

Viral and bacterial infections can both cause swollen lymph nodes. I've had quite a large one on the front of my neck once and whilst it was very worrying and uncomfortable it did not cause me any real problems. It did last a couple of weeks and it scared me but it slowly went down and left no problems.

See your dr tomorow if you can like they asked. They'll possibly run some blood tests or something to be on the safe side, maybe antibiotics if they think you have a bacterial infection. If you don't see them, even if it's because you are scared, then you'll only be continously worried until you get better. It seems like a better idea to just push on with the anxiety and do what you need to to make sure you get better as soon as you can.

Honestly, I would try not to worry, the fact you are ill anyway and stuff is going around would make me think it's most likely to be due to that.

[Leed]

My daughter just had the same thing, and she was put on antibiotics and it has helped the lymph nodes to go down. It's a bacterial virus that's going around. The lymph nodes in the back and side of her neck were swollen ~ and how they're going down.

Don't worry about cancer. The chances of it being that are VERY SMALL. Just go see your doc on Monday and you'll be ok. God bless. Hugs, Lee

[littleyellowspider]

thanks for your answers. it's so frustrating, i went back and the doctor said they've gone down a bit and didn't even put me on antibiotics because he said they are going down on their own but i feel like I can still feel them so well! it's so furstrating because I'm still so worried even after a visit to the doctor I keep poking at them which my mom says will take them longer to go down.

[littleyellowspider]

oh goodness, I feel like this is an endless cycle. now that they've told me not to worry about the nodes I have discovered that around my hip bone, my right side is a lot thicker than my left (like it feels like maybe there's more muscle there than on the other side) Now I am panicking about that because I am worried maybe the thickness is a tumor. I am going to the anxiety boards with this now.

[anna342]

I think you're possibly catching your train of thoughts and linking it to anxiety- which is where I think the problem is too.

You sound disapointed that you're not on antibiotics? Thing is, if they are going down and that's not due to putting antibiotics in you then that is a good thing, not bad! Also taking unecessary antibiotics isn't good for you, you can build up a resistance and those will no longer be of use to you in the future which could be a big problem were you to get a serious infection. The fact you can feel them doesn't mean they aren't going away. They won't go from big to disappeared, that isn't what happens.

I think chatting to your GP at some point about your anxiety would be of use to you.

[colmnach]

I had a swollen lymph node behind my right ear and it scared the C**P outta me, so went to the doctor and he said it was probably nothing to worry about (after asking me a few questions), and told me to pop to my local hospital for a blood test. Tests came back okay, so he was right, altho it IS worrying at first. Take care.

[watchthestarsfall]

Lymph nodes swell whenever your body is fighting an infection...usually it's local to the infection. Whenever I get sick with a headcold/chestcold kinda thing my neck ones swell and my ones by my sides get all tender and it feels like my bra is on too tight all the time.

It's nothing to worry about, especially if it's been less than a week or so. Most things like this the dr doesn't even really pay attention unless it's upwards of 3 weeks.

as for thickness on the right hip...are you right handed? even if you aren't the body is not symmetrical so thickness on one side isn't abnormal.

Talk to your dr about the anxiety because it shouldn't be that every little medical issue causes you to throw up and get scared of cancer.

[Yoda]

The first thing I would suspect would be infection. Do you have other symptoms? Fatigue, sore throat, itchy ears, fever, rash,... ? It could be a virus like mono or possibly a bacterial infection. Yes you have lymph nodes in your groin too.

Usually when lymph nodes swell it means they are fighting an infection. That is their job. I would fully investigate that before worrying about worse things.