Lymphnodes

[OverlyAnxious]

Hi everyone! So, lymphnodes scare me to death. A month ago I had a terrible sore throat, achy upper back and neck. The sore throat lasted a few days, eventually improved and then ended up being sore only on the right side of my throat and then got better. I had a pile of lymphnodes in my neck that were sore. I then started checking every where else for swollen nodes, found that the right side inguinal lymphnodes were palpable, no pain whatsoever. My wife then got the same sore throat and ended up with a really swollen and sore lymphnode in her throat and had to do a pile of blood work. Long story short she was placed on iv antibiotics and it cleared up. However, for the last few weeks I have continued to poke and professional my lymphnodes. The one in my groin is now sore and my hip hurts. Same with my neck, I can't stop and evertime I find one I panic to the point I could breakdown. If I can't find them in keep digging for them until I can. Has anyone else experienced this? I had a vasectomy a few years back followed by an infection in that area. I seem to recall the right inguinal nodes were large at that point? Could they just be shotty nodes? Long story short I was diagnosed with OCD about 8 years ago. I've been good for a long time; however, if recently started to fall apart.

[Fishmanpa]

Simple: Can you stop poking and prodding? What do you expect if you can't?

Positive thoughts

[Aussie11]

The fact that you've been sick previously could definitely account for enlarged lymph nodes, but even without being sick they can feel enlarged sometimes. I went through awful phase a few years back where I was paranoid about groin lymph nodes in particular, to the point I went to several GP's then referred to surgeon for doing biopsy. He refused to biopsy as said they felt completely normal, said sometimes they just feel a bit rubbery and larger etc for no reason. He did do a few blood tests and a CT scan just to humour me really but all turned out fine. They do feel bigger if you keep touching them too from experience.

[Captain irrational]

Hi everyone! So, lymphnodes scare me to death.

Don't fear your nodes, love them! They save you from death every day of your life.

What you describe doesn't sound sinister at all. It's perfectly normal for some people to be able to feel lymph nodes. I myself can feel at least six in my neck, varying in size from that of a grain of rice to the size of a bean. They used to be a major source of anxiety for me too, but I have gradually come to terms with them and realised that there is nothing wrong.

Stop poking them, it will only make them sore and inflamed.

[robin321]

I poked and prodded mine so much that they totally swelled, and even appeared suspicious on an ultrasound (that I insisted on, not doctor).
I had to see a cancer specialist! Well when I stopped poking they went down and I am fine 5 yrs later.
You need to stop. Don't look for trouble. We have nodes. They do their jobs, and part of that makes them grow. Cancer nodes have other symptoms and you won't have to look so don't.