So Worried About This Lump Behind My Right Ear! Reassurance please?

[skyisblue]

Hi, I am just going to make one final attempt to clear out my thoughts about this lump that has been bothering me for many years already. It is probably one of the reasons why I became hypochondriac, I think.

Anyway, years ago I discovered two non painful lumps at the back of my right ear. The first one is probably the size of a coin - it is soft to touch and can be easily moved. This soft lump, I believe, is my lymph node. I've had enlarged lymph nodes as a child because of bacterial infections. With antibiotics, my swollen and painful lymph nodes usually goes away. However, even up to today, I still have this strange lump behind my right ear.

Then, a little above the soft lump, I can feel another one. This time it is relatively hard to touch, nonpainful as well, and unmovable http://www.anxietyzone.com/Smileys/default/sad.gif At first touch, it is probably the size of a pea. However, once I do get to feel around it's base, I tend to trace its shape as an elongated one which fades as it moves to the back of my head. I don't know if it's a bone or something.

When I first noticed this, I went to the doctor (an intensive care unit specialist) and she just dismissed it as a swollen or prominent/palpable lymph node or something. Of course, that was never enough.

My auntie, who is a nurse, said that some people just have this "palpable" glands especially lymph nodes that they have to live with. She knows that I have HA. She comforts me by saying that if it were something alarming, it would've become more evident in my health like getting really sick.

I discovered this approximately 6 years ago. I don't know if it has been there even way before my discovery. Throughout the years, there has been no change or whatsoever regarding the size. It hasn't increased in size, if I'm not 000204. Also, I haven't been seriously sick since God knows when. My blood tests came out normal the other month (which my auntie says that blood tests can say a lot). I'm still 21 years old. :weep: No family history of cancer, or whatsoever...

AND NOW HERE'S THE FREAKY PART: Just yesterday, I discovered that the "softer lump" became more slightly swollen and is sore to touch (for the first time in a long time)! Well, I have a stuffy/runny nose and occasional coughing, so I guess my lymph nodes are at work due to an infection, but I can't really dismiss the fact that I'm scared to death because of this. Is it normal for only one lymph node to swell? I mean, I've been slightly sick due to infections in recent years/months, but my lymph nodes haven't swollen up since I-don't-know-when. Now I'm worried. :(

Since my HA returned recently, I can't dismiss this easily without another assurance. :weep: Has anybody have similar experiences? :weep:

[looking4answers]

Sounds like sebaous cyst .I had one the size of a quarter that hurt all the time behind my right ear and one pea size soft behind my left ear.One hard one the size of a quarter in the center of my chest and another hard one on my left shoulder blade. They are all benighn thst i know of. Hope this helps

[suzy-sue]

I had a swollen lymph gland last week ,I thought I was coming down with a cold .This never materialised and the lump went back down in three days .Its nothing to concern yourself about .This sometimes happens .A Dr told me that years ago .T/c luv Sue x

[skyisblue]

Thank you, looking and suzie.

Is it a reassurance that I've had it for years and it hasn't change drastically over a long time?

[suzy-sue]

Yes its really nothing to worry about .It would have altered in some way by now .t/c Sue x

[pablo22]

sounds like a cyst, my friend has two on her head der huge lol

[skyisblue]

Thank you, everyone.

I'm just scared because it hasn't hurt like this since I don't know, 2 years ago? I really can't recall.

My other friend said that I should have been very very sick right now if this were something else. Is there some truth to it?

I'm just scared that these lumps might be the start of something else :(

I hate HA!!!

[skyisblue]

Help please?

The pain has almost subsided yet the lumps are still there (well, they've always been there since forever). Ack, just can't stop worrying about this.

:(

[Carys]

To be honest, proding and poking it about could make it sore and inflamed if it is an enlarged lymph node. I have one under the left hand side of my jaw, its been there for about 20 odd years, from when I had a really chronic and dreadful wisdom tooth infection. If I prod it the next day it is sore !

[bluetopazgirl]

Hi, ive read your post as requested.

im no doctor but from what the doctor told me today, if youve had those lumps 6years then they are nothing sinister, you would be extremely ill or even worse if it was the big "C". My one in my jaw is hard like a marble, and does move over the jaw bone if i bend my chin down forward, if i lift my chin up it feels long and doesnt move if this makes any sense. My glands come up alot and feel tender for a few days (i dont feel lumps apart from this one i just feel alot of tenderness from where they would be) and half the time they come up for no reason. And yes your blood tells alot if you had anything sinister it would show abonrmalties in your blood, as my dad's did when he had Lukeamia if your blood test is fine you are fine. we are both fine!

If your still concerened see your gp, but if theyve been there that long, they are nothing bad.

also with regards to colds, just a sore throat or sniffle will set mine off so that could be the case.

hth x

[Gemma T]

I have a lovely and troublesum lymph node on the right side of my next. I woke up one day and my neck killed me and felt hot. 6 months later there was no change. I diagnosed myslef with lymphoma and the ent diagnosed it as an over active gland.

That was 3 years ago and whilst it gives me no trouble most of the time it likes to say hi when im run down or getting sick.

You might have the same thing as i do x x x

[skyisblue]

Thank you Carys, November, and Emma! Feeling more and more reassured.

It really helps a lot to know that I am not alone. Ack, yes I've had this for at least 6 years (6 years because that's when I discovered it, dunno if it's been there longer!)

Anyway, last question, is it really medically possible that a lymph node can be permanently "bigger" like mine? :winks:

[Carys]

Well, mine is, it has been for the many years !

[skyisblue]

Hello, Carys.

Do we have almost the exact same thing?

Has the doctor made any comment?

[Veronica H]

:)The lymph nodes behind my right ear get hard and inflamed if I have an infection or am run down. I was told recently not to prod them when they are inflamed as they take longer to go down.They have been this way for about 20 years. When they are not inflamed they are small hard lumps. They are part of our defence mechanism and nothing to worry about....I know with HA this is difficult.

Vx

[Carys]

I've never mentioned it to a doctor, believe it or not, it has never worried me. :winks: I knew why it came up, this chronic tooth infection, then it went down somewhat but never back to being like it used to be. It is under the left side of my jaw, kind of underneath where the tooth is, if that makes sense. We all pick up a few lumps and bumps on life's journey.

[Gemma T]

My friend has a giant awollen gland under a chin. Had it for years and shes fine x

[skyisblue]

Thank you for your replies, everyone!

I think I'm getting better now. I still have the vicious practice of checking and poking my lumps though. I do it almost every 3 minutes! I still don't know how to completely overcome this cycle. Sigh.

Is it a reassurance that I'm feeling mighty fine physically in spite of these lumps?