New hard lump behind ear again

[skyisblue]

A year ago, i got anxious about two lumps behind my ear which had been around for more than 6 years. A specialist evaluated it that it was absolutely nothing. Just prominent lympnodes.

Fast forward tonight, I found another lump just above my prominent lymph nodes. It has never been there before. I think it is slightly larger than a pea, a bit hard, not movable, and painful to touch.

I know that lumps that hurt are usually not a bad sign but im still worried because of this.

I have no ither symptoms like fatigue, night sweats, etc.

Ugh can't shake this off

[imissnotworrying]

A year ago, i got anxious about two lumps behind my ear which had been around for more than 6 years. A specialist evaluated it that it was absolutely nothing. Just prominent lympnodes.

Fast forward tonight, I found another lump just above my prominent lymph nodes. It has never been there before. I think it is slightly larger than a pea, a bit hard, not movable, and painful to touch.

I know that lumps that hurt are usually not a bad sign but im still worried because of this.

I have no ither symptoms like fatigue, night sweats, etc.

Ugh can't shake this off

we all have small lumps and bumps, a doctor told me once i didn't even need to consider getting a lump or bump checked unless it keeps enlarging (and alarmingly so) or unless it's in the breast area or something like that, because it's best to err on the side of caution with those, but otherwise to try to forget about little lumps and bumps as they're harmless, usually cysts, and the absence of other symptoms is also a great sign xxx

[skyisblue]

Thanks again imissnotworrying.

I really just hate it when i discover something new.

Have yu had any similar experiemces with lumps?

[sophiethestar]

I had a swollen lymph node behind my ear last year. I never found out what caused it. It stayed there for about 4 months before going down completely. When it suddenly arrived it hurt for a few days then the pain stopped. When my lymph nodes swell they always do that. It's really weird. I'm sure it's nothing to worry about. I went to my Doctor after about a month of it being swollen and she said I should wait 8 weeks before going back as they usually go down after a couple of months. She checked them and said only go back sooner if it's growing rapidly or I get an outbreak of them. Try to forget about it and check again in a few weeks. Constant prodding makes me worse, or at least it did for me. x

[skyisblue]

Thank you sophie,

Its really hard to not think about this. My mom saw the lump area and said that it looked redish or irritated. Ugh.

Im planning to visit the university doctor later.

[tofutoffees]

Hi, I agree with the other people who have posted - especially since you have no other symptoms - that's great. Could it just be a pimple (especially since red?)

I went to the doctor last week for a lump that I had never ever felt before and had been worrying me for a week or so. Turned out it was part of my ribcage (so must have been there for, er, 30 years?!)

Health anxiety is awful and crippling. Are you getting any treatment? I am a lot better now from the treatment I've had (CBT and existential psychotherapy) but it has been a long process. I can now laugh at myself a bit too, which helps; in fact, it is probably this that helps the most - but I can't imagine having been able to do that when I was at my worst.

You say you are going to see your uni doctor, but does your uni also have a decent counselling service?

Good luck.

[skyisblue]

Thank you, tofu!

Ack, I just came from the university physician's office.

She told me that it looked nothing like a lymph node because it was elongated, colored red, irritated, and located in the upper part where the bony parts of the head are.

She concluded that it was only an insect bite.

She gave me no medications or whatsoever.

I'm still having a hard time trusting her because she looks so young and inexperienced. I hate myself for thinking this

[tofutoffees]

That is really good news!

But you remind me so much of me when you say the doctor seemed young and inexperienced and that maybe, just maybe she might not have noticed a problem.

BUT

She is going to want to do a good job and make sure she doesn't miss anything, so I think you were probably in good hands. Who wants to mess up at work, especially when they are still trying to prove themselves a bit? (And remember, she's had years of medical training!)

I think I read somewhere that younger, less experienced doctors were actually being overly cautious?

Glad it went well. Have a good day!

Tofu