Hi everyone - new here!
I found a swollen lymph node under my ear about 4 weeks ago. At the time I was getting some earache so I went to the doctor. He said he couldn't find any sign of infection and said the node was probably due to me fighting off a throat infection or something.
The node didn't go and I was checking and fiddling with it night and day. The earache got worse so I went back to see a different doctor. She said that my ear canal looked a bit inflamed and prescribed some drops. I asked her about the node but she checked it and said she felt it would go away on its own and that they looked out for nodes much much bigger and rubbery.
So I got the drops and calmed down a bit. I've been using the drops for just over a week. The earache has got better but now and again I get the odd pain which feels like its coming from the ear drum/back of throat area.
The node remains and I did some checking on the internet to find that if you continually check them, they can remain inflamed. Also, in my calmer moments, I notice that I can't feel it if I look straight ahead and check normally. It's only when I crane my neck that it really pops out.
My problem is that it's beginning to really take over my life. Usually, if I've had an infection or whatever and my lymph nodes swollen, they go down really quickly.
I just wonder if I was in a state of mind when I found the node which has convinced me that it's something more serious.
I had PND which appeared four months after my first son was born. I was shaving my legs one day and found a blemish on my leg which from that moment on, I was convinced was skin cancer. I saw four different doctors and practically begged one of them to cut it out!
It went on for weeks and weeks and I probably missed out quite a chunk of my son growing.
This is beginning to feel the same and I start a new job in a week's time. I don't want this to take over my life - I just don't know what to do.
Mrs Bod