Odd lump in my neck

JakAHearts · Post by **JakAHearts** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 2:35 pm

I know this obviously isnt the proper place to be seeking serious medical advice but ya know, its the shaving gang.

Anyway, last weekend while faceturbating I noticed an odd shaped large lump on the side of my neck. I quickly felt to see if there was a matching one on the other side and there was not. There are two hard lumps right behind and above my adams apple that have always been there of course but this one seems new. Im hoping that it is some sort of enlarged or infected lymph node but Im not sure. I have had a rather bad sore throat in the mornings the last week as well and some nasty chunky flem (eww...) to support my theory of infection. My father just had a brain tumor removed a month about a month ago so now I am super leary of any odd bumps of sort. The bump is about an inch or so long and seems to have a smaller section attached to the lower part of it. Its mobile and I can move it along under my skin. It seems to be kind of soft but then harder on the interior, like a milk dud.

Anyway, anyone ever have an infected lymph or something like this? I dont have any medical insurance so a biopsy or anything would be financially detrimental. Of course, I can always pay for a visit to the family doctor but would like to wait until my sore throat subsides to take such action.

Shane

yoyology · Post by **yoyology** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 3:50 pm

faceturbating

Muah!

IANAD, of course, but it sounds like an inflamed lymph node to me. Dead white blood cells are carried out of the body through the lymphatic system, and they will collect in the lymph nodes when the body is actively fighting infection. It's a normal process.

Bargepole · Post by **Bargepole** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 5:45 pm

IUTBADOBIHFMOIN, of course*, but it sounds like what he said. If the enlarged lymph node is on the side of the infection, then it's 99.999% just your body's natural defences at work. If it persits for >couple of weeks and after the infection has gone, get it checked. The odds go up dramatically, to a mere 99.99 chance it's nothing

This is one of those occasions when I am thankful we set up our (terribly expensive) National Health Service. Nobody worried about a symptom need take money into account before going to a doctor here. On the other hand... oh, let's not get onto the other hand. Money spent finding out you needn't have spent the money is pretty common round here (shaving brushes, anyone?) but when it comes to medical matters, it's money well spent, if you see what I mean. Early Diagnosis = Better Outcome. SImple as that.

Having said that, I bet it's just an inlarged lymph node, fighting infection.

* = I Used To Be A Doctor Once But I Have Forgotten Most Of It Now

jarnos · Post by **jarnos** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 1:19 am

It sounds like a infected lymph,but if you don't trust it and it is not gone in a short while.....GO SEE THE DOCTOR!!!!!! If it is something else you can better be there fast......

off topic;Whats up with the medical insurance in the states?? Here in Holland everybody is paying lets say €100,- per month for a insurance (you have to by law) And then you get allmost everything covered,except some dentalwork,but you can upgrade your insurance with about €20, and thats covered too...So we can just go see a doctor if we have a painfull knee, a throadt that hurts or if we cut ourselfs up with a stainley-knife

(or a shaving blade). How does that work in the states? If you brake a legg and you don't have insurance you don't get help if you don't get the money?

Just curius.....

Austin · Post by **Austin** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 5:56 am

I recommend seeing your doctor. The sooner the better. Take care.

ScottS · Post by **ScottS** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 8:15 am

jarnos wrote:It sounds like a infected lymph,but if you don't trust it and it is not gone in a short while.....GO SEE THE DOCTOR!!!!!! If it is something else you can better be there fast......

off topic;Whats up with the medical insurance in the states?? Here in Holland everybody is paying lets say €100,- per month for a insurance (you have to by law) And then you get allmost everything covered,except some dentalwork,but you can upgrade your insurance with about €20, and thats covered too...So we can just go see a doctor if we have a painfull knee, a throadt that hurts or if we cut ourselfs up with a stainley-knife (or a shaving blade). How does that work in the states? If you brake a legg and you don't have insurance you don't get help if you don't get the money?

Just curius.....

We have an interesting situation here in the States. The insurance fee you mention is on the same order of magnitude of what we have here, so long as you're employed, and your employer offers health insurance. If you're on your own, and not on medicaid, insurance can cost a lot more.

The uninsured get their health care largely through hospital emergency rooms, which can't legally turn people away. This gets incredibly expensive, and can also put people who have no money through very nasty collection agencies.

I read that private hospitals in one locale (I can't remember where, or how big) has started providing free health care to the uninsured, because it actually costs the hospital less than providing non-life-threatening emergency care, or waiting for an easily treatable condition to reach an emergency level. Imagine that-- providing free health care because it cost the provider less than not providing it! The capitalists realizing that the socialist approach can cost less.

I guess there are always compromises to be made. I have a colleague who is an MD, and he had a life-threatening incident in France. He was absolutely astonished to find that he was way underimpressed with emergency care there, and was actually worried about needlessly dying in an ER. I'm on the border of Canada, and the Med Ctr I'm at does a bangbuster business providing elective procedures to Canadians with money.

Sue · Post by **Sue** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 8:48 am

Shane,
I also suggest you see your doctor. I don't think you should second guess a lump that is new. While there is a very good chance it is nothing, it also could be something. There are some skin cancers that seem to appear almost overnight and grow rapidly especially in skin areas which are regularly exposed to sunlight. I say this not to scare you but to urge you to have it checked by a physician.
Sie

Rocky_Marciano · Post by **Rocky_Marciano** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 2:42 pm

I have these also, I've had them since i was about 5. They are just swollen lymph nodes, I've always had them, and they change in size, number and position. Somtimes they are affected by stress or if you are sick. It's nothing to worry about. I've had them for a long time, and right now I have two behind my ear, a couple on the sides and back of my neck, and one under my jaw bone, and I had a small one by my sideburn that went away. It's just a swollen lymph nodes, and it's nothing to worry about, give it two weeks and if your still worried then see a doctor, IMO I don't think its neccessary but better safe than sorry.

Rocky

yoyology · Post by **yoyology** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 3:14 pm

Of course, there's always a small but statistically significant chance that it's an alien embryo implanted in your neck to study your shaving techniques and send the information back to the mothership.

JakAHearts · Post by **JakAHearts** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 8:25 pm

Wow. I hope the mother ship doesnt have Feather ACs. Those poor little guys will be all diced up.

Shane

PS. Ive decided that if this thing is still there by next wednesday, Ill be at the doctor that day. Thank you everyone for your words of wisdom.

Sue · Post by **Sue** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 8:39 pm

Shane,
Tha sounds like a good plan.

Rocky,
How do I save and send the hockey clip by email? I have XP.

Sue

Rocky_Marciano · Post by **Rocky_Marciano** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 8:57 pm

right click, save picture as, save, then upload it on your "attached paper clip" thing in your email.

Sue · Post by **Sue** » Wed Dec 20, 2006 12:28 am

Rocky,
Thank you, I didn't know saving that would be the same as a photo. I wanted to send it to my broher, who plays league hockey.
Sue

jarnos · Post by **jarnos** » Wed Dec 20, 2006 9:35 am

@ScottS thanx!

reginald-van-gleason · Wed Dec 20, 2006 11:13 pm

Rocky_Marciano wrote:right click, save picture as, save, then upload it on your "attached paper clip" thing in your email.

RJ Umberger turned into RJ Hamburger after that hit in the playoffs last year...

Ahh hockey, the best.

ScottS · Post by **ScottS** » Thu Dec 21, 2006 7:14 am

jarnos wrote:@ScottS thanx!

Anytime