I am freaking out right now! Last night I felt a lump right below my right ear lobe and it hurts really bad. Its about the size of a small grape and it is also making the back of me neck hurt. I am doing my what if thinking and I have totally scared myself to the point where I have a headache and I feel sick to my stomach....I don't really want to call the doctor cause I'm afraid they'll think I'm just being stupid if it really isn't that big of deal but I don't really want to wait and see if it will go away either if it really is a big deal..... Help!!!

its ok, you probably just have an infection. YOur doctor will not think you are stupid. Call , you will fell better getting some reassurance. jt

Relax ! It sounds like you have a swollen gland and probably nothing to worry about all so don't get yourself worked up.

Dakotakus,

Honey, remember, it's not the lumps that hurt that you have to worry about. The lumps that hurt are usually ingrown hairs, bigger pimples, a swollen gland, a pulled muscle, and so on. Usually with anything that would be harmful, you wouldnt even notice the bump until one day you just came across it, i think its very rare for a cancerous bump to actually have any type of pain, it would usually be just a hard "ball" somewhere on your body. Don't get me wrong, i'm no doctor, but i've panicked enough about it to know that whenever i had a bump and it hurt, it wasnt anything to be afraid of. I would still recommend that you call your doctor only so you will feel more at ease. Just don't worry about anything right away because it's probably nothing big to worry about . Take care!

Doyle

Sounds like what my uncle has. It's in the exact same place, same size etc. His thing is a little cyst that he goes in and has it lanced every couple months. No big deal. Anyway, I'm not a doctor but I can tell you that things that are right up against the surface of the skin like that are only VERY RARELY anything serious. My surgeon told me that about my lipoma on my back. He said, major things occur deeper down and they don't usually cause any pain. Things in the dermis are most often little cysts, ingrown hairs, stuff like that. And the neck, back and thighs are the most common places for such things to grow.

So, go have that sucker checked out so you can stop worrying. Trust me, it's better to just get it taken care of then to obsess over it. I spent two weeks sure that I had back cancer. (BACK CANCER! Give me a break!) and it was just a stupid fat blob that I had taken out in a snap. No prob at all.

If it's a big deal to you, then yes it is a big deal. If you have concerns go to the Dr. that's what they're there for. Put your mind at ease!
Sander

Thanks Everbody for your replies.... I did end up going to the Doctor (and it wasn't even my doctor, she was out on vacation so I got to see her husband) He told me it is probably an infection in one of my lymph nodes or something and gave me a prescription for an antibiotic....I hate antibiotics and these pills are HUGE!!! and he wants me to take them four times a day for a week. I don't do well with antibiotics, I always get sicker....i think I will just wait it out and not take the pills...(its called Kelflex and they are 500mg pills, to me 2000mg a day is alot!!!!) and the way the doc sounded it wasn't a big deal. I wish I would have been able to talk to my real doc because she knows I hate taking pills. If its not one thing its another!

Does anyone on this forum suffer from Agoraphobia? Mine is the fear of leaving my small hometown that consists of a few hundred people and a post office. Any input on this would be greatly appreciated.

Dakotakus,
I didn't see this post until today. We use Keflex (aka Cephelexin) in animals at the veterinary hospital. This drug has been very safe in dogs. I haven't seen too many animals have reactions to this antiobiotic. A large dog takes 2 500 mg capsules twice a day. I'm not saying you are a large dog, but that might be a lose dose for ya. Anyway, just trying to ease the pain in a way. I know you are prob either finished or soon to be finished with the antibiotics. It's just a little FYI Take care and hope you feel better!
Cindy

quote:

Originally posted by Dakotakus:
[qb]Thanks Everbody for your replies.... I did end up going to the Doctor (and it wasn't even my doctor, she was out on vacation so I got to see her husband) He told me it is probably an infection in one of my lymph nodes or something and gave me a prescription for an antibiotic....I hate antibiotics and these pills are HUGE!!! and he wants me to take them four times a day for a week. I don't do well with antibiotics, I always get sicker....i think I will just wait it out and not take the pills...(its called Kelflex and they are 500mg pills, to me 2000mg a day is alot!!!!) and the way the doc sounded it wasn't a big deal. I wish I would have been able to talk to my real doc because she knows I hate taking pills. If its not one thing its another![/qb]

Cysmith5150,
I noticed that Keflex was given to animals too when I was investigating on the net. That kinda confused me. I didn't even take the pills.....The lump is still sorta there but it doesn't hurt anymore so I am just trying to forget about it. Actually I'm on to other things to worry about. I have been taking Librium for almost a year now and I am trying to wean off of them and I am feeling dizzy and just blahhh all the time lately so I am worried about if its the Librium withdrawl or something worse???? I don't know.

I'm a little late coming into this one too. I have taken Keflex in the past for sinus infections. No big deal. I have read that below the earlobe is a very common place for the lymph nodes to flare up. If I'm not mistaken they can take something like a month to reduce in size and eventually disappear.

Leslie - Speaking of lipomas....I too am cursed with those dang things. I recently had fourteen of them removed from my thighs. Beautiful I tell ya. I look like a stabbing victim with one half to one inch red slashes all over my thighs. I had one removed about ten years ago that kept growing and growing. Finally when it was golf ball size I had it taken off. Now ten years later it is beginning to grow a pea sized lump in the same place. I can feel many of them all over my legs but my doctor pointed out that only a few of them will be "aggressive." So the 14 that I selected seem to be the most aggressive. I am pleased with how they look, red slashes and all. My aunt recently had eight of them removed (one the size of a lemon on her shoulder) and I have another cousin who is covered with them too. Some books think they may be genetic, others indicate they could be caused by trauma. I wonder that each time my rottweiler slams into my thighs while we are roughhousing.

shawn.

shawn

Shawn, my mom had one the size of an egg taken off her shoulderblade a few years ago. I've heard they can pop up all over. Hope I don't get them as bad as you do. It's gross enough with one on your back always making your shirt stick out like you have a giant chigger under your skin or something. Yuck. I hear they are genetic or caused by trauma too. I can't remember any trauma there in the past, but I kind of recall a nasty rumble with the ol' exhusband that resulted in a bruised up back, and I think that could have done it. Who knows? All I know is I don't want anymore of 'em!!

Erniedoug, put that post on the main board so more people will respond. I don't personally have agoraphobia, but many here do. So, keep posting till you get some answers!

Dakota-I have taken Keflex numerous times for sinus infections too with no side affects (except for a few yeast infections. Lovely.) If I were you, I would take the meds simply because if it is and INFECTION, you can't get rid of it without treating it in some way. And that's what antibiotics do. I don't think it's a good idea to walk around with an infected lymph node forever. Seems like you need those little guys to me. Anyway, follow your heart, but don't let it get too much worse. Maybe just make another appt and try to get your regular doc for that one. She might have another therapy you can try.

Good luck,
Leslie

I still don't want to take those stupid pills....I know, more excuses but this is a good one! The doctor wasn't even sure if it was an infection.....he said it COULD be but it could also be other little things like zits on my neck or my pierced ears being infected (whenever I wear ear rings my ear ring holes get pussy(yuk) almost and sorta hurt and I had been wearing rings alot (which is not normal for me) before I the discovered the lump) Anyway, you all talking about those other lump things and getting them removed......thats really gross.....I hope I don't have that!

Dakotakus:
Maybe I'm retarded, but if a doctor prescribes you antibiotics, maybe you need to take them? I mean, it's not going to hurt you to take them, ya know. I struggled with taking antiobiotics last year, but I got over it. I just told myself that it would help me get better. Also, listen to yourself, you said that your ear may be infected. Wouldn't antiobiotics help you in that situation? I'm not telling you what you should do, you know how you feel. Don't let your anxiety take over just because you are afraid to take the pills. Anyway, I don't mean to offend you so please don't take it that way. Just saying that if you need to take the pills, then maybe you should. Ok, *stepping off my soapbox* Good luck, I hope you feel better!
Cindy