Permanently swollen lymph nodes

[Baldrick]

Does anyone here other than me have permanently swollen lymph nodes?
I'm especially interested in ones that are swollen in armpits and groin. I've had mine for 5 and a half years.

Sigh....I've been a bit worried today. I've been thinking about all my lymph nodes today There are just so many of them swollen! Probably between 10 and 15, most of them are small, the biggest are in my armpits. I was digging around in there today....A BAD THING I know! Anyway I felt what I thought could be more lymph nodes. But is it possible that I'm actually feeling just some other tissues and small muscles rather than tiny lymph node swellings?

[MOchp]

One of the main reasons I don't actively search out things like this is because there are so many weird things in your body that are nothing to be concerned about that you might feel and freak out about. It seems most folks have so many odd lumps and bumps that are just normal.

[Baldrick]

One of the main reasons I don't actively search out things like this is because there are so many weird things in your body that are nothing to be concerned about that you might feel and freak out about. It seems most folks have so many odd lumps and bumps that are just normal.

I usually don't go looking. But sometimes I have to check to see if there have been any changes. The only changes that have been over the year is that I've felt that one node in my groin has gone DOWN! That's good, of course, but I can't really relax about it until the others start getting smaller as well.

[Kimdrah]

Yes, I have one. But its in the back of my neck. Been there over 10 years

[Baldrick]

Yes, I have one. But its in the back of my neck. Been there over 10 years

Oh....and what have your doctors said about it?

[DizzyKangaroo]

I've had a swollen lymph node for over a month now. I had an ultrasound/blood work done, and nothing abnormal was found. The doctor even told me that sometimes they take a long time to go down.

[Baldrick]

I've had a swollen lymph node for over a month now. I had an ultrasound/blood work done, and nothing abnormal was found. The doctor even told me that sometimes they take a long time to go down.

Oh...I've been told that many times! 
Mine are certainly taking their time to go down.

Had the same tests as you. Nothing abnormal

[megaT]

My dad has had swollen lymph nodes in his neck for a few years.  He is a veteran. And the VA hospital he goes to is incredibly thorough.  He is fine, just big lymph nodes. 

[Baldrick]

My dad has had swollen lymph nodes in his neck for a few years.  He is a veteran. And the VA hospital he goes to is incredibly thorough.  He is fine, just big lymph nodes.

This is what I'm hoping. That I have just naturally large lymph nodes. I do remember being able to feel my normal lymph nodes in my upper thigh and groin. So I hope the tiny ones that I feel like are swollen are just normal large lymph nodes.

[jazjar]

soooooooo happy I found this thread.  Yes, I do have lymph nodes that have been swollen long-term.  My doc told me that they will "wax and wane" and that it is something called PGL, persistent generalized lymphadenopathy.  I have them in inguinal(groin) and below my left ear.  Been there for 4 months now.

[dahlias]

Hi,

For what it's worth -- I have always been prone to getting colds/strep throat. Because of this, I have a permanently swollen node on the right side of my neck. Not noticeable to the naked eye, but I can feel it's significantly bigger than my other nodes. Even a doctor noticed. It's no big deal, it had just seen so much drainage (ew, sorry) that it just stayed that way.

Also, I LEARNED this the hard way -- do NOT go prodding at your nodes.  It makes them WORSE. Also, you might not even have swollen lymph nodes. I once had a friend of mine (nurse) check for my nodes when I was convinced they were swollen and she felt around and told me that none were swollen. We're not doctors, we don't know! Don't panic, I would bet money that nothing is wrong.

Cheers!

[Kimdrah]

It has something to do with my sinus and fluid in my ear.

[Baldrick]

soooooooo happy I found this thread.  Yes, I do have lymph nodes that have been swollen long-term.  My doc told me that they will "wax and wane" and that it is something called PGL, persistent generalized lymphadenopathy.  I have them in inguinal(groin) and below my left ear.  Been there for 4 months now.

This is VERY interesting! I've had mine for over 5 years! Several in my groin and armpits. So, it's really unlikely I have cancer, PGL seems to be more likely!

Hi,

For what it's worth -- I have always been prone to getting colds/strep throat. Because of this, I have a permanently swollen node on the right side of my neck. Not noticeable to the naked eye, but I can feel it's significantly bigger than my other nodes. Even a doctor noticed. It's no big deal, it had just seen so much drainage (ew, sorry) that it just stayed that way.

Also, I LEARNED this the hard way -- do NOT go prodding at your nodes.  It makes them WORSE. Also, you might not even have swollen lymph nodes. I once had a friend of mine (nurse) check for my nodes when I was convinced they were swollen and she felt around and told me that none were swollen. We're not doctors, we don't know! Don't panic, I would bet money that nothing is wrong.

Cheers!

My nodes got enlarged because of viral infection and never went down. Found new ones last year, they kinda freaked me out 

Oh..believe me..I KNOW about not prodding! But I do the feeling sometimes that I need to go checking to see if they have changed. Mine are swollen though, most of them are within normal range. One or two are a bit over but doctors aren't worried.

[eternalhope]

 I had a nasty sinus / head infection about 10 yrs ago and noticed a huge lymphnode sticking out on my neck while shaving. That was actually my first full blown bout with HA. Anyway, it is still there today. I've been told that once they fill up with fluid during an infection, some of them end up never going down to normal size but present no danger. Enough to freak us out though, that's for sure.

[Baldrick]

Thanks for all the responses. :)

I'm curious though. Those of you that have permanently swollen lymph nodes have you gotten or discovered any "new" swellings since discovering the original swellings?

[danibabes]

Ive had one of these bad boys behind my right ear for a few years now. I wwas extremely concerned also. But I think sometimes its better to just leave this stuff alone instead of poking and prodding at it. If it were cancerous, any doctor would know. If it were anything obviously bad, the doctors would know. I think that this has been one of the easier things to put my mind to rest about. It doesnt hurt and as long as it doesnt get ENORMOUS you ereally have no cause for concern. But go to a doctor if you think itll help at all.

[jazjar]

Baldrick, you asked about lymph nodes that swelled up after the originials did, and yes, that is the case with my inguinal nodes.  Mine are like yours.  Two that are slightly over normal size, and the doctors are not worried.  Although I've definitely gone a long way from thinking I'll be dead in the next month, I still sometimes develop fears about having a non-aggressive, slow-moving cancer, though PGL is most likely 99% the cause, since non-aggressive cancers are extremely, extremely rare in people my age, a speck on the tiny grain of dust that represents people that get lymphoma in the first place, and I show no other symptoms, except for tiredness ( doesn't count since I've been someone who's slept to 2pm with ease since I was born ) and getting sick more than often ( Just colds and one flu, and it is an unusually diesease filled winter for the rest of my family as well. )     

[Baldrick]

Baldrick, you asked about lymph nodes that swelled up after the originials did, and yes, that is the case with my inguinal nodes.  Mine are like yours.  Two that are slightly over normal size, and the doctors are not worried.  Although I've definitely gone a long way from thinking I'll be dead in the next month, I still sometimes develop fears about having a non-aggressive, slow-moving cancer, though PGL is most likely 99% the cause, since non-aggressive cancers are extremely, extremely rare in people my age, a speck on the tiny grain of dust that represents people that get lymphoma in the first place, and I show no other symptoms, except for tiredness ( doesn't count since I've been someone who's slept to 2pm with ease since I was born ) and getting sick more than often ( Just colds and one flu, and it is an unusually diesease filled winter for the rest of my family as well. )     

WOW! Almost the same thing with me! I'm 24 and I'm worrying about slow moving cancer, although not as much as I was! I know full well that the odds of it being that are almost zero percent!

[jazjar]

Yeah, see the thing with me is, since slow moving cancer is "treatable" not "curable" that means if I'm diagnosed I'll be spending the rest of my life in and out of a hospital, which is what scares me.  I know it's unlikely, but still, it is the .014% chance that scares us silly.

[Baldrick]

Yeah, see the thing with me is, since slow moving cancer is "treatable" not "curable" that means if I'm diagnosed I'll be spending the rest of my life in and out of a hospital, which is what scares me.  I know it's unlikely, but still, it is the .014% chance that scares us silly.

Yes, that is what I fear. Where did that .014% come from?

Do your nodes sometimes feel bigger one day and smaller the next?
Or have any of your nodes shrunk considerably? One of my groin nodes did, but it got enlarged again when I got an infection but it has shrunk quite a bit since then. That is a good sign apparently since it's working like a lymph node should so it's really unlikely it's cancerous. Right?

Right now it's the node in my right armpit that is worrying me, it feels bigger than it has before 
That is my biggest node, probably between 1.5-2 cm but like with all the others, docs aren't worried, even talked to a hematologist and he's not worried either.

[jazjar]

I calculated that chance from some statistic I saw when I was googling.  Forgot the numbers now, and I cleaned my search history to try and keep myself away from that stuff.  Yeah, as I said in my first post on this thread ( I think ) mine wax and wane ( grow and shrink ) all the time.  They enlarge when I'm under stress sometimes or when I'm sick.  When they enlarged when I wasn't sick once I was convinced I had lymphoma, and then I realized that anxiety and my life was just making me stressful, and that's why they were enlarged.  They often aren't that predictable, so even if your not stressed or sick and they enlarge you shouldnt be scared.  ( Difficult sometimes ).

[toworryornottoworry]

While the lymph nodes are suppose to go back down to normal after the lymphatic system has eliminated an infection it is not always the case. I have one in the back of my neck that never went down after a horrible sinus infection I had back in 2004. These are called "shotty" nodes and are of nothing to be concerned of. It is also important to know that if you dig in far enough you will be able to feel normal, unswollen lymph nodes. Along with that it is important to keep in mind how often people mistake lipomas or cysts for lymph nodes.

[Baldrick]

I'm freaking out a bit today.
This wax and wane thing. Sigh....I fell into the dangerous Googling trap. Google told me that slow growing lymphoma, the one I'm terrified of getting sometimes waxes and wanes. Now I'm terrified.

I'm genuinely scared....has anyone one heard of or read about someone my age, 24, getting slow growing lymphoma?