Lymph node in neck?!
Question: Lymph node in neck!?
For about a year and a half now I've had a lymph node, I assume it is anyway, swollen on the right side of my neck!. It hasn't gotten any bigger, but the weird thing is that it changes size frequently, like if I'm downstairs where it's colder, it's bigger but if I go upstairs it will become a lot smaller!. It's not very big at all I would say about half the size of a fingernail!. I had blood tests done and all kinds of stuff last year when I had it and I don't have anything wrong with me, I'm 18 years old and fairly athletic, not overweight!. It's just worrying me because it won't go away and I don't know why, I feel fine mostly all of the time, I do have extreme anxiety though!. I'm going to the doctor on Monday for a physical and blood work because I have a check-up every summer!. I was just wondering if anyone knows why it's still there!.
P!.S!. - My tonsils are very swollen and always have been I just haven't had them removed, I have horrible allergies!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
P!.S!. - My tonsils are very swollen and always have been I just haven't had them removed, I have horrible allergies!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
Half a fingernail isn't very big!. Some of the biggest lymph nodes in the body are 1-2 centimeters (half to 3/4 of an inch) in size: http://en!.wikipedia!.org/wiki/Lymph_node#!.!.!.
The one you are worried about is probably normal in size if it's one of the bigger regional nodes:
http://training!.seer!.cancer!.gov/ss_modul!.!.!.
Anyway, as you may have read, lymph nodes are where lymphocytes (a type of white blood cells) gather, and where lymph drainage throughout the body is filtered / screened for bacteria and foreign substances!. It is therefore normal for lymph nodes to fluctuate in size!.
Most likely, you are simply making a big deal out of nothing at all!. As you said yourself, you can be on the anxious side!. Double-check with your doctor at your check-up, and he/she will probably tell you the same thing!.
(Finally, our body is never perfectly symmetrical, so don't worry if you can't find a similarly sized lymph node on the other side!.)Www@Answer-Health@Com
The one you are worried about is probably normal in size if it's one of the bigger regional nodes:
http://training!.seer!.cancer!.gov/ss_modul!.!.!.
Anyway, as you may have read, lymph nodes are where lymphocytes (a type of white blood cells) gather, and where lymph drainage throughout the body is filtered / screened for bacteria and foreign substances!. It is therefore normal for lymph nodes to fluctuate in size!.
Most likely, you are simply making a big deal out of nothing at all!. As you said yourself, you can be on the anxious side!. Double-check with your doctor at your check-up, and he/she will probably tell you the same thing!.
(Finally, our body is never perfectly symmetrical, so don't worry if you can't find a similarly sized lymph node on the other side!.)Www@Answer-Health@Com