First and foremost, WE ARE GOING TO SEE A DOCTOR. Have to wait for new insurance to clear before we go, but it should be sometime next week.
Formalities out of the way, my girlfriend has a weird bump growing on the back of her neck, just above where her hairline starts and off to the right side - it feels about as large as a ball bearing (I'd guess 2-4cm and about 1/4-1/3 of an inch.
It really hurts and she's been having a load of symptoms; everything from random numbness to pain when she touches it, drymouth, and feeling dehydrated.
She's looked it up and found all sorts of stuff (which is why we're going to the doctor, of course). Just wondering if anyone here has any thoughts or ideas.
1ddqd on
0
Posts
Options
kaliyamaLeft to find less-moderated foraRegistered Userregular
edited February 2010
Doctors a good idea when anything is that close to a spinal column but I wouldn't worry about it - it sounds a lot like an ingrown hair that's infected; the drymouth/dehydrating thing probably is coincidental.
I get these occasionally. They are like giant pimple type things that dont have the pump on the top. I am not sure what causes them but after getting them for a while I just squeeze them and make sure I get the centre out. Then I clean the area with some salt water solution to stop infection.
Hear my warnings, unbelievers. We have raised altars in this land so that we may sacrifice you to our gods. There is no hope in opposing the inevitable. Put down your arms, unbelievers, and bow before the forces of Chaos!
Yup. I've got me one of those in pretty much the exact same spot as the OP specified. They normally swell when the immune system gets working and sometimes they just don't go back. My doc told me to keep an eye on it just to be on the safe side though. This was maybe 5 years ago.
Buuut, 2-4 centimeters is pretty big (and also more like 1-2 inches not 1/4 to 1/3). The lymph node in my neck has a diameter of like, 5 mm. Otherwise the symptoms were the same, redness and pain when I touched it. The dryness of mouth is probably due to nervousness as you seem to freak out a bit about this.
I'd also recommend not to look shit up on the internet if you are prone to freaking out. The stuff that people write about concerning illnesses are always worst case scenarios and most pictures out there are just plain nasty
My measurements were probably a little off, but 1-2 cm is about right (measured last night). The thing is that it doesn't feel as close to the surface as an ingrown hair, doesn't have any redness or whiteness; its just skin, with a lump underneath.
We *think* it's something to do with lymph nodes and she mentioned that her left side (spleen?) hurts sometimes. Also, when she touches the lump, it starts hurting and she feels it pulse through her body (her words). Insurance company said her policy is in underwriting, won't have anything until next week and we're too broke to go on our own (even if we'll get reimbursed by the insurance company).
Cysts are common on the neck/head when cutting hair or due to injury. It's essentially infected tissue too deep to get rid of, so your body surrounds it with fluids/puss and gives up. No redness/whiteness, because it's deeper than most blemishes.
They can be sensitive or numb, depending on whether the touch is moving the liquid around/pushing the infection deeper or if it's just chilling in it's little pocket.
Likely suspects are Cyst or Ingrown Hair. Good luck!
Are you sure it is the spleen?. In any case, sounds like an acute infection, a good specialist should request several blood and urine tests in order to rule out a possible viral exposure.
Fantasma on
Hear my warnings, unbelievers. We have raised altars in this land so that we may sacrifice you to our gods. There is no hope in opposing the inevitable. Put down your arms, unbelievers, and bow before the forces of Chaos!
Posts
buy warhams
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lymph_node#Lymph_nodes_of_the_head_and_neck
Yup. I've got me one of those in pretty much the exact same spot as the OP specified. They normally swell when the immune system gets working and sometimes they just don't go back. My doc told me to keep an eye on it just to be on the safe side though. This was maybe 5 years ago.
Buuut, 2-4 centimeters is pretty big (and also more like 1-2 inches not 1/4 to 1/3). The lymph node in my neck has a diameter of like, 5 mm. Otherwise the symptoms were the same, redness and pain when I touched it. The dryness of mouth is probably due to nervousness as you seem to freak out a bit about this.
I'd also recommend not to look shit up on the internet if you are prone to freaking out. The stuff that people write about concerning illnesses are always worst case scenarios and most pictures out there are just plain nasty
We *think* it's something to do with lymph nodes and she mentioned that her left side (spleen?) hurts sometimes. Also, when she touches the lump, it starts hurting and she feels it pulse through her body (her words). Insurance company said her policy is in underwriting, won't have anything until next week and we're too broke to go on our own (even if we'll get reimbursed by the insurance company).
They can be sensitive or numb, depending on whether the touch is moving the liquid around/pushing the infection deeper or if it's just chilling in it's little pocket.
Likely suspects are Cyst or Ingrown Hair. Good luck!
They cast a shadow like a sundial in the morning light. It was half past 10.