Door knob loose/falling off

About six months ago, I noticed this little lump starting to pop up under my neck. Honestly, I just figured it was because I’d been bulking up at the gym and eating more—thought maybe I just grew some muscle right under my jawline from hitting the weights harder—but apparently, that wasn't it. My blood work came back totally fine, everything sitting right in the normal range. Then, after a couple of days of worrying, I went in for an ultrasound yesterday, and here is what they found:

The right lobe measures 37x15x18.4mm, showing a non-homogeneous echostructure that is diffusely mildly hypoechoic with traces of isoechoic echoes; the posterior margin is irregular.

The isthmus measures 20x17x3.4mm and is mildly hypoechoic.

The left lobe measures 38x17.4x16.9mm and has a similar echostructure to the right lobe.

On the left submental side, there's a hypoechoic nodule measuring 26.5x22x20mm, separated by a hypoechoic border, and in the medial submental line, there's a sonolucent nodule measuring 6.5x4x5mm.
A general exam of the anterior neck region, including the jugular and supraclavicular areas, shows no other enlarged lymph nodes or abnormal growths.

Diagnosis: Left cervical lymph node
An ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) is required.

So now I'm sitting here wondering what kind of bullshit this actually means. It's not like I have some massive thyroid disease or something, right? What does it even mean when they say it's "diffusely enlarged"—is that a red flag that something is wrong, or can that actually be normal? To be fair, I've been under a massive amount of stress over the last two months because of some stuff, though that passed about three weeks ago. Could that have anything to do with it?
Like I said, I first noticed this half a year ago, if not longer, but I was convinced it was just weight gain or extra muscle mass from lifting heavier lately. Even now, I still feel like it might just be muscle since I can tense it up and make it pop out quite a bit...

Anyway, I don't have any typical symptoms of thyroid issues; I'm jittery, but I've always been like that—I can never sit still—and I'm not lacking willpower or feeling constantly exhausted (well, obviously I get tired if I haven't slept enough). I'm not in any pain, so I feel fine otherwise, I just noticed this thing under my neck and, well, here we are.

What am I looking at here?

I’ve got something similar going on—this little lump, feels like a marble, right under my jawline on the neck. It’s pretty noticeable, too. Doesn't really hurt unless I go poking at it, which I shouldn't do, I guess. I've had it for years now. I went in for a thyroid ultrasound once and asked them to take a look at it while they were at it.

They told me I needed a fine needle aspiration. Not exactly a terrifying procedure, I suppose—they just use a needle to pull some material out of the lump.
That stuff goes off for cytology. The report comes back in Latin or whatever medical jargon they use, but apparently, it was some kind of benign tumor.

Then they referred me to an ENT specialist to get everything scheduled. But then my sister and I got into this huge blowout over some paperwork. She wouldn't even help me set up the appointment because she insisted a specialist had to review everything first to decide if surgery was actually necessary. So, I just gave up. Now it’s just sitting there.

Still, I guess it makes sense to get those tests done so things don't spread or turn into something much worse. You figure it out as you go, right? Decide how to move forward once you know what you're dealing with.

Good luck.🙂

Douglas Diaz3 said:About six months ago, I noticed this little lump starting to form right under my neck. Honestly, I just figured I’d put on some weight from hitting the gym and eating more, or maybe it was just muscle definition from lifting heavy. Turns out, probably not. My blood work came back totally fine—everything was right within the standard ranges. But then, two days ago, I went in for an ultrasound, and this is what they found:

The right lobe measures 37x15x18.4mm with a non-homogeneous echostructure, diffusely mildly hypoechoic with traces of isoechoic echoes, and an irregular posterior border.

The isthmus measures 20x17x3.4mm and is mildly hypoechoic.

The left lobe measures 38x17.4x16.9mm and has a similar echostructure to the right lobe.

A hypoechoic nodule measuring 26.5x22x20mm is visible in the left submental area, separated by a hypoechoic border, and a sonolucent nodule measuring 6.5x4x5mm is seen in the medial submental line.
A physical exam of the anterior neck region, including the jugular and supraclavicular areas, shows no other enlarged lymph nodes or abnormal masses.

Diagnosis: Left cervical lymph node.
An ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy is required.

So, what does all this actually mean? Please tell me I don't have some major thyroid issue or something. What does "diffusely enlarged" even imply? Is it a sign that something is wrong, or could it be totally normal? I've been under a massive amount of stress over the last couple of months due to some stuff, though that passed about three weeks ago. Could that have anything to do with it?
Like I mentioned, I first noticed this about half a year ago, if not longer. I really thought I was just gaining weight or building up my neck muscles from lifting heavier weights. Even now, I feel like I might have built some muscle because I can flex it quite a bit...

I don't have any symptoms typical of thyroid issues; I'm naturally high-energy—I can never sit still—but I'm not lacking willpower, and I don't feel tired all the time (obviously, except when I haven't slept enough). I'm not in any pain, so everything feels okay physically; I just noticed this bump under my neck and, well, here I am.

What am I looking at here?

It looks like your thyroid is enlarged and there are two nodules. Your doctor wants you to get a biopsy on one of those nodules to clear things up, which usually involves checking hormone levels too, so they can figure out exactly what those nodules are doing since an ultrasound can't tell everything. It's pretty clear your thyroid isn't acting perfectly normal, so you should probably get those tests done ASAP.
Stress is definitely a huge trigger for various health issues, including thyroid problems.
It's hard to say for sure with just an ultrasound; it could be nothing at all, or it could be something serious.

[QUOTE

What am I even looking at?

Nothing bad, really. It’s not like you can just opt out of medicine altogether. Even if your kidneys aren't performing at peak capacity—which, let's face it, is likely the case here—you'll just end up needing meds to replace those hormones. Just get that sorted out as soon as possible.👍

rapidrider3 said:I’ve got something similar going on. There’s this little lump, sort of like a marble, right under my jawline on the neck. It’s pretty noticeable. It doesn't actually hurt unless I press on it quite hard, and honestly, it's been there for years. I went in for an ultrasound of my thyroid, and while they were at it, I had the doctor take a look at this spot too.

They sent me in for some acupuncture. It’s not exactly a walk in the park, but it isn't a disaster either—it feels a bit like someone taking a needle to a knot and slowly drawing out the tension.
It’s heading off to cytology for further testing. The report is written in Latin—as if that makes it more intimidating—but from what I can tell, it looks like some kind of benign tumor.

My ENT specialist told me to go ahead and get scheduled, but my sister and I hit a total standstill over some paperwork. Apparently, she won't pull the trigger on booking the appointment until a specialist reviews the files to give the final green light for surgery. So, that’s where we are. Everything is just stuck in limbo.

It’s only sensible to run those searches first to make sure you aren't inadvertently spreading something that could spiral out of control. Once you have the facts, then you can decide on your next move.

Best of luck.🙂

Is that swelling getting worse whenever you chew? If it is, we might be looking at an issue with your salivary glands.

So basically, things look pretty grim. I’m probably staring down the barrel of a bunch of meds and all that other crap...

Is there even a remote chance that once they biopsy this lump, everything turns out fine—like, zero tumors, zero cancer, and none of those hormones or pills I'd have to choke down? Is it actually possible for an enlarged thyroid to still function perfectly normally without causing issues?
God forbid they suggest radiation therapy; I swear to God, I won't let that garbage touch me.

To be honest, I wish I’d never even gone in for the checkup in the first place, because I've been dealing with this for about a year now—just this little bump under my chin that swells up depending on how much I eat or if it's summer or winter, and I haven't felt any symptoms. But whatever happens, happens.

Douglas Diaz3 said:So basically, things look pretty bad. I'm probably looking at a bunch of meds and all that crap...

Is there any chance that once they treat this nodule, everything will just go back to normal? Like, no tumors, no cancer, no crustacean nonsense, and none of those hormones or pills I'll have to take forever. Is it even possible for the thyroid to be enlarged while still producing hormones perfectly normally?
God forbid it turns out I need radioactive iodine treatment—I am definitely not ready for that kind of mess.

To be honest, I wish I’d never gone for the checkup. I've had this thing for almost a year now—just a little bump under my chin that swells up sometimes and shrinks other times. No symptoms, nothing. Its size seems to depend on how much I eat or if it's winter or summer. But hey, whatever happens, happens.

The only certainty right now is that you have nodules. Your hormone levels might be totally fine, but don't let that fool you into thinking everything is perfect; you can actually have cancer even when your hormones are within the normal range.
First off, you need a full workup to figure out what we're actually dealing with—whether it's just medication or if surgery is on the table. You're already jumping ahead to radioactive iodine before you've even gotten a solid diagnosis.
Seriously, don't beat yourself up for going to the doctor. Be glad you went! It's better to catch this early so you can actually deal with it.
Try to tap into some positive energy. You aren't the only person out there dealing with this, and you've got to be brave and face this head-on. Optimism really is a huge factor in recovering from anything, including thyroid issues.
Cancer and other nasty stuff are great for a Thanksgiving feast, but they shouldn't be part of the conversation regarding your health, whether it's just a harmless goiter or something more serious. Whatever it is, it's treatable. I actually had cancer myself and went through surgery, and look at me—I feel great and I'm still here. Hang in there!👍

Man, I guess that’s just how I am—I can't handle this heavy, serious medical stuff, especially when it's something as terrifying as cancer, and that's before I've even really started my life. I mean, I'm only 17 and I'm already dealing with kidney issues. While I was sitting there waiting for my ultrasound, it was nothing but women in their 50s and 60s all around me. Just my luck, honestly.🙂

Douglas Diaz3 said:Look, I’ll be the first to admit it—I just don't handle serious stuff well. Dealing with heavy diagnoses like cancer is totally out of my league, especially when I haven't even really started my life yet. I'm only 17, and I'm already dealing with kidney issues. It felt pretty surreal sitting there waiting for my ultrasound, surrounded by nothing but women in their 50s and 60s. Talk about feeling out of place.🙂

Look, nobody is saying for sure that it’s cancer. Honestly, it could just be a harmless little lump that doesn't mean a thing, but you can't just guess—that's why they have to do the biopsy. I don't know where you're located, but please, just go see an endocrinologist or head over to a nuclear medicine specialist right away. Get the full workup done immediately, especially since you're only 17.
Look, your doctor gave you solid advice based on what they saw. You really just have to accept the fact that this is something you’ve got to get done.🙂🙂 Right away!

Sarah Williams37 said:Does it swell up when you swallow? Or while eating? If it does, could be an enlarged tonsil or something similar...

No, nothing. It’s just sitting there. Doesn't swell, doesn't move. Just feels like I've got a swallowed piece of steak stuck right in my throat or neck. Constant.

rapidrider3 said:No, it’s just sitting there. It isn't growing, and it isn't moving. Honestly, it feels like I've swallowed a piece of greasy bacon and it's lodged right in my throat.

Well, that sounds like it could be a swollen lymph node, but you really ought to get a doctor to take a look at it just to be safe.🙂

So I just got back from my biopsy. Basically, it looks like there's some kind of pus inside that node, like some random inflammation or whatever. The sample only showed pus, so does that mean I can totally rule out any kind of tumor or anything nasty? I tried asking the doctor who did the procedure, but she wouldn't give me a straight answer—just mumbled something about inflammation and maybe a salivary gland, nothing concrete at all. While the two doctors were talking during the ultrasound, I overheard them pointing stuff out, like "look at this node" and "see that shadow behind it, it's a hypoechoic node" and all that medical jargon crap. As for my thyroid, it’s not actually enlarged; the doctor just wrote that down because she was looking at someone else's report by mistake, so that part was just a mix-up from another patient. I got a second report, and the only thing flagged as abnormal is that specific node; the thyroid looks fine, just the dimensions are noted but it's not swollen. They also mentioned something about a cyst or something, and now I'm stuck waiting ten days for the final results.

While I'm sitting here waiting, what do you guys think this could be? If the sample is just pure pus, can I officially cross "tumor" off my list of worries?

Douglas Diaz3 said:So, I just got back from my biopsy. Basically, it looks like there’s some pus in that nodule, almost like some kind of infection. Since the sample only showed pus, does that mean I can rule out anything cancerous? I asked the doctor performing the procedure, but she didn't give me a straight answer—just mentioned it might be inflammation, maybe a lymph node, nothing concrete. While they were doing the ultrasound, I overheard two doctors talking about seeing the nodule and then this shadow behind it, mentioning something about a hypo-nodule and so on. As for my thyroid, it isn't enlarged; the doctor was actually looking at someone else's previous report when she noted "diffuse enlargement," so that was just for another patient. I got a second report, and the only abnormal thing listed is that specific nodule; the thyroid itself shows normal dimensions and isn't swollen. They also mentioned a cyst or something, so now I have to wait ten days for the official results.

While I'm waiting, what do you guys think this could be? If the sample is just pus, can I breathe easy regarding tumors?

Honestly, I think you can relax a little. If there was pus, it's highly likely we're looking at an inflamed node. A doctor can't really tell the exact contents of a node just by looking at it. You just have to hang in there for these ten days; the results will probably just show an inflammatory process. And hey, cysts aren't a big deal—plenty of people have one or two without even knowing it. Regardless, since the nodule is in your thyroid, it means there's something going on there. It doesn't have to be a tumor; it might not even need treatment, just monitoring. If the results come back suspicious, they'll handle it then. Don't sweat it too much. If it is just inflammation... did you get your bloodwork done for hormones yet?
Just because your thyroid isn't diffusely enlarged doesn't mean nothing is happening; it could still be inflammation or something similar. Stay positive, but let's assume it's nothing serious.👍

So, I think she mentioned something about the knot being outside the kidney, almost like it’s totally unrelated to her condition or whatever...
I didn't get a full blood panel, just the basic stuff—erythrocytes, leukocytes, the usual routine—and everything came back fine. She hasn't brought up hormones or anything else like that yet.

Douglas Diaz3 said:I think she mentioned the node was outside the thyroid area, like it wasn't even related to it...
They didn't do a full blood panel on me—just the basics like red and white cell counts, which all came back perfectly fine. My hormones are normal too, and the doctor didn't bring anything up regarding them.

Could it just be a lymph node? Sometimes they swell up from something totally minor, like a sore throat, a tooth issue, or even an ear infection. If it’s separate from the thyroid, I’m pretty convinced we aren't looking at a tumor here. But hey, you did the right thing by getting it checked out. The main thing is getting a clean report.
Feeling a little more relaxed now?

So basically, I went in thinking I had this massive double chin forming, but turns out I just put on a little weight and have this tiny little lump right under my jawline—my doctor told me it’s nothing, just a small node, totally fine. Honestly, I spent the whole time convinced I was gonna need some procedure to zap that spot under my chin, but yeah, turns out I was dead wrong about what was actually going on.

Then she finds this bigger one, maybe like an inch or so, sitting left of my Adam's apple and a bit deeper. I'm really hoping it's just a lymph node, especially since the biopsy sample ended up being mostly just pus. The crazy thing is, I didn't even feel it or know it was there until I went in to get that supposed "double chin" checked out.
I'm out on my Harley all the time, so I catch colds pretty frequently, and my throat doesn't usually act up, but now I can actually feel where she poked me, and it stings a bit when I swallow...

I'm hoping everything turns out alright, and yeah, obviously I'm staying calmer now. When she started mentioning shadows and nodes during the ultrasound, two other doctors crowded around me and I seriously thought my heart was gonna give out from the stress before any tumor could even touch me. But whatever, it is what it is.🙂

I noticed yesterday that things were starting to feel a bit tender right under my chin, and when I woke up this morning, there was a definite lump there that’s quite painful to touch. Up until now, though, it’s really just been the usual throat irritation and coughing—I’ve been dealing with a nasty cold, too. I actually went in to get blood work done, had swabs taken for my throat and nose, and even got some sinus imaging done. My blood counts came back perfectly normal, and the only real issue was some sinus inflammation. Even today, those sinuses are still acting up, and I can't seem to shake this constant congestion in my throat...