Swollen lymph node

I’m dealing with this swollen lymph node in my neck, and honestly, it’s brutal—I can barely even turn my head without intense pain. I went to see my doctor, and they put me on antibiotics. I've been taking the highest dose possible, 1000mg every eight hours, for four days now, and I even had a fever, but I’m seeing absolutely no improvement whatsoever. Has anyone else here dealt with issues involving a swollen lymph node in the neck?

I recall a similar experience where I felt quite unwell once; I had some mild discomfort and a slight fever, though I opted not to see a physician at the time. About seven days after the initial aches set in, it developed into a severe case of strep throat. I was prescribed a course of antibiotics, and thankfully, everything cleared up within two weeks.

I actually dealt with a swollen lymph node in my neck myself... and I've been living with Hodgkin's lymphoma for about four years now.

If I can offer some advice: just go see a doctor and ask them to biopsy that node. That way, you'll know for sure if it’s just something that clears up with antibiotics or if it's something more serious.

Jose Diaz5 said:I've got this swollen lymph node in my neck and man, I can barely even turn my head—it hurts so bad. I went to see my doctor and he put me on antibiotics, but I've been taking them for four days now and honestly, nothing is happening. I'm on the highest dose they gave me, 1000mg every 8 hours, and I was running a fever too... has anyone else dealt with lymph node issues in their neck before?

Maybe try some lymphatic drainage massage!

darkviper7 said:maybe give lymphatic drainage a shot!

Actually, lymphatic drainage is completely contraindicated for something like this...

When your lymph nodes start swelling, it usually means you're dealing with a virus... antibiotics are really meant for bacteria. But here’s the thing—those viral attacks can totally wear down your immune system, which basically opens the door for all sorts of bacteria to move in and take advantage. So... taking those antibiotics isn't going to do much to clear out what's happening right now.

brightdriver8 said:I had some issues with a lymph node in my neck... and now I've been dealing with Hodgkin's lymphoma for 4 years.

😱 Yikes.
I've had swollen lymph nodes in my neck for years; one bigger one and two tiny ones. About 5 or 6 years ago, I went in to get them biopsied and, if I remember right, the report mentioned something about transformed cells... follow up in a year.
I never actually went back since I don't really feel any symptoms, other than the nodes just being there. Weirdly enough, they cleared up while I was pregnant and then popped right back up again.
How did you catch yours... Hodgkin's?

brightdriver8 said:I had some issues with a lymph node in my neck... and it turns out I've been dealing with Hodgkin's lymphoma for four years now.

If you want my two cents: go see a doctor and ask them to perform a biopsy on that node. That way, you'll know for sure whether it's just an infection that will clear up with antibiotics or if it's something much more serious.

Could you explain what you mean by biopsying a node?
And also, what exactly is Hodgkin's lymphoma?

A biopsy gives you a clear look at what kind of cells we're actually dealing with—whether they're benign or malignant. In the case of Hodgkin's lymphoma, you're looking at a cancer of the lymph nodes that typically hits younger people. In one instance I saw, only about 1% of the cells pulled during the puncture were actually malignant. Luckily, thanks to modern medicine, this is now considered a highly treatable disease.

Sophia Williams10 said:How did you figure out it was Hodgkin's?

I’d been "carrying" those lumps around my neck for about seven months, and they were actually visible to the naked eye... then, roughly seven months after I first noticed them, I came down with a nasty cold. I went in for a chest X-ray, and they found a 10cm node in my chest. Talk about a jinx.

Finally, after digging through way too many threads, I found what I need🙏 😁 Anyway, I’m looking for advice, suggestions, or even just some layperson's "diagnoses." So, I went to the ENT yesterday because for about nine months now, I’ve had this nagging sensation—like something is stuck somewhere between my ear and my upper chest on the right side. (I actually saw a physical therapist and did some massage work—which helped for a bit, honestly). Long story short: he basically said everything looks fine, but when I mentioned the lumps on the right side of my neck, his tone shifted. He mentioned something about my lymph nodes being reactive or dermatological—don't quote me on the medical jargon, I'm not exactly a doctor—but he wants me to get a neck ultrasound and a biopsy on the mass he detected.
The thing is, these lumps have been swollen for three months now and I’m starting to freak out. (Mind you, I was spiraling recently with intense anxiety and depression due to a massive, irrational fear of cancer, triggered by losing a family member who didn't pass away from cancer, but 🤣... I've been doing pretty well lately and feel like I'm finally back to my old self). Still, I'm worried. What can cause lymph nodes to swell like this? Could it just be a reaction to the constant pain, strain, or stiffness in that area? How much should I actually be sweating this?

Just got back from my ultrasound, and honestly, it was exactly what I suspected—nothing to worry about. My salivary glands are just a bit swollen, and there are a few small cysts there. They don't even require medical intervention; I can just massage them myself to help them drain. The swelling is minor, but totally within the normal range. So, I'm healthy and feeling good. Sending good vibes to everyone—hopefully, your results turn out to be this uneventful too.😉