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Dermatology (Expert Forum)
Lymph node
Answered by
Alan Rockoff, MD - dermatology, Child Skin Problems
The Rockoff Dermatology Center
Brookline - MA
Welcome to the DERMATOLOGY FORUM! Questions in this forum are answered by Dermatologists from St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital, under the direction of Andrew Alexis, M.D., M.P.H.
Lymph node
by Zelenog, May 02, 2003 12:00AM
Hello Dr.My name is Emil I am 20 year old.I would like a detailed
advise from u Dr.,so I will be as accurate and descriptive as possible. If I am reffering to a wrong physician, plz refer me to the one who deals with this problem.Anyway, it all goes back to when I was about 4 years old.Despite me being a healthy kid, I had a problem with the constant severe middle ear infections from ages 4-7.I went through therapies that helped me eventually.
At the age of 7 I first noticed an enlarged lymph node beside my right ear. It was a size of a 10 cents coin.It didn't bring any discomfort so I ignored it.It started bothering me when I turned 12. I started having headaches and sometimes blackouts. Not sure whether it was related, but this lymph node started to bring discomfort and certain pain. It felt like a ticking bomb inside of me and I am sure it was enlarging.That's when I first time showed it to my mother. She just raised her eyebrows and said it was unusual, but didn't bring me to a doctor despite me complaining about it giving me discomfort. Finally at 15 I became desperate. I discovered that the lymph node was the size of a 5 cent coin! It was certainly not normal. Then, I did very stupid and dengerous thing- I removed it myself... I stiched it and it healed well. Headaches have gone and so have discomfort. But 3 moths later I noticed an enlarged area even below where the node was. It remains at constant size, sometimes enlarging and reducing a bit. From the research i did i am almost positive that it is a lymph VESSEL. It brings discomfort again.I may need to do a biapsy or somth like that. Plz tell me Am I in danger? Can there be complications for me in the future? How dangerous is removing lymph nodes? Plz tell me is there anything that can stop discomfort and reduce lymph vessel to a normal size? I still need to visit a physician to check it and perhaps do an X-ray, but who deals with lymphatic system? Thank u very much for your patience and advise!
advise from u Dr.,so I will be as accurate and descriptive as possible. If I am reffering to a wrong physician, plz refer me to the one who deals with this problem.Anyway, it all goes back to when I was about 4 years old.Despite me being a healthy kid, I had a problem with the constant severe middle ear infections from ages 4-7.I went through therapies that helped me eventually.
At the age of 7 I first noticed an enlarged lymph node beside my right ear. It was a size of a 10 cents coin.It didn't bring any discomfort so I ignored it.It started bothering me when I turned 12. I started having headaches and sometimes blackouts. Not sure whether it was related, but this lymph node started to bring discomfort and certain pain. It felt like a ticking bomb inside of me and I am sure it was enlarging.That's when I first time showed it to my mother. She just raised her eyebrows and said it was unusual, but didn't bring me to a doctor despite me complaining about it giving me discomfort. Finally at 15 I became desperate. I discovered that the lymph node was the size of a 5 cent coin! It was certainly not normal. Then, I did very stupid and dengerous thing- I removed it myself... I stiched it and it healed well. Headaches have gone and so have discomfort. But 3 moths later I noticed an enlarged area even below where the node was. It remains at constant size, sometimes enlarging and reducing a bit. From the research i did i am almost positive that it is a lymph VESSEL. It brings discomfort again.I may need to do a biapsy or somth like that. Plz tell me Am I in danger? Can there be complications for me in the future? How dangerous is removing lymph nodes? Plz tell me is there anything that can stop discomfort and reduce lymph vessel to a normal size? I still need to visit a physician to check it and perhaps do an X-ray, but who deals with lymphatic system? Thank u very much for your patience and advise!
Doctor's Answer
by Alan Rockoff, MD, May 04, 2003 12:00AM
, May 04, 2003 12:00AM
Yours is a very strange story indeed. I cann't imagine how you removed the growth yourself, whatever it was. I strongly urge you not to try it again!
Please see a doctor--a general doctor or a skin doctor. If they think a biopsy or x-ray is needed, they can order one.
I can't think of any connection between the growth, your removing it, the new change and the blackouts, headaches and other symptoms you describe.
Please don't try to figure out or operate on this yourself--see a doctor.
Best.
Dr. Rockoff
Please see a doctor--a general doctor or a skin doctor. If they think a biopsy or x-ray is needed, they can order one.
I can't think of any connection between the growth, your removing it, the new change and the blackouts, headaches and other symptoms you describe.
Please don't try to figure out or operate on this yourself--see a doctor.
Best.
Dr. Rockoff
