Left calf swells and it isn't DVT. Doctor doesn't seem concerned

Question

I am a 28 year old female with a healthy bmi. My left calf swelled up unexpectedly 2 days ago (Tuesday). There are not any marks or rashes on it. It was quite large and easy to see the difference just by looking at my legs. This was noticed about 3:00 (when I got up from my office desk and noticed how tight the skin felt and looked down). When I got to thinking about it, it maybe have been slightly swollen on the Saturday before because I remember noting that my knee-high boots were strangely tight on just my left leg when I put them on Saturday. The swelling did not really go down that Tuesday night despite ice and elevation. By the Wednesday it was smaller than the day before, and today (Thursday) it is still just a little bigger than normal (maybe 2 cms or so). This swelling in one calf has happened 2 times previously at work, but it has gone down completely over the course of the day and I didn't think much of it because it quickly resolved. These 2 instances of previous swelling were spread out and possibly as much as a year ago. Anyway, when the swelling was not gone Wednesday I went to the doctor. He scheduled a Ultrasound, and the results were negative for a blood clot. My question is then since this has happened 3 times in one leg only and it is not a blood clot, should I be worried? My doctor doesn't appear to be and did not ask for me to come back after the negative Ultrasound. However, my dad died of Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, and I am worried by what I read online. It may not be worth noting, but I have palpable lymph nodes in my neck and groin, but I do not think they are swollen-- just able to be felt. The neck ones were checked out a couple of years ago and haven't changed in size since that I can tell. I just started being able to feel the groin ones a few months ago, but they do not seem to have changed and are bot large. Also, I have spider veins on the back of legs (at the bend) that I have had since high school. I have been having some bleeding/cramping between periods pretty consistently that last few months (not heavy) and I have mostly attributed it to stress. I am on xulane birth control, but that is my only medication. Is it really a possiblity that this is all benign?

Wk221 · Answer

Thank you. I will definitely update when I find out something. Everything I read just talks about how fluid build up in one leg, when not a blood clot, is usually a blockage of or problem with the lymph system. I wish I would find some reassuring option! And nope I'm not in any pain aside from a tightness when my leg was really swollen

specialmom · Answer

Argh, I can tell you are anxious and I think this would make me nervous as well.  Doctors drive me crazy when they don't follow up or seem like they don't take our concerns to heart!  Honestly, I think I'd be a big old pain in the butt and if it swells up even one more time like that . . .  I'd go back and say WHAAAATTTT is going on?  And have him start working on why and give you some sort of reasonable explanation.  Come back and tell us what happens, okay!