how do u know if?

you have swollen lymphs? well i have a question about lymph nodes. i dont know if it is lymph nodes or not since i searched on the net it says many different things. under my armpit i began to get tiny bumps. but not all at once. one will apear and go away and another one will apear and go away. they are as wide as a pencil eraser at the most. the dont hurt but i do feel them and they are a pinkish color almost red, u can see em a little but they dont get swollen or come out the skin as much.they look kinda like an ingrown hair or clogged up pimple. my question is, how do swollen lymphs look like and are they visable, can u feel them? do they hurt?

[peekawho]

This has little to do with anything, but when my youngest son was 4, he raised his arm to show me what he called a "boo boo" under his arm.  I almost fainted when I saw it.  It was a lymph node as big as a GOLF BALL sticking out.

THAT was, no mistaking, a lymph node.  And it turned out to be nothing much.  

[Teak]

You don't. If you are concerned then you go to a doctor and the doctor will diagnose swollen lymph nodes or not. The more you rub, poke and probe you'll cause your lymph nodes to swell and hurt. Most people that think they have swollen lymph nodes don't.

[bluebell81]

I have medically proven swollen neck lymph nodes. I was diagnosed with Mono on Fridy (but for some reason I am convinced I am misdiagnosed and its actually ARS) and trust me, you will know when your lymph nodes are swollen.

My neck has increased its girth by about an inch on each side, I can barely turn my neck in either direction. Good thing I have long hair to hide it because it looks gross.

[J_V]

so then in other words... most ppl who do have swollen lymphs are large and very noticable... by what u ppl tell me... it clears things up a bit still no answer but thanx!!!

[OrionQuest]

My daughter caught a cold and now has lumps on the sides of her neck.  Trust me, you WILL know if your lymph nodes are swollen.  They're very feelable.

[Teak]

That is not always true. Most times, the lymph nodes have to be palpated to find out if they are swollen.

[OrionQuest]

Sorry, you're right, what I meant to say is that when you feel for them (deeply) you'll feel they're different.  You won't know they're swollen just by looking.