I'm a 26year old female. Since the age of 21, I have had a swollen lymph node, on my inner right thigh, that started out at about the size of a penny(diameter). It is now the size of a 50 cent coin. I first discovered this lump/lymph node/cyst at the age of 21, during my first pregnancy. My Ob/Gyn told me that it was more than likely just a cyst, and would go away after the birth of my baby. Its over 4years later now, and it's still there, and hasn't gone away. One other thing, i find to be somewhat odd and curious, is that since i've had this swollen lymph node, or whatever it is ... I have been losing weight. I'm 5'10 and I was 221lbs upon getting pregnant. 4 years and another child later I now am 151lbs, and i honestly haven't dieted or exercised. I always feel tired, stomach is upset and am always getting headaches and feeling lightheaded. I want to talk to my GP about it, but I'm a little scared, and very embarassed, cosmetically it is gruesome to me, and I don't even want to wear shorts or a bathing suit anymore. I would really appreciate some feedback, as to what in the world this might be. thank you for your time.
1st off, you'd need to determine if a lymph node usually exists at that spot. If not, then it can't be a node. But if it just an ordinary looking bump, that sounds as if it might be a superficial subinguinal node. Try here for locations:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superficial_inguinal_lymph_nodes
If yours coincides with the location of any of those, then think the following: a node can swell because it's fighting infection. Or because the node itself becomes infected. Or less likely in this case because of some autoimmune action.
Usually it would go down afterwards, but might not if the infection is active - or if it has become filled with scar tissue or necrotic tissue. It might also become calcified.
If you don't mind, let me know how it turns out. You'll probably be happy that it's just something ordinary and can be ended.