Lymph Node Characteristics

[DSH7]

I read the lymph node poll and have some additional questions about lymph node characteristics in CFS/ME sufferers. I'm wondering what the general characteristics of CFS swollen lymph nodes are. Do they come and go, or are they permanent? Moveable or immoveable? Rubbery or hard? Do any of you with CFS/ME experience the type of nodes that are more generally associated with lymphomas and malignancies? (hard, immovable, non-tender, permanent, etc.)

My mother has CFS and swollen lymph nodes are very common for her...however, they are tender, moveable, and they come and go. I have many of the most common CFS symptoms and am in the process of trying to diagnose my symptoms. I have swollen lymph nodes, but they are very different than my mothers. I have 5 swollen nodes down the left side of my neck and 1 down the right side...all of them are approximately 1cm in diameter. They have been permanent for over 2 years. 1 of them is moveable and rubbery, while the rest are hard and immovable. 2 of them seem to be matted, and all are non-tender and painless...with the exception of an occasional dull ache.

My PCP referred me to an Oncologist to have them checked out. He went over my blood work and examined them and basically said he wasn't too worried about them, come back if there is any changes....

 

[Sherlock]

I have 5 swollen nodes down the left side of my neck

Did you start with anything on that side, like a jaw or ear ache?

approximately 1cm in diameter

That's not so large, so it could still be reactive.

They have been permanent for over 2 years.

hard and immovable.

Probably internal fibrosis/scarring, or maybe something granulomatous.

He went over my blood work and examined them and basically said he wasn't too worried about them, come back if there is any changes....

That seems entirely reasonable, especially considering that you might have an overly reactive immune system.They probably also have a benign shape, i.e. bean shaped and not long and thin, not lobed, etc

Even so, lymphoma is not likely to show up in a CBC, unless the person already is far enough along to be experiencing marrow suppression with one or more cytopenias.

I wouldn't worry. Btw, I've had enlarged submandibulars for 6 years that have never been tender. They started to go down slowly at year 4.

 

[minimus]

Do you have reflux or GERD? One under-reported symptom of the type of chronic reflux that reaches the larynx and throat (referred to as LPR - or "laryngeal pharyngeal reflux") is chronic painless swelling of lymph nodes in the neck, especially if the reflux has been chronic and untreated. Moreover, this type of reflux is almost completely "silent", in the sense that its symptoms do not include the traditional ones of heartburn, chest pain, and/or referred pain to the arms or back. (It can involve referred pain to the neck and shoulders, as well as intermittent hoarseness.) It is fairly common, but underdiagnosed.

If that is your issue, you should be taking steps to treat it. Unfortunately, the treatment centers on lifestyle changes, rather than a "magic bullet" medication. The two doctors who have written the most about this type of reflux are Jonathan Aviv and Jamie Kaufman.

In any case, even if you don't have reflux, a good ENT (even if he/she is not that familiar with LPR) will examine your enlarged lymph nodes. My ENT (Jonathan Aviv) told me my neck lymph nodes were not worrying to him -- based on their size and texture -- but he still sent me for an MRI of the neck with contrast so that a radiologist could evaluate whether they needed to be biopsied. Fortunately, I didn't need a biopsy. And my lymph nodes have shrunk as I follow the recommended lifestyle changes for LPR -- namely, no eating within 4 hours of lying down and no foods that are highly acidic or very high in fat.

Of course, the fact that you have already been to an oncologist should be very reassuring. Oncologists have expertise in cancer diagnosis -- so their intuition is better than an ordinary internist's -- so you should be in the clear. Still, I would definitely make an appointment with a good ENT, as you might get some treatment options. Swollen lymph nodes are a sign of chronic inflammation or infection, so obviously could signal a heightened risk of malignancy if left untreated.

 

[DSH7]

Thanks for the responses. I've never considered reflux...I'll look into it.

Did you start with anything on that side, like a jaw or ear ache?

I can't remember anything specific to my left side. My swollen lymph nodes began showing up gradually in 2012, along with fatigue, neck/shoulder stiffness, mild headaches that were different from my usual headaches, random joint and muscle pain without swelling, and a chronic slightly low WBC count (tested 6 times since mid 2012). Since then the lymph nodes have stayed exactly the same as described in my original post....the neck stiffness and pain is still around but seems to be more mild, the headaches still happen, but are more rare nowadays, the random joint pain continues...fingers, wrist, shoulders, hips, groin area...it comes and goes and varies greatly in location and severity. I've also added nerve pain to the mix now....mostly in both shoulders and arms and my ankles and feet...usually mild and it comes and goes. Occasional face pain/tightness that extends from both cheekbones down toward my mouth, as well as occasional jaw fatigue. All over muscle fasciculations as well....

Anyone else care to share the specific characteristics of their swollen lymph nodes?

 

[August59]

See an ENT. I wasn't even aware of a 3cm lymph node behind my right jawbone. I had a thick beard at the time

It turned out to be squamous cell carcinoma which is usually unilateral, and even more so if it is related to HPV.

 

[h111]

A swollen lymph node may be a sign of something serious, but is more likely a sign that it is functioning healthily and is dealing with a virus or bacterium, and should be allowed to get on with this natural process. Lymph nodes vary in characteristics throughout the body, therefore comparing one person's swollen lymph node to another's may reveal nothing, if it were that easy to identify serious problems specialists familiar with them would not have to organise biopsies. Attempts to self diagnose whilst understandable can create a lot of unnecessary anxiety which cannot be good for overall health.

August 59 was right.

 

[snowathlete]

Interesting thread. I have recently got a rock hard immovable lymph node on my Left sternoclavicular joint. It's growing gradually over the last month and is now bigger than 2cm or 3cm, irregular and spreading, painless.
The last week I now have one growing on the right joint too and have a bunch of other new symptoms.

All very different to other times I've had swollen lymph nodes, where they were rubbery or firm but not like rock, and quite normal shaped.

I had an X-ray last week and see my GP tomorrow. I anticipate seeing an ENT about it.

 

[GONZ0hunter]

I was just diagnosed with a nodule, it was on the back side of my thyroid so no fine needle aspiration. Dr said its nothing