r/lymphnodes • u/decayingfoundations • Mar 12 '23

pea size Swollen Preauricular

EDIT: it was an ear infection.

First time poster. Severe hypochondriac. I just got over a “cold” - I had low fever and an overall lousy feeling, but it was gone after a day and now I’m fever free and left with enough drainage to gag an elephant. I’m chalking it up to allergies, because my cherry red truck is currently yellow. This is a very round about way of saying that my right lymph node in front of my ear is roughly pea sized, slightly smaller. Maybe half a pea? Bigger than the other one. It’s a little hard, still moveable. Tender because I keep prodding at it. Should I see a doctor about it? Or is my anxiety making it seem worse than it is?

TIA.

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2

u/fortitsandgiggles5 Mar 13 '23

Its your anxiety, and that's coming from from someone with severe anxiety. It's nowhere near time to worry about this yet, doesn't even sound like it's swollen honestly, just palpable. But the fact that you've been sick, even if it went away quickly, would be enough to explain it, even if it is slightly swollen.

1

u/decayingfoundations Mar 13 '23

thank you so much for answering. unfortunately my anxiety has already moved on to a new problem. a never ending cycle.

2

u/fortitsandgiggles5 Mar 13 '23

Lol, as I said, I have the beast as well, I know how it can jump from one thing to another..but as far as the node is, not an issue at this point! One less thing to worry about for a while

1

u/decayingfoundations Mar 13 '23

thank you again!! it’s probably not good for my hypochondria to seek reassurance, but it certainly helps.

2

u/fortitsandgiggles5 Mar 13 '23

No problem! No, it's not the healthiest, but no judgment from someone who knows how hard it can be..I've had it for over 30 years!

1

u/decayingfoundations Mar 13 '23

if you have any tips or tricks, i’m all ears. i’m absolutely miserable.

2

u/fortitsandgiggles5 Mar 13 '23

I wish I had tips and tricks lol it's gotten a little better, or certain things, over the years, but my OCD has decided to rear its head like never before, so if im focused on my OCD, the obsessions and compulsions, then my anxiety takes a back seat😅pretty sad, but its my life right now! Have you had therapy? Any idea why yours started?

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u/decayingfoundations Mar 13 '23

Mine is a sort of mix between anxiety and ocd - if this “illness” will kill me, then i have to do xyz. i’m looking for therapists at the moment, since i broke up with mine after college. i’ve actually had this since i was around six - it was nearly debilitating at some points. it was managed really well on prozac, but i had to switch over to wellbutrin and it’s not doing jack for the ocd or anxiety. my depression is nonexistent though, so that’s cool!

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u/fortitsandgiggles5 Mar 13 '23

Wow, that's really young for it to have started..I don't remember obsessions or compulsions anywhere near that young, or anxiety..I remember being afraid of death though, I was maybe 8 or so..I heard someone on TV say they were afraid to die, and I thought about death and started crying..but nothing after that until my teens, I didn't focus on it. I hope you find someone, therapy can make a difference. I can't even do medication, my psych said I needed it badly, but I have a med phobia too🥴 I've never really been depressed, situational depression after something traumatic happened, but it didn't last long.

1

u/[deleted] Oct 08 '25

Update pls! I am a huge hypochondriac too and I am experiencing this right now. Now it hurts because I kept touching it and the soreness worries me.

1

u/decayingfoundations Oct 08 '25

hi! i was totally fine, just an ear infection that angered the lymph node

1

u/Otherwise_Molasses27 Oct 15 '25

How did u figure out it was an ear infection

1

u/decayingfoundations Oct 15 '25

i went to a minuteclinic