permanently swollen gland

[Penny]

my left gland in my neck/throat is swollen, but it has been for years now. I'm not sure how long, but definitely over a year.
you can't see that it's swollen, but when you run your fingers down my neck (the usual gland check when you have a cold) you can feel that it's swollen.
i will probably go to the doctor's soon to see what it is or why it's like that, but i was just wondering if anyone has any idea what it may be or why i have it?
i don't have any other symptoms of anything, so theres no obvious answer or like infection or anything.

i appreciate any answers =)

thanks

[dot.hawkes]

http://www.mothernature.com/Library/Bookshelf/ Books/16/95.cfm
have a read and see if u think this is any help.

[violetblue]

Hi Penny,
We could be a double act - I have exactly the same but on the right hand side! Tonsil also permanently swollen.

[RATTER15]

I had same problem, I went to the DR and he sent me to the hospital, I had a swollen lymph node removed and home again the same day and back to work 3 days later, maybe the same thing maybe different.

[Penny]

hi.
thanks for your answers =)

violetblue - you're the only person i've heard of having it! [other than me of course] have you ever got it checked out, or are you not really bothered?

ratter15 - was there any problem with it? like was it causing anything, or could it? or is it just perfectly fine and nothing to worry about?

[rugeleyboy]

can i join??

i have had a swollen gland for a couple of years?

[Belle Fast]

A lymph gland can stay enlarged after a throat infection or spot on your skin years before and this is harmless. Best to let the doc see it tho'.

[RATTER15]

I had mine removed, because it was starting to annoy me and people kept asking me what was wrong, they sent it away for tests and all came back fine. The Doctor till tell me it would have been OK to leave it there, it was not painful just annoying.

[violetblue]

I've not had the gland checked as in a biopsy, penny, but I asked the doctor years ago (1980s) and he said it was quite normal. I've had my thyroid checked and that's normal too. I recently had a bout of severe laryngitis and had a biopsy of the tonsil, and whilst I don't remember even asking for the results, I'm sure that if it had been anything serious the doctor would have told me, as I have been back for other things. Did you have a lot of tonsillitis as a child? Is the gland hard, like a pea, or just more like a generalised swelling (like mine)? I'd get it checked if you need peace of mind, but I wouldn't worry too much.

[Penny]

I have had tonsilitus a few times, but no more than average i would say

it is quite hard i suppose, but it's just like swelling really - the line of the gland down your neck - where you run your fingers down a few inches to check - is swollen from the top to the bottom, but more at the bottom

I'm not really worried about it or anything as it's been like it for a while and I haven't had any problems because of it, I just thought I'd ask to see if I should be worried or if anyone else has the same thing (and whether it's caused problems or not) as no one I know has it.

Glad to know that it's not just me though!