Looking for Advice or Suggestions on How to Help with Swollen Lymph Nodes

I've always been told that the job of lymph nodes is to fight infection and the swelling is a sign that they are doing just that--working! Sometimes, f they have been swollen frequently or for very long, they stay a little larger than they were to begin with. Sorry--no real ideas. Ice pack?

As long as a very serious medical condition or problem (i.e. cancer) has been ruled out, you may try finding a therapist. Often times your lymph can be helped to move along with gentle massage...

Do you have allergies? Mine get swollen when it's allergy season and pollen and mold have been especially high this year. Try taking 1000 mg of vitamin C a day to help your lymph nodes fight. I would also find a different doctor! If you're open to it, a homeopathic doctor may be able to better treat you with less drugs. Too many antibiotics are bad fir you.

What have they been testing you for? I don't want to sound alarmist but have they been looking at more serious issues beyond "some sort of infection"? After 2 months I would want to look for another doctor to put a fresh set of eyes on the situation. It could be nothing or it could be more but you need a definitive diagnosis after 2 months time.

My youngest just gave us a scare with swollen lymph node, it was scary looking. It came up over a nap period with no other symptoms except a fever. They could not find any infection, no strep, no tooth that was abscessed. They put him on 10 days on a high dose of Augmentin which rid us of the fever after 5 days, but didn't do anything to the lymph node. They finally had him go in and they did an ultra sound on the node to make sure the node was not abscessed and that came back ok too. They told me it could take Months for it to go back to its normal size. Depending on how large your lymph node is I would ask if they could ultra sound it and see if it was abscessed, the doctor explained that it basically seals the infection inside and no tests will show it, if it is they would have to lance it and drain it or surgically remove it. If you are not running a fever, and have no other symptoms I would say that only time will bring it down. So sorry.

Are your lymph nodes tender? If so, that's a good sign. If not, you really need to get back to your doctor and demand a biopsy. 95% of lymph node swellings are related to infections and are benign. You need to look for signs such as them being tender (good), soft (good), non-fixed (meaning it hasn't attached to other tissue (good).

I don't want to scare you, but it's not common for them to be swollen so long.

In June, 2008, 7 weeks after having my second child, I found a swollen lymph on my collarbone. My instincts took over, and 3.5 weeks later, I was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma (cancer).

Stay off the internet - it will only make things worse. Just ask the doctors for a full biopsy, not a fine needle biopsy which is often inconclusive. I have met many, many people since my Diagnosis who were in a similar situation to yours and were treated for infections. Thankfully, mine was in a suspicious place, but the first doctor I visited (my OB) was not concerned. I had to press, and despite working in the pharmaceutical industry and having access to several physicians, only a few thought it was possible cancer-related.

Please feel free to send me a private message if you'd like to know more as I've become an unfortunate expert on lymph nodes.

Good luck.

Im the exact same as you, ive had them since around easter. First i went on a lymph cleanse specific vitamin detox, and took iodine. The i drank shots of apple cider vinegar. Then i tried antibiotics and lots of vitamin c. Mine are on the collarbone, Im having an ultrasound on them soon.