A Second Opinion

At the bottom of her skull? My daughter has a knot behind her ear and it's abut the size of an almond. she's had it for quite some time and it seems that it grows as she grows. I haven't taken her to the doctor because it doesn't bother her, but I think I'm going to because it's too large in my opinion. I noticed one in her neck a few weeks ago but it's not as noticeable now. Does this sound the same as what you are experiencing???

My two year old boy has the same thing, but it is on his neck close to his shoulder. I asked the Pedi about it and he said the same thing, swollen lymph node, and that it will go away eventually, but may take two years or more to fully disappear. He says as long as its not causing any pain and moves easily when you touch it, then there is nothing to worry about. But if it gets hard and painful and gets red in that area, then to bring him in. So far he has had it for 5 months now and it has caused no problems and he doesn't even seem to know it is there, so I'm just going to take the doctors word for it, there is so much to worry about in the world, I don't need to stress myself out over something that I shouldn't.

Oh, and my son's showed up right around the time he got an ear infection, the Pedi said thats what caused it to swell in the first place.

This is your precious baby here, if it were me, I would most definitely get a second opinion. It is ALWAYS better to be safe, than sorry. I always second guess myself too, but its your first instinct that you should most of the time listen to, or should I say.. Mother's instinct. Good luck with everything and take care of that baby. :)

Hi,
I have delt with my kids having swolen lymph nodes and I definately would get a second opinion. The reason I say that is he shouldnt just look at it and tell you what it is but he should find out why its there. something is causing it to get big and stay that way. Ask if he would test he further or go see another doc in my opinion because we found out why my kids had them, so can you. Go to this website and you make a decision www.diagnose-me.com/C110125.html
D. wardell

Hi R.. I noticed a knot on the left side of my son's neck when he was about 2 years old. Our doctor said it was a swollen lymp node and as long as it moved around and was not painful he believed it would go away. The only time it would change in size is when he would be sick, then it would get bigger. He is 6 years old now and I have not seen it in quite some time. But I would say if it is bothering you then you should get a second opinion just for your peace of mind.

Parents ALWAYS should trust their instincts. I had a very highly reputable urologist tell me that my son needed to have a hole opened in his stomach to urinate and he'd have to wear diapers for the rest of his life. I got a second opinion and found out there was NOTHING wrong with my son. This surgery would have mutilated him for life.

ALWAYS ALWAYS seek a second opinion if your gut tells you to. And any doctor that's offended if you get a second opinion is no doctor you want.

Go with your instinct. You and your husband are the only advict for your child.

When my daughter was 6 months old we noticed her left eye was not keeping track with her right eye, she was crawling in to objects and screamed whenever we covered up her other eye. When we took her in for her 6 months shots we were told that nothing was wrong the doctor would check her again and the next visit.

We were concerned so we called the eye doctor who fit us in immediately and sent us to a specialist the very next day. Turns out our little girl had a rare form of cancer, retinoblastoma, had we waited it would have traveled directly to her brain. A week laster the tumor and the eye were removed.

In our visits to St. Jude Children's Hospital I have met a number of parents who's stories are similar. The doctor missed the diagnoses and had they not received second opinions or been persistent the children would not have survived.

I am not writing this to frighten you. I am only saying always follow your gut when it comes to your child. Doctors see hundreds of children, are not familiar with every disease out there, and are not with your child every day.

Get a second opinion. This sounds like something needs more attention than your present doctor wants to give.

I am an RN and a director of nursing at a local nursing home. I have 2 boys myself who are 2 and 11 months. If I were you I would get a second opinion. It is possible that it is just a swollen lymph node, however for it to be there for over 6 months with no improvement would concern me as well. I'd go ahead and get a second opinion. The worse case scenerio, they tell you the same things, it's a swollen lymph node. But, at least you'll go to sleep a night knowing that is what it is and not wondering if you should do more.

Hi!

I would not bother going to another doctor, unless you're just going to drive yourself crazy worrying. Of course, it's always best to get things checked out, but you already have. My daughter has had a lump behind her ear for about 5 years (she is 8) and it is indeed a swollen lymph node. It has never caused any discomfort (except for me - haha)and I worried about it for about 2 years and now I just accept that it might be there a while longer. There are a lot of lymph nodes in the neck area, and the doctor (actually she's been to 3 peds over the years) says sometimes they just do that.

Good luck,
~K.

It could be a swollen lymph node, but it could also be a muscle spasm. Does it hurt when you press on it?

I seem many children in my office. Often times, a child can have a slight misalignment in the spine, which can cause the small muscles at the base of the skull to spasm. Only a chiropractor can tell if the spinal bones are in proper alignment, and many use very gentle, painless proceedures to help with the problem.

You can find a chiropractor who treats children at the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association's website: www.icpa4kids.org.

Hope it helps.
T. Theriot, D.C.
New Iberia, LA

My daughter got her "knot" when she was about two. She didn't have much hair, and the swollen spot was behind one ear. I, like you, freaked out and worried, and I checked daily for signs that the swelling was going down. Eventually, she grew hair that covered the spot well enough to hide it. One day, I checked and it was gone. I know exactly how you feel, but my experience would indicate that there's nothing to worry about (even though you'll worry anyway 'cause you're a mom). My daughter is now a healthy teenager.

best advice I can give is try childrens hospital explain your concerns remind them this is been there a long time could a specialist look at it

S.

R.,
My son is also 4 and has had the same "swollen lymph node" from about the age 2. Just like the other mom said... it is very common. My son is also very thin. They are just more noticeable. If there are other symptoms... I would get a second opinion. If it's just the lymph node bothering you and nothing else, I would relax and listen to the doctor. Best of Luck.

I don't know where exactly the lump is located, but when I was a kid, I think about 6 or 7 I got a lump behind my ear that turned out to be a hemangioma. It had to be removed. I don't know too much about lymph nodes, but I don't think they should stay swollen that long. I would say go ahead and get a second opinion.
M.

Hi R.

My son had a swollen lymph nod in the same area but his was caused by an infection of ring worm in his hair, once he started antibotics and the ring worm was dried up the swollen lymph nod went away and it has been over 6 months and it hasnt came back.

But it wont go away if there is an infection causing it to swell so if it is still there and the dr still doesnt do anything I would get a second opinion.

My son had a swollen lymph node that became "scarred" and has stayed there since he was two. I was also very concerned and began noticing other little ones on his neck. I took him back to his ped. several times and she assured me that we all have lymph nodes, they are just more pominant in kids, especially skinny ones. If you are still concerned and feel that your ped. isn't addressing your concerns you could take him for a second opinion, although it is very unlikely to be something bad without any other symptoms. If it is leukemia you are worried about (b/c I think all moms are at one point or another), you could request a simple in office Complete Blood Count to rule that out! Try not to worry, but follow up if you can't get it out of your head. There is no need to torture yourself.

My daughter had one on her head since birth and like you i just hadn't heard of it i was told it was a swollen lymph noid full of just like fat tissue. Like you i was worried and i had the cat scan and an mri and thats extacly what it showed nothing but fat tissue. The problem that we had and were told to watch out for was if she fell on it which she did and it ruputered she had to be on meds for infections. so thats the advice that i can give its right to be concerned and keep a close watch on it. It may be just like what my daughter had cause it has gone away alittle but never completely and shes 2 and half. Good luck i'm sure you have a wonderful little girl!