This lump in my neck (lymph node) is getting worse after I smoke

I think you're overthinking it. A lot. Don't psyche yourself out unless the doctor gives you a reason to. Actually, don't do it at all.

I had mono two years ago and now I have two nodes that are permanently swollen. This can happen with other things too and it's totally benign. It's only cause for concern if you're having trouble breathing (aside from a panic attack from all of the stress you're causing yourself), it becomes hard as a rock and you can't move it, or if it keeps growing. Anyway, your nodes can swell if there is any foreign body, or irritation present- I've had swollen nodes from a simple allergy induced sneeze fest.

 

An untreated salivary gland stone could rapidly cause a full fledged lymph node involvement. Also, many conditions which have salivary gland stones as a symptom (like Sjogren's Syndrome) also cause swollen lymph nodes.
I hope you get a correct dx soon. Is the chart any help-here is one of the lymph nodes in the neck and head

 

I haven't really investigated actually haha. I do know that cigarettes will do it for me, so it's safe to say that since when you're inhaling pot smoke it also irritated the lining of your throat it can also cause temporary inflammation. Any kind of irritation could do it. As long as it's temporary I wouldn't worry too much about it. You can try taking an anti-inflammatory before bed, or maybe drinking some ginger tea/chewing ginger root to help. Just keep talking with your doctor and make sure that you tell them everything you're worried about.

 

Oh and you mentioned tingly sensations on the back of your head? Those can come from anxiety. I had a panic disorder for a reallllly long time and got those kinds of sensations all the time. Some of the strange feelings you're having could easily be a product of your imagination after psyching yourself out over your swollen nodes/possible salivary stone. Even if it's not a panic attack you can still have some of the symptoms. Just something to keep in mind.

 

If you don't mind my asking what antibiotic do these clowns (I mean your doctors) have you on?

If the swelling and pain are getting worse despite antibiotic usage, you may wish to consider seeking emergency medical attention. Or, at the very least, contact your primary care physician first thing Monday to let him or her know that you are not seeing improvement.

 

This x1000.

 

Don't stress out over it- I often feel my glands and nodes getting bigger when I smoke. I actually feel uncomfortable sometimes if I smoke too much, including tobacco. Stop smoking for a couple days and then start smoking again and see what happens.

 

Actually, that can happen. I'm pretty sure antibiotics can cause candidiasis (yeast infection) in the gut or mouth because they kill off all of the bacteria as opposed to just the bad bacteria. Maybe this is why your nodes are still swollen? Typically if the node is swollen for a reason, it's because you're immune system is fighting off something.

 

Zithromax That's a good first line choice, actually. Still you really need to call him/her Monday if you are not seeing substantive improvement.

Azithromycin - PubMed Health

Azithromycin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

okay i have had swollen lymph nodes around my neck and groin areas, which can be more common than I thought. I went to doctors for 6 months and no one would really do much and antibiotics did not work, ruling out an infection. They stated that a number of things could cause this, the worst obviously being something related to cancer. Raw Organic apple cider vinegar (2 tablespoons before your 3 meals) is known to be a cure for this issue (as well as others). Bragg makes some of the best and most accessible...visible in Whole Foods for a few bucks. It definitely helped my neck swelling (which was all very small, but noticeable when feeling).

But considering the antibiotics are helping you, you should be better to just stop smoking until it leaves completely (it can't take THAT long). A few nights without bud is worth your health. Especially considering, no kind of smoking is really good for you so you're probably hurting the lump even more.

 

By the way, zithromax (z-pack) is a powerful ass antibiotic that knocks out most bacterial infections that causes severe colds. It also continues working 5 days after you finish it up. If you just let it kill off the swollen node you should be fine.

 

Yeah man, unless you can use a vape or make edibles (something easy like firecrackers), I'd just stop for like 4-5 days just so you don't fuck up the antibiotics with all the free radicals and shit (I'm no doctor, just my hypothesis really).

 

and also, i didn't get any weird tingling or anything like that. but then again, mine aren't because of an infection, like yours seem to be (hence the antibiotics).

 

I can't really be of much help as I'm no doctor.

I'm going through something similar, however my lymph node is not painful.

Unfortunately, both my Grandmother and her Father had Lymphoma.

I have had a swollen lymph node (not huge, but abnormal in size) for a month and a half now and I'll be going in for a biopsy sometime soon. A biopsy is more urgent for myself due to my family medical history. It probably isn't lymphoma, but you never know. I've definitely stressed about it, so I understand a bit of what you're going through.

There are people who actually give lymph node massages. I'll be getting one just to see if that does anything before I get a biopsy.

Best of luck!
My swollen lymph node is on my neck rather than my neck. Getting this massage will be interesting. Contemplated some weird hairstyle.