Sudden marble sized lump in my armpit..? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Stompy · 12-15-2005, 03:21 PM

Anyone ever have this before?

Re: "Go see a doctor" - yes yes, I have an appt for tomorrow AM.

I read up a ton earlier at work and it said that it could be something simple as as a swollen hair follicle, clogged sweat pore, or something as advanced as swollen lymph nodes, which in itself could either be a simple infection or a bad as cancer.

Odd thing is, it wasn't there yesterday or the day before (I'm sure I would've noticed). Today my armpit was sore when I put on my deoderant.. thought that was kinda strange but didn't notice the lump till later on.

Only thing that's really changed lately aside from a badly sprained ankle about a month ago: I've been doin cardio everyday (30 mins) for about a week. So I'm guessin it's follicle/pore related.. no clue.

Anyway, haha I'm kinda freakin out. Wonder if anyone's had this or how common it is.. etc.

Willravel · 12-15-2005, 03:51 PM

It's happened to my dog a few times, but I'm sure yours is different. His usually went away. Let us know after your doctors appointment, though! Best of luck.

barenakedladies · 12-15-2005, 04:03 PM

i get thsoe from time to time.... my doctor tells me its because of stress. they usually go away in 2-3 days.

its a lymph node under there that swells.

j8ear · 12-15-2005, 04:18 PM

If it's a lymph node you will definitely feel a general but persistent only slightly painful gnawing of the node. Kind of like when your balls get played with just a little over the top. Think of lymph nodes as tiny little balls all over your body. In that they are similarly sensitive to manipulation...and the irritation I feel is very similar. They are smaller then a small marble even when swollen. If you find and manipulate the lump, I think you will know immediately that it is a lymph node. If this is a swollen or irritated lymph node, rest assured that any future lymph node pain will be quite apparent, as for me the irritation is consistent and identifiable.

I've had lumps in my pits before, but I'm prone to cysts and chalked them up to one of those. They head, then burst, or get burst by a lancing, drain and then get cleaned with h2o2 and everything's fine.

There used to be a topical ointment called icthymal that I think is no longer sold in the States, but it would draw out the contents of a cyst.

I routing for cyst or in-grown hair.

-bear

Toaster126 · 12-15-2005, 06:48 PM

This happened to me once. I went to the doctor, he said it was an ingrown hair, poked it with a needle, squeezed it (ow...), and gave me antibiotics. Problem solved. I wouldn't worry about it... it's common. Have your doctor take care of it.

Siege · 12-15-2005, 07:19 PM

I had it once, it just went away by itself. I realize it could've been serious, but at the time, I was just hoping for it to disappear.

Stompy · 12-16-2005, 11:51 AM

Hm, well it's too early to tell what it is, so in the meantime he gave me antibiotics and told me to check back in 5 days.

None of my other glands were swollen and I'm not insanely fatigued, so it's unlikely it's anything serious.

But daaaaaaamn it hurts. It's not feeling the way the lymph node was described above... but feels exactly like a bad zit would. The spot itself looks fine on the surface.. not red or anything. Just a lump.

Nimetic · 12-17-2005, 04:36 PM

I've had something there. It felt about 3-4mm. And was deeper I think than what a swollen hair follicle would be.

Anyways... I was lazy and didn't see a doc. It went away by itself though.

Rodney · 12-18-2005, 09:43 PM

Try quitting the deodorant for a while, especially if it includes antiperspirant.

Something similar happened to my wife, years ago. She ended up seeing a physician's assistant at the cut-rate medical clinic, a guy who'd been an army medic for a million years before retiring. He called it "Right Guard Armpit," and said it happened to some people who overused antiperspirants. Globules of sweat have a certain charge; your skin has an opposite charge, and that's what pulls sweat from your pores. Antiperspirants disrupt the skin's charge and keep the globules from being pulled out of the pore. Overuse of antiperspirants means the sweat _never_ comes out of those pores, they're never flushed clean, and well, you get a big white bump.

Anyway, couldn't hurt to stop antiperspirant for a while. If this was actually the problem, yes, maybe the cardio could be a factor; but only because your pits are trying to sweat desperately and the antiperspirant isn't letting them.

12-15-2005, 03:21 PM	#1 (permalink)
Stompy Banned from being Banned Location: Donkey	Sudden marble sized lump in my armpit..? Anyone ever have this before? Re: "Go see a doctor" - yes yes, I have an appt for tomorrow AM. I read up a ton earlier at work and it said that it could be something simple as as a swollen hair follicle, clogged sweat pore, or something as advanced as swollen lymph nodes, which in itself could either be a simple infection or a bad as cancer. Odd thing is, it wasn't there yesterday or the day before (I'm sure I would've noticed). Today my armpit was sore when I put on my deoderant.. thought that was kinda strange but didn't notice the lump till later on. Only thing that's really changed lately aside from a badly sprained ankle about a month ago: I've been doin cardio everyday (30 mins) for about a week. So I'm guessin it's follicle/pore related.. no clue. Anyway, haha I'm kinda freakin out. Wonder if anyone's had this or how common it is.. etc. __________________ I love lamp.

12-15-2005, 04:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
barenakedladies Crazy Location: anytown, USA	i get thsoe from time to time.... my doctor tells me its because of stress. they usually go away in 2-3 days. its a lymph node under there that swells. __________________ signature smignature

12-15-2005, 04:18 PM	#4 (permalink)
j8ear Gentlemen Farmer Location: Middle of nowhere, Jersey	If it's a lymph node you will definitely feel a general but persistent only slightly painful gnawing of the node. Kind of like when your balls get played with just a little over the top. Think of lymph nodes as tiny little balls all over your body. In that they are similarly sensitive to manipulation...and the irritation I feel is very similar. They are smaller then a small marble even when swollen. If you find and manipulate the lump, I think you will know immediately that it is a lymph node. If this is a swollen or irritated lymph node, rest assured that any future lymph node pain will be quite apparent, as for me the irritation is consistent and identifiable. I've had lumps in my pits before, but I'm prone to cysts and chalked them up to one of those. They head, then burst, or get burst by a lancing, drain and then get cleaned with h2o2 and everything's fine. There used to be a topical ointment called icthymal that I think is no longer sold in the States, but it would draw out the contents of a cyst. I routing for cyst or in-grown hair. -bear __________________ It's alot easier to ask for forgiveness then it is to ask for permission.

12-15-2005, 06:48 PM	#5 (permalink)
Toaster126 Extreme moderation Location: Kansas City, yo.	This happened to me once. I went to the doctor, he said it was an ingrown hair, poked it with a needle, squeezed it (ow...), and gave me antibiotics. Problem solved. I wouldn't worry about it... it's common. Have your doctor take care of it. __________________ "The question isn't who is going to let me, it's who is going to stop me." (Ayn Rand) "The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers." (M. Scott Peck)

12-15-2005, 07:19 PM	#6 (permalink)
Siege is a tiger Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada	I had it once, it just went away by itself. I realize it could've been serious, but at the time, I was just hoping for it to disappear. __________________ "Your name's Geek? Do you know the origin of the term? A geek is someone who bites the heads off chickens at a circus. I would never let you suck my dick with a name like Geek" --Kevin Smith This part just makes my posts easier to find

12-15-2005, 03:51 PM	#2 (permalink)
Willravel ... a sort of licensed troubleshooter.	It's happened to my dog a few times, but I'm sure yours is different. His usually went away. Let us know after your doctors appointment, though! Best of luck.

12-16-2005, 11:51 AM	#7 (permalink)
Stompy Banned from being Banned Location: Donkey	Hm, well it's too early to tell what it is, so in the meantime he gave me antibiotics and told me to check back in 5 days. None of my other glands were swollen and I'm not insanely fatigued, so it's unlikely it's anything serious. But daaaaaaamn it hurts. It's not feeling the way the lymph node was described above... but feels exactly like a bad zit would. The spot itself looks fine on the surface.. not red or anything. Just a lump. __________________ I love lamp.

12-17-2005, 04:36 PM	#8 (permalink)
Nimetic Junkie Location: Melbourne, Australia	I've had something there. It felt about 3-4mm. And was deeper I think than what a swollen hair follicle would be. Anyways... I was lazy and didn't see a doc. It went away by itself though.

12-18-2005, 09:43 PM	#9 (permalink)
Rodney Observant Ruminant Location: Rich Wannabe Hippie Town	Try quitting the deodorant for a while, especially if it includes antiperspirant. Something similar happened to my wife, years ago. She ended up seeing a physician's assistant at the cut-rate medical clinic, a guy who'd been an army medic for a million years before retiring. He called it "Right Guard Armpit," and said it happened to some people who overused antiperspirants. Globules of sweat have a certain charge; your skin has an opposite charge, and that's what pulls sweat from your pores. Antiperspirants disrupt the skin's charge and keep the globules from being pulled out of the pore. Overuse of antiperspirants means the sweat _never_ comes out of those pores, they're never flushed clean, and well, you get a big white bump. Anyway, couldn't hurt to stop antiperspirant for a while. If this was actually the problem, yes, maybe the cardio could be a factor; but only because your pits are trying to sweat desperately and the antiperspirant isn't letting them.