when i was at clinic meeting my Doctor - i was surprised at how I FELT what HE COULD FEEL! *ugh - i know...*
and two days later - i've got pain *is it ghost pain or is it result of those palpations?* and suddenly - i can feel them too. i'd not felt them before. am i losing my marbles? has anyone felt the same thing? *yes - my exciting life writing this new years eve*.... 
If we are honest with ourselves, I think most of us would relate that in our early days of diagnosis (and perhaps well beyond), we become hypersensitive to changes in our bodies, thinking CLL is to blame, (forgetting that we are just as much as susceptible - if not more, to all the normal aches and pains associated with living and growing older.) We may well be probing our bodies wondering if what we feel is an enlarged spleen or swelling node, often unconsciously. It doesn't help that nodes swell to combat infections and that many of us find our nodes can have a life of their own, swelling and shrinking without obvious cause.
It is generally the case that we are just feeling something that has been there all along and all that has changed is that we are now aware of it, perhaps making a node sore because we are constantly (perhaps unconsciously) probing it, and naturally feeling tenderness. Also, with two folds of skin being held against a node, along with our heightened imagination, nodes under our skin can appear far larger than they are - particularly if we can't actually see the node in question. Offhand, I don't recall feeling any unusual tenderness, let alone pain, in the days following a specialist examination - and that includes having trainee doctors checking my enlarged spleen. I'd be interested to hear other's responses, but I think what you are experiencing is just due to you being more aware of your body and being uncertain of how your CLL will progress. Naturally if the pain increases or you do feel your internal nodes are increasing in size, (do try to be objective about your size assessment), you should seek a qualified medical assessment.
Neil
Neil - you've a lot of wisdom Sir! my specialist's nurse is going to be working on getting me all the appointments and tests *i'm hoping within the next month*. I do hope that i'll be able to talk with him more when i'm due to see him next, whenever that will be. I'm sure it's partially psychological too and also more aware of what's going on. thank you for your detailed reply!
Lisa
I have identified one raised node in the back of my neck right up under my skull. A haematologist has confirmed it is but said it was very small (feels huge to me 😀).
I have also lost quite a bit of weight (on purpose) over the last 16 months and now can feel all sorts of lumps and bumps in my abdomen - the question is are they new or does everyone have them when there isn't layers of fat covering them up? Note to self - ask at my next haematology appointment!
I have never had pain following a check for nodes personally but maybe if and when they develop - who knows.
Netty
I've never had pain following or during palpations looking for lymph node enlargement.
I have enlarged nodes in my neck that I feel an aching with here and there, nothing I'm too worried about but I feel them. I'm also have some slight abdomen pain which I think is either swollen nodes or a slightly swollen spleen, I'm 11q del so bulky nodes is part of the program. I'm still on W&W with blood counts fairly low, but I'm guessing my swollen nodes will spur treatment before my bloodwork does. I also feel a slight ache in my armpit nodes here and there....not too bad but I definitely notice them. They are perhaps about the size of half a walnut, same for my neck which you can see slightly, of course I see them more than others....seems I'm a bit hypersensitive.....swollen nodes suck! I often wonder if starting treatment to get rid of them is worth considering. I hope it all works out, I feel your pain. All the best & Happy new year!
thank you - and my best to you too....
My oncologist has never checked me for lymph nodes--should I be worried? (I've had CLL since at least 2004, but was not diagnosed until a couple of years ago--not much help there.)
i have SLL - different variation of the same disease. but of the lymph.
My haematologist specialist diagnosed me with CLL/SLL, but I initially met the SLL criteria and 18 months after diagnosis, the CLL criteria. She has always checked my liver, spleen and abdominal and neck nodes and occasionally other nodes. With internal node size increasing above 10cm a trigger for starting treatment, I'm surprised your oncologist doesn't check yours. Do you know how much experience your oncologist has with CLL patients and the fast changing treatment options? Perhaps you need to look for a second opinion from a CLL specialist?
Neil
my doctor is the CLL director here.
One of the top clinical researchers in CLL in Canada Neil...
Lisa has one of the top clinical researchers in CLL in Canada, who did palpate her lymph nodes. Danety replied above that her oncologist has never checked her lymph nodes and my reply was to Danety, not Lisa. Am I missing something?
I have many enlarged nodes in my neck which can be felt and seen. Also in chest, abdomen, groin and retro peritoneal but these I don't see or feel. The ones on my posterior neck do ache at times. I believe it is due to movement of my neck and they push on muscles in the neck. My hematologist examines me every visit.
queencalabrese - how often do you see your hematologist? are you able to call him when you've got issues going on?
Every 6 mos. now and yes I can reach his PA but don't want them to think I am wanting CLL treatment because I really dont.
Question about lymph nodes 
Enlarged under arm lymph nodes during treatment
Pain in lymph nodes..normal? 
lymph nodes swelling 
I'm new here and have painful lymph nodes!
