? abscess or lymphnodes

[Damaged]

I have a lump behind my ear. It is tender but does not look like a pimple. Do I see someone or wait to see how it develops ?

[Jesnaskah]

I say, what's the benefit of waiting? Go get it checked out and put your mind at ease, otherwise you'll always wonder...

[Nanna71]

I have had these swelling years ago so unrelated to RA. Usually needs lancing as it was a buildup of dead white blood cells (pus) for me and needed a little help from my gp.

[Damaged]

Thank you both for responding. I spoke to Excel nurse 👩‍⚕️ . I mentioned my concern regarding exposure to illness while visiting doctors.

I am very prone to infections, abscess and always have been. We currently have issues with measles and I am reluctant to expose myself to “sick people” right now lol 😂

What I mean is , I do not want to go unless absolutely essential.

I think I am also becoming very comfortable with isolation. Maybe not such a good thing ? I seem to go in cycles. Currently need to push myself out of the door 🚪 . I also stopped volunteering with PVN and I am about to start participating in a year long research project with ARC. It is a self management program for RA specifically. Sorry rambling today.

I will go see someone but will wait to see how things develop.

[Jesnaskah in reply to Damaged]

I'm pretty paranoid too and try my best to be extra careful in hospital and similar settings.

Maybe you can wear a mask and keep hand sanitizer on you as you get it checked.

I just had a dear friend diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma, out of nowhere! It stemmed from a swollen lymph node. One day, just appeared as a small lump on his brain. I'm not saying this to freak you out, just that you never know. Our bodies are so complex. I didn't even know what "autoimmune" was until it hit me. Please don't take any chances.

[-Terry]

I had 2 or 3 lumps come up behind my left ear. I went to the docs and he suspected skin cancer due to sun. I had a biopsy and it was confirmed as BCC which does not travel around the body. I had it removed and all is ok. Don't leave it too long as If it is it can get larger. If it's small enough they might just freeze it. Or it could be nothing at all. Best get it checked.

[Damaged in reply to -Terry]

I will, thank you 🙏

[Damaged in reply to -Terry]

Will have it looked at Monday. Thank you all for your replies.

[Angels54]

Get it checked .

[sjhewitt42]

Hi

Did you get this checked? I had mastoiditis a couple of times on Cimzia which were treated in hospital and on anti-b’s. It was a hard red lump behind my ear and was really tender. Hopefully this isn’t the case for you but I just thought that I would give my experience. xx