Is this lump caused by Pred?

[Vaggers]

Is this soft swelling between my collarbones caused by Pred? I think it probably is but would like reassurance as ‘shielding’ gives you loads of time to dwell on things and worry! I am now on 6 mgs. Thankyou

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I did develop pads along my collar bones - but nothing as obvious as that

[piglette]

It looks like your thymus gland, although I may be wrong.

[powerwalk]

I have that and the fatty pads on the collar bones from Pred. Its actually kinda sore if i press it. Got it a few weeks into Pred.

[Vaggers in reply to powerwalk]

Mine is not sore but has only appeared as i have come down to 6mg pred (down from 40 commenced last sept) I am going to mention to GP

[powerwalk in reply to Vaggers]

Yes might be wise.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Have you mentioned it to your GP?

[Vaggers in reply to PMRpro]

Dont like to mention to GP at the moment, under the circumstances, but i have started to worry about it so i suppose I should.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Vaggers]

Under what circumstances? They aren't rushed off their feet whatever some might like to suggest and other problems don't take a holiday because of Covid-19.

[Vaggers in reply to PMRpro]

I will speak to GP. Thankyou for your help and i will let you know.

[Gumnut in reply to Vaggers]

Hi don't be worrying. Contact your surgery. They are doing online video consultations- no need to go to surgery.

[Conundrum]

I have it too, I have pointed it out to rheumi and go but neither react. I will be interested in your replies.

[Vaggers in reply to Conundrum]

Will let you know what my gp says.

[Marilyn1959]

I have soft lump in same place and at sides of neck. Have had it from the start and it seems to get smaller or more pronounced, but I haven't a clue why it varies. I suspect it is pred or inflammation of PMR ?????

Like Conundrum I mentioned it to Rheumy, who didn't seem perturbed, so I too will be interested to know the outcome of your chat with GP. I also developed a large hump at the back of neck. It was sudden and like a pillow! My GP told me that pred was the cause. This went away as I tapered, but the dwellings on sides and in front of the neck are still there at 6.5mgs.

[Vaggers in reply to Marilyn1959]

I have a hump at the back of my neck and my cheeks are chubby and I also had lumps at the side of my neck. This swelling in my pic is more recent and i don’t understand why it has appeared as I have lowered my dose. I will let everyone know what GP says.

[123mossie]

I’ve just checked myself, I have the same, a firm mobile lump in exactly the same place. I’m not going to worry, it matches my chipmunk cheeks and buffalo hump. 😐

[Vaggers in reply to 123mossie]

I now what you mean I have the full set of chipmunk cheeks and buffalo neck too. I just dont look like me!

[Gumnut in reply to 123mossie]

Sounds lovely😊

[Choco-Holic]

I had very similar swelling there along with moonface on higher doses. It’s gone down now as I’m decreasing. I’d do as others advise though, as no need to spend your day’s worrying. GPs aren’t so busy just now I’m led to believe. Hope you get sorted soon x

[Vaggers in reply to Choco-Holic]

Thankyou. I will ask GP and let everyone know. From the replies it does look as though its the Pred.

[Tiny_Tim]

It would be a good idea to check with Dr. I have a fairly large area of tissue between collar bones and it turned out to be a nodule on my thyroid . Fortunately not malignant , but I am being kept under review. Even in this difficult time for our medics it is important not to leave things that could need attention .I have been on pred for 3 years 6 months and have just had to go back up from 4 mg to 8 mg due to what I think is a flare .

Zoom and facetime do my image no good !

tiny - tim

[tangocharlie in reply to Tiny_Tim]

When I had an ultrasound on my saliva glands a few years ago they mentioned I had a cyst on my throid gland but when I asked my GP about they said there was nothng to worry about. Since then I've met about 5 other women with PMR who also have a cyst on their thyroid. Coincidence or not, I don't know

[mepoly20]

I think you should have online consultation with your GP. Show them the pics. It could be Thyroid Gland.

Should be checked.

[Vaggers in reply to mepoly20]

I am getting it checked now. Thankyou

[Summerrental]

I have the same soft swelling,

[Rushenabbey]

I have exactly the same swelling. Appeared 3 months ago overnight. I was on 12.5 mags then. Had ultrasound. I do have a goitre but thyroid fine. Do get it checked for peace of mind.

[Lanakay]

I have the same thing both in front of my neck and above my collar bones. My rheumatologist and gp didn’t have much to say about it. Be on the safe side and get it checked.

[Seabyrd]

I have exactly the same and my rheumy said it's just fatty tissue !!

[MrsNails in reply to Seabyrd]

Mines just to the left, it’s about an inch in length, l thought it might be a lymph node but it was the wrong shape, GP happy it was just a fatty lump.

[oiseau222]

It could be a lipoma..a benign fatty tumor. They are usually smaller than yours, but I've

developed several larger ones, the largest under my right breast. It took several doctors

and mammograms to figure it out. I had one on each lower shin which had to be removed, because they were pressing on the muscle and causing pain when I walked.

I also have some internally around my spine. They can be a result of prednisone.

You should definitely get someone to examine and palpate it to put your mind at

rest, Be well.

[Marcy47]

Hi Vaggers,

I also have a fatty lump between my collarbones,but mine developed before PMR and steroids. I was living in Spain at the time and the Dr there sent me for a "Nuclear Scan" of my neck area. They decided it was a benign nodule on my Thyroid, so I should get yours checked out ASAP. I was advised to keep a check on it and if it caused any problems, with eating etc. to go back for further investigations.

Marcia x

[LittleBetter123]

It is something that has been worrying me too as I have the same swelling. Going to ask my GP about it tomorrow in telephone consultation and will report back. I must say though that it is somewhat reassuring to hear there are a number of ladies with the same thing. Hopefully it will just be another side effect of the preds or part of the illness itself.

[Vaggers in reply to LittleBetter123]

I am having blood tests in the morning following my GP telephone appointment today. Please let me know how you get on. As you say it is reassuring that several others have the same and have been told its the Pred. (I actually still think its the Pred even though the doctor thinks thyroid) I Look forward to hearing your outcome.

[LittleBetter123 in reply to Vaggers]

Ì spoke with my GP today who said it sounded like inflamation and could be arthritis or possibly caused by the pred. I will just keep an eye on it and hopefully it will go away as I taper. I 'm on 12.5mg at present. I have been putting ice on it from time to time which seems to take the swelling down a bit. I will be interested to hear your results Vaggers and if it is to do with your thyroid.

[Vaggers in reply to LittleBetter123]

Does your swelling look similar to mine? My GP just felt mine was thyroid related. I have had loads of blood tests and plan to ring my GP next week for the results. I will, of course, let everyone know. I am on 6 mgs at the moment and planning to go down to 5& half on Saturday. (I still think its the pred but we will see)

[LittleBetter123 in reply to Vaggers]

Yes my swelling is very like your's. I will try and send you a picture. The ice pack I applied earlier for a short time seems to have shrunk it a good bit and that's partly why my doctor thinks it could be arthritiic inflammation.

[Thelmarina]

Just to say that practices are very anxious that patients contact them with their normal symptoms and anxieties. The process will be different - telephone and video links used first but head to head still possible - so go for it and put your mind at rest! 👍🌺

[Canarylady]

Hi there,

I have this too,both sides of shoulders and in the middle.

I have an under active thyroid,so just thought it was the preds causing the lumps.

I also have the hump on the back of my neck!

Moon face,a lot a lot of weight on and around my top half,swollen body in general!

Still in a lot of discomfort if I carry or over do things at work,but feeling a lot better in my new job here in Worthing.

Wishing you all the very best when you see your GP.

And looking forward to hearing how you got on soon.

Xx