And, by writing it out, you've explored the symptom, the sensation, and and the anxiety it brought out.

You're on the right track. Get the lump checked out.

Best wishes.

If it hurts, that may be a good thing.

I had a lump once, went to the doctor. My doctor asked if it hurt. I said no. He said, "Hmmm.... I was hoping you'd say YES." and I asked why he wished I was hurting!?

And he explained that lumps that hurt are usually cysts that are like pimples under the skin, or something else that just hasn't worked its way to the surface yet. And lumps that don't hurt are the ones which generally cause more concern.

So my lump didn't hurt. We did a biopsy, and it came back benign. So I was OK. But what a scare!

So be glad yours hurts. That's a good sign apparently. But definitely go get it checked out ASAP.

While you definitely need to get it checked out, this might ease your mind a bit. I'm an SLP so I took many swallowing classes, voice disorders classes. There are SO MANY benign weird lumps (cysts, nodules, the list goes on and on) that we learned about and VERY FEW disorders we learned about that end up being serious, so please try to focus on that. That being said, I had a really horrible pain in my larynx area once for about six weeks (they finally decided it was a small tear in my trachea) and I swear I was completely convinced by the end that it was something horrible so I completely relate. You're NOT ALONE in worrying about something like that!! Let us know what it ends up being!!

I had this billiard ball sized lump in my stomach that would come and go. I would get it in the mornings waking up. It would then disappear. The phantom lump. Boy that was annoying. Nobody ever diagnosed it. I think I had it for about 4 years thinking it was probably cancer and I'd die before anyone found it. They didn't even find it with an ultrasound.

In the end I decided it must be a muscle spasm. I haven't had it for at least 2 years now. :D

The good news is that it hurts, but regardless, I hope you will call your doctor and get an appointment right away. I'm not trying to scare you, but I want you to be cautious and make sure it's nothing to worry about. And PLEASE let us know what you find out, okay? Gentle hugs.

Our bodies are designed to return to health quickly and with supportive therapies almost always.

Almost any lump or bump or illness we have is not going to be serious. The good news is, if you have it, the doctor has probably seen it fairly often and can help. And often, with the right therapies, it prevents further discomfort and stops any advancement of a disease.

Someone mentioned cancer and in the movies we always see the worst case scenario. Cancer is no longer life and death very often. It can be but that's less and less often the case now-a-days.

My friend has bladder cancer and his treatment is simple with no side effects other than feeling a bit tired and the cancer will be gone in less than two months.

Also keep in mind that you can use alternative treatments that are often less invasive and gentler.

I echo what others have said. It's most likely nothing or it could be a cranky thyroid which is very common and easily remedied. But seeing the doctor will help give you peace of mind and greater comfort.

Just an update....I have been taking Advil, tea, heat pads etc and it looks as if the size has gone down tremendously. It barely there. My throat feels like I have something in it when I swallow. So I am wondering if it is a gland?

I have a canker sore under my lip (which I have never had) and in the mornings I have been dizzy and sneezing all over the place. I dont have a cold...but it is allergies. Could this cause a swollen gland?