I'm just curious about how enlarged lymph nodes feel. I always
thought when people referred to swollen glands it was when your
neck kind of feels 'puffy', like it's sort of cushiony. But then I have
what I believe is an enlarged node and it's firm, more like a
"water-filled" bean or something. Kind of "squishy" and moveable but
not puffy. But sometimes it also feels like my neck has these puffy
areas. Is that lymph glands or something else? I wish I could explain
it better. It's like there are two different things: the puffy areas and the
firmer area. The puffy areas are not always there though. How should
they feel? Thanks for your help. You guys are really helpful.

I have allergies and sometimes when I take sinus meds (over the counter) it seems to make the puffiness go away. but maybe I'm imagining that.

Normal nodes should be soft, small (about pea size). But as I have tried to tell you in your previous message, it really varies greatly between people.

It's kind of contradictory when you say it's "firm" but "squishy". The other "firm" areas are probably your neck muscles.

Even an experienced doctor could not diagnose you through the internet, so, if you are still worried and seek an accurate diagnosis, go see a doc.

You already got my opinion...

:wave: hello ...I just joined and have been reading for a few days. I just completed a CT scan and was scheduled for a biopsy but the surgeon called me and cancelled. He stated that he was referring me to a Specialist for the type of operation I needed. I have a lump (hard) about the size of a quarter in my "parotid gland". He told me that if he messed up just slightly that my face could become paralyzed. My question is has anyone ever had this problem? Thanks

Hey there,

Well I have never had this problem but maybe i can explain to you what is happening if you arent quite clear. I imagine this is what is going on........

When you got a CT scan done, your doctor probably saw this lump in your parotid gland. Your parotid gland is really your main salivary gland, and i believe it is located pretty much below your ear. So your doctor wants to go into your gland and take out this lump to look and make sure that it is non-cancerous. The reason that he wants to refer you to a specialist is because as you said he wants an expert to do the surgery. I cant be 100% sure but i think you have two cranial nerves in this area, the trigeminal and the facial nerve. These are probably what your doctor does not want to mess around with because cutting these or damaging them by accident will paralyze your face. If you have ever seen JR the announcer for WWF wrestling. I think he has something wrong with one of these two nerves and you can see how one side of his face "droops" down. Well I hope that helps, I am sure you are in good hands with a specialist to perform the surgery and i hope that everything goes well. Good luck.

Greg