Years ago and shortly after having a bulls-eye rash, these weird nodules began appearing under my armpit. They were red and very tender, would come & go within about 4-5 days and look a little like a lump. Sometimes there were so many under each arm that it was difficult to put my arms completely down.
This occurred frequently for a couple of years but now only happens very occasionally. It's also when the other weird things started.
I've never been able to find anything that explains them and wanted to find out if anyone else here has ever had something similar.
Ever hear of this?
Thanks!
Posted by soleil16 (Member # 16326) on :
My general practitioner, even before Lyme diagnosis, said these are lymph node related. Usually really red and tender, the size of marbles.
This led her to test me for so many weird, random diseases... one of which was bartonella, and I was positive. I got only 1-2 weeks of antibiotics and was 'better'.
3 years down the line, I now know I have Lyme too... didn't know at the time it was a coinfection.
I'm sorry, I still don't know what works to relieve this. It is one of my most bothering symptoms and usually goes along with swollen lymph nodes in my neck and throat. I've heard that gentle exercise, like a mini trampoline might be helpful to get the lymph system circulating, but I've not tried it yet.
Posted by lymeinhell (Member # 4622) on :
Bartonella would be my first thought.
Lymph nodes that are swollen means your 'garbage system' is over-full. Rebounding on a mini trampoline does indeed help, as does infra-red sauna and detox foot patches. Also tons and tons of water with lemon added.
Posted by xoxoxox (Member # 18778) on :
They are red & tender (like soliel16 suggested above) but if it were lymph nodes, shouldn't my skin slide back & forth over top of the lumps?
They seem to be subcutaneous.
Posted by Sabina (Member # 18080) on :
Interesting! I, just this week, started experiencing the same exact thing. Mine are not lymph nodes. I've had swollen nodes before and these are definitely diffeent. They seem to be more on the surface of the skin and not a node below.
As you stated the skin does not slide back and forth over the top of the lumps.
I have a diagnosis of Bartonella H by IGG. My doc has told me this is a "self limiting" illness and would not be what has made me so sick for the past year.
In my research I've read alot about nodules being associated with Bartonella but I'm not sure that could explain this symptom.
I get about 4-5 of these lumps in each of my armpits at a time. They last for a few days and then resolve on there own. I thought at first that they were from shaving (they felt similar to ingrown hairs) so I stopped shaving for awhile but I still get them.
Also, I get them higher up in my armpit where I do not shave.
BTW - I'm doubting my docs insistence that Bart is self limiting.
Posted by xoxoxox (Member # 18778) on :
This sounds like the same thing. Are yours tender or painful?
They were constantly coming & going when I first started getting them. Then the frequency diminished after about six months and now I rarely ever get them.
They seemed to happen more often with heat or humidity. Maybe that is something you could test as the weather gets warmer? But hopefully, they will lessen soon for you.
It was the first unexplainable symptom for me after my rash and I have always wondered what they were ever since.
Tell your doc that you aren't the only one who has them! And definitely keep me posted on your experience with them. Maybe between the two of us we could actually figure out what they are?
Posted by Sabina (Member # 18080) on :
Yes, they are painful. Like I said, they first felt and looked like an ingrown hair. I noticed pain under my arm when I had my arms at my side. So, I checked, expecting to find a swollen lymph node. But this was more like a skin bump.
Initially I got one, then by the afternoon I had 3 more on one side and 2 on the other. Next morning there were more. They resolved in a couple of days.
This has hapened several times now.
I will let you know if I find any info on this.
Do you have a diagnosis of Bart?
Posted by lpkayak (Member # 5230) on :
my dog has lyme and seems to have them
started with one-for a long time only one
now-years later-they are all over
he also had one melanoma...now has them all over
hes still happy tho-doesn't seem to be in pain
Posted by xoxoxox (Member # 18778) on :
I just started the testing process so it's unknown if I have Bart or any other coinfection.
I'll let you know if tests do show Bart. That would definitely be very interesting!
Posted by sparkle7 (Member # 10397) on :
You have to be careful with this. It may be benign or it may be something worse.
My mother had lymphoma & had a big swelling under her arm. The drs thought it was cat scratch fever at first & it turned out to be cancer.
Sometimes it can just be an irritation. Someone I know gets these bumps every so often & they go away. It happens more in warm weather - maybe it's from sweat, clogged pores, or an allergy? He doesn't have Lyme.
I guess you have to determine if it's a skin irritation or lymph nodes. It may be good to get some dr opinions to see how to treat it.
There are a number of alternate medicine type treatments for lymph drainage. Lymphatic drainage massage, Lymphstar Pro drainage (if someone has one near you), dry skin brushing, rebounding, saunas, a warm compress, some essential oils can help... Do a search on google.