Swollen Nodes / Strange Head Pressure

[Krael]

Over the past few days I've had a strange pressure all around my head like a heavy ring. There is no pain, just the feeling of something pulling down on my head slightly. This combined with a tight chest feeling with bloating on top of eventually swollen neck nodes (right and left). I'm also a little fatigued, and when it started, I could barely hold up my head (but it's better now).

Before most of this started, I had an infected wisdom tooth. I've been on advil for 2 weeks fighting off the pain. I got the tooth extracted with little complications. During those two weeks, I was on antibiotic (Clindamycin). I pretty much finished the bottle before the extraction. I had 1 days' worth after the extraction and didn't take the rest because I felt fine.

I'm also a pack-a-day smoker. Thus, these symptoms may fit with a respiratory infection of some sort or worse.


First day, the pressure was very light.

Second day, the pressure got a little heavier and seemed to move to the sides more from my forehead.

Third day, the pressure was more or less in the back of my head. It got heavy to the point where it caused a sleep-like headache in the middle of the night that lasted till the next morning. I took some advil and it went away, but the pressure was still in the back of my head. It felt like my skin was tight around my head. No pain, just annoying. I also noticed my lymph nodes were swelling.

Fourth day, I took the rest of my antibiotic. The pressure seemed to get smaller and smaller like it was going away by the end of the day. My lymph node on the left side seemed to be going down too.

Fifth day, still the same light pressure like it was at the end of fourth day. It was more or less on the back right of my head above my ears some. Nodes still seemed the same. The left was smaller than the right. I was developing more pimples on the right chin as well to signify it was swollen/fighting off infection I hear.

Today, pressure is back a little more in full force. It wasn't as bad as before, but worse than say the fifth day. I feel gassy still and pressure in my chest. The nodes are still swollen with added light cramps to my stomach area. I stand up, I feel bloated and difficulty breathing some due to the bloatyness, then I burp and feel better. However, pressure in my head still throwing me off in terms of what this could be.

If I had a guess, it would be an upper respiratory infection of some sort. It's hard to tell with no mucus, cold-like symptoms or etc. My head pressure seems like sinus infection, but not near my face. It's on the sides and towards the back. I'm worried something is at play here. Any advice would be helpful.

Cheers!

[Jeremiah13]

This sounds exactly what is going on with me.  Or so much in the neck by glands by ear, top of nose and 1 on each ear above the lobes. The pressure sensations are weird and can be frightening. The base of my skull on the back, bothers me a lot. I get weird like pressure headaches that sometimes last for days. Sometimes wet like sensations, electrical impulses which I’m assuming are nerves. But the pressure. I was wondering if I had an aneurysm. I plan on going to the hospital in the morning. These head sensations are alarming to say the least. The lymph node or cyst by my ear has gotten to be about the size of a marble! I have 2 more slightly smaller and now a real small one but it’s coming up in a similar fashion.

[specialmom]

So, this may be an off chance, but I have what you describe and it is actually tightening of the muscles that are in that location. Everything attaches there. It tightens and it all aches, hurts. Lots of pressure, lots of discomfort.  Are you stressed? Did you end up going to the hospital?  That's also a common place for benign cysts. https://www.healthline.com/health/sebaceous-cyst  I also had a reactive  lymph node in my neck for a long while and it turned out to be due to a long standing tooth issue.  I had a root canal, and the lymph node went away. Anyway, let me know what the doctor said.

[stella9192]

What if a person had all of these symptoms, swollen/hard lymphs near the top of the neck, chest pain (sometimes cry worthy), and pressure in the head.  Was a smoker for 9 years, recently quit. But no reason for lymphnodes to appear (ie; mono, flu, strepthroat).

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.

Understand your predicament. The nodes could be due to the tooth extraction. If its due to throat infection, you should have throat pain, sometimes fever or a cough. In the absence of which it could be the tooth infection. And yes tonsillar enlargement and tonsillitis can cause nodal enlargement. Also note infections like tuberculosis can cause lymphadenopathy.  It would be worthwhile to see if other lymph groups are enlarged namely, axilla and groin, these can be palpated. This will help rule out other causes of lymphadenopathy like tuberculosis or lymphomas.

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.

[Krael]

Oh, I did go to the doctor but she blamed it on the tooth extraction and my gas on dietary stuff. Nothing alarming to her and she sent me home with no antibiotics.

Now that I have bumps in my throat and near the tonsils on top of still swollen nodes after 3 weeks, I'm heading back there today.

Also, the bumps and my throat do not hurt. Just can feel them when obviously when swallowing.

[Krael]

Well, it's been a few weeks since there. I still have swollen lymph nodes, some near the jaw still a little swollen and two hard non-movable nodes on both sides of my neck. I suspect these to be my juggular nodes that drain the tonsils.

I've had constipation with lots of bloating since then too, but it has come down. Still lots of belching and bowels seem to be moving slower than normal.

Other than that, I quit smoking so the other issues seem to die down some with the fatigue and chest issues. BUT, I have bumps on my throat as of last night around my tonsils and possibly on them. Small bumps, can't tell the color, but tiny and about 5 to 10 of them.

My guess is I have some type of infection that was impacting my head, neck and now throat and tonsils. My harder lymph nodes if correct, also point to that as they drain the tonsils. If it's with my tonsils, then that could be why my nodes beside those are still a little big.

Any thoughts?

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.

The head pressure could be due to sinusitis, if it is accompanied by nasal stuffiness and sometimes a post nasal drip. It could also be due to tooth infections, impacted tooth or skin infections. The others are migrainous headaches and those caused due to brain disorders, disorders of the eyes , neck or ears to name a few.To find a cure you need to consult your primary care physician for proper assessment. In the meantime take OTC naproxen for relief from pain.

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.

[Krael]

Symptom Summary

- Pressure in Head (moves around some)
- Swollen Neck Glands (right and left)
- Chest Pressure (likely due to gas)
- Gas (constantly burping)
- Neck Fatigue (heavy head)
- Body Fatigue (light body fatigue)
- Light Cramps (likely due to gas?)

New from posting

- Weird Feeling Center of Chest (seems more to do with gas/bloating)

I would say I do have some light pains here and there in chest, but they seem small and random. I normally have those as a smoker off and on.