Other Worried about lump in neck

[Casey_03]

I've discovered I have a lump in my neck. Realistically, I know the most common cause of this would be swollen lymph nodes from something benign. But the fact that I can't afford to get to a doctor to find out for sure is just making me panic.

 

[anonymous]

I'm not sure where you're from, but what about public health?

 

[Casey_03]

There are no free clinics here. The closest thing to it is a hospital where they offer a sliding scale, but it'd still be $250. I have Medicaid but no doctors in my area accept it. Closest is about 2 hours away and I have no gas money to get there. I know it's probably benign, but not being able to find out for sure is just making me think the worst.

 

[anonymous]

Most likely a doctors going to tell you to drink lots of water and rest. are you running a fever?

Seriously, forcing the fluids can make all the difference in the world very quickly.

 

[Casey_03]

Yes, I guess I can just hope it goes away in a few days. And try to drink fluids and be extra healthy in the meantime. And no, no fever. Though I have had weird symptoms lately, like shortness of breath and sharp pains.

I haven't seen a doctor in so many years it makes me worry about something serious going undetected.

 

[anonymous]

Anxiety is something that can cause a lot of physical symptoms. I'm not saying this is anxiety, but it's something to consider.

I hope that you can get a checkup soon.

 

[Fadeaway]

Every county in every state has a public health department that takes medicaid. I can't believe your local hospital doesn't take medicaid.

 

[Casey_03]

I can't believe it either. Maybe they do for emergencies but not for a doctor's visit? Anyway, I called the Department of Health here to double check and they said my best bet would be using the hospital's physician network. (They have physicians in different offices all over the city). None of them accept my insurance. And no other places in my county do either, according to the insurance database. I don't know if Medicaid has changed in my state, but I had heard during my application process that the health insurance for adults is pretty shit. At least Aetna is, and that's the company I got through Medicaid. I called Aetna to complain and they just said I seem to be in a part of the state where the insurance is not very popular. (I recently moved to a new county. Maybe I will have to go through Medicaid to change insurance providers, if they even allow that)

 

[lostforgottensoul]

The closest thing to it is a hospital where they offer a sliding scale, but it'd still be $250.

Do they have an ER? ERs cannot turn you away, reguardless of abilty to pay. They bill you and pay only what you can $1+.

Every area has to have an ER. I've been in some super rural areas and the ER was a ways away but still had one in driveable distance.

I have lumps in the front of my neck that shouldn't be there. They are 4 nodules on my thryroid, currently causing my thyroid not to work properly giving me hypothyroidism. They are supposed to be biopsied but I haven't had the money to.

Lymph nodes are also a possibilty. My brother had a softball in his neck when he was little. It was his lymph nodes which swollen due to being sick I believe. It did eventually go down then away but I would try your best to find an MD and make an appointment or go to an ER. Im sorry you are deling with this!

 

[Casey_03]

I'm reluctant to go to the ER because even if they bill me later, I'm screwed. I won't have any spare money to pay for it, and that just means more debt that I can't cover. The ER might accept Medicaid (I think they have to?) but I'd also have to bring my kid with me, which seems less than ideal in an ER. (I haven't been to an ER in a very long time, so maybe it's not so bad, but last time I was there it was full of very sick people coughing on everyone)

I am thinking it probably is swollen lymph nodes from some other cause, but it freaks me out because I'm not sick, so it doesn't really make sense. No ear infection, flu, or coughing ... nothing that would cause the swelling unless there's some deeper illness I'm not aware of. I guess the best thing to do would be to wait a week or so and see if it goes away. If it doesn't, then I'll try the ER.

I noticed it earlier this week but basically brushed it off. Then it started to hurt and got me worried.

 

[scout86]

Maybe I will have to go through Medicaid to change insurance providers, if they even allow that)

This could vary between states but, here, once a year you have a chance to change insurance providers. Because that program is handled through the country, it seems like you might have a chance to change providers when you move to a different county. But, you also might only have one option. (It's like that here.)

As far as I know, this works like any other insurance. There are provisions for out of network care under the right circumstances. I've had the state pick up the tab for stuff when there was an insurance screw up too. I've had insurance through 4 different companies since the ACA started. It seems like I remember some of them had a program to help you get to the doctor if was a long drive. (Not having a working car, or money for gas is a common problem.)

Check with the county DHS, if you haven't. They can be useful people to know. What would happen if your baby needed to see a doctor?

 

[Fadeaway]

Your state seems to have weird medicaid. My experience my two previous states was there was only one insurance company for medicaid for the entire state, so no issues about being out of network. The state i live in know has 2 different types of medicaid and it is so weird.

Well since seeing someone seems difficult at the moment, let's look at the location of your lump. Under the ear and side, below the jaw and side of the throat is probably lymph-nodes caused by a viral infection. Dr.s could do much for that anyways. If the lump is at the bottom of your throat right in front, it could be thyroid. Something that needs to be checked out, but it isn't a die hard emergency. Back of the neck is most likely muscle knots from stress. So basically, the most common causes are the most likely and aren't something that requires immediate care.

my bet is it is lymph nodes due to a weakened immune system from all the stress you have been under.<insert Calgon commercial here>