Glands in neck

Develops embryologically from the endoderm of the primitive foregut.
It arises in the embryological ventral pharynx in the region of the base of the tongue and descends into the neck.
Weighs 10-20 g in the average adult which is approximately 1-2/10,000 of the average human.
Cells derived from 2 embryonic lineages: endodermal follicular cells arise from the thyroid diverticulum in the midline pharyngeal floor between the first and second pharyngeal pouches, and the ectodermal neural crest C-cells arising from the ultimobranchial body.
The embryological descent of the thyroid results in the pyramidal lobe and thyroglossal duct cysts and undecided thyroid at the base of the tongue.
C-cells comprise less than 0.1% of epithelial mass of the thyroid.
Consists of two lateral lobes connected by a thin isthmus located below and anterior to the larynx.
Weighs about 15 gms, shaped like a butterfly with wings flanking the trachea and connected in front of the trachea.
Structural variations of the gland include the presence of a pyramidal lobe, a remnant of the thyroglossal duct above the isthmus.
Well vascularized gland with one of the highest rates of blood flow per gram of tissue in the body.
Made up of multiple acini, follicles, surrounded by a single layer of cells and filled with pinkish proteinaceous material, colloid.
When inactive the thyroid gland colloid is abundant, with large follicles and flat lining cells.
When the thyroid gland is active the follicles are small, lining cells are columnar or cuboids and the edge of the colloid is scalloped, forming lacunae.
Microvilli project into the colloid from the apex of thyroid cells.
Thyroid gland cells have prominent endoplasmic reticulum, and secretory droplets of thyroglobulin.
Thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) do not display pulsalitity or have a circadian rhythm.
T3 mediates thyroid hormone action by binding to nuclear thyroid hormone receptors in almost all tissues.
Thyrotropin controls all aspects of thyroid hormone synthesis and release.
Secretion of thyrotropin is stimulated by thyrotropin releasing hormone and inhibited by negative feedback through thyroid hormone.
20% of T3 made up from daily secretion which comes directly from the thyroid and the other 80% is derived from the monodeiodination of T4 to activate T3 in peripheral tissues.
T4 serves as a prohormone for T3, having almost no intrinsic biological activity of its own.
Normal serum T3 levels can be achieved with T4 therapy, although some studies suggest that some individuals have impaired physical and psychological well being and cognitive function and mood compared to a control population (Jonklaas).
T4, also known as thyroxine and levothyroxine, has 4 atoms of iodine in each molecule.
T4 is the main hormone secreted by the thyroid and more than 99% circulates in the blood stream attached to proteins, particularly thyroid binding globulin.
T4 that is unattached and free (FT4, free thyroxine) can leave the circulation and enter cells.
Levothyroxine sodium is absorbed at 70-80% and occurs in the small bowel.
Levothyroxine traditionally has been given in the morning before breakfast to prevent interference of absorption by food and medications.
Levothyroxine given at bedtime significantly imroves thyroid hormone levels, and should be considered to be administered at that time (Bolk N et al).
T3 (triiodothyronine and levothyroxine) has three atoms of iodine in each molecule, is secreted by the thyroid gland and also made from T4 in cells outside the thyroid gland capable of converting T4 to T3.
Over 99% of T3 circulates in the blood stream attached to proteins, particularly TBG.
Unattached T3, known as free T3 and only that small portion of T3 can leave the circulation to enter cells.
Free T3 is active thyroid hormone and work’s by entering cell’s nucleus and by binding to receptors to regulate gene activity affecting the metabolic rate.
T3 receptors are found in most cells of the body indicating the widespread effect on the body.
T3 is also formed in peripheral tissues by deiodination of T4.
T3 and T4 are iodine containing amino acids.
The thyroid secretes 80 microgm as iodine in T3 and T4.
Forty microgm of iodide diffuses daily into the extracellular fluid.
Iodide derived from diet is transported into the thyroid against a concentration gradient by means of the sodium-Iodide symporter and diffuses through follicular cells for transport into the follicular lumen by means of the anion exchange protein pendrin.
Within the follicular lumen iodide is oxidized and bound to tyrosine residues in thyroglobulin molecules through the activity of thyroid peroxidase.
Iodinated tyrosine groups in thyroglobulin are coupled together to form either thyroxine T4 or triiodo thyroxine T3.
Through pinocytosis, follicular cells respond to increased thyrotropin level by ingesting luminal colloid within vesicles, which then infuse with lysosomes, leading to proteolytic release of T4 and T3 from thyroglobulin.
T3 and T4 are metabolized in the liver and other tissues with release of 60 microgm of iodide per day into the extracellular fluid.
Naturally occurring T4 and its cogeners with an asymmetric carbon atom are the L isomers, while D thyroxine has only a small fraction of the activity of the L form.
Thyroid cell membranes contain a symporter, an iodide pump, that transports, sodium and iodide into cells against an electrochemical gradient for iodide.
The symporter can produce intracellular iodide concentrations 20 to 40 times as great as the concentration in plasma.
​
https://standardofcare.com/thyroid/

Note that any moderate damage to the gland will release all airborne diseases into the air and all infections/internal diseases into whoever touched it, or yourself if you damaged it yourself

I started to get a sore throat around the end of March. It didn’t hurt very badly, like low-level pain, so I thought it would go away on its own.
After a week (March 28th) it hurt significantly more, I got a cough, my voice went hoarse, and my throat was red, swollen, and had white spots, so I contacted my GP who prescribed me antibiotics via a telephone appointment (didn’t see my throat). I was given a seven day course of phenoxymethylpenicillin (2 pills 4 times a day).
By the end of the course, my throat still hurt and was still swollen. I thought maybe it needed a few days for the infection to clear after finishing the antibiotics. But a few days later some spots reappeared, so I contacted my GP again. (April 9th) This time I had an in-person appointment. She looked at my throat and represcribed the same antibiotics for seven days.
Again, the spots went away but my throat stayed sore and swollen and I still had a cough. Again, I thought maybe it just needed some time to clear.
Then on April 24th, I woke up with the glands in my neck swollen and painful to touch, my throat very swollen and covered in white spots, and it hurt to speak and swallow. I contacted my GP again. I saw a different doctor who told me that I should have been given a ten-day course of antibiotics to treat a sore throat rather than a seven-day course. I was prescribed a ten-day course of the same medication.
I finished the course on Saturday (May 4th). My throat is enflamed and swollen and I still have a cough. My chest feels burny.
I don’t know why I’m still sick after six weeks and three courses of antibiotics. At a loss. Can anyone help?
I’m 24f, 5’3, 49kg. I have chronic migraine and chronic sinusitis. I take propranolol, fexofenadine and aimovig. I exercise regularly and try to maintain a healthy diet.

She was recently diagnosed with cancer, she has malignant cells in her gland on her neck. She has been extremely scared and overwhelmed and it hurts knowing there is not much I can do.

41F nonsmoker, medical cannabis user (no flame)
I have had chronic pain for years that's only been resolved briefly by a month of steroids, or a month on meloxicam with PT.
I've dealt with TMJ dysfunction after an auto accident age 20, which also broke my femur and it has a rod and nails to this day. By 25 it was no longer mouth guards and muscle relaxers, and I was getting injections in the base of my skull, along my neck, and in my upper back out towards my shoulders. I was told it was saline, and the records are lost. I considered this a drawback of my prior occupation in a call center.
Age 35 my nails were drying out, splitting vertically, and my eyes were beginning to stay irritable. I topped out at 214 pounds and I'm 62 inches tall. I had been taking Saphris and Welbutrin for five years and aside from being sore and exhausted all the time, my lower neck had been consistently tight and burning enough for me to look into CBD. I also switched to Fetzima from Welbutrin, and the muscle cramps were comical.
In 2018 I decided to stop Saphris and use this body. My left hip was always restricted after the auto accident. I didn't understand why and no one suggested additional tests or MRI, or more aggressive PT.
2019 was a big year for me when I took a job on retail, after I hadn't worked for a few years. I had headaches all the time from my eyes and the light, which hadn't been a thing. I had more than 1 migraine per quarter, which was my baseline.
Under the stress of the pandemic I pushed myself. I got my symmetry, ROM, flexibility, balance, and strength back. It was rad, until it wasn't.
I was sweating out my headbands up to twice per shift, drinking 6 bottles of water every day at work. My face was always red. Cold tolerance lowered. My lower back felt awful. I went to see the orthopedic for guidance on do more, do less, do different? 2020 fall I have mild OA of SI joints. 15mg meloxicam and 1 month PT had not only made my back feel really good, but everything else as well that's been sore and irritable for years. We agreed to move to rheumatology.
2021 april: Hypermobility and anti-SSB. My ANA is not clinically positive and has a specked pattern. Long term tolerance to meloxicam is untenable. 18 months on hydroxychloriquine no conclusive relief.
I have had a colonoscopy and endoscopy but I'm not clear on 2020 or 21. Constipation, painful and nauseating, passing a concerning amount of mucus, revealed a 10mm single polyp that was benign. No signs of crohns and otherwise unremarkable aside from "senna abuse" and I quit that stuff the next year. The endoscopy was unremarkable, although I had already known that without prilosec for an unknown period of time that either I will be vomiting or at the very least need to vomit to relieve that episode. Baking soda water worked in my 20s and stopped working by my 30s.
2023 I had been through requested reduced hours, reduced duties, and no social life because once I got home and stopped moving it's like a timer that I had 40 minutes before I could barely move. Days off seemed to be more about recovery than catching up. I would find myself unable to stay awake in the middle of the day and the naps are always 4 ½ hours. I called out for those flares but they just kept happening. I felt like I was on fire every time my temp lowered to 97°. To be fair to my coworkers and myself, I quit that job. I tried to work regular hours at a different place that didn't have a 40 lb all day requirement, and within 3 weeks I was done. I couldn't think. I couldn't drive because of my head being so fuzzy. I didn't have access to water all shift and maybe it had something to do with it, but I quit.
The next month I started doing Rick Simpson Oil. It felt like I cleared the junk out of my head finally from all my medications. Now I've been thinking more, taking notes, and seeing how deep this goes. I've lowered so much of my stress with therapy and become more creative, and while all that has helped I am still sick.
December 23 my LDL was 195 and I was put on 10 mg rosuvastatin. I will say I know what happened there. I doubled down on foods I knew I could eat once I confirmed adult onset allergies. Sunflower seeds and undercooked/uncooked eggs are a no go. I also have an allergy to chlorhexadine.
I have tender points in so many places like near the elbows, shoulders, around my head, my neck is awful. My legs have them around the knees, thighs, hips, top and sides of my butt, face in front of the ears.
This year I screwed up my left shoulder with a labral tear. Physical therapy was fixing it, until it wasn't. Everything seemed well with strength and motion but then intense pain down my arm that was hurting my elbow as well. Mri showed biceps tendonotis, and I got a cortisone shot. Life was good. My neck felt better and the two recurrent knots in my left shoulder blade were much looser. Back to physical therapy, and after 1 week it's going to hell again. I have other tendons down that arm feeling like bruises from a car wreck but they are no larger than a thumbprint and no one can see them.
I've left my legs alone before they are too tender. I tried the theragun on them tonight and remembered why I don't. I asked who the pain specialists were in the practice, and now I'm here.
Current medications Lamictal, effexor, adderall D3 5000ui, chelated potassium, garden of life probiotics for colon health and their raw one women vitamin Zyrtec, prilosec twice daily (laryngeal reflux) 10 mg Crestor. As needed 350 mg soma, tessalon 100mg, cannabis Flonase, Astepro (laryngeal reflux) to keep my voice Restasis hurts my eyes for the entire day, not just application, and was discontinued after 5 weeks. My glands aren't dead and we're going to treat them manually at the next visit.
Continued concerns are my toes. I get chilblains in the winter while constantly wearing bombas slippers. The outer edge of my toes next to the pinky randomly numb out and are very uncomfortable. My big toe goes numb halfway down the nail bed randomly. Days where I cannot control my body temperature, I stay under the covers shivering until I pass out as soon as I'm warm... Then it's usually the 4 ½ hour snooze. My limbs are always affected. I have had a shawl in bed the last few years for the on then off with the cold shoulders.
I get zaps through my knuckles when trying to massage my arms with glides. I use Epiderm for a barrier on my face. It's been known to feel on fire and get a rash from my own sweat or tears. I will have some small degree of rash or tiny pinpoint hives here and there throughout the day on my hands unless I diligently moisturize. My cuticles recede the same without care. Wounds heal more slowly because everything seems to itch and I accidentally forget about them and catch them in a scratch. Coconut oil to the groin or the itching starts. Coconut oil in my ear canals as well.
Exclusionary Cardiovascular okay. Treadmill stress good. Echo good. Ekg good. Cholesterol within normal levels. 25 pound weight loss in 4 months and complete cbc okay from march '24.
If I'm missing anything pertinent lmk. 175 pounds. No oral contraceptive. Regular mentrual cycle. Bursitis 2x left hip. I started screaming after I woke up to either bursitis or tendonitis at the right hip last week, and the follow up from the mri last week will be Wednesday. Xray unremarkable.
Cervical unremarkable, slight bulge and osteophites. Thorasic unremarkable slight curvature and osteophites. Lumbar as presented earlier in post. All have recommended MRI/specialist.
This issue doesn't track for celebrex or tramadol, but the screaming incidents response to tramadol.

Some good scan news for once after 3 months of crazy since diagnosis in Feb.
I was ugly crying! My heart felt like it was thumping out of my chest when results first hit my chart.
38 years old, ++- and BRCA2 carrier with widespread bone mets - I’ve been on Verzenio since March 7th - switched from Tamoxifen to Anastrazole after removal of ovaries - this is follow up PET scan results after 2 cycles of my first line:
HEAD AND NECK: Numerous hypermetabolic osseous lesions are greatly decreased in conspicuity since prior exam. Most conspicuous lesion on today's exam is in the C2 vertebra, currently showing maximum SUV of 7.5, previously 14. CT images redemonstrate numerous lytic osseous lesions. Several of the osseous lesions which were definitely hypermetabolic on prior exam are no longer visible on today's PET images. Bilaterally symmetric uptake in both lobes of the thyroid gland appears diffuse, increased from prior, suggesting nonspecific thyroiditis. Uptake within lower LEFT cervical lymph nodes on prior exam has resolved. CHEST: Uptake within innumerable lytic osseous lesions as decreased in size, conspicuity and intensity since prior exam. Example lesion in the RIGHT clavicular head currently shows maximum SUV of 3.5, previously 8.6. Multifocal uptake in the LEFT breast and multiple hypermetabolic LEFT axillary lymph nodes on prior exam have greatly improved. Axillary lymph nodes have significantly decreased in size, currently showing maximum SUV of 4.9, previously 15. Heterogeneous uptake in the visualized proximal portion of the humeri bilaterally has also improved. ABDOMEN AND PELVIS: Hypermetabolic uptake within innumerable lytic osseous lesions in the lumbar spine, pelvis and visualized proximal portions of both femora has decreased. Some sclerosis has developed at the sites of numerous lytic bone lesions, compatible with healing response. Uptake otherwise normal. Foci of abnormal soft tissue uptake described on prior report are not present on today's study. IMPRESSION: 1. Decreased uptake within widespread osseous metastases, compatible with favorable partial response to treatment. Decreased uptake also present within soft tissue findings in the LEFT breast, LEFT axilla and lower LEFT cervical lymph node since prior exam, also compatible with favorable disease response. See above for details. No findings of disease progression.

I have a couple slightly enlarged lymph nodes in my neck that I had an ultrasound on (they also did an ultrasound on my thyroid) and these are the results. I understand everything except the HS:Y part. I struggle severely with health anxiety & have worried about lymphoma. My doctor didn’t seem concerned after these results but I’d still like to understand what it means.
Ultrasound Findings:
“TECHNIQUE: Ultrasound of the thyroid and posterior to the right auricle COMPARISON: None FINDINGS: The thyroid gland is normal in size and echogenicity. The right lobe is 5.3 x 1.0 x 1.6 cm pedal level is 5.2 x 0.9 x 1.7 cm. The isthmus is 0.2 cm. No discrete nodule. In the posterior right neck there are small lymph nodes measuring 1.1 and 1.2 cm that corresponds to the area of palpable abnormality. IMPRESSION: 1. 2 small lymph nodes correspond to the area of palpable abnormality. 2. Otherwise an unremarkable thyroid ultrasound. HS: Y End of Report”

Hey guys! I've been experiencing headaches for several years (5years) I've been to numerous appointments, scans, M.R.I's and everything checks out pretty good. The only thing they've noticed is my transverse sinus veins are small and I have a 4.6mm cyst on my pineal gland. I've also been experiencing terrible ear problems. Such as: •fullness •ear pain •ringing in the ear •drainage •hearing disturbance •crunching sounds when I swallow I've mentioned this to my PC multiple times about these issues, with a quick look and a "they're fine" I'm NOT a doctor, but the pain is deep in my ear. I don't think you will be able to see where the pain in coming from. Sometimes it'll go down my neck. (Both ears) I still haven't seen an E.N.T for these issues. I've been searching everywhere to find this particular symtom, with no luck!
WHEN I STAND UP, MY HEARING GOES IN AND OUT! There's no other way to explain it, other than when you was a kid and would put your hands over your ears in the cafeteria and block the sound on and off. BUT, It's slow and in tune to my heart beat. I also get lightheaded during the process. It's only when I stand, or when I change positions in bed. It freaks me out! (Another example is, put your fingers in both ears and block and unblock your ears the sound you hear is what I hear everytime I stand up or change positions). Also....I'm 29yr Female...
What should I do? I'm desperate and need answers.
Has ANYONE experienced/experiencing this?

Hello! I am officially 4 days free from B\P, after almost 20 years and I have some questions for those that have recovered.
Firstly; I have read a lot of “what this will do you your body over time” if you continue to have it but I’m so so curious to know if there are any “can’t you wait to get this back!?” For instance
No more swollen glands in your neck that give you moon face No more hair loss The brightness in your eyes will come back Your color will come back You won’t look so tired all of the time You will save a tremendous amount of money You’ll have so much free time to do other things you are passionate about You’ll FIND your passion Etc.
Then secondly, any helpful foods that don’t cause major bloating, that I can keep introducing?
Thank you so much friends!!!!

Hiiii,
I just wanted to share my surgery experience because I’ve read so many on here and I’m hoping my story will help answer questions or ease anxiety/fear for someone in the future. At the moment I’m on day 5 post Total Thyroidectomy for Graves disease so if you have any questions comment below and I will share my experience.
Going into the surgery I was quite nervous however my endo made sure my levels were stable before the surgery and referred me to an amazing surgeon who specializes in parathyroid surgery. Finding a good surgeon was important to me because it minimizes chances of complications. My surgery happened early at around 10 AM and I’m happy about that because I had to fast all morning and I wanted to get it over with as soon as possible. I was in the pre-op room at around 8 AM where they got me ready with the IV needle in my hand (honestly the most painful part lol) and I answered some health related questions. I then spoke with my surgeon followed by my anaesthesiologist who guided me to the operating room. That was the hardest part for me because I was really scared of the operating room however my surgery team were a group of angels and they put me at ease. After going under in the blink on an eye I woke up in recovery! I felt fine with no pain other than a slight sore throat. I then slept for a couple more hours, woke up and had some water and ice chips which really helped. My doctor then came to see me and told me that he saved three of my parathyroid glands and that they are doing testing for calcium levels. My voice was a bit hoarse and I developed a bit of a sore throat as the pain killers wore off but my vocal chords were undamaged. I was prescribed some pain killers and calcium and sent home with my family after 6 hours. Ever since I got home I ate a soft diet of soup and freshly squeezed juices and I gradually returned to my regular diet and increased hardness of foods 3/4 days post op! I even showered on day 3 and didnt need any more pain killers after day 2 which was SHOCKING to me!
My experience has mostly been general throat discomfort, neck soreness, and fatigue (cant overexert) but I am pleased with my recovery so far. It is going by smoother than I expected and I’m healing fine. The only thing that has been tough was sleeping with my head elevated until the swelling reduced for the first 4 days. My neck and shoulders were sore but it’s manageable with some light neck stretching in the morning. Also I had a bit of phlegm on day 2 which was a bit annoying but that also resolved after a day or two. My voice is almost fully back but gets tired and raspy with overuse of my vocal chords.
If you are planning on getting a Thyroidectomy for graves disease and have any questions don’t hesitate to ask and more importantly, you got this! While there are things to consider and complications that could arise, finding a surgeon who does many thyroidectomies will reduce these complications significantly. I hope this info helps!
Here is a little list of what I prepped before my surgery:

• Button down pyjama tops
• Lozenges
• Noodle pillow & comfy pillows
• Straws for ease of drinking
• Soup, jello, ice cream, pudding, fresh juice

Hi, I had bloods done in october which showed TSH 0.80miU/L and then in April it was 3.38miU/L which is still within the normal range so the doctor has said it’s normal however, i have had normal periods since February and now my last period was march and that was a 41 day cycle and now I’m on day 46 since and nothing. My prolactin is high also so being sent for a MRI to check my pituitary gland however i looked into the symptoms of hypothyroidism and i feel like a lot of them resinate.

• constipation (although this has been a many years issue so probably not related)
• tiredness constantly
• muscles cramps - in my ankles & legs
• muscle aches - my arms randomly hurt and i get pains my hands
• brittle nails - they snap all the time
• irregular periods

Do you think i could potentially have this or am i trying to self diagnose to talk myself out of having a pituitary tumour?
Id like to add that i also get pains in the front of my neck sometimes which is a bit strange.
Does hypothyroidism cause high prolactin or is that unrelated?
Is it normal for the blood tests to fluctuate that much in 6 months?
Not that it probably matters but i’m 9 months postpartum and did not breastfeed.
Thank you for listening!

First three pics are of me post chin and the last three are pre chin.
Please don’t laugh I think I might have something seriously wrong with me.
I have a lot of face swelling and a mass under my neck that is hard and very painful like I am being stabbed by a knife in my jaw and neck every day.
I’ve always had somewhat of a skinny face even when I weighed more than I do right now my face was still skinnyish. But this past year I have suddenly grown a double chin despite hardly gaining much more weight than the before photos.
If it was fat that would be fine I’m just worried that it’s something wrong with me based on the reasons above.
I have resorted to taking drugs daily to deal with the pain I am in! I don’t care about looking different I only am skeptical at the sudden change of only a year and am pretty shocked at a recent video of my face my friend took of me while I was laughing and how visible my extra chin is getting so I know its not all in my head.
I don’t know if this is lymph nodes or salivary glands or what would be causing that?
I’ve been really sick all year and multiple rounds of intravenous antibiotics that don’t work on me anymore. This makes me wonder if I could have an infection but I really have no idea. I have two massive lumps in my jaw and then all the surroundings lymph nodes are also swollen.
Would anyone have any ideas? Please help lol

Here's another chapter. This one's later than usual and it's totally my fault. I watched the Fallout TV show and had to play New Vegas every second of my free time for several days straight. Such is life. Anyways, enjoy!
[First] [Previous] [Next]
The Nature of Predators Universe was originally created by u/SpacePaladin15.
Content Warning: Isaac has another panic attack in this chapter.
Chapter Ten: Putting a Krakotl in Silent Mode
Memory Transcription Subject: Raksim
Date [standardized human time]: October 29th, 2136
Contrary to the Federation’s dogma, predators are not stealthy or deceptive. In actuality, they’re quite easy to track. They don’t erase their footprints; they leave fur or feathers everywhere, and they don't make any effort to mask their scent. If those methods of finding them fail, you can always set one of their dens on fire. The mewling calls of the little ones inside will draw the parents into the open, where they’re much easier to exterminate.
Arxur are similarly easy to stalk, not because of their simple-mindedness–like their nonsapient ilk–but due to their arrogance. Every one of them, even the skinny and maltreated lower ranks, thinks of themselves as superior in every way to their prey. Thus, they don’t temper themselves. They move loudly, talk flagrantly, and don’t pay very much attention to their surroundings. Arxur commanders are especially easy to identify, they love shouting orders at the top of their lungs and abusing their subordinates.
At several points during my career, me and my exterminators have followed arxur for [kilometers] and fell upon them when they dropped their guard. If you are out of sight and downwind, you might as well be intangible to them.
I didn’t have to use any of my previous knowledge to find Isaac. He was screaming and cursing so loudly that I could hear him through the forest’s canopy, even with the wind rushing past my ears. I used the noise as a beacon to glide high and fast in his approximate direction.
I should have trained my eyes on the ground, but the vast landscape that stretched out before me naturally drew them. Trees sheltered the ground all the way to the horizon, occasionally broken up by a road, river, or quaint little dwelling. Some retained their verdant colors; others were turning fiery red, warm shades of orange, or yellow as the seasons changed. It wasn’t too different from the algae blooms that occasionally turned Nishtal’s brackish waters into a canvas of swirling, ever-changing color. The life I led had brought me to dozens of planets, possibly hundreds. All of them were beautiful in their own way.
Another string of expletives exploded from the forest floor. This time, it seemed to be coming from directly below me. I tipped my wings and spiraled downward until I met a branch that was sturdy enough to support my weight.
I listened closely and detected leaves rustling beneath me, accompanied by heavy, panting breaths. I peered through the crisscrossing tree limbs and spotted movement on the forest floor. I hopped and fluttered from branch to branch in pursuit of it, only stopping once I had an unobstructed view of Isaac.
He stopped his advance not far from a river I caught sight of while in the air. He paced back and forth like a cornered animal, agitation growing with every step until he tore the helmet off his head and threw it against an evergreen, producing a crack that echoed across the river. He stomped up to the same tree and beat it with his fists until the energy and rage drained from his body. He collapsed with his back resting against the trunk, whipped the padded gloves off his hands, and ran his fingers through the short fur on his head. I couldn’t see Isaac’s face, but the shaky breaths that met my ears made it obvious that he was crying.
I wasn’t equipped for handling such an emotional situation, so I remained on my perch for several [minutes] until the Lieutenant steadied himself enough to close his eyes and rested his head against the bark behind him.
I silently glided to Isaac’s tree and stepped down the limbs until I was just [2 meters] above his head. Then, I let myself fall forward while maintaining my grip on the branch below me. I ended up hanging upside down by my feet. The action was completely silent, save for the faint scraping of my talons against the bark. It didn’t draw the Lieutenant's attention, so I whistled to him.
Isaac quickly opened his eyes and scanned the forest around him.
“Up here, Lieutenant.”
His eyes tracked upward. “What are you doing, old man?”
“Just hanging out, as you humans say.” I clacked my beak together twice to punctuate the joke.
My pitiful attempt at injecting levity bore fruit. For the briefest moment, the corners of Isaac’s mouth twitched upward into a smile, but he suppressed it just as quickly as it appeared and stared at the ground between his legs.
I snapped my beak to get his attention. “There’s no point in brooding! Get up!”
“And do what, old man?! I just assaulted one of my soldiers!” he shouted back.
“You avoided being arrested once. With a little thinking, you can do it again, unless you want to swim across that river and disappear into the woods forever.”
His gaze shifted to the sandbar on the other side of the waterway.
“That was also a joke. I won’t let you do that.”
“You're not very funny,” he said morosely.
“I think I’m hysterical, but that might be due to the blood rushing to my head. Would you kindly catch me?”
“What?”
“Catch me!” I let go of the branch and landed softly in Isaac’s arms rather than on the hard, unforgiving ground. I rolled out of his embrace and stood on my own two feet. “Thank you.”
After an awkward pause, Isaac stood as well. He gathered up the training gear he had scattered around during his breakdown and looked at me expectantly.
“Lead the way, Lieutenant. You know the terrestrial route better than me.”
Isaac sighed and hesitantly set off through the trees.
“How are you planning to get out of this one?” I asked as I walked alongside him.
“I don't know,” he said with his gaze set firmly forward.
“The Colonel is quite xenophobic. It could be useful to appeal to that bias.”
Isaac glared down at me.
“It was just a suggestion. If you are unable or unwilling to do such a thing, it would be no problem for me. In fact, I find being racist rather easy.”
He rolled his eyes and looked forward again, falling silent as he pondered what to do next. The forest was all I could hear–trees rustling, other avian creatures whistling, and leaves crunching under our feet…
“Not to interrupt your thinking, but how did you get so good at bayonet fighting?”
Isaac chuckled to himself. “In my old unit, we alleviated our boredom by making pugil sticks out of whatever we could find and beating the crap out of each other.
“You beat each other regularly for amusement? Humans truly are savages!” I exclaimed sarcastically.
Another eye roll. “No one ever got seriously hurt.”
“That’s not very reassuring. Care to explain why you’re serving with us instead of these men?”
“No,” the Lieutenant said with a finality that signaled the end of our conversation.
My question was admittedly brazen, but it's best to take the most direct route first when looking for an answer. If I had to pry further to learn more about Isaac and hopefully understand his extreme bouts of fear and anger, then so be it. I was up to such a challenge.
As we crossed the forest’s threshold back into civilization, all eyes were on us. The Platoon Sergeant's gaze was particularly disdainful, but the most important set of eyes were those of the Colonel and the Captain. Rainach directed a menacing stare at us while Andrews looked directly forward and tried to project a calm image of herself. But her wringing hands portrayed her anxiety.
The sergeants had organized four separate sparring matches while we were away. The participants, both human and alien, were making slow and half-hearted jabs at each other. The officers’ encouragement, which came in the form of shouting, wasn’t having any effect. It would seem that the Lieutenant's outburst put a damper on everyone’s spirits.
Isaac dropped the gear he carried in a pile and called them to attention. “Two people in this group will be able to go to bed two hours early; whichever alien wins the most matches, and whichever human wins the most. I’ll let you decide who it’s going to be.”
The competitors eyed each other with equal parts suspicion and determination. A gojid broke the tension by tackling his sparring partner to the ground and plunging the red side of his pugil stick into the human’s stomach. The Russians that surrounded them cheered, and the sparring matches started up again with much more enthusiastic participants this time.
If I had to make one compliment to the Lieutenant, he had a talent for motivating people. The opportunity to earn extra sleep, combined with chronic sleep deprivation, could turn soulmates into the bitterest of rivals.
Isaac surveyed his men and allowed himself a small smile before trudging toward his superiors the same way a PD patient does on the way to electroshock therapy. Nedelin positioned himself within earshot of the conversation while keeping his eyes on the sparring match he was monitoring.
“Care to explain what the fuck is going on here, Lieutenant?” Rainach spat.
Andrews gave Isaac a pleading look, trying to prevent him from saying anything unwise.
Isaac’s response was astonishingly evasive. “Just a training incident, sir,”
He pointed at Kaero. “You mean to tell me that was an accident?” One of her eyes had swollen shut, and green blood trickled from her nose. Daego was shining a light in her other eye, much to her annoyance.
“Incident, not accident. Sometimes we need to remind the xenos of their place; you know how it is,” Isaac said with a forced smile.
Rainach was silent for a moment before he broke into a snarl as well. “Lieutenant, that is the biggest load of bullshit I’ve ever heard in my life.”
Isaac’s face fell. “Sir?”
“I already know you’re a xeno-fucker. You put them in thigh-highs for God’s sake.”
Isaac’s face twisted like he wanted to burst out laughing and scream with frustration at the same time. At the edge of my peripheral vision, I spotted Nedelin trying and failing to hide a snicker.
“Nonetheless,” I interjected, “this problem is that yotul’s making. The Lieutenant was taking disciplinary action.”
The Colonel glared at me. “We’ll see if that primitive says the same thing. Medic, get your ass over here!”
Kaero tried to shoo her sister away, but Daego signaled her stubborn refusal to leave with her ears. The older sister huffed and made her way over while the younger of the two waited.
“What-” The yotul began at an unusually high pitch. She plugged one of her nostrils, ejected a clot of green blood out of the other, and started again with her voice back to normal. “What is it?”
The Colonel’s face twisted with disgust. “Explain what led up to your incident with Lieutenant Yankovic.”
She wiped the remaining blood off her nose with the back of her paw. “Me and him had a disagreement and decided to settle it in the ring.”
“How did that escalate?”
“I may have dropped-kicked him,” she replied indifferently.
“And that’s when it turned into a fistfight?
“Yes.”
“So you agree that you were the one who escalated?”
Kaero’s eyes flicked to her Lieutenant for a moment. “I’d say it was a mutual effort… but I’m the one who’s most responsible.”
Rainach turned to Isaac. “Tell you what, Lieutenant–since your bird wasn’t lying–I’ll go easy on you. You, your advisor, and your Platoon Sergeant are going to an anger management program tomorrow morning to improve your conflict resolution skills. Any further discipline is up to your Captain’s discretion.”
Isaac froze in place, save for his jaw. It twitched and made a series of unintelligible syllables before suddenly snapping shut and falling silent.
I used his dumbfoundedness as an opportunity to air my grievances about Rainach’s decisions. “Why am I being punished?! Or the Platoon Sergeant, for that matter?! Me and him had nothing to do–”
Isaac suddenly seized my beak and held it shut. I struggled and tried to pull myself out of his grip, but it just caused him to squeeze tighter. He spoke in a low growl through his teeth. “Shut the fuck up, old man.”
Turning my claws on him wasn’t worth the consequences, which would likely involve him snapping my neck, so I huffed through my nostrils to show my disapproval and didn’t make any further efforts to escape.
“Sir, we have a ruck march early tomorrow,” Isaac said while clearly suppressing the urge to strangle either me or the Colonel. “Could we go to anger management on another day?”
“No, I’d want this issue dealt with as soon as possible,” Rainach said with a sadistic smile.
“Understood, sir,” Isaac said with an eye twitch.
With that, the Colonel took his leave of us and started making his way back to his vehicle. As we watched him leave, Isaac’s grip relaxed, allowing me to open my mouth slightly and snake my tongue through the notch in my beak.
Andrews only let out her breath once the Colonel and his driver were well out of view. “Raksim, thank you for bringing him–” She stopped mid-sentence and raised an eyebrow at my tongue hanging halfway out of my mouth.
Her reaction drew Isaac's attention, and I looked him right in the eye as I ran my tongue over his knuckles.
“You fucking cretin!” He shoved my head away from him and wiped the back of his hand on his thigh.
I let out a hiss and shook my wings in a taunting gesture. “You have no right to silence me!”
“I don’t know why, but the Colonel was giving me an out. And I wasn’t going to let you fuck it up and get me arrested!”
“I wouldn’t do that! Do you really think so little of me?”
He was silent for a conspicuously long amount of time.
“Yankovic!” Andrews shouted and earned our attention. She glared at Isaac and drew in a breath to begin her reprimand, but he raised a finger, and the words lodged in her throat.
The Lieutenant turned to Kaero. “Why did you do that?”
“Do what?” the yotul asked.
“Cover for me! You should have told him it was my fault!”
“Why? Like I said, it was a mutual effort. And he called me a primitive, so I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of arresting you.”
“I called you a xeno!”
“I find primitive more offensive.”
Daego sauntered up to us without a word. She snapped her fingers at her sister and pointed at her swollen eye.
“I’m fine,” Kaero said dismissively.
Daego huffed. “Yes, you're the big, tough older sister. Now just let me do my job.”
Kaero pried the swollen eye open, revealing a sclera tainted with green blood. “I’m fine! It’s just swelling and a subconjunctival hemorrhage.”
“It’s your orbital bone I’m worried about, not your eye.”
“It’s not broken, see?” Kaero rolled the injured organ around in its socket.
“You may need a second opinion.”
Andrews tried to cut in. “Yankovic, I need to–”
“I’m sorry, Kaero,” Isaac said over her.
The yotul’s ears flicked with annoyance, and she stood with her arms folded. “I don’t accept your apology, sir.”
He sighed. “That's understandable, but I’d like to know what caused your issue with me in the first place.”
She only spoke after a moment of tense silence. “I hate seeing people hurt. It’s why I became a medic.” Her head suddenly snapped to face her sister. “It’s not broken, but it still hurts when you poke at it!”
“Be quiet. I’m almost finished,” Daego retorted while turning Kaero’s face away from her again. She talked to the Lieutenant as she worked. “We grew up during Leirn’s occupation and saw firsthand what the Federation does to people when they don’t fall in line. We didn’t like it to say the least.”
“But we especially didn’t like it when our people stood by and watched others hurt,” the older sister said while looking right at Isaac with her uninjured eye.
Isaac had difficulty meeting her gaze. “I understand why you’re upset with me now. Once again, I’m sorry, and you don’t have to accept my apology.”
The yotul's ear flicked. “I’m sorry for drop-kicking you.”
“Apology accepted.”
“Isaac!” Andrews shouted.
He jumped on the opportunity to leave the difficult conversation. “Yes, Captain?” He asked with a friendly smile.
“Why can’t I leave you unsupervised for ten minutes?!” I’m already stressed enough managing two other platoons on top of your merry band of misfits! I just want one day where I don’t have to worry about your soldiers needing something ridiculous, or you causing problems, or you and Raksim fighting like children! Can I have peace for one day, please?! One day is all I ask for!” By the time her rant ended, she was panting and tugging at her own hair.
“Do you feel better now?” Isaac asked.
She sucked in a breath through her nose and released it from her mouth. “Yes, sorry.”
“So, what’s my punishment going to be?”
“I haven’t decided yet.”
Kaero’s tail began wagging. “I have an idea, ma’am. Four hundred forty push-ups–double what he made me and my sister do.”
The Captain pondered for a moment before breaking into a snarl. “I like the way you think.” She addressed Isaac with a stern voice. “Drop and start counting. Medic, make sure he does all of them. And if he stops, he has to do all of them over again.”
Isaac accepted his fate with a sigh, dropped to the ground, and started counting out loud.
He was close to fifty when a truck came rumbling down the dirt road to the range and came to a stop near us. Vil thanked her Russian chauffeur and unloaded at the same time as him. She rounded the vehicle's front and stopped in her tracks once she saw the Lieutenant doing push-ups and Kaero’s swollen eye. “What did I miss?”
“I’m sure someone will fill you in,” Andrews answered. “Go rejoin your unit.”
Vil replied with a reluctant “Yes, ma’am” before taking one last concerned look and slinking away.
“Captain,” I whispered discreetly, “we need to speak in private.”
“Of course,” she said in an affable tone. She led me to the other side of the truck Vil returned in, where her friendly demeanor quickly disappeared. “This is about Yankovic,” she stated matter-of-factly.
“How astute of you. I understand you two had a previous relationship.”
Her eyes narrowed. “That’s not something I’m going to discuss with you,” she said coldly.
“I don’t care about any troubles you had,” I growled. “I want to know if he’s had any outbursts like this before.”
She said nothing as she contemplated.
“You have an obligation to answer. He’s been a danger to his subordinates twice now.”
“No. He wasn’t ever violent when we were together.”
“So this is new behavior. But what caused him to change?” I mused aloud.
“Do you know what happened to his old unit?”
“No. The UN gave us documents on all the soldiers under us, but not each other.”
“He was in New York during the bombings.”
I turned both my eyes to face her.
“He’s the only one in his platoon that survived. They were… more close-knit than most units.”
“If that’s the case, he shouldn’t be leading anyone.”
“You’d rather he be in a PD facility?” She asked in an accusatory manner.
And I returned her accusation with a hiss. “I’ve seen what happens to people when they lose everything–dozens of times, after arxur raids. He should be getting help, not the constant bombardment of stress that running this disaster of a platoon causes.”
She let out a beleaguered sigh. “I know, but he’s never had a job outside the military, and I’m afraid he’ll… hurt himself if he’s discharged for being mentally unwell.”
“Do you think that’s a strong possibility?”
She nodded.
“Would seeing one of your ‘psychologists’ help him?”
“He booked Vil into all the available time slots.”
“So he’s self-sabotaging.” I drummed my talons on my beak. “If he won’t help himself, then we need to help him. And, in order to do that, I need to know more about him.”
“You need to ask him yourself.”
“We both know that he won’t yield any answers, especially to me.”
Andrews didn’t speak for a moment. “No, I can't. He’s still my friend, and I won’t talk about him behind his back.”
“You’re letting your personal relationships cloud your judgment. If he has another blowup, it will be your fault.”
“That’s fine with me.”
“It shouldn’t be.” I turned my back to her and walked to the other side of the truck. She only followed after a few [seconds] of what I presumed to be contemplation.
Isaac was on 237 pushups now. His arms were shaking, he struggled for every breath, and sweat soaked his hair. Kaero and Daego were watching and enjoying every moment of his suffering, occasionally stepping on his calves to give him more resistance and make his punishment even worse.
Despite the disagreements I had with the Lieutenant, I couldn’t entertain myself with his agony for very long. I attempted to have a casual conversation, after having so many that day that were tense or irksome. “That was quite an interesting style you had in your first sparring match.” I said to the older of the two yotul. “Some variant of combat dancing, I presume?”
Both of their ears perked up. “Yes,” Kaero answered. “How did you know that?”
“I made a lot of yotul into exterminators, and I learned plenty about your culture when doing so.”
“You mean indoctrinated them,” Daego interrupted, severely reducing any chance this exchange had of being cordial.
“Yes, that’s part of their training,” I replied nonchalantly in an attempt to brush past what she said. “Your form isn’t one I recognize. Judging by your names, that’s because you’re Islanders.”
Kaero cocked her head. “That’s right. Not a lot of people in the Federation take the time to learn about us.”
“You may be primitives,” both of them glared at me, “but your culture is certainly interesting, mostly because everything in the Federation is so homogenized. But it isn’t my favorite thing about your species; that would be how useful you people are. Give a yotul any task, and they will rise to it just to spite those who think them inferior, whether it be exterminating, some kind of mechanical work, or becoming medical professionals such as yourselves.”
“Thanks,” Kaero said halfheartedly. “It’s good to know we’re useful.”
A sharp whistle suddenly cut through the air, calling everyone’s attention to Nedelin. “We are switching tasks now, everyone! Listen to your sergeants!”
The drill sergeants showed their acknowledgement with a nod, and the Russian sergeant in charge of the firing range responded to Nedelin’s order by holding two thumbs up in the air.
“Try not to cause any more trouble, idiot,” Daego said while drawing her sister into a hug.
Kaero returned the embrace. “I can’t make any promises.”
The younger sister’s tail wagged. “I know, but I’ll always be there to fix you up.” And with that, she rejoined the half of the platoon that was at the gun range.
The drill sergeants halted any sparring matches that were still in motion while one of them barked out orders. “Take off any training gear you might be wearing, collect your weapons, and line up for inspection! Put your bayonets back in their scabbards and keep them there for the rest of the day!”
After a quick tally, Grigoryev was determined to be one of the winners of the Lieutenant's contest. The victor’s position for the aliens, however, was a three-way tie and they weren’t brave enough to ask for his solution while he was being punished.
At the gun range, the Russian sergeant ordered the soldiers under him to unload their weapons and personally checked to make sure they had done so. Then, he pulled them far behind the firing line with only their Kalashnikovs in hand and performed a ‘brass and ammo shakedown’ with the help of his subordinates. The lower ranks turned their pockets inside out. If that wasn’t possible, the sergeants scanned for any contraband by brushing against the pocket with the back of their hand.
One of the officers had a bright idea. When he performed his searches, he took into account the differing anatomy of the aliens. He used a stick to dislodge several spent casings that ejected into the gojids’ quills. When he searched Daego, he swept his hand over her stomach, where her pouch would be. He repeated the action several times before slowly meeting her eyes with his. “What is in your pouch, Medic?! Are you hiding something?!
“No, sir. Those are mammary glands,” Daego said nonchalantly.
The sergeant turned red-faced and jerked his hand back like her abdomen was a hot stove. “Forgive me! I didn’t know–”
His fellow Russians burst into laughter and drowned him out. Isaac tried his best to resist, but the mirthful convulsions that wracked his body eventually collapsed him into the grass.
I, however, didn’t understand what made mammalian biology so funny.
[First] [Previous] [Next]

I was told I had to get the Mirena about 1.5 years ago due to having found endometrial hyperplasia cells in some uterine polyps they removed. I was told Mirena was my only option to stop this condition from progressing, potentially leading to cancer and/or needing a hysterectomy.
I’d never been on any form of birth control before and never wanted to be for fear of messing with my hormones but felt I was given no choice. The doctors all assured me the hormones were “localised” and would have no effects on me.
Immediately after insertion I started breaking out in weird places I’d never had acne before, especially all along both sides of my neck around where the glands are. I became so foggy brained and unable to focus that I went and got tested and diagnosed with ADHD and my psych said progesterone definitely makes ADHD worse. I’ve gained weight. My anxiety has increased. I feel like I look less youthful. The only positive, and it’s a big one, is for the first time in my life not having horrible, painful heavy periods that would come around every 14-20 days. But I’m not sure anymore if the positive outweighs the negative. And I’m worried if I stay on it longer than I have my body will take longer to readjust.
Has anyone removed the Mirena after a relatively short period of time? If so, did you experience a crash?

I was told I had to get the Mirena about 1.5 years ago due to having found endometrial hyperplasia cells in some uterine polyps they removed. I was told Mirena was my only option to stop this condition from progressing, potentially leading to cancer and/or needing a hysterectomy.
I’d never been on any form of birth control before and never wanted to be for fear of messing with my hormones but felt I was given no choice. The doctors all assured me the hormones were “localised” and would have no effects on me.
Immediately after insertion I started breaking out in weird places I’d never had acne before, especially all along both sides of my neck around where the glands are. I became so foggy brained and unable to focus that I went and got tested and diagnosed with ADHD and my psych said progesterone definitely makes ADHD worse. I’ve gained weight. My anxiety has increased. I feel like I look less youthful. The only positive, and it’s a big one, is for the first time in my life not having horrible, painful heavy periods that would come around every 14-20 days. But I’m not sure anymore if the positive outweighs the negative. And I’m worried if I stay on it longer than I have my body will take longer to readjust.
Has anyone removed the Mirena after a relatively short period of time? If so, did you experience a crash?

I am 16 and female and currently for the past 3 weeks have been dealing with the swelling of multiple lymph nodes. I first noticed a lymph node on my neck (which is the biggest one out of them all) when I got covid over a month ago but, I brushed it off due to being sick. Around 3 weeks ago I noticed it again when I was washing my face with how tender and bigger it had gotten and the fact it was still there. I then noticed I had two more on the same side and then that's when I told my Mum to make an appointment for the doctors. The doctor said we'll just get an ultrasound and do a blood test as I had no other significant symptoms and said she doesn't think its related to having covid. I brought up how there were points where it hurt to swallow or my throat felt sore randomly throughout the day but she didn't think anything of it. I also mentioned how I did get a belly button piercing right after I healed from covid and it started to seem infected during the time I noticed how there were more lymph nodes on my neck due to it being more sore and pus coming out of it when I clean it. My doctor gave me antibiotics for it but said she doesn't think it's related to it either.
After getting my ultrasound results it shows how they are swollen but we still do not know what is causing it since it didn't show anything to do with my salivary glands and my blood tests came back fine. I mention how I have more popped up now and how the antibiotics for my piercing didn't seem to do anything and now instead of taking Cephalexin 500 mg she has prescribed me Amoxicillin/Clavulanic Acid 500/125. But, she said she was concerned with how the Cephalexin didn't also help with lymph nodes because it should've. Due to her concern she has made me get another blood test to test for other things and I am now scheduled in for a an appointment with a haematologist and oncologist next week.
I currently have 11 swollen lymph nodes. 4 on my neck, 2 under my chin, 2 infront of my ear, 2 behind my ear and 1 on the back of my head. And more just keep popping up. Everything is starting to catch up to my realisation as I had a bit of a cough here and there not long ago but now I have it often due to now having a sore throat straight for the past 2 days. My ears are also pretty blocked today all fo a sudden. I have also been having borderline diarrhoea for the past 2 weeks but now today I just had straight diarrhoea. Any advice or reassurance on what could be causing this would be really appreciated as this is all really taking a toll on my mental health because this year so far has not been it. Earlier this year I was in and out of the hospital due to having kidney stones which they don't know what's causing them and my appointment with a urologist was postponed due to me catching covid. I am also now at the risk of failing year 11 due to my attendance being below 90% because of the amount of time I've been missing out on school. I keep facing troubles with my health and it's absolute torture with having health anxiety since I was a little kid and feeling like the odd kid whose not normal.
Not knowing what is causing this all is making me get so annoyed with myself and also angry because what if I'm just wasting my time going around on a wild goose chase with different appointments and all it takes to get better is to take out my belly piercing because my body is just stupid and annoying and never wants to react normally to things and then I have to deal with the aftermath of having wasted all my money on it and my health and then have an ugly scar there forever and then the chance of a keloid growing over it because that's what happened with both my ear piercings OR somehow now I've just developed a chronic illness due to covid because of course I'd just be apart of that 1%! :)

So I got an MRI scan for an issue of inflation right behind my ear, and results show a bunch of medical stuff I do not understand. Could a doctor please explain this to me and tell me what this means and what the future will look like? Thank you in advance. I only pasted important parts, and did not receive images(sorry.)
History: Evaluate swelling anterior inferior to right ear in region of parotid gland, cyst versus vascular malformation. Neck mass**Right parotid mass.

1. 1.2 x 2.2 x 1.7 cm right parotid gland lesion as discussed above. This is suspicious for a high flow vascular malformation. If indicated MRA of the neck with TRICKS imaging could be performed for further characterization.
   1. No pathologic lymphadenopathy identified.

Salivary Glands: There is focal heterogeneity involving the superior aspect of the right parotid gland. This area roughly measures 1.2 x 2.2 x 1.7 cm. It demonstrates overall increased T2 signal. It also demonstrates areas of decreased signal which may be related to vascular flow voids or calcifications/phleboliths. This does not have the appearance of a well-defined mass. There appear to be draining veins within the adjacent subcutaneous tissues. No definite arterial feeding vessel is identified. The remaining right parotid gland is unremarkable in appearance. There are no adjacent inflammatory changes.

Age: 18, Weight: 151 pounds Male Smoking Status: vaping nicotine usually a couple times a day on weekdays and marijuana regularly
Current Medical: Allergies Previous: Asthma in my young childhood years
Diet: high protein and nutritious diet
Exercise: Sports and Weightlifting regularly
Went to AZ for a week came back to Massachusetts, took a week break off substances. I noticed when I have small bumps and lumps around my head and one on my neck, the bumps on my bed itch and feel like bug bites but the lump doesn’t hurt unless I poke and prod it. I also have a couple under my jaw that I heard an are the parotid glands. Any help would be appreciated thank you!

Does anyone else get a numb/tingling feeling in the spot of your neck that sinks in? its the little hole right above collar bones in the middle of the neck, i guess close to the thyroid glands? its so uncomfortable it makes me want to crawl out of my skin!! and my pulse in that area is abnormally strong, is this normal?? i want to rip my throat out