Swollen Lymph Nodes

[Emma R.]

Hello my gluten free friends, 

I am 2 years out from diagnosis and doing well. A year prior to having any symptoms I noticed a swollen lymph node. This has been 3ish years ago now. The lymph node currently is still swollen. I recently went back to the doctor for it. They did an ultrasound and found it to have “no suspicious activity and benign in nature”. My doctor said it could have been one of the first signs my body was giving me that I had an autoimmune disorder. She said it may go away eventually or could always stay slightly swollen because of the disease. Has anyone else experienced something similar? I don’t know if I should ask for a biopsy to confirm it’s not cancerous. 
 

Emma 

[Scott Adams]

Your experience with a persistently swollen lymph node is understandable, especially given your autoimmune diagnosis. It’s reassuring that the ultrasound showed no suspicious features and your doctor attributes it to your autoimmune condition—this is actually quite common. Many people with autoimmune disorders (like celiac disease, rheumatoid arthritis, or lupus) report swollen lymph nodes as their immune system remains in a heightened state of activity. Since your node hasn’t changed significantly in years and imaging supports its benign nature, cancer is unlikely, but your concern is valid.

If the node grows, becomes painful, or develops other worrisome changes (like hardness or irregular shape), pushing for a biopsy would be reasonable. However, given your stable history and medical reassurance, monitoring it may be the best approach for now. That said, if anxiety persists, discussing a biopsy with your doctor for absolute peace of mind is never wrong—your comfort matters too. Others in autoimmune communities often share similar stories of "reactive" nodes that linger indefinitely, so you’re not alone. Trust your instincts, but also take comfort in the ultrasound results and your overall stability since diagnosis. Keep your doctor updated if anything shifts!