Both sides of neck swelling above collarbone

Several days ago I notices an enlarged area on my left side, above my clavical, but closer to the top of my shoulder.  I have a similar area on the right side, but it is smaller.  I am 49 years old, and was diagnosed with Hashi's 23 years ago.  I went to see the doctor today - actually saw the CRNP.  He ordered MANY blood tests.  He agreed that it could be from weight gain, but he won't attribute it to that until he rules out everything else he can think of.  He does not believe it is thyroid related.  I've read over most of the 21 other pages of posts.  Something I am wondering......many of the posts list thyroid problems.  Are you taking Synthroid or levothyroxin?  I have always taken Synthroid.  Over the 23 years, my thyroid dose has always increased.  Recently, the doctor found it necessary to reduce my dosage.  In the process, I was accidentally switched over to levothyroxin.  I had tried it many years ago, and I didn't feel well taking it.  It didn't seem to work at all for me.  This time I felt fine on it, so I have been taking it for about 4 months.  I am wondering if the different medication could be causing the swelled areas?  The doctor does not believe it is lymph nodes.  He cannot feel anything.  Many of you describe a 'gel pack'.  I don't seem to feel that.  Mine is just a general swelling, which feels soft and squishy.  I have not taken any steroids for several years.  I have been taking paxil and metoprolol for several years.  I am overweight, so I do not deny that it could simply be fatty deposits.  The previous posts just made me wonder about the medication connection.........

I agree with you as the lymph glands at our clavicles are not ing properly. I'm getting lymph drainage massages 2x week & have a bunch of exercises to do each day. AND DRINK PLENTY OF WATER, WATER, WATER TO HELP THE LYMPH SYSTEM WORK. And more water after the massages. best to you.

I am on levothyroxin too. The dose has been steady for about eight years. I'm not sure but I would describe mine as swellings - tender ones as that. I'm not sure what people mean by 'gel packs' perhaps it's an appearance thing? My swellings came up when I was 32 and on no medication at all - I had though just battled a bad virus, which had made me very sick for over a month. If you think about it, that would be the time my immune system was full noise, the lymph glands flat out fighting bugs and IF I had this Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, and there was a problem clearing the lymph fluid, that would be the time it would show up. And it did. Shortly after that I got diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis, so my immune system would be working over time, the lymph system would be in overdrive, the backlog would get worse and the swelling would increase - and it did. Right now my disease is very active - having a nice munch on my hands, feet and I think its having a bash at my lungs as I am having some breathing issues....and the swelling is the worst it has ever been. Why don't you try seeing someone like a massage therapist or Osteopath who knows the feeling of fat and of swelling under their hands, like this lass I saw this week, and ask her to feel the area and tell you what she thinks? But seriously, look at other people. How many others do you see with that? Not many. And on one side - there are not many lopsided fat people! You know your own body - what do you think? Did that last donut really just settle ALL on your clavicle?

Thank you. After all the reading I have been doing, it makes sense that with autoimmune diseases, our immune systems will be also putting our lymphatic systems under pressure because they work harder than other peoples - always fighting ourselves. No wonder that is one common denominator with us. Perhaps the thyroid link is the hormone pathway? Location? Haven't figured that one and can't find anything in what I have read yet - still digging....

I have felt generally unwell fora few years now. Extremely fatigued, body aches, insomnia, brain fog.... I am 43, have 2 kids, and have had no real illness except for a few colds and sinus issues, and a uterine fibroid until 2011. In August of 2011 at my yearly exam gynocologist found that my uterine fibroid that I had for several years took a growth spurt. All of my symptoms were put on hold so we could deal with this issue. I had a couple rounds of depo lupron to shrink the tumor to make a smaller incision for surgery. Partial hysterectomy in Dec 2011 and lost my mom 9 days later. Ever since then doctors have tried to treat me for depression with the symptoms I listed above. Until recently. I was convinced it was hormone/menopause related but my gyn said no way- I still had my ovaries. I knew SOMETHING wasn't right....in January I finally got my gyn to test hormone levels and my TSH was extremely low (.015). FSH was normal. Family doctor ran a whOle battery of tests, confirmed extremely low TSH, and vitamin D deficiency. Recently diagnosed as hyperthyroid with possible Graves Disease. Have been referred to an endocrinologist (3/29). In the meantime family doc ordered RAI uptake (123) and thyroid scan, also an ultrasound. Ultrasound shows multinodular goiter so doc wants another ultrasound. Currently waiting for it to be scheduled. In the middle of all this I have noticed the swelling above both collarbones, kind of gel-like about 2 months ago. Swelling is getting worse and I have pain like a stiff neck. Find myself always clearing my throat like something is stuck in my throat. Still have terribly bad body aches and  many of the symptoms associated with hyperthyroidism and Graves Disease, so basically I am miserable. 

I am glad that my doctors are finally starting to listen to me but do not feel very encouraged. I am always so exhausted and have such brain fog and forgetfulness. I come home most evenings and crawl into bed right after dinner. In all the testing and current diagnosis, as of yet nothing has been prescribed to make me feel better. Guess they are waiting for endocrinologist appt. 

Never been on prednisone or cortisone.

I just want to feel better. My first grandchild is due any day now and I want to be able to enjoy her. 

I am a 32 year old male. For a few months now I have had a gel like swelling above my right clavicle. When I look in pictures it may have been there longer, but I have been leaning out at the gym and started noticing it more.I already suffer from severe anxiety so when I saw this I obviously freaked out. When to the doc and she said it was nothing but would send me for a CT scan with that dye to make me feel better. I did that last Monday and it says I have no mass or legion. She now says to relax. I am rubbing this thing like crazy and feel like I have found little beans that move on my collar bone. I have also been going to the chiro since then and between that and heaving icing it seems to have gone down a little. Especially in the morning. I have also laid off the working out to get this to settle down as well as all the supplements I was taking. Last year at this time I was in a mild car accident and hit from behind and that is where the seat belt lays. Sometime when I get up in the morning that had is numb and a different color due to the circulation. I am just throwing all this out here because I am tired of worrying and not sure if I should take the ct scans word for it.

Definitely look at Thoracic Outlet syndrome (TOS) as a diagnosis. I recently was diagnosed and on the Physical Therapy prescription my doctor indicated that I was to stringently avoid strengthening pecs and abs for now. Any pulling exercises should have elbow in mid-coronal plane.

Your hand being numb and discolored is of concern to me. There are 2 types of TOS: vascular and neurogenic. I have neurogenic. Sounds like you might have vascular. The car accident could have set this all in motion. Do you work in front of a computer? That too will have a negative affect on you. There are postural issues that can be addressed and pretty much alleviated. Guitarists get this too.

Could tos cause the swelling? Has anyone had a Ct scan during a flare up? I had one and docs didn't. "Understand" it. 6 docs have looked at te scan. They say they see fluid but no masses? Anyone else?

Funny you ask. I have worked in IT for 13 years, so yes. In front of a computer is my daily activity. I use the mouse with this hand. Also, I nothiced last year this hurt doing over head shoulder presses.

Please look at the other postings with regards to Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. The stiff neck, the swelling tie out to it. I have it, and I also do have the swelling in the throat and it feels like something is stuck. I sleep slightly upright to quell the feeling. I saw an Ear Nose & Throat doctor who confirmed that all was okay - no gastric reflux - but that maybe the muscle is clenched too tightly and that is what I am feeling. I have neck pain that makes sleeping difficult. I recently went on Gabapentin which has improved my sleep immensely (far better than Ambien which stays in the system and can become habit forming). TOS involves compression of nerves so maybe the goiter is causing it? I hope you find the solution.

Sitting at my desk all day gives me a stiff cramped neck too.

Swelling is part of the diagnosis. For example, my doctor knew immediately, prior to the testing, just by looking at the bi-lateral swelling. On a scale of 1-4, 4 being the greatest, I have a rating of 4++. I am on disability due to the pain due to the compression of the nerves and other irritation (snapping scapula). No matter how I move my body, I have rebound pain. I had shoulder surgery (full thickness tear of rotator cuff) which most likely was caused by the impossible job that anyone has sitting in front of a computer 7+ hours a day not to mention time spent at home. While I think that I have always had good ergonomics with computer usage, I still was physically affected. If anyone has the opportunity to use Dragon Naturally speaking rather than typing, they should do so. Note that the swelling is full time. If there is irritation, there will be inflammation and swelling. I was started on Diclofenac Sodium 100mg, rather than Naprosyn (stomach irritation) and Ibuprofen. Had been on Celebrex. Mine is a worker's comp case. I have requested a special MRI to show the complications of my neck. From what I understand from my doctor, TOS is not understood or "approved" as a valid diagnosis, by a lot of doctors. I would think they would agree on the vascular TOS, but maybe not neurogenic. But SOMETHING is going on with our necks with our lifestyle. I cringe when I see the youngsters at Google or Facebook bent over their devices. Add a car accident here and there, and you are in trouble.

My swelling is above the right clavicle, like a swollen shoulder. Not actually in the throat, but next to the throat. Thoughts?

In reading these posts, I was wondering how I started on this path. Did I just have one side affected, like you do, and it slowly increased because I was doing all the wrong things to help it? I would say that I have had this swelling for 7 years in various stages. The throat issue only (hypopharynx) started in the last couple of years.

Unsure about your "next to throat" description.Too bad we don't have a map of the body to point to.

The swelling is in that area above your clavicle and your trap muscle. You know that kind of empty space, not my actual throat.