Both sides of neck swelling above collarbone

Same as you, Got xrays and ultra sound. It bothers me when I see it. Its ugly. THey get worse with stress or illness. If you know what it is, please tell us. Thanks

Over a year ago I had neck surgery - C3 to C7 to straighten and fuse my neck to a plate, which is a very serious operation. Before the operation, I thought the swelling, as you all have described, was due to my neck problems. Prior to my operation, my nuerosurgeon sent me to another surgeon to check the base of my neck and collar bone area. This doctor told me to first have my neck operation, then come back to see him. He will need a CATscan but, he believes I may have an extra rib or part of a rib that pushes up and causes the swelling. It took over a year to get back on my feet from my surgery, so I haven't been in a hurry to go in for another. The type of surgeon you may want to see is a Thoracic surgeon. Wouldn't hurt to check this out as he said it isn't uncommon. Healing time for the surgery is 1 to 2 days! Good luck!

I clearly remember something I did wrong a few days before gel packs appeared above clavicles and also below armpits. Bigger on left side than right side. I had bought in a store bubble gums that I used to like when I was very young. I was feeling for some nostalgia. Bought a big pack of them. Did not remember they were so hard to chew for the first seconds. The taste made me remember good souvenirs. I chew at least 4 of them in a row, one after the other. Until I felt a big fatigue in may jaw. So I stopped because I remembered that sometimes my jaw gets slightly hurt for a few days, once per year or per two years when I make it work harder than usual. The day after, no problem, did not feel injured. So I chew one more gum. Then just another. No problem. The day after, no problem either, and I did a chin-up exercise at home, as i usually do once a week. Felt something weird on the side of my neck this time, so this time I stopped earlier my exercise. One or two days later I noticed the gel packs.

It's been probably two months now and no change. Gel packs are not bigger, no pain. I feel them smaller when I lay down and touch. Also when I walk rapidly and touch them (those on the clavicles), I can sometimes feel them going up and down slightly at each step.

Other symptoms I've had recently:
-I hear some small air bubbles moving in my neck when I lay down for sleep. They Sound like tiny digestion bubbles, but located in the back of neck. Does not seem to be related to digestion at all. I hear them less since a bought a more firm pillow recently though.
-Some problems with vision. I see tiny color particles appearing for a few seconds, just like pixels, in the center of my vision, a few times a day. It looks similar to what is called "visual snow". It looks like interference.

Other problems I've had since a few years:
-Bruxism at night caused by bad occlusion. Although people tend to tell me that I have beautiful teeth, they do not fit toghether well (almost no contact between upper and lower molars). I tend to eat only on one side of the mouth. And when I look in the toilet, I wonder how it's possible that I can still often recognize what I ate few hours before, almost in perfect condition (all types of nuts, also soft food like blueberries, salad and many more).

Others:
-My postures in general may be bad. As a job I'm driving small cars (I'm tall). When not driving I'm in front of a computer. Bought a new computer desk a few months ago and I fell badly seated than ever.

Is there any way to post pics of our necks on here? Also is there any other websites or any social media pages for this?

I am currenly looking to make one. KP

I was told over a year ago that my symptoms (same as all of you) was nothing more than a fatty lipoma. Going for a second opinion soon. Not convinced.

Agree ...I have been told it was fat by some docs znd others didnt think so...worst part is they never notice the swelling in an exam until I tell them...they they see how pronounced it is. I have had this since the late 80s and it took until last year for a doc to ultrasound it..but is shows as normal. Three more docs have no idea but dont seem worried..maybe because of how long I have had it...kp

Oh that's great! Keep us posted!

NO I DONT BUT IT SWELLS nd goes down and when it swells my shoulder hurts then it goes down the largest it has been is about the size of a tangerine and then it goes down and from what I am told fatty pockets to well up and down I am getting nervous

Hey i get the worry...just remember we are all in this together ...so keep us posted...and remember I and some other have had this a long time....mine since the 80s...kp

You are the first person that has exactly the same symptoms as I do. What no one else has talked about is the part about seeing pixels of color. I get that too. Have you gone to the doctor?

Hi dlkraj,
Just curious as what your outcome was? My mother has been having the same symptoms.

Intresting anout the vision problems.... i had an aura at mid 40s and now continually get negative images...or neg specks ..not sure what they are...went to neuro...they werent sure then wanted to pass me on to ocular neuro and i just said no...had brain mri all negative so i just live with it. And an now 56...kp

Just found this thread and it amazes me how much of the responses are similar to my situation. I have swelling both sides, but worse on left side. Mine has been around a couple years but is recently more painful. I have Hashimotos Thyroid disease and a goiter. I did test positive ANA and am being followed by rheumatologist, but follow up lupus tests are negative. I also have disk problems at C5-C6. When I brought I up at a primary appointment. I was told it was my muscles in spasm? But it is soft, like gel, so I don't think that doctor was correct. I showed my orthopedic surgeon and he said it needs imaging. If my primary won't do I he will.I do have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and wonder if this is related to cervical cranial instability? Hoping for answers soon. If imaging shows nothing, may be time to see endocrinologist again... Oh, and I have had cortisone injections in past and also been on oral prednisone off and on.

I have this. Mine however is caused by a mold reaction. I'm allergic to mushrooms and when in subjected to the mushroom mold I have all kinds of symptoms. This is one of them. Try to pin point your day. Usually an hour or so to react.