Obsessing Over: Bump of Unknown Origin

February 24, 2008 by girlwhoknits

Today I introduce a new feature to this blog, “Obsessing Over”. In case you didn’t know this about me, I can be a tad obsessive at times. I get fixated on a subject or product or activity or idea until I exhaust all thought and discussion around it. This week, I can’t stop obsessing over this:

If it doesn’t look huge in this picture, please let me assure you that it is. What is it you ask? I really can’t tell you. It developed about 6 days ago and at first I was sure it was a pimple. Granted, the biggest pimple I had ever experienced. But a couple days into it I started to think that it might be something else. Below the surface it feels like a raised rock hard disc about an inch and a half in diameter. Two days after it fully formed it was painful to touch and the area around it was swollen.

My co-worker suggested it might be a bite of some kind and that is when I started to believe it was a spider or insect bite. Since then I have been putting Benedryl cream on it and it has gone down slightly in size but it is not going away as fast as I would like. Only reason I am blogging about this is I can’t stop thinking about it. Last night I spent an hour before bed google-ing images of bites and pimples (which is not something I would ever recommend doing unless you want nightmares.) I just can’t figure out what it is. I know the easy way to find out is to go to the doctor, but I am kind of banking on it going away before I go through the hassle and expense. It isn’t discolored and the swelling has gone down so I am assuming it is not infected. It is just there, a big huge bump on my nose. Too bad it isn’t Halloween.

Posted in Obsessions | 25 Comments

25 Responses to “Obsessing Over: Bump of Unknown Origin”

on February 24, 2008 at 6:50 pm1 Chris

Um, anything weird like that on your face, especially near your eyes/brain… go in. Do not pass go. Really. I ended up on IV antibiotics and in the hospital overnight because of a weird bump about 1.5″ below my eye.
on February 24, 2008 at 6:53 pm2 ivete

I agree, go to the doctor. It could be nothing or it could be something, and it’s always, always better to find out earlier rather than later . . . good luck!
on February 24, 2008 at 7:06 pm3 z

Blocked tear duct, maybe?
on February 24, 2008 at 8:10 pm4 DeAnn

Dr. DeAnn says go to the doctor. Could be a boil but I’m betting on a bite.
on February 25, 2008 at 5:01 am5 Cath

I got a bump twice when I was crying while wearing my eyeglasses, I think it irritated my skin, there was a little white dot and an inflated area, plus a little itchy, by the nose at that same place. It went a way a couple of days after.
on February 25, 2008 at 7:06 am6 sulafaye

I hate BUO and any other UO appearing randomly. I have to agree about a visit to the doctor, because even if the dr. says it’s nothing it will be worth the price and the time for the peace of mind. You’ll be in my thoughts, and I hope everything clears up soon!
on February 25, 2008 at 8:04 am7 margene

Do as Chris says, if for no other reason than peace of mind!
on February 25, 2008 at 8:08 am8 Heather Joins The Round

If it’s making you so uneasy, that’s a good sign you should trust your gut that something might not be quite right. Please get it looked at by a doctor.
on February 25, 2008 at 8:15 am9 Eve

It looks like a pimple. I get those sorts of pimples sometimes and that’s the exact description. I’m not a cancerologist, but I don’t think you’d get cancer right there. Ockham’s razor says it’s a pimple.
on February 25, 2008 at 8:21 am10 Julianne

As one who cares greatly for your sanity, go right now to the dr. before your mom reads your post! I think she just might get on a plane and come drag you to the dr. herself!
on February 25, 2008 at 9:41 am11 alarmingfemale

you, obsessive? no way—-

heh.
on February 25, 2008 at 2:58 pm12 Heidi Bendixen Linton

Get thee to a Dr., Erin! What if it stayed? Then we would all say “yes, you know Erin, the one with the wonky eye”.
on February 25, 2008 at 4:42 pm13 Laurel

it’s s cyst. I don’t know that for sure but you need to get it checked, missy. seriously.
on February 25, 2008 at 4:48 pm14 tiennie

Go to the doc. I haven’t a clue what it is but if it’s bothersome, get it checked out!
on February 25, 2008 at 5:39 pm15 Amanda

I just want to say that acne runs in my family and even though I am now twenty my acne has only gotten worse. I get zits like that and so does my sister who has similar acne problems. I not saying it is a zit but I have had several in that same spot and it was a zit and yes the hardness and swelling felt the same, some zit are oily no pus.
on February 25, 2008 at 6:26 pm16 Ashley

I get those ALL the time. Hate. On the other hand, it’s not some weird nose cancer, at least as far as I know.
on February 25, 2008 at 7:05 pm17 mai

it sounds like a spider bite. they are often hard and painful to the touch. i hope you figure out what it is and it goes away soon!
on February 25, 2008 at 7:57 pm18 BAM

Is it painful? One of my co-workers just got a staf infection under his eye and had HUGE swelling. He said it was very uncomfortable and it could have been very bad if he did not have it attended to. Just to be safe since it is so close to your eye, I would get it checked!
on February 25, 2008 at 8:06 pm19 Elizabeth

I just want to share that I went through this weekend (two parties and a concert) with the biggest pimple I’ve gotten since I was 15, which is just so insulting when you’re nearly twice that. I mean, come on. Aren’t those things supposed to NOT happen anymore?

Now, I’m the girl with lousy insurance, but if it were me, I’d patiently wait for it to not exist. If you have good insurance, then by all means! Have it checked out.
on February 26, 2008 at 9:52 pm20 Erin

Just because I like to be different I say wait it out, pour hydroxide on it, stick it with a needle, pinch it to see if stuff oozes out and enjoy the bump!
okay, not really. follow the advice of others above.
on February 27, 2008 at 1:30 pm21 leslie

i PROMISE i have something similar now.
but, i would hate to tell you it is nothing if it is something……..
so…….did you go to the doctor????
on February 27, 2008 at 11:15 pm22 The Perfect Feet « Girl Who Knits

[...] side note: I thought I should give you the update on my bump of unknown origin. I am admittedly not very good about things like going to the doctor. I really took your comments [...]
on March 8, 2008 at 6:47 pm23 ashley

I have the exact same thing in the same spot. I have no idea what it is but want it gone now! Did you find out what it was? Treatment? Help!
on March 19, 2008 at 4:30 pm24 Meredith

I think it is a bug bite. I get stuff like randomly. Um, I love you this blog just reaffirms that love. And your banner is amazing and I feel like we are talking on the phone again reading… Oh yeah, look on my blog for a tribute to our dearly beloved sister who is traveling abroad. And I totally agree with clothing issues. I am so confused by them!!! I would love to live in Chicago or Boston or DC but the shoe confusion is beyind my comprehension…what shoes can you wear is sludge and snow?! Not boots — mine are stiletto with 4 inches! And tennis shoes are too flat so your work pants and jeans get wet. Urg. This is why I live in San Francisco.
on June 2, 2008 at 9:21 pm25 Cayse Stepp

so im not sure if u have figured this out but it could be a staff (not spelled right BUT) infection… they are a pain in the ass cuz everyone has it on there skin.. so go to the Dr