2 weeks ago I felt a lump under one side of my jaw and I freaked out. The lump was also on the other side, but smaller. Fast forward to yesterday, I saw an ENT and he told me it was just my carotid artery I was feeling and that my neck felt fine. I have severe health anxiety so that didnt really reassure me and I kept poking both of my arteries, like I had been doing for 2 weeks. Yesterday night I noticed the other side that was smaller felt different; it felt a lot smaller than before and the little lump I felt was barely there anymore. Now I’m scared because what if I messed up my artery and I have a stroke. I can still feel and see my pulse but the area feels different from before. Is this logical? I know I should just stop touching the area but it’s a compulsion. I’m really scared.