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My lymph nodes swelling is real?
Dr. Hook said I would test postiive (18 days post exposure). My symptom is swollen and tender lymph nodes in my neck at the base of my jaw with burning/stinging sensation on the skin in that area. This started one week after giving m2m oral and getting ejaculate in my mouth. I did a rapid test at day 18 that came back negative, but my lymph nodes in my neck remain the same. I am not imagining this and I have never had these symptoms before in my life. I am totally freaking out, barely able to get out of bed and I also am mortified that I may have infected my girlfriend when I had unprotected sex with her 3 days after the exposure. How can my symptoms be anything else?
And had you experienced ARS your test would have been POSITIVE as Dr. Hook told you.
Mere coincidence. You DID NOT experience ARS: it would not manifest as swollen lymph nodes in the neck, without other areas of lymph node enlargement and without other symptoms characteristic of ARS (fever, flu-like symptoms, etc.)
Thank you for your reply, you mention all the things that can cause lymph node swelling but the fact is this is occurring now after the risky exposure. I found a post from Dr. Hook which said this symptom occurs within 1-3 weeks of exposure. I first noticed my symptoms on Day 8. There is so much conflicting information out there from health care professionals!
Since I read your exchange with Dr. Hook, I understood this when I answered your question. If you want to believe 'other forums' over Dr. Hook that is your business but I doubt the moderators have his credentials.
My question is missing the beginning. I had unprotected oral m2m sex with some ejaculate in my mouth now 22 days ago. One week after I started experiencing the tenderness in my lymph nodes. Dr. Hook says not to worry and that my unprotected oral sex was very low risk. He also said I would test positive for HIV if my symptoms were in fact caused by HIV. So I got a rapid test at day 18 that came out negative. I have read other forums which say in effect that Dr. Hook is wrong. My symptoms persist and I am absolutely terrified!
How can your symptoms be anything else? Lymph node swelling is completely non-specific. Any infection will cause them to swell, whether it is a toothache, upper respiratory infection, ear infection, etc. And since there are 1000s of infections that are 100s and 1000s more common than HIV, lymph node swelling means absolutely nothing as an indicator on one's HIV status.
When lymph node swelling occurs during acute HIV infection, it occurs all over the body, not just the neck region. And 1 week is too early for acute HIV symptoms to occur anyway.
Have a single antibody test 6 weeks after exposure, collect your negative result, and take it as proof that you were not infected.
When lymph node swelling occurs during acute HIV infection, it occurs all over the body, not just the neck region. And 1 week is too early for acute HIV symptoms to occur anyway.
Have a single antibody test 6 weeks after exposure, collect your negative result, and take it as proof that you were not infected.
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Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
