Swollen Lympe node

Since my exposure 13 weeks ago i notice a lympe node appearing just this week. I made a mistake of having an unprotected vaginal sex with a woman i now fear may have been infected. I experiance nearly all ARS symptoms the first month 2 weeks after exposure. However my test has come back negative at 4/8/10/11 weeks. Im having fear the type of test taken may not be as realiable with a 2nd generation test, in which they still recommend to test upto 6 months.  Tests was taken through the Home Access testing kit you buy at stores. I take small sample of blood and mail it to the lab for them to test it and get my results within 24 hours. When i spoke to them, they told me all generation test equally after 6 weeks, is this true? I know i was 1 week short of the window period but i dont know how likely it is that my result may changed within a week.

Now my biggest worry has been the swollen lympe node which appears with no other symptoms or common illnesses. This scares me more then anything else because Swollen lympe node is considered one of the most common sign of HIV specially during the intial phase.  Test is showing negative but im getting all the possible indication of HIV as i cant seem to describe anything else that would cause this adding the ARS like symptoms i had already experianced 2 months ago.

[scratch81]

I believe 6 weeks is a good indicator your negative.
swollen lymph from what i understand is not a good indicator symptom .
If you dont have other symptoms with swollen lymph its not reliable indicator.

[soworried11]

Swollen lympe node during the first the ARS symptoms may no be if no other symptoms show since they tend to occur at the same time. When speaking of swollen lympe node around the time most people convert is completely different.  After infection, most people with HIV appear to have no symptoms at all. however, some  wil have a  condition called persistent generalized lymphadenopathy.

[scratch81]

from what i understand it is mostly in the groin area. and if you cant see the lymph is is most likely not serious.

[Teak]

Stop giving out incorrect information.

[scratch81]

alright sorry i read somewhere thats what it was i didnt know that was not the facts?

[soworried11]

Whats your assessment, im almost at the end of the window period, can i have seconverted in 1 week before the finish line. Does Home test give alot of false negatives? And what does this swollen lympe node in the neck mean?

[Teak]

You stated your exposure was 13 weeks ago. You can test now and it will be conclusive.

[soworried11]

What i your opinion on home testing with Home access 2nd generation test which claims to be FDA approved and 99% accurate, i just think i have been getting false negative all along. As many experts will argue that i wouldnt  even need anymore testing at 84 days.

[Teak]

Home access is FDA approved. You can use it or go to a medical facility and do your test it doesn't make a difference.

[soworried11]

So since the test is reliable, what do you think i should make of this swollen lympe node can this be a sign of HIV.

[mbhurt]

Dont ever go by symptoms. A swollen lympe lode can be caused by a number of things. Get tested.

[Hope242]

"generalized" means more than 2 areas in the body. A single swollen node is not a sign of HIV.

[soworried11]

Swollen lympe node usually always occur in the neck and never seem visible in other areas. Is a scan or Xray necessary to see those nodes swollen.

[Hope242]

No...that is not necessary. It is highly unlikely your result will change. Just follow up for a conclusive result. Your gonna be okay!

[soworried11]

At this time i have only one visible Lympe node swollen in the neck, from experiance i have never had swollen lympe nodes in the groin or under the armpits. Otherwise they seem to be very difficult to detect compared to the more common lympe node in the neck. At this point its hard to explain swollen lympe node that just happens with no apparent symptoms or illness which is very alarming.

My test at 11 weeks should have picked up the antibodies, you would think 11 weeks to be just as good as 12 weeks. Is this last week really the last real hurdle i mean is 3 months just an estimate time for conclusiveness or alot happen in this last week. should a 11 week be just as good, just wondering how much difference is there.

[Hope242]

If you tested at 84 days, then it is conclusive. I saw that you put in 84 days...this is 12 weeks, not 11 weeks post exposure. Your result is conclusive that you are HIV negative if it was indeed 84 days. A single swollen node is not common with HIV, so maybe you should check with your Doctor or Dentist (maybe a tooth problem). Or just give it some time and the swelling may just go down. The larger nodes are in your arm pits and groin area, so no they would not be un-noticed. YES an 11 week test is very good just not conclusive. So maybe figure out your dates, cause you may already be conclusive.

[soworried11]

well the node have been persistant for over a week now, and it was not there during the time i mailed my test. In addition the 2nd generation test is somewhat less accurate then the standard 3rd generation,  usually they estimate around a week behind the 3rd generation test. I think the only way to know is through test taken through my doctor.

[Hope242]

was your test taken at 84 days post exposure?

[gambit420]

Generalised lymphadanopathy means nodes are swollen body wide -not in more than 2 places as you define.Soworried see your dr or an infectious disease specialist.

[Teak]

You don't have HIV. Move along. Home Access are not outdated and don't recommend 6 months.

[Vance2335]

1 sign of many that is general and non-specific to HIV. You have a conclusive test. Test outweighs symptoms.

[soworried11]

Testing at 13 week not through Home access as beginning to question their results. The lympe node does carry some concern as i have read several sites that mention lympe node as one and probably only indication that someone may be infected, and some doctors would use that as a reason to have someone tested, just in case of any possible HIV infection.

[Vance2335]

You have read wrong. If you read what Dr.Sean Cummings wrote the most common symptom is a high fever.

Your test is conclusive. We can't go round and round with this.

[joggen]

"The lympe node does carry some concern as i have read several sites that mention lympe node as one and probably only indication that someone may be infected, and some doctors would use that as a reason to have someone tested, just in case of any possible HIV infection."

That is totally incorrect and is where the source of your problem lies- you are attempting to diagnose yourself based on something that you have read in the Internet that you are misinterpreting because you don't have the proper medical background to understand it. You have ALREADY TESTED and the test showed you conclusively that you don't have HIV. This has been thoroughly explained to you both on this forum and another forum yet you continue to post questioning your conclusive negative result. If you cannot accept the advice that you are receiving on forums, then talk to your doctor- he'll tell you the same thing that we've told you.

[soworried11]

will see my doctor I hope this will be the end of this as I hope I'm wrong and try bring all possible thoughts beside hiv. unfortunatally chances seem to be there and hope I make it in this last hurdle.

[Teak]

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