Swollen glands

[Concernedpartner145]

Any hiv +ve people out there, or anyone have any advice on the following symptom:
- Swollen armpit glands (not individual nodes, but a general swollen feeling) for 4 weeks, starting 23 days post exposure. Is this the normal timeline for acture HIV symptoms, and is this a common one?
- Could this be related to another STD anyones aware of?
- Does the Oraquick (gum swab) test provide the 80-85% accuracy at 4 weeks some people seem to be claiming, or does this figure only apply to blood tests?

[Frank303]

Lymphadenopathy (lymph node swelling or pain) can be a symptom of HIV infection, but it can be a symptom of other problems.
23 days would be the correct timeframe.
There are really not enough studies of ARS or seroconversion time to give accurate reliability figures for tests at specific points in time, only estimates.

In the USA a non-blood antibody test (saliva/urine/plasma) is considered conclusive for somehere in the region of 97% of people in 3 months. In the UK non-blood tests are considered reliable at 16 weeks (per BASHH).
I understand the oraquick test relies on more than saliva and actually scrapes the epithelium / skin there, though I can't remember the source of that. Only whole blood tests are used in the UK routinely so I've no reason to look it up.

Look through the archives here, the experts forum and other HIV forums and you'll find a load of threads from people with 'all the symptoms' who turn out HIV negative.
Your healthcare provide can advise.

[Teak]

Oraquick is only reliable at 3 months post exposure or with a confirmation test to confirm a positive test result.

[Northernmistake]

I have the same sort of symptoms. A month after oral sex on a girl, and she kissed the end of my penis. I am worried sick, I can't feel raised bumps but my neck and armpits are a little bit uncomfortable at times. What else could it be? I also have been getting the odd ulcer/spot on gums. I am highly anxious, with sleepless nights and not eating correctly.

Any advice from anyone?

RS

[Teak]

Move on. You haven't had a risk of contracting HIV.

[Northernmistake]

I am going to see my GP tomorrow for a chat regarding this. I understand I have no realistic chance of catching anything but I have quite a few symptoms (swollen glands, gum issues after 1 week exposure), and the mind is very powerful.

Is it worth a test anyway? Any other ideas what could be wrong?

[Teak]

There is no reason to test over your situation.

[Northernmistake]

Thank you very much, it must be related to something else. The HIV/AIDS helpline here in the UK also said the same thing. I think it is mostly due to stress. I have only ever had protected sex, oral I never really thought of as a risk.

[Concernedpartner145]

Thanks for the help to date.

Still underarm pain, 5 weeks since it started. Would HIV related gland swelling be more generalised? Ie wouldn't it be likely to have swollen glands in his neck and groin as well as arms?

Are lymph nodes usually detectable by touch? Sight? We cannot feel any individual 'nodes' just a general noticable swelling and pain beneath the arms.

There have been no other symptoms that we can think of. Are swollen glands/nodes also associated with other std's?

[Teak]

To diagnose swollen nodes in early HIV they have to be palpated (felt) by a doctor and swollen lymph nodes due to HIV do NOT have pain.

[Concernedpartner145]

NO PAIN?

I think you may have just made my day - in fact I'm sure you have. A 3 month test will no doubt make my whole life!

Teak I am sure you are told this often, but you are a God send to the people that need your fast advice on this forum. Have you ever considered how many people you may have actually saved from self harm, stopped them damaging their relationships by going crazy, and actually getting them away form the screen?

I can't do much but send you good karma, I appreciate your efforts.

[Concernedpartner145]

You've mentioned here swollen glands/nodes due to HIV do not cause pain - even during acute infection/seroconversion?

[J_friend]

Not sure if I'm missing something - I've read your post, but what was your exposure to begin with, my friend?

[Teak]

Even during acute infection/seroconversion. Most people that come here complaining of lymph node pain is because they poke and probe at them which causes them to get sore and swell. HIV does not cause pain in the lymph nodes.

[Concernedpartner145]

I've covered my exposure (high risk) in previous posts and dont want to waste your time with % transmission questions etc (Teak and others have already been very helpful in this regard).

Am am still having underarm pain (nearly 6 weeks) and have been told that swollen gland/lymph nodes due to HIV infection/seroconversion do not cause pain. Would they be swollen significantly? Ie able to actually see a lump?

[Concernedpartner145]

Thanks, as I've mentioned I cannot identify a single node, rather I have a sore, swollen feeling under my arms, more general, although I do feel 'pin pricks' of pain every now and then which I think I could isolate to individual nodes. The swelling is painful enough to be felt generally throughout the day, so I am confident it isnt due to my proding.

Would I be correct in assuming that swollen glands due to seroconversion would be more general, ie I could expect groin and throat swelling as well?

Should this be a symptom, it would most likely be accompanied by other ARS symptoms right, such as fever etc?

[Teak]

Most people wouldn't know a swollen lymph node from a plugged sweat gland. The only way to tell if you have swollen lymph nodes is to be diagnosed by your doctor.

[Concernedpartner145]

I have been concerned about HIV infection since my exposure. My armpit swelling occured 23 days post exposure and has lasted for nearly 6 weeks.

[Teak]

Those that actually get swollen lymph nodes with HIV infection are generalized.

[Concernedpartner145]

I understand, and I dont pretend to be a professional, nor to have accurately diagnosed my own condition -

Is this a common symptom?

Would this symptom be general (ie groin and neck as well)?

Would this symptom usually be associated with other ARS symptoms?

[J_friend]

I don't mean to beg the question, but my friend, I have a gut feeling that you may have not had a high risk.  Do you feel safe sharing your risk - because, after all, that is a MUCH more important factor than whether your nodes hurt or not (and yes, they can do both hurt or not hurt)

[J_friend]

sorry - didn't read your above post - I'll go read your risk.  Regarding nodes - they can be painful or not when they're swollen.

[Teak]

As you are well aware symptoms or the lack of symptoms are not indicator of HIV infection. Only a test will give you the information that you need. To answer your question swollen lymph nodes along with a high fever and just feeling unwell would accompany them if you actually have ARS. ARS cannot be confirm until you test positive and then they would diagnose your previous illnesses as ARS which you wouldn't need a doctor to tell you that.

[Concernedpartner145]

Thanks again, 8 week test today. I appreciate your time and advice, once again!

[nursegirl6572]

I am going to reiterate what teak said....you have no idea if you actually HAVE swollen lymph nodes without a physician's diagnosis.  Lymph node are pretty easy to feel, even when normal...and especially if before this event....I imagine you wouldn't have had much of a reason to be feeling around...so you have no comparison.  

Bottom line....is even if the doctor DOES diagnose you with swollen lymph nodes...there are about a bazillion other causes that it could be. You simply CANNOT rely on any symptoms to guage your risk level of having HIV.  Most of the people (I would say 95%+) that I have dealt with thru the years who are HIV+ never had ONE single symptom...nothing.  

Go to your doctor if you are feeling ill, to find a cause (mosty likely NOT HIV)...and get tested to put your mind at ease.  And remember, HIV is NOT an easy disease to contract.  A lot of people treat HIV transmission like the common cold.  

Hopefully that will ease your mind a bit...and I agree, btw that Teak IS indeed a Godsend to this forum.  NO amount of education EVER can replace the knowledge one gains from living it.....he is spot on all the time...and I commend him for helping others.

[Concernedpartner145]

Thank you, I am going to be tested at 8 weeks today, just another night of bad sleep!

I am aware of the lack of correlation of symptoms to hiv diagnosis - and have been educating myself about the subject for the last 2 months.

My exposure (needle stick from high risk individual(s)) has obviously caused me great concern - this forum has been great. I understand HIV is hard to contract, I also understand that I am at high risk in comparison to other transmission methods.

I am trying to identify any other reason for >1 month swollen glands. You're quite right, could be a number of other things, the timing is just terrible (23 days post exposure) and the duration (now close to 6 weeks) is unusual (I am a healthy 28 year old).

[nursegirl6572]

I learned after having a needle stick myself (YEARS ago) that a one time deal carried virtually ZERO risk.  Of course...getting tested is understandable...and it is no doubt a bit frightening...but anxiety then kicks in and your mind plays tricks on you...it's all bad.


Best of luck to you....I'm sure everything will work out okay!!

[Concernedpartner145]

Thanks, as you can tell it has caught me off guard - this wasn't an occupational exposure so I didn't know about PEP or what to do for some time, I don't think I received the best medical advice at the time.

I do appreciate that although any one exposure could result in a successful transmission, HIV infection is usually as a result of a lifestyle choice as opposed to any 'one off' incident.

I'm looking forward to a negative 8 week result today, and hopefully a 12 week negative in the future. These damn glands are just scaring me!

[J_friend]

Concerned - I read your original post.  You’re concerned that your partner may have been exposed to HIV via a needle stick.  The odds that your partner got it are very small, the odds that you got it from your partner are even smaller.  You know that.  He was tested at 5 weeks and was negative.  

Take from this what you will, but I have been in your position - VERY much so.  I had unprotected sex with someone who was recently infected with HIV about 8 years back.  We both took the Home Test, and although I was negative (this is just a week after my exposure), this person was positive.  I was in for the most terrifying weeks of my life.  What I can tell you is this:  I developed EVERY symptom in the book: night sweats, sore throat, rashes, painful (and not painful) swollen nodes on my neck, armpits, and groin, extreme fatigue, loss of appetite, inability to concentrate.  Basically, EVERY symptom I read about, I developed.  In the end, I was negative. I even tested out to 6 months.

So, I learned a few things: the mind can create EVERY symptom imaginable - it is an amazing thing.  Furthermore, from the exhaustive research I did and from the HIV specialists I spoke with, I was informed that ARS typically hit a person HARD and FAST.   They aren’t things that linger and develop slowly (one week your throat is sore, the next you have swollen nodes, then you have some sweating at night, etc).

You are simply in that obsessive mode right now - I can relate.  But, I would be anything that this is your mind - you’re living in an HIV-obsessed frame of mind right now.  Your body is under a microscope, and you’re going to notice things that, although they happen all the time, seem to be rare for your body.

Trust me, you will be negative my friend.  And then, like me, you’ll be able understand the amazing power of the mind.

[nursegirl6572]

This is an order....NO more fondling of your glands, okay?  ;0)

I totally understand your anxiety...just don't let it get the best of you!

[Concernedpartner145]

By the way nursegirl, did you have testing post exposure? I've been told I will need HIV, HEP C and syphyllis testing - is that correct?

I did have a -ve HIV test result at 33 days post exposure (Oraquick gum swab), about a week after I started experiencing the swollen glands. If indeed these glands were as a result of a HIV infection (and acknowledging the sound advice above), wouldn't HIV antibodies have been detected in this test?

[Frank303]

When I had occupational needlestick injuries I had to get HBV and HCV tested as well. The window period for HepC is longer at 6 months which I'm still sitting out for this (sexual) exposure..

[Concernedpartner145]

I was informed HepC was 3 months also - I was planning on a 6 monthly as well to be sure - the only feeling I could imagine worse than this would be to infect someone else!

HBV and HCV?

I did have a -ve HIV test result at 33 days post exposure (Oraquick gum swab), about a week after I started experiencing the swollen glands. If indeed these glands were as a result of a HIV infection (and acknowledging the sound advice above), wouldn't HIV antibodies have been detected in this test?

[Frank303]

The docket I have from the GUM clinic says in one column 'you have ben tested today for' and in the next column ' this means you have been clear of the infection for'
HepC (HCV) says 6m though the clinic said 3m, so did my Doc.is OK, HIV says  3m.  
They didn't test for HepB (HBV) as they don't routinely test that so had to get that from my Doctor.

[Concernedpartner145]

So... at the end of the day what you are saying is swollen glands aren't a great sign....

[Concernedpartner145]

My partners glands are still swollen (or so he says) - although I cannot feel any individual nodes. He is experiencing some pain along his groin line as well, indicating a more general infection/immune system reaction.

He is going to the doctor today to have his glands diagnosed as indeed swollen.

Would seroconversion illness symptoms (like these swollen glands) still be evident after over 6 weeks of experiencing them, over 9 weeks post exposure?

Would an Oraquick test at 9 weeks be a good idea?

[Concernedpartner145]

Has anyone had any experience with this symptom?

I don't mean to go on about it, but swollen glands in that timeframe and for that duration seem convincing. Teak has mentioned that seroconversion related swelling isn't painful, but I have read and been advised that this feeling could be due to lymph production. It isn't crippling pain, just constant, specific, and has been sufficient enought to be noticable, and not just in his head.

We're trying to arrange a 9 week test to ease the anxiety, but does anyone have any thoughts, experience or advice in this area?

[snippets69]

Cut it out.  You've had more than enough replies to your lymph node questions.   I'm actually amazed Teak has been so patient with you. Get a therapist if you can't handle the anxiety.

[Concernedpartner145]

I am very grateful for all the replies I have received, in particular Teak's. Just wanting to be informed and supportive. Hope to return the favour one day (med student), I'm sure he too would like to contribute.

[snippets69]

There's a line between concerned and supportive and catering repeatedly to OCD like anxiety.  I think you crossed it way back.  

I'm not saying this to be rude or unfeeling - trust me, I KNOW what it's like to worry about having HIV, but there's nothing further we can do to help you.  Get a therapist or collect your 8 week negative and let it go.

[Concernedpartner145]

70 day HIV testing - negative

Still suffereing from armpit and groin node swelling/pain, and have swelling beneath the sternum which we are concerned is liver inflammation. We are still awaiting Hep C testing results.

Should a Hep C coninfection exist (and I beleive this can delay the production and detection of HIV antibodies), would HIV testing out to 6 months be recommended?

[joe88881]

I have been dating this Woman a month and have had inconsistent condom use!  I have had a sore throat, no noticeable lymphnode swelling but perhaps the  nodes in my neck were tender.  It is just now subsiding after about a week or week and a half.  No noticable fever or diarrea (diarrhea). No skin rashes.  The doctor found no strep but noticed drainage in the back of my throat.  I did have ear pain associated with this sore throat.  I had ear pain before I started dating this young lady but getting a sore throat shortly after being with here bothered me.  Now I have a cold and stuffy nose.  Do I need to worry about this illness. Yes I need to be more responsible in my condom use and am dedicated to doing this from now on.   But just curious is my illness timing a coincidence?  The only symptom I got that even remotely resembles ARS is the sore throat.  Also though I did not think much of it because I thought is was my mind playing tricks.  At the beginning of my illness my skin like got itchy with no rash.  Symptoms gone or maybe not I don't know it could all be in my mind on that one.  No rash has ever developed and I have not noticed even a low grade fever.  Temp has been a steady 96-to 98!

[ExtremeStress]

FIRST! START YOUR OWN THREAD. DON'T BRING ONE BACK FROM A DAMN YEAR AGO! TWO! WHY DON'T YOU HAVE HER TESTED. IF YOU HAVE HAD SEX MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE PAST MONTH! I'M SURE THERE IS SOME ATTRACTION AND FONDNESS BETWEEN THE TWO OF YOU. JUST ASK. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO ASK, THEN GET TESTED 3 MONTHS FROM THE LAST UNPROTECTED INCIDENT. IF YOU CONTINUE TO HAVE UNPROTECTED SEX ON AND OFF IT WILL VOID THE PREVIOUS TIME AND SO FORTH. THAT'S WHY IT WOULD BE BEST FOR YOU TO BOTH GET TESTED. THAT WAY YOU SHOW HER YOU CARE ABOUT HER AND WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE A RELATIONSHIP.