Swollen lymph node(s)

[worried_sh]

Me again...

It's been 7.5 weeks now since my exposure, 3.5 weeks since I finished PEP.

Physically I feel actually quite fine, mentally I am a mess.

My question is again about these damn lymph nodes. Last week just after I had my first test which came back negative, I discovered a lymph node in my groin. On the right side, rubbery, slighlty hard, size about 5mm, but not bigger than 10mm.

People here keep saying you can't diagnose swollen lymph nodes by yourself. So I went to a doctor. He checked and couldn't find anything abnormal. But when I showed him where I suspect my node to be swollen, he agreed that it's a node, possibly swollen. He estimated the size to be up to 10mm. He didn't seem to be too concerned... Suggested it might be because of a mosquito bite he found on my right leg.

Additionally to the lymph node I suffered from some soreness around my groins, reaching into both my thighs and even my knees. But this might have been due to constantly checking my groin area.

Now, 8 days later my groin seems to be normal again. Still some soreness, but the node is not that prominent anymore.

Does anyone know if such a small lymph node lasting just for one week could be HIV related? How big are HIV lymph nodes in ARS ore shortly after? How long do they last? Do they occur without fever?

Besides the soreness and some random pain in my arms and legs, I felt perfectly fine. No fever, no rash (except a group of 5 tiny pimples at my neck), no malaise, no sore throat... nothing.

I know, only a test will tell me about my status, but doctor refused to test me again before 3 months have passed and I am really afraid to lose my mind before this date.

Thanks for your help!!

[worried_sh]

Thanks for your reply.

Do you know how long lymph nodes remain enlarged during ARS? Could it be as short as 1 week? I think I remember reading somewhere that it's normally a persistent condition.

[joggen]

Lymph node swelling in acute HIV infection occurs all over your body, not as one 'possibly' swollen node. Your doctor confirmed that you don't have such swelling.

You need to stop examining yourself- you will just fuel your anxieties.

Go to the mall, see a movie, go to the gym, take your dog for a walk, wash your car, go the park and feed the ducks, go for a drive, make a new recipe, go to a museum or art gallery, volunteer at a shelter, pick strawberries, ride your bike, go hiking, plant a garden,  try a new restaurant, learn a musical instrument, JUST DO ANYTHING TO GET YOUR MIND OFF HIV until you take your 3 month test.