need help

[dphie123]

I have read throughout these forums that ARS symptoms are too vague to make any kind of real judgement. However, I have experienced frightening symptoms the past month. I have enlarged lymph nodes under my chin that have been present for about 2-3 weeks and have gone down slightly. There are not any other swollen glands in my body (armpit, and groin), I was checked by a medical professional. About 3 months ago I noticed small goosebumps on the underside of the shaft of my penis, this was the day after the last time I had sex (it was unprotected) and was checking myself out. They have not grown or shrunk really since those 3 months but my doctor said they were Mulluscom and would eventually go away. I also have enlarged circumvallate papillae on the back of my tongue. Throughout my life I have had sex with 5 girls, all of them I knew fairly well and went to High School with. (I am a heterosexual 19 yr old male by the way). The majority of the encounters were unprotected. I generally know these girls' past in terms of their sex life but you can never be sure. None of them are heavy drug users and most have had steady boyfriends and haven't fooled around really. I did not ejaculate in any of these women and did not ever have any sort of open skin on my penis while I was having sex.
My question is, does the swollen lymph nodes cause that big of a concern if it is only in one area? Do the enlarged circumvallate papillae on my tongue signify anything? What are the chances of catching HIV if I never ejaculated and it was with 5 girls that I knew through out high school in a suburban area?
Thanks for any help, I have been stressing over this situation and foolishly looking on the internet for symptoms (where everything under the sun is a symptom for a terminal illness). I know the smart thing to do is to go get tested but I am in the middle of my football season during college and could not handle that type of stress (if it were to be positive) during the season, I will get tested afterwards.

[Uniquelymen]

Hi there,

1. "I have read throughout these forums that ARS symptoms are too vague to make any kind of real judgement."  -----  
Because HIV is diagnosed through a blood test, not through signs and symptoms.

2. "I had sex (it was unprotected) ...." ------
Unprotected sex (intercourse), poses risk for HIV and other STI.

3. "The majority of the encounters were unprotected. I generally know these girls' past in terms of their sex life but you can never be sure. " ---  
Do not put yourself at such risk. Condoms, when used correctly and consistently and where there is no breakage or leakage, provide effective protection against sexually transmitted infections and HIV.

4. "My question is, does the swollen lymph nodes cause that big of a concern if it is only in one area?"
Not a concern for primary HIV infection.  Afterall, HIV is diagnosed through a blood test, not through signs and symptoms

5." What are the chances of catching HIV if I never ejaculated.."
Your chances of HIV infection does not depend on if you ejaculated. Unprotected intercourse pose a real risk for HIV & other STIs infection.  As the matter of fact, the gals should be more corcern about if you ejaculated.

6. "I know the smart thing to do is to go get tested "
Yes, you can test at 12 weeks from the last exposure for a conclusive result.
And the real smart thing to do is use a condom.

[Mary86]

i have enlarged circumvillate papillae, and molluscum and countless other symptoms indicative of HIV according to the internet....however have tested negative on three separate occasions so far! heres hoping my last one at 3 months says the same thing....im sure yours will. noone really knows why circumvillate papillae enlarge! good luck