will lab work tell you if you have L or not?

Just tested negative at 5 weeks for hiv, day # 36 went to er because my neck glands felt swollen by touch but not by sight and i was scared so i went to the er to have it checked out i think that other body parts my be slightly swollen but i am not sure because i am not using to feeling myself, and the stress is making me think i feel things too i think but they did lab work at the er and nothing showed up , so would leukemia or lymphoma show up on lab and if not how is it detected and what are the symptoms thanks, i have never heard of lymphoma until now and i don't know much about leukemia, i am healthy other than that early 40 and no family history of it. thanks for your answer, anything will help!!!

[Mochadelicious]

Swollen lymph nodes are most often a sign of infection.  You could have an infection brewing inside and not even know it.  Your nodes swell because they have increased the amount of white blood cells to fight an infection.  

I don't know a lot about leukemia because I have lymphoma, but it's basically a cousin to eachother.  I suppose labs could prompt them to do more testing if needed but it can't diagnose lymphoma (and probably leukemia).  The only thing that can diagnose for sure is a biopsy of the node.  

Common symptoms of lymphoma are: weight loss, night sweats and fever.  Also, some people experience itchy skin.  However, many people don't have any symptoms other than a swollen node when diagnosed.  

What were the results of your labs and what did the ER doctor say?

[nomoremen]

thanks for your respond! I can only wish for a little bit of weight lost, i've had no fevers other than about two days of off and on temp going no higher to 99.4 or a really hot day and days before i started my period. no night sweats and my nodes are not noticeable to other people only to me slightly by touch. I went to mount carmel ER and they did a series of lab work, hiv was not one, they did not tell me which test they did, they just told me nothing showed up they gave them alarm and to following up my doctor and she basically just told me that everything looked good and if they get bigger or cause problems to come back to see her. I had today off work, so I managed to sneak to my local health dept for  a free antibody hiv test at day # 44 and again, it was negative because i see where swollen nodes can be a symptom of ars/hiv. but i feel fine today. my neck feels better but up underneath my chin feels puffy. my tongue was checked for thrush and she said it looked geographical not thrust whatever that means, so i guess it's okay or else she would have said something, i called the er/hospital today and they told that i would have to come in with id and sign paperwork to see which test were they did or to call my family doctor, so i guess i will do that but either way i was told it could take up to 2-3 weeks before i would get the results and I would have to pick them up in person. When you don't know and when  you want answers, 1 day can feel like 5 years. THANK YOU and yes, I'm shouting, thanks :)

[LynneMargot]

Do you need to follow up with additional hiv tests?  Check the CDC recommendations, because I think that you need to be tested at three months and for a really high risk exposure at six months. It's encouraging that you were negative at 44 days though. Is there a forum for hiv on MedHelp?  You might try that for more information, and it might put your mind at ease.  Wishing you all the best. Try not to worry.