Aa
HIV Acute Retroviral Syndrome (ARS)
Dear Doctor Handsfield:
As someone who has had a high-risk exposure similar to many of the people who have written (i.e., sex with a prostitute with a latex condom), I have become more aware of my body and the potential of ARS. I noticed that many of the questions surrounding ARS have to do with swollen lymph glands (or are they called nodes?) I'm wondering if you could briefly address a few questions regarding ARS and swollen glands.
#1--I keep reading that one single swollen lymph node is not suggestive of ARS in any way shape or form. How can we be so sure about that?
#2 What about cases of two swollen lymph nodes? For example, I can feel ONE swollen node in my axilla, and ONE swollen node below my left ear. The swollen node below the ear was swollen for almost a week before the one in the axilla came along. No other nodes are swollen. Is this typical of ARS for lymph nodes to swell in waves (i.e., one swells this week, then another one next week, etc)?
#3--Is it true that ARS is a constellation of symptoms with fever, swollen lymph glands (i.e., flu-like symptoms)? Or can ARS present itself with one symptom, such as ONLY fever, or ONLY swollen lymph nodes.
#4--I have also read that swollen lymph gland as a result of ARS are not painful. How can this be so? I thought that if lymph nodes swell due to "infection," then such swollen nodes are almost always painful (at least for a few days). Or do you answer questions regarding "painful node" and ARS solely based on your experience with your patient (in other words, there is a possibility that other doctors have experienced patients with painful nodes during ARS.
As you can see from my line of questioning, I'm a little anxious.
Thanks,
WadeM.
As someone who has had a high-risk exposure similar to many of the people who have written (i.e., sex with a prostitute with a latex condom), I have become more aware of my body and the potential of ARS. I noticed that many of the questions surrounding ARS have to do with swollen lymph glands (or are they called nodes?) I'm wondering if you could briefly address a few questions regarding ARS and swollen glands.
#1--I keep reading that one single swollen lymph node is not suggestive of ARS in any way shape or form. How can we be so sure about that?
#2 What about cases of two swollen lymph nodes? For example, I can feel ONE swollen node in my axilla, and ONE swollen node below my left ear. The swollen node below the ear was swollen for almost a week before the one in the axilla came along. No other nodes are swollen. Is this typical of ARS for lymph nodes to swell in waves (i.e., one swells this week, then another one next week, etc)?
#3--Is it true that ARS is a constellation of symptoms with fever, swollen lymph glands (i.e., flu-like symptoms)? Or can ARS present itself with one symptom, such as ONLY fever, or ONLY swollen lymph nodes.
#4--I have also read that swollen lymph gland as a result of ARS are not painful. How can this be so? I thought that if lymph nodes swell due to "infection," then such swollen nodes are almost always painful (at least for a few days). Or do you answer questions regarding "painful node" and ARS solely based on your experience with your patient (in other words, there is a possibility that other doctors have experienced patients with painful nodes during ARS.
As you can see from my line of questioning, I'm a little anxious.
Thanks,
WadeM.
Thank you, Doctor. I am going to get tested.
And yes, my "lump" or "bump" is more than just "tender." It's quite painful to the touch. I'll get it checked out, but I'm suspecting that it's a cyst. I just started using antiperperant 4 weeks ago, instead of the regular deoderant.
Have a good night!
And yes, my "lump" or "bump" is more than just "tender." It's quite painful to the touch. I'll get it checked out, but I'm suspecting that it's a cyst. I just started using antiperperant 4 weeks ago, instead of the regular deoderant.
Have a good night!
It seems to me that the common solution for everyone is simply to get tested. Otherwise, you will drive yourself nuts. Take me for instance. On the one hand, it seems that medical and health care professionals (such as HHH, Dr. Bob, my primary care physicians, and even most of the HIV hotlines--Yes, I'm anxious), have told me that I really did not put myself at risk for using Lubriderm hand lotion on the condom for 30-45 seconds to have sex with a CSW.
On the OTHER hand, I went as far as telephoning condom stores such as Condomania and Access (in Seattle), and both of these stores said that I compromized my protection from using this Lubriderm, because Lubriderm has OIL as one of its component. Also, if you do a search on GOOGLE, such as <<oil-based and condoms>>, you will find pages stating that "oil eats rubber within 60 seconds" or "oil-based lubricant will render a condom useless within seconds.
Thus, instead of driving yourself crazy like I have for the past 4 weeks, best thing to do is get tested, which is what I'm doing first thing tomorrow morning. Truth be told, I'm terrified. For the past for weeks, I have felt symptoms from a stuffy nose, to pelvic heaviness, to armpit pain...etc. That's and I have not gotten any sleep for the past 28 days. I can't live like this. It's a PCR by DNA test (Qualitatite), and it's supposed to be conclusion. Wish me luck--I'm terrified.
This will be my last posting, because I'm feel like I'm at the edge of a cliff right now. So, bet for me to stay away.
--Artma2004
On the OTHER hand, I went as far as telephoning condom stores such as Condomania and Access (in Seattle), and both of these stores said that I compromized my protection from using this Lubriderm, because Lubriderm has OIL as one of its component. Also, if you do a search on GOOGLE, such as <<oil-based and condoms>>, you will find pages stating that "oil eats rubber within 60 seconds" or "oil-based lubricant will render a condom useless within seconds.
Thus, instead of driving yourself crazy like I have for the past 4 weeks, best thing to do is get tested, which is what I'm doing first thing tomorrow morning. Truth be told, I'm terrified. For the past for weeks, I have felt symptoms from a stuffy nose, to pelvic heaviness, to armpit pain...etc. That's and I have not gotten any sleep for the past 28 days. I can't live like this. It's a PCR by DNA test (Qualitatite), and it's supposed to be conclusion. Wish me luck--I'm terrified.
This will be my last posting, because I'm feel like I'm at the edge of a cliff right now. So, bet for me to stay away.
--Artma2004
Artma200- you should also listen to everyone, especially the DR. You did not get HIV from the lubiderm thing. If the condom didn't break there is no chance. If it did break there is a chnace that is so small it is not measureable. You are not screwed you are fine.
Do this. Go back through the archives of this forum and of the body. Look at the 100's of posts like yours of people with low/no risk hiv/std exposures who them, despite the dr's telling them there was no chance, can back and said, "Dr, you were wrong. I got an STD and or HIV"....you can't find ONE!!!!
Do this. Go back through the archives of this forum and of the body. Look at the 100's of posts like yours of people with low/no risk hiv/std exposures who them, despite the dr's telling them there was no chance, can back and said, "Dr, you were wrong. I got an STD and or HIV"....you can't find ONE!!!!
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
