HIV or Anxiety

[Confused85]

Hi,

I am a 22 year old straight guy who doesnt use any kind of drugs. About mid December I had unprotected sex with a girl that I Knew from school. She doesnnt have a history of sleeping around alot. After having sex with her I developed swollen lymph nodes in my throat and what I think where swollen lymph nodes in my groin. I went to see a doctor who told me  that it was glandular fever. After taking medicine it cleared up. But the nervousness and anxiety stayed there. I went to the local health department and tested at 2,5,9,and 14 weeks and all the tests came back negative. But evertime I search the internet for symptoms I find more. I tried calling CDC but they told me to test at 6 months. It was like hell waiting for the 3 month  test. Do u think that my test results where conclusive at 3 months? How can I tell if my lymoh nodes in my gorin are swollen? I thnak you in advance for your response and God Bless.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Zero risk for HIV.  "Glandular fever" is another name for infectious mononucleosis ("mono").

You can tell if your groin lymph nodes are swollen by feeling them.  No lumps in groin, no swollen lymph nodes.

Any nervousness or anxiety you are feeling is just that, not a sign of infection.  You clearly are anxious about this event far more than is justified, or than is normal; there is no rational reason for such frequent testting.  (I presume those are HIV tests at  2, 5, 9, and 14 weeks.)  Regardless of what you were told by CDC, with negative test results at 14 weeks, you can be 100% certain you don't have HIV.

Good luck-- HHH, MD

[timmytim]

You should read: http://www.medhelp.org/forums/STD/messages/708.html

The doctor states
- Time to positive HIV test: sometimes positive as soon as 10 days, usually positive by 3 weeks, and virtually always positive by 6 weeks, despite official advice that it is best to wait 3 months to be sure. If your HIV test is negative 6 weeks after exposure (and especially after 12 weeks), you don't have HIV, period.


If you're past 3 months, relax. Stress is a likely cause of annoying "just feeling sick" problems (I was in a similar situation).

Take care.

[hookah]

I really dont know why the CDC ops are still saying 6 months and scaring everyone. Almost all health organizations in the world agree that 13 weeks is definitive, with 6 weeks being a pretty darn good test.

[Confused85]

I still feel a lump when I feel around in my groin area. This is the only symptom  that I am worried about. Can I still be 100% sure that I am HIV negative even with what may be swollen lymph nodes in my groin?

[simon_2005]

hi man

swollen lymph may mean something, but definitely not HIV.
Relax and move on, please........
your test is 100 percent conclusive after 12 weeks.

[timmytim]

Of all the people in the world I'd trust saying I have zero risk of HIV, the doctor who works this forum would be the one. Check out his publications, research, credentials, etc.

Stop beating yourself up over this! You're going to be okay and walk away from the experience with this knowledge and be more careful in the future.

Lymph nodes may be swollen for a number of reasons; but at this point, especially after the doctor's response, it's not HIV.

You're okay :)

[pandora9049]

Hey,
  Sometimes lymph nodes are palpable (meaning you can feel them) even if they are not swollen, specially if you're a thin person.  i can feel my lymph nodes too.
  Plus if you're lymph nodes were recently swollen, they may take a while to get back to their normal size.
P.S. I'm not a doc.
Pan

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Although HIV can cause lymphadenopathy (lymph node enlargement), it is an uncommon cause compared to many other causes.  And lymphadenopathy due to HIV almost always is generalized--you would have swellings in the neck, armpits, both groins, etc.  You don't have HIV.

HHH, MD

[simon_2005]

regarding this HIV test period.
If I have protected exposure, and tested after 4 weeks by 3rd generation anti-body test kit, and got a negative. Can I conclude I am HIV free.

Is there any details number specify how many percentage infected person can be detected after 4 weeks.

Still a little worry

thanks all

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Well over 90% of people will be positive at 4 weeks, probalby cloer to 99%.

[glg]

I hope someone can help me. I am a 19 y/o white male, and I had unprotected vaginal sex with a 19 y/o asian female, who is a friend of mine, a month ago. 3 days after that, I got really sick. I had a "non-strep A" bacterial infection (sore throat, swollen glands, fever, etc) I was given azithromaxin (Z-PAK) and felt better in a week. THen about a week later (2 weeks after exposure) I started to get swollen glands in my neck, and i think my armpits and groin, i dont think i had a fever, sometimes a sore throat, felt really tired a lot, etc. But this was also during my finals at an Ivy League college, so I was really stressed out. However, now (a month after exposure) I still have swollen glands, especially in my neck, and feel tired a lot, im not sure if i have swollen glands in my groin and armpits though...i have not been tested. and im am freaking out. My friend said she'd been tested before we had sex and that she's clean but I don't know what to think.
im freaking out. someone help....

[easyos2000]

Hi guys, sorry for the stupid questions but a bit worried. Up until a month ago i had a number (3-4) sexual contacts with 2 different partners. I am a passive gay male. In all the contacts i used condoms for oral and anal sex which does mean i was pretty safe. In the past two weeks i have been feeling bad sort of swollen glands, tiredness and diarrhea for over a week. My doctor think these symptoms (which i have had before excluding diarrhea) are caused by my impacted wisdom teeth on all 4 sides of my mouth. She also found a mild throat/ear infection that was cured by antibiotics. I have also had an HIV test at a clinic in London (4 weeks after last contact) which came back negative. How conclusive would you say this is? Has anyone ever had such problems with wisdom teeth?

Thank you and sorry for the trouble

[chookron]

A related discussion, glandular fever? was started.

[himona]

A related discussion, How much time swolln glands of arly HIV symptoms last? was started.