Risk of Exposure of STD / HIV

[justcurious572]

Hi Doctor Hook,

I am 29 years old male and had vaginal sex intercourse with a African American women in Las Vegas in Jan 3rd week.I wore condom but after  ejaculation I realized i dont have condom.From past 2 weeks i had cold (Not runny nose.When i eat spicy food or After taking bath it used to run for couple of seconds.I dont know is it flu) and small Enlarged left neck lymph node (No pain).After 3 or 4 days i had sore throat ( I had drinks for 2 days between these 3 or 4 days) and used to get heavy headache when i work on computer or watch TV.I never had headache in my life. I dont know is it because i am searching a lot ,thinking,anxiety,fear causing this headache and loss of appetite.From past week i am having umcomfort in armpits like little bit burning.

Right now i have little bit of sore throat and lot of thinking gives breathing problem.From past 3 days i dont have headache.Yesterday i had a beer and i got headache while watching TV and difficult in sleeping with thinking all these things.Today i have pain in back of my neck while working on computer.

I will be going for test next week.I am scared to death to go for test.Does my symptoms appear as any HIV  or STD symptoms.I should have known about PEP atleast it would have reduced little bit of risk.

I learned a tough lesson and I know that its too late to regret.

Please advise.

[london08]

One other point for you to take solace in is that seroconversion nearly always occurs in the month following an exposure. What you are experiencing now is most probably too late to be HIV related and like I said, HIV would not just cause a single lymph node to swell. Try and calm down.

[london08]

Hi, your symptoms do not determine one way or another whether you have HIV. Normally acute HIV syndrome (these flu like symptoms everybody hears about) causes generalised lymphadenopathy (swelling of lymph nodes all over the body, neck, armpits and groin), though sometimes this isn't the case, it would be unusual to have swelling only in one side of your neck. You mention your armpits but this could be anything from examining yourself too much to tugging at the hair under there whilst examining yourself. This will cause the discomfort of which you speak!

As far as headaches and lack of concentration are concerned, stress and anxiety can certainly cause this and this is much more likely that acute HIV since these symptoms have persisted for a while and normally acute HIV ilness will pass in 3 days to a week and a half. Going back to the swollen lymph node, stress can also cause a tight feeling in the neck which could well explain the fact there isn't any pain there and this may not be a lymph node at all.

You need to go to a clinic and get an HIV test at the nearest convenience as three months has passed since the exposure you are worried about you would definately have undergone seroconversion by now if you had HIV. In the mean time, don't worry and do get tested. Good luck.

[justcurious572]

Hi Doc Hook,

I had laser/blue light acne treatment on nose on April 28.I dont know whether this has effect on producing Swollen left neck lymph node.Just mentioning the point.

Thanks

[justcurious572]

Hi dcotor Hook,

A member already answered.If you can answer my problem can you advice me.

Thanks a lot

[justcurious572]

Hi

Thanks for reply.

I will go to the doctor.Scared to know that result will be positive.THis swollen neck is not going away.Another fear also had headache serverly for 2 to 3 days and then gone suddenly eventhough i am thinking constantly.As many said in online swollen lymph node is first  symptom that shows and it happened to me in the same way.

Thanks