Swollen Glands (neck, groin, and armpits)

[hypocon_1980]

Hello,

From what I have read you guys hate these questions (sorry). I had a one night stand and a couple of weeks lated I experienced some extreme fatigue and nausea and had to visit the ER (on 1/17/2010). They tested for mono, strep, and did basic blood work. They found nothing. For good measure I had them give me an HIV test which came back negative. I'm not sure what type of HIV test they gave me (standard antibody detection or p24 antigen).

I had noticed the glands in my neck were swollen and brought it to the attention of the ER DR, but noticed after the fact that it isn't just the glands in my neck that are swollen. The glands in my neck, armpits, and groin are swollen.

NOTE: neck and groin seem to be swollen the most. also the left side is more swollen for both.

I am under a lot of stress and am suffering from a pretty severe depression and am wondering if this could be part of the cause? Or if the cause is a common cold or virus; would the ER DR have been able to tell from my blood work?

I've been searching the internet and have pretty much convinced myself it is HIV. Any suggestions on what else it may be?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Condom protected sex remains no risk, even if your partner had HIV.  The odds that your partner, as a man who has sex with other men is still less than 50/50.  There is virtually no risk to oral sex.  The quoted figure for HIV risk, if one has oral sex with an infected partner is less than 1 in 10,000 and, in my estimation that is too high. Some experts state there is no risk at all from oral sex.  Neither of us on this site have ever seen or reading the medical literature of a convincing instance in which HIV was passed by oral sex.  

Who your partner was does not change my advice in the original reply.  EWH

[Edward W Hook, MD]

It's not that we hate the questions. The problem is that to try to tie something nonspecific like lymph node swelling to a specific, statistically rare event such as a low risk sexual exposure is almost always misleading if something important is going on, can delay appropriate diagnosis and therapy.  The are hundreds and hundreds of lymph nodes all over the body and there are many reasons for them to swell.  Many of them can be felt without being representative of a problem.

You have already been examined by a professional in the ED who was not concerned about what he saw when he examined you.

My sincere advice is for you to go and see an internist, not an ED doctor and to request evaluation, starting with an assessment of whether or not your lymph nodes are pathologically swollen or not.  If they are, the doctor can go on and order tests which are appropriate.

If you wish to provide the details of your concerning exposure, I can tell you the numbers but even before you do, I can tell you the odds of you having HIV are very, very low.  EWH

[hypocon_1980]

So I had a follow-up test at 4 months (16 weeks) anf it came back negative. So far so good. I'm about to go in for the 6 month test and am starting to have anxiety issues again. Is it safe to say my obsessive worrying is irrational if I was negative at 4 months?

[hypocon_1980]

Thank you for the info. I will be getting a follow-up test around 3 months. I will update this post with the results then. Thanks again!

[hypocon_1980]

Truth is I had a homosexual experience. I made him wear a condom which didn't break to my knowledge. I did also give oral sex before intercourse, but not to the point of him ejaculating.

I'm so embarrassed, but have to be honest I guess.