Swollen Lymph Nodes?

[Surferboy]

Doctor - Great site to go to for information. 20 yr old heterosexual male.  I posted awhile back about HIV - I was tested 5 months after my exposure - I had sex both anal and vaginal with a girl like 2 times unprotected - I knew her fairly well but anyway - came back negative - I was relieved.  But now over a year after the exposure I have some swollen lymph nodes on the back of my neck and slightly above my hairline.  I know you said in another post about lymph nodes that if you can't see them they aren't swollen.  But when I lean my head down I can see 2 like down the back of my neck and I can feel another one above my hairline - Kinda behind my ear.  They have been swollen for awhile now - maybe a month or 2 months.  I went to my family physician and he just shrugged it off like it was nothing.  He felt there and said there is nothing to worry about but he is pretty laid back about stuff.  I have started to freak out again about HIV even with that negative test.  Now I think my vision is different and I saw that is a side effect of HIV.  Now I am looking under my armpits to see if there are swollen lymph nodes under there.  I know I waited long enough for the test but then I read maybe 6 months to test so I am just worried again.  I really don't want to spend more money to get tested again and go back to the clinic.  I was just wondering your opinion on it and if there is any need to get re-tested - What else could these swollen lymph nodes be? - I know they are certainly from an infection of some kind but what?  They are also not tender at all but I can feel that they are still swollen.  Thanks again for you work - It is very helpful.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I don't know whether you have enlarged lymph nodes or not. But your health care provider apparently believes you do not and says you have nothing to worry about, and I cannot and will not try to question that judgment.  Compared to your doctor's judgment, what you think you can see or feel is irrelevant.  In any case, whatever is going on, if anything, it isn't HIV.  The HIV blood test is a far more accurate indicator of HIV infection than are your symptoms.

Bottom line: Mellow out, stop checking yourself, and trust your doctor.

HHH, MD

[Surferboy]

Just to let you know on the location of them - they are more towards the back of my neck then the side - they are on the right side also - Thanks

[ryn21]

A test 3 months after exposure is conclusive evidence you do not have HIV.  Swollen lymph nodes which occur in HIV + persons are generally all over the body.  Even if you did have generalized swelling of nodes, it would likely be caused by another infection since your HIV test was negative at 5 months.   Nodes in the back of the neck can be felt.  Your GP has determined that there is nothing wrong and i think your anxiety may be getting the best of you.  If your nodes were swollen and there was a need for investigation, your GP would have told you so.  

Just relax, your test at 5 months is conclusive that you dont have HIV.

[MistakeMakerRiskTaker]

I am a 24 y/o Male who had sex with a guy for the first time, unprotected....I later found out that he had tested positive for HSV-1.  About 3 months later I started to get symptoms of HSV such as the iching thighs (when i get hott), and then i had small bumps form on the head of my penis. They were not painful but became sensative to touch for a couple days...they lasted for about a week and a half and then turned into small skab like dots that disapeared or washed off in the shower. The small scabs also appeard around the base of my penis head. Also there was a small knot that formed in my groin area, but is now going away. This morning after getting to work i had what seemed to be a sinus head ache and while rubbing my head i felt a knot on the back of my head right above the hairline and i think it may be a swollen lymph node. Other than that I feel fine. I have an appointment to see my Health Care Provider next week, but what should i do in the meantime. Also i have heard of infections caused by contact with fecal matter, could it be from that or is that just wishful thinking?