Swollen glands

[unluckyoral]

Dr. H this is a follow up question from an earlier post.  As you may recall I received oral sex from a man and woman 12 weeks ago and briefly performed oral on a man 14 weeks ago.  You suggested an hiv test for "peace of mind" and I have ordered the home test which I will take.  Your and strangeworlds reassurance has done wonders for me. I have swollen armpit and groin glands (not phantoms)for over a week and I have a few questions.

1.  What can I take to eleviate the gland swelling?
2.  Is it a good sign (not HIV) that they are tender to the touch?
3.  What can I take to get rid of the dry mouth (had it for a month)?
4.  I have had night sweats the past few nights, do you think that I have another non-hiv virus that is recently infected me causing the sweats and the glands swelling?  
5.  My glands swelling seems and to get worse (tender) at night.  Is this normal?

Thanks again for your awesome service.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Thanks for the thans.  However, I cannot comment on your apparent lymph node enlargement.  Unless lymphadenopathy has been confirmed by a health care provider, most likely you have nothing abnormal.  The fact that the swelling seems worse at night is evidence nothing is wrong; the size of lymph nodes simply cannot fluctuate over over several hours.  But not knowing for sure and not knowing the cause, I have no advice about treatments to modify enlarged lymph nodes.  Your other symptoms do not sound like HIV or any other physical illness, more like anxiety.  I don't know why you have waited this long to get HIV tested; doesn't make much sense.  When you finally get tested, the result will be negative, unless you have other HIV risks beside the oral sex exposures 14 weeks ago.  Regardless of the test result, if you are convinced your lymph nodes are enlarged, see a health care provider.

HHH, MD

[unluckyoral]

Thanks doc.  I ordered the test 10 days ago and it still has not been delivered.  I should have gone to the free clinic...I'd have my results by now.  I have had no other exposures other than those mentioned in the email.  Thanks again for your help here.