Enlarged lymph node in groin

[cripes70]

Hi there,
In mid June 2011, I got sick (temperature, fever like symptoms) and found a single blister on my genitals.
I went to a doctor (emergency walk in clinic) and he said I may have contracted herpes. He gave me a prescription for Valtrax and for an antiobiotic. It more or less cleared up
I moved to Washington DC to live the weekend of July 4th. The following week, it flared up again, so I went to a doctor here and got blood tests for all STDS. The scary ones all came back negative, but I was diagnosed with HSV 1 and HSV 2. She gave me antibiotics(clymacidin) and everything cleared, including a lymph node in my left groin that was swollen. That same lymph node may have been a little swollen for a while before this whole incident, I have this very vague memory of noticing a slight difference on my left side to my right side. My memories are confused so I am not even sure this is accurate. Anyway, after about 2 weeks, I noticed that the same left lymph node was swollen again, so I went back to the doctor and she sent me for an ultrasound. They found two swollen lymph nodes with a 'fatty hilum' (whatever that means) so she put me back on the same antiobiotics(clymacidin) for a week which ended this past monday August 29th. When the Lymph node swelling did not go down, she suggested that the next step was to have it removed and biopsied. I went to see a sugeon today and he suggested that they take it out. I am scheduled to have it removed September 29th. I am not at all happy with the process or the logic......The surgeon states that it's protocol to remove a lymph that has not gone down after 6 weeks and with me it is around 8-9 weeks. I had diarrhea which seems to have been brought on by the clymacidin since it coincided directly with me taking the antibiotics. Other than that I feel great and have no symptoms of anything that I can tell. Of course I am worried about cancer or hiv (test was negative). Can you some shed some light on my situation. Does it make sense to be getting this lymph out and biopsied? - is it ok to wait till Sept 29th or should I be pushing for an earlier surgery...........I really don't feel the guidance from my doc has been good........it's all very scary..........I would welcome some guidance and clear thinking...........for example, can it take a few months after a herpes infection for a lymph node to return to normal size? - should I be getting it removed?
Thanks,
Cripes.

[cripes70]

Thanks Penfriend, I went to a different doctor and all is sorted now.
Terrible experience with the first doctor.
Thanks
Cripes

[penfriend]

Don't let them biopsy you lymph glads.What are they thinking???? You have already been diagnosed with herpes for heavens sake.It's normal for you to get swollen lymph glads in your groin with herpes.Especially when you first contract it. Use zovirax cold sore ointment/cream on it as soon as you get that tingling soreness, put it on every few hours & the blister will clear up & won't last as long. You can also feel quite sick sometimes with it,Take a good multivitamins & go to the health food store & buy Astra* by Fusion.It will boost your immune system.Get plenty of rest. After a while the symptoms will become less severe & you will have breakouts less frequently. I hope this info helps!

[mkh9]

p.s. sometimes the lymph node can get infected and have to be removed as well. I am not sure which it is but since it came back I would follow the doctor on this.
mkh9

[mkh9]

Hi and sounds like you have had a lot going on. Well, lymph nodes can take a long time to go down. But because of the location the doctor probably wants to make sure you don't have cancer. It is best to have it biopsied then if this is what the surgeon is saying. I think you can wait the few weeks but you could also get a second opinion in the meantime and keep your schedule. I assume this was a new herpes infection? So, if you can get into an infectious disease doctor for a second opinion before your surgery or biopsy you could try that route. But again it is the location she is worried about. Then as for the diahrrea you need to see your physician (lots of running around) that gave you the antibiotic. Clindamycin can make another bacteria (Clostridium difficile) resistant in your gut or intestines. You will need to get antibiotics to clear that up if you have it. They can do a stool culture and check for the toxin. So, i hope this helps.
mkh9